The clinical characteristics, pre- and post–liver transplantation outcomes in patients having autoimmune overlap syndromes

Background: There are little data on the pre- and post–liver transplantation (LT) outcomes of patients having autoimmune hepatitis-primary biliary cholangitis (AIH-PBC), AIH-primary sclerosing cholangitis (AIH-PSC), and AIH-small-duct PSC (AIH-SDPSC). The aim of this study was to analyze pre- and post-LT outcomes and survival of patients having different overlap syndromes (OS) undergoing LT. Methods: Patients with compatible clinical and pathologic features of AIH-PBC (n = 86), AIH-PSC (n = 22), and AIH-SDPSC (n = 9) were included in the study. Demographic, laboratory, clinical, and survival data were analyzed. Multivariable analyses were performed to determine factors predicting transplant-free survival. Results: AIH-primary sclerosing cholangitis patients were less treatment-responsive and were more likely to undergo LT than other OS. No survival difference was noted among the 3 groups. Liver decompensation was independently associated with higher mortality (HR 21.78; 95% CI 2.50-190.01). Thirteen patients with OS underwent LT. One-year survival post-LT was 91.7%. Overall recurrence rate for OS post-LT was 8%. Conclusions: AIH-primary sclerosing cholangitis patients were more likely to require LT compared with patients having AIH-PBC. Transplant-free survival was similar among the three AIH-overlap syndromes. Allograft recurrence of OS occurred in about 10% of cases. Patients with OS appear to have good short- and medium-term post-LT outcomes in terms of graft function and overall survival.