Ann Intern Med 1987 Sep;107(3):337-41

Emergency liver transplantation for fulminant hepatitis

Bismuth H, Samuel D, Gugenheim J, Castaing D, Bernuau J, Rueff B, Benhamou JP

Abstract
Orthotopic liver transplantation was done in 17 patients with fulminant
hepatitis. The cause of the liver disease was infection with hepatitis B virus,
or co-infection with hepatitis B virus and hepatitis D virus, or infection with
hepatitis A virus in 6 patients; drug hepatotoxicity in 5; and indeterminate in
6. Grafts from incompatible blood groups, steatotic grafts, or reduced-size
grafts were used in 5, 4, and 4 patients, respectively. Of the 17 patients, 5
died: 2 of early liver failure due to the poor quality of the graft, 1
presumably of accidentally transmitted acute infection with the human
immunodeficiency virus, and 2 of decerebration occurring during or immediately
after surgery. The 12 other patients were alive 2 to 15 months after
transplantation