Comparable Long-Term Liver Transplant Outcomes in Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis with and without MASLD: Last Decade Analysis of the UNOS Database.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
7-4-2025
Publication Title
Digestive diseases (Basel, Switzerland)
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is the leading cause of liver transplants (LT) in the USA. Despite its overlap with other indications, its intersection with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) remains unexplored.
METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study using the UNOS/OPTN database (2013-2024) to evaluate outcomes in PSC, MASLD, and PSC/MASLD. Exclusions included prior/multi-organ transplants, body mass index (BMI) < 15 kg/m2, pediatric recipients, and other liver diseases. A propensity-matched analysis adjusting for age and sex was conducted. Outcomes included LT probability, waitlist survival, and post-LT graft and patient survival, assessed by Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards models.
RESULTS: We included 255 PSC, 255 MASLD, and 85 PSC/MASLD patients, matched 1:3:3. BMI and diabetes rates were highest in PSC/MASLD (31.2 kg/m2; 43.5%) and MASLD (30.9 kg/m2; 54.5%) (p < 0.001). Hepatic decompensation, including ascites and encephalopathy, was more common in PSC/MASLD and MASLD than PSC (p < 0.001). On the waitlist, PSC/MASLD had the best 1-year survival (93%) but declined sharply to 70% by 4 years (95%), compared to PSC (77%) and MASLD (63%) (p = 0.02). PSC/MASLD also had the highest 5-year LT probability (52%), followed by MASLD (46%) (p < 0.001). Post-LT, patient and graft survival were similar across groups. In multivariate analysis, diabetes (HR 1.22) and life support (HR 1.39) independently predicted worse post-LT outcomes.
CONCLUSIONS: PSC/MASLD had a higher transplant probability and lower waitlist survival than PSC. Posttransplant outcomes were similar across groups. Diabetes and life support independently worsened post-LT outcomes, emphasizing the need for diabetes management in MASLD and PSC/MASLD.
First Page
1
Last Page
13
Recommended Citation
Sierra L, Polpichai N, Ozturk NB, Sequeira LM, Montalvan-Sanchez E et al Comparable long-term liver transplant outcomes in primary sclerosing cholangitis with and without MASLD: Last decade analysis of the UNOS database. Dig Dis. 2025 Jul 4:1-13. doi: 10.1159/000547227. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40618753.
DOI
10.1159/000547227
ISSN
1421-9875
PubMed ID
40618753