Specific Indications

Liver Transplantation is considered when the liver no longer functions adequately (liver failure). Two possible causes of liver failure are an acute (sudden) failure from infection or complications from certain medications.   

In general, liver transplantation is indicated in children and adults suffering from irreversible liver dysfunction or the effects of liver dysfunction after alternative medical and surgical treatments have been utilized and where the benefits of transplantation out weight risk of alternative modalities.

Specific indications can include:

  1. Acute hepatic fulminant failure
  2. Extrahepatic biliary atresia or hypoplasia 
  3. Inborn errors of metabolism including:
    • Alpha-I antitrypsin
    • Crigler-Najjar disease, Type I
    • Byler's disease
    • Glycogen storage disease, Type I
    • Wilson's disease
    • Hemochromatosis
    • Tyrosinemia
    • Wolman's disease
    • Familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy
    • Primary hyperoxaluria type 1
    • Other
  4. Sclerosing cholangitis
  5. Hepatic vein thrombosis (Budd-Chiari) 
  6. Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC), Stage I or II, or: single lesion
  7. Cirrhosis including:
    • Alcohol cirrhosis (see Alcohol or Substance Dependence Addendum)
    • Biliary cirrhosis (primary or secondary): Caroli, choledochal cyst, congenital cholestasis (PFIC), iatrongenic biliary tree injury/damage, trauma
    • Chronic active hepatitis (A, B, C, non A, non B, autoimmune)
    • Congenital biliary cirrhosis
    • Cryptogenic cirrhosis
    • Hemochromatosis
    • Alpha I Antitrypsin Deficiency
    • NASH
    • Viral cirrhosis
    • Other