Post-Liver Transplantation Anemia and Its Correlation with Mortality and Graft Failure

Background: In adults, post-liver transplantation anemia (PLTA) is common, but its characteristics and long-term influence on major outcomes have yet to be elucidated. Aim: We aimed to assess prevalence, characteristics, predictors, and outcomes of PLTA at 6 months (early PLTA) and at 2 years (late PLTA). Methods: A single-center retrospective cohort study using prospectively collected data from liver transplantations in adults during January 2007–December 2015. PLTA impact on various long-term outcomes was assessed, including mortality, composites of mortality or graft failure, cardiovascular outcomes, and malignancy occurrences. Results: Hundred and fifty liver transplanted individuals were included. There was a 79% prevalence of anemia pre-transplantation, whereas early and late PLTA were evident in 58% and 40% of patients, respectively. Pre-transplantation anemia was associated with development of early PLTA which was associated with late PLTA. In a multivariate analysis, early PLTA was significantly associated with mortality or graft failure at a follow-up of 3 years (odds ratio 3.838, 95% CI 1.114–13.226). Late PLTA was not significantly associated with worse long-term outcomes. Conclusions: Early and late PLTA are prevalent among liver transplanted patients. Early PLTA is associated with long-term mortality or graft failure.