The appropriate time point for starting immunosuppressive treatment with calcineurin inhibitors after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) has been a subject of debate. The aim of the study was to analyze the effects of anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) induction therapy on rejection, renal function, infection, tumor rate, and survival. We retrospectively analyzed 391 patients after OLT who had either received calcineurin inhibitors immediately after OLT (n = 129) or after an initial short-term Thymoglobulin induction therapy (n = 262). The 1-year acute rejection rate was 14.5% vs. 31.8% in favor of ATG (P = 0.0008). Rejection grades and the need for treatment also differed significantly (7.3% vs. 23.3%; P = 0.001). Serum creatinine at transplantation was similar in both groups (1.14 mg/dL vs.1.18 mg/dL; P = NS). Postoperative hemofiltration was less frequently seen after induction therapy (P < 0.05). Reduced renal function at 1 year was commonly observed, but serum creatinine (1.26 mg/dL vs. 1.37mg/dL; P = 0.015) and glomerular filtration rate (81 mL/min vs. 75 mL/min; P = 0.02) were far better in the ATG group. Undesired side effects occurred at a similar rate in both groups. Five-year patient survival was also similar in the 2 groups (70.1% and 74.3%; P > 0.05). Short-term ATG induction therapy with delayed administration of calcineurin inhibitors led to a more favorable rejection rate and an improved clinical course in case of a rejection episode. It has beneficial effects on renal function immediately after OLT as well as later, and no additional harmful effects. Liver Transpl 13:1039–1044, 2007. © 2007 AASLD.

Donor criteria for liver grafts have been expanded because of organ shortage. Currently, no exact definitions for extended donor grafts have been established. The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of donor‐specific risk factors, independent of recipient characteristics. In collaboration with Eurotransplant and European Liver Transplant Register, solely donor‐specific parameters were correlated with 1‐year survival following liver transplantation. Analyses of 4701 donors between 2000 and 2005 resulted in the development of a nomogram to estimate graft survival for available grafts. Predictions by nomogram were compared to those by Donor Risk Index (DRI). In the multivariate analysis, cold ischemic time (CIT), highest sodium, cause of donor death, γ‐glutamyl transferase (γ‐GT), and donor sex (female) were statistically significant factors for 3 months; CIT, γ‐GT, and cause of donor death for 12‐month survival. The median DRI of this study population was 1.45 (Q1: 1.17; Q3: 1.67). The agreement between the nomogram and DRI was weak (kappa = 0.23). Several donor‐specific risk factors were identified for early survival after liver transplantation. The provided nomogram will support quick organ quality assessment. Nevertheless, this study showed the difficulties of determining an exact definition of extended criteria donors.

The predictive value of MELD score for post-transplant survival has been under constant debate since its implementation in 2001. Aim of this study was to assess the impact of alterations in MELD score throughout waiting time (WT) on post-transplant survival. A single-centre retrospective analysis of 1125 consecutive patients listed for liver transplantation between 1997 and 2009 was performed. The impact of MELD score and dynamic changes in MELD score (DeltaMELD), as well as age, sex, year of listing and WT were evaluated on waiting list mortality and post-transplant survival. In this cohort, 539 (60%) patients were transplanted, 223 (25%) died on list and 142 (15%) were removed from the waiting list during WT. One-, three- and five-year survival after liver transplantation were 83%, 78% and 76% respectively. DeltaMELD as a continuous variable proved to be the only significant risk factor for overall survival after liver transplantation (hazard ratio (HR): 1.06, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02–1.1, P = 0.013). The highest risk of post-transplant death could be defined for patients with a DeltaMELD > 10 (HR: 4.87, 95% CI 2.09–11.35, P < 0.0001). In addition, DeltaMELD as well as MELD at listing showed a significant impact on waiting list mortality. DeltaMELD may provide an easy evaluation tool to identify patients on the liver transplant waiting list with a high mortality risk after transplantation in the current setting. Temporarily withholding and re-evaluating these patients might improve overall outcome after liver transplantation.