Survival of cystic fibrosis patients undergoing liver and liver-lung transplantations

Background: We evaluated the outcome of combined liver-lung transplantation (L-LTx) in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients with liver transplantation (LTx) for CF liver disease. Methods: The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) data were analyzed from October 1987 to August 2009. Results: Of 294 patients (210 children), 265 (90.1%) received an LTx and 29, an L-LTx. Patient survival was: adult LTx, 80%, 74%, and 67% at 1, 3, and 5 years, and L-LTx, 72%, 61.4%, and 61.4% (P =.7); pediatric LTx, 85%, 82%, and 74% at 1, 3, and 5 years, and L-LTx, 83%, 83%, and 83% (P =.4). Pediatric patients had a slight survival advantage over adults for LTx (P =.08). Graft survival, not affected by immunosuppression regimens, was similar to patient survival. Conclusions: The outcome of L-LTx appears similar to LTx in CF providing support for the prospect of a combined transplant.