Review
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World J Gastroenterol. Sep 28, 2013; 19(36): 5953-5963
Published online Sep 28, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i36.5953
Liver transplantation in alcoholic liver disease current status and controversies
Ashwani K Singal, Khushdeep S Chaha, Khalid Rasheed, Bhupinderjit S Anand
Ashwani K Singal, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294-0012, United States
Khushdeep S Chaha, Department of Medicine, UAB Huntsville Program, Huntsville, AL 35801, United States
Khalid Rasheed, Department of Medicine, UAB Montgomery Program, Montgomery, AL 36116, United States
Bhupinderjit S Anand, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Michael DeBakey VA Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, United States
Author contributions: Singal AK contributed to conception and design the article, revising and editing the draft for intellectual content and final approval of the version; Chahal KS and Rasheed K reviewed literature and wrote the manuscript draft; Anand BS reviewed and edited the final version of article.
Correspondence to: Ashwani K Singal, MD, MS, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1808 7th Ave South, BDB 351, Birmingham, AL 35294-0012, United States. ashwanisingal.com@gmail.com
Telephone: +1-205-9759698 Fax: +1-205-9750961
Received: April 24, 2013
Revised: July 29, 2013
Accepted: August 4, 2013
Published online: September 28, 2013
Processing time: 154 Days and 22.3 Hours
Core Tip

Core tip: Alcoholic cirrhosis remains the second most common indication for liver transplantation. Due to effective immune suppression regimens, graft loss and recurrent alcoholic liver disease rarely leads to mortality. However, the development of non-hepatic disorders such as malignancy and metabolic syndrome contributes to long-term morbidity and mortality. Although recidivism does impact long-term survival, data on the accuracy of 6 mo rule in predicting recidivism are scanty and controversial. Emerging data on the beneficial role of liver transplant provides a ray of hope for select patients with alcoholic hepatitis.