The changing clinical presentation of recurrent primary biliary cirrhosis after liver transplantation

Abstract

Patients with RPBC demonstrated prolonged survival. Clinical factors did not aid in predicting RPBC. The clinical course of RPBC appears to be different than in the earlier years of liver transplantation. Immunosuppression may play a role. The use and type of antimetabolite drugs had no affect on recurrence. RPBC demonstrated a different clinical course with tacrolimus treatment (shorter time to recurrence) and increased incidence when compared with cyclosporine treatment. Controlled randomized studies are necessary to determine differences between tacrolimus and cyclosporine treatment, if any.