Fatty Liver Doubles Death Risk After Organ Transplant. A new study from the University of Minnesota Medical School raises a red flag for transplant recipients: developing a condition called MASH, or metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, significantly increases their risk of death.
MASH is a serious liver disease caused by fat buildup and inflammation. It can lead to scarring, cirrhosis and ultimately death. While fatty liver is common after transplants, MASH poses a much greater threat.
“Doctors need to be vigilant for MASH in transplant patients,” says Dr. Nicholas Lim, lead author of the study and a hepatologist at M Health Fairview. “Identifying those at high risk is crucial, as our research shows they face a doubled risk of death.”
The study, published in Transplantation Proceedings, analyzed the medical records of organ transplant recipients. It found:
- Those who developed MASH after transplant were twice as likely to die compared to those who didn’t.
- Surprisingly, MASH did not directly increase the risk of major cardiovascular events like heart attacks or strokes.
“This unexpected finding highlights the need for further research,” says Dr. Lim. “While MASH doesn’t seem to directly affect heart health, transplant patients with it may be more susceptible to other causes of death, like cancer or infections. We need to investigate this further.”
This study underscores the importance of monitoring transplant patients for MASH and developing strategies to prevent or manage it. Early detection and intervention could potentially save lives.
In essence:
- Fatty liver after transplant is common, but MASH is a serious complication.
- MASH doubles the risk of death for transplant recipients.
- MASH doesn’t seem to directly affect heart health, but may increase risk of other causes of death.
- More research is needed to understand the full impact of MASH and develop effective strategies.
More information:
Fatty Liver Doubles Death Risk After Organ Transplant. Nirjhar Dutta et al, Mortality and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Adult Non-Liver Solid Organ Transplant Patients With Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis, Transplantation Proceedings (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2023.06.014