Outcome of liver transplantation and clinical characteristics

Abstract

Background: Liver transplantation has become an effective treatment option worldwide for a wide range of malignant and non-malignant liver diseases. In Mongolia, the high prevalence of single and co-infections with viral hepatitis is a major contributing factor to the development of liver cirrhosis and primary liver cancer. However, data on the indications, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of liver transplantation in the Mongolian population remain limited. Aim: To evaluate the indications and clinical characteristics of patients undergoing liver transplantation and to determine their survival outcomes. Materials and Methods: This single-center, retrospective cohort study included 238 patients who underwent liver transplantation at the National Cancer Center of Mongolia between 2018 and feb 2026. Patients were categorized into two groups according to the indication for transplantation: malignant and non-malignant liver diseases. Demographic and clinical characteristics were compared between the groups. Overall survival was estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method, and differences in survival were assessed using the log-rank test. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The mean age of the liver transplant recipients was 49.0 ± 8.4 years. Relatively older male patients were more likely to undergo liver transplantation for malignant liver diseases, whereas younger female patients predominated among those transplanted for non-malignant conditions (p=0.0001). No statistically significant difference in body mass index was observed between the groups (p>0.05). MELD and Child–Pugh (CPT) scores, reflecting the severity and prognosis of liver disease, differed significantly between the two groups. However, no statistically significant difference in survival was observed between the groups at 1-, 3-, or 5years after liver transplantation (p=0.974). Conclusion: Although age, sex, and liver disease severity as assessed by MELD and Child–Pugh scores differed significantly between patients undergoing liver transplantation for malignant and non-malignant indications, no statistically significant difference was observed in survival at 1-, 3-, or 5years following liver transplantation.