Mortality in liver transplant recipients with portal vein thrombosis – an updated meta‐analysis

Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is the most common thrombotic event in liver transplant (LT) recipients, but its impact on mortality after LT has been analyzed in heterogeneous cohorts with mixed results. To conduct a meta‐analysis on the impact of PVT on post‐LT survival. A systematic search was conducted on studies (published from January 1986 to January 2018) that reported 30‐day and 1‐year mortality after LT of PVT patients. Four hundred twenty‐seven articles were reviewed and 44 were included. Among 98 558 LT, 7257 (7.3%) involved patients with PVT. The mean quality was high (7.1 on the Newcastle–Ottawa scale). The 30‐day pooled mortality rate was higher for patients with PVT (64/490; 13%) than for others (259/3357; 7%) (OR 2.29; 95% CI 1.43–3.68; P < 0.0001). One‐year mortality was likewise higher in recipients with (853/6302; 13.5%) than in those without PVT (7476/75 355; 9.9%) (OR 1.38; 95% CI 1.14–1.66; P < 0.0001). Heterogeneity wasn't significant (I2 46% and 65%). Patients whose PVT was complete had a higher 30‐day pooled mortality rate (OR 5.65; 95% CI 2–15.96; P < 0.0001), and a 1‐year mortality rate (OR 2.48; 95% CI 0.99–6.17; P = 0.38) than patients with partial PVT. PVT is common in LT candidates and it is associated with higher short‐ and medium‐term mortality after LT.