The effect of hyponatremia on the outcome of patients after orthotopic liver transplantation

Abstract

Predicting the prognosis of cirrhotic patients is considered to achieve a fair allocation among patients awaiting orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). Serum sodium (Na) concentrations are associated with reduced survival among patients with cirrhosis. The mortality risk of cirrhotic patients, as defined by the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score, is considered to be higher in hyponatremic patients. The aim of this study was to record complications and outcomes of severely hyponatremic patients after OLT. We retrospectively studied 75 recipients of OLT over the last 3 years. Hyponatremic patients showed lower 30-day and intensive care unit (ICU) survivals (P = .022 and .028, respectively), higher rates of neurological complications (P = .038), renal failure (P = .001), and prolonged duration of mechanical ventilation (P = .000) and ICU stay (P = .000). Severe hyponatremia was related to a greater risk for neurological and renal complications after OLT.