Current status of combined liver-kidney transplantation

Combined liver-kidney transplantation is a life-saving procedure for patients with end-stage liver disease and underlying chronic kidney disease, or prolonged acute kidney injury. Due to physiologic changes secondary to portal hypertension in patients with end-stage liver disease, kidney injury is common, and combined liver-kidney transplantation accounts for 10% of all the liver transplants performed in the United States. Recently implemented policy in the United States standardizes the medical criteria for eligibility, and introduces a ‘safety net’ for those who are transplanted with a liver graft alone, in order to be able to receive a kidney graft later. Increasing number of combined liver-kidney transplants provides a large cohort of patients to be studied in detail for identification of factors (both donor and recipient-related) associated with better outcomes. Data regarding the safety and efficacy of delaying the kidney transplant part of the combined liver-kidney transplantation, and the immunologic benefits of the multi-organ transplantations including the liver are emerging. Here, we review the most recent analyses, and provide our opinion regarding the best practices in combined liver-kidney transplantation based on the evidence.