Liver Transplantation for NAFLD: indications and post-transplant management

: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is currently the fastest growing indication to liver transplantation (LT) in Western Counties, both for end stage liver disease (ESLD) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). NAFLD/NASH is often expression of a systemic metabolic syndrome; therefore, NAFLD/NASH patients require a multidisciplinary approach for a proper pre-surgical evaluation, which is important to achieve a post-transplant outcome comparable to that of other indications to LT. NAFLD/NASH patients are also at higher risk of post-transplant cardiovascular (CV) events, diabetes, dyslipidemia, obesity, renal impairment and recurrent NASH. Lifestyle modifications, included diet and physical activity, are key to improve survival and quality of life after transplantation. A tailored immunosuppressive regimen may be proposed in selected patients. Development of new drugs for the treatment of recurrent NASH is awaited.