Liver transplantation for end-stage alcoholic liver disease YANG Yang*, CAI Chang-jie, ZHANG Ying-cai, et al. *Liver Transplant Center, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510630, China Corresponding author: CHEN Gui-hua, E-mail: chgh1955@263.net Abstract Objective To evaluate the efficacy of liver transplantation (LT) in patients with end-stage liver alcoholic disease (ALD). Methods The results were analyzed retrospectively for 18 patients, who underwent LT for ALD from December 2003 to April 2007 at Liver Transplant Center of Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University. Results The 1, 2 and 3-year survival rates of ALD group and Non-ALD group were 88.9%, 77.8%, 77.8% and 90.4%, 84.0%, 78.2% respectively. There was no significant difference between 1, 2 and 3-year survival rates between this two groups (P＝0.778). Lung-infection rate after LT between ALD group and Non ALD group were: 44.4% (8/18) and 33.2% (76/229) (P =0.538); Biliary tract complications: 16.7% (3/18) and 24.9% (57/229) (P =0.574); Hepatic arterial complications 11.1% (2/18) and 7.0% (16/229) (P =0.628); Rejection 11.1% (2/18) and 6.6% (15/229) (P =0.357). There was only one person who resumed mild, intermittent drinking after LT. Conclusion End-stage ALD is a good indication for LT with similar results in non-ALD patients. The major cause of death in ALD patients after LT is infection complications. More attention is needed for the prophylaxis infectious complications after LT.