Quality of life related to liver transplantation in familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy: a systematic review

Abstract

Objectives: To assess the impact of liver transplantation on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients with familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy (FAP). Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted until December 2015 in electronic databases. The outcomes assessed were physical and mental dimensions assessed in HRQoL questionnaires. Results: Six studies were selected for review. Before and after liver transplantation, patients with FAP showed a significantly worse HRQoL when compared to the overall control population, chronic diseases, and non-FAP transplanted patients. Four years after transplantation, the physical and emotional well-being domains were also significantly lower for patients with FAP. The comparison between pre- and post-transplantation periods showed an improvement in the mental component of non-FAP patients and FAP worsening. The physical component showed an improvement for both groups, although it was significantly higher in the non-FAP group. When compared to non-transplanted FAP patients, only the physical component showed a significant difference 12 months after liver transplantation for the transplanted FAP group. Conclusion: FAP patients showed worse HRQoL scores when compared to non-FAP transplanted patients and the control population. Among FAP patients (between transplanted and non-transplanted patients), liver transplantation did not show a significant impact on the mental component of quality of life.