Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis Recurrence After Liver Transplantation: A Systematic Review and Updated Meta‐Analysis

Journal article

Lay Summary: Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic liver disease that damages the bile ducts and can eventually lead to liver failure. For patients with advanced disease, liver transplantation is currently the only curative treatment. However, PSC can return after transplantation, which may affect long‐term outcomes. We analysed data from 29 studies including 4682 patients who received a liver transplant for PSC to determine how often the disease recurs and which factors may increase this risk. Overall, PSC recurred in about 19% of patients worldwide. Recurrence was more common in younger patients, men, those who developed inflammatory bowel disease after transplantation, those treated with cyclosporine and those who experienced episodes of acute rejection.

Authors: Vitor, IC; Tomé, MR; Amador, WFO; Silveira, IB; Leite, MDABC

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Wiley
• Journal: Liver International
• Volume: 46
• Issue: 6
• Article number: e70673
• Publication date: 2026-05-21
• Acceptance date: 2026-04-24
• DOI: 10.1111/liv.70673
• EISSN: 1478-3231
• ISSN: 1478-3223
• Language: English
• Keywords: risk factors; recurrence; primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC)