Liver transplant improves long-term survival rates in individuals with familial amyloid polyneuropathy

Accumulation of the liver-derived protein transthyretin is characteristic of the disease familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP). Although liver transplantation is an accepted treatment for FAP, survival rates of transplanted patients compared with non-transplanted patients had not been investigated. In a study of 43 non-transplanted patients and 37 hepatic graft recipients, the estimated probability of survival at 10 years was 56.1% and 100%, respectively. The authors conclude that liver transplantation is an effective treament for FAP.