New post-liver transplant protocol results in 0% heavy alcohol relapse rate

Article excerpt

Mayo Clinic researchers have developed a post-transplant protocol that achieved a striking result: zero heavy alcohol relapses among patients who completed it, versus a historical relapse rate around 25%. The findings, published in Liver Transplantation, describe a proactive treatment approach for alcohol use disorder, a critical concern since alcohol-related liver disease is a leading reason for transplants. The dramatic improvement suggests that structured intervention after surgery, rather than reactive treatment, may offer significant protection for this vulnerable population.