Evaluation of Liver Explant Pathology in Early vs Standard Liver Transplant for Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease

Background: Liver transplantation (LT) is an established therapeutic option for alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD). Traditionally, centers require 6-month of abstinence for transplant eligibility. However, select U.S. centers are increasingly offering early liver transplant (ELT) for individuals with severe alcoholic hepatitis (SAH) who present acutely and are unlikely to survive 6 months without transplant. Outcomes of ELT are excellent; however, it can be challenging to distinguish truly acute alcoholic hepatitis from acute decompensation of chronic disease.