Marijuana Consumption in Liver Transplant Recipients.

Marijuana is legalized for either medical or recreational use in over half of the United States and in Canada, but many transplant centers will not list patients who are using marijuana. However, the effect of marijuana on transplant outcomes remains unclear. Thus, we performed a retrospective analysis of all adult (≥18 years old) liver transplant patients treated at our center between 2007 and 2017. Patients were grouped according to their marijuana use and tobacco smoking status. We also evaluated tobacco smoking status for the comparative evaluation. Post transplant morbidity, mortality, and graft survival were evaluated. 327 patients were included, and 172 (53%) patients were tobacco smokers, [71 current, 101 former]; 82 (25%) patients were marijuanasmokers, [13 current, 69 former smokers]; 65 (20%) patients were both marijuana and tobacco smokers, and 138 (42%) reported never smoking marijuana or tobacco. After adjustment, current tobacco users were over three times as likely to die within 5 years, compared to never users (HR 3.25, 95% CI 1.63, 6.46, p<0.001), but no difference was seen between current/former and never marijuana users (HR 0.52, 95% CI0.26, 1.04, p=0.06). No significant differences in inpatient respiratory complications, reintubation, or >24 hours intubation was seen. Overall, pre-transplant marijuana use, past or current, does not appear to impact liver transplant outcomes; however, tobacco smoking remains detrimental. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.