Metabolic Disease Liver Transplant Volumes and Outcomes

World-renowned transplant surgeon Thomas E. Starzl, MD, started the transplant program at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh in 1981. Ever since, our pediatric liver transplant outcomes have been among the world’s best.

Metabolic Disease Liver Transplant Volumes

At Children’s, we’ve performed over 1,700 pediatric liver transplants — more than any other center in the U.S.

  • 330 of them have been for children with metabolic disease — again, more than any other center in the U.S.
  • 65 of them have been for children with Maple Syrup Urine Disease (MSUD) — more than any center, for adults or children, in the world.

Metabolic disease categories treated by the Liver Transplant Team at the Hillman Center for Pediatric Transplantation at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC.

Metabolic Disease Liver Transplant Outcomes

Liver transplant survival rate:

1 year: 98% (national average: 95%)
3 years: 93% (national average: 92%)

Pediatric liver transplant for all metabolic disease since 2000:

Patient survival rates:
5 years: 96%
10 years: 96%

Graft survival rates:
5 years: 98%
10 years: 96%

Pediatric liver transplant for MSUD since 2000:

Patient and graft survival rates: 100%


Sources: Internal data, Hillman Center for Pediatric Transplantation; Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients, December 2015 release.