LIVER TRANSPLANTATION IN HIV PATIENTS
The review paper addresses the current issues of treatment of liver failure in HIV patients by liver transplantation. Liver transplantation has developed from an experimental approach up to a therapy of choice for treating of the terminal stages of liver failure. Before HAART was introduced in 1996, HIV infection, either before or at the AIDS stage, was believed to be absolute contraindication for liver transplantation, mainly because of the concern that immunosuppression can aggravate HIV infection and adversely affect prognosis. After HAART was introduced, lethality dramatically reduced. Because the expected life expectancy of HIV patients increased, liver failure associated with viral hepatitis B and C became the main cause of death of HIV patients. Therefore, the attitude to liver transplantation in such patients has to be revised.