Doctors also see a shift in the profile of transplant patients. Whereas viral hepatitis used to be the reason for a new liver, UZ Leuven is currently seeing a shift towards fatty liver disease caused by lifestyle-related illnesses and complex cancer treatments.
Belgium ranks among the world leaders in liver transplants, with more than 30 procedures per million inhabitants. This success is thanks to a large number of donors and the use of advanced technology, such as machine perfusion. This technique also allows livers from older donors (aged 70 or over) or donors who have suffered a cardiac arrest to be used safely, enabling more patients to receive a new organ in time. The Leuven transplant team currently performs the highest number of liver transplants in adults in Belgium and across the entire Eurotransplant zone.
High survival rate
The first liver transplant at UZ Leuven took place in 1989. In the late 1990s, liver transplants saw a rapid growth thanks to the introduction of a dedicated department for abdominal transplant surgery and a inpatient ward staffed by specialised transplant nurses. The development of an experienced team specialising in liver diseases and the support provided to all relevant departments also ensured that liver transplantation became a medical flagship procedure at UZ Leuven.
This also affects the current prognosis for patients undergoing a liver transplant. The survival rates at UZ Leuven are remarkably high: more than 90% after one year and 80% after five years. These results are the fruit of 30 years of expertise, multidisciplinary care and a strong focus on research.
Solidarity among donors
Prof. dr. Jacques Pirenne, transplant surgeon at UZ Leuven: 'This 2,000th liver transplant is the result of an unseen evolution in our discipline. Thanks to technological innovations such as machine perfusion, we are now able to successfully transplant organs that we would previously have been unable to use. But behind every statistic lies a human story: without the tireless dedication of our transplant team and without our partners in the Belgian and international transplant network, we would not be able to do this. We would also like to emphasise that this success is primarily due to the immense generosity of the deceased and their families who donate a liver to give someone a new lease of life. Without our donors, this progress would have been impossible.'
This milestone is thanks to the immense generosity of donors who have donated a liver to give someone a new lease of life
prof. dr. Jacques Pirenne
New transplant profiles
The profile of liver patients has changed significantly in recent years. Whilst liver transplants for people with viral hepatitis have virtually disappeared, patients with fatty liver disease caused by metabolic syndrome and post-alcoholic cirrhosis are now more frequently receiving transplants. Acute liver failure accounts for around 10% of liver transplants. The boundaries of oncology are also being pushed: UZ Leuven now also performs liver transplants on strictly selected bowel cancer patients with liver metastases. In addition, a striking number of multi-organ transplants are carried out at UZ Leuven: transplants in which not only the liver, but also a kidney, pancreas, bowel, heart or lung is transplanted at the same time.
Symposium on 23 September 2026
To mark this milestone, the UZ Leuven & partner hospitals Liver Transplant Symposium will take place on 23 September in the Promotiezaal at KU Leuven. During the conference, experts from the Leuven Collaborative Group will discuss the future of the transplant process and the latest surgical techniques.
