[Psychosocial indication of liver transplantation for alcohol-related liver failure: current controversies and imminent issues in Japanese society].

: Organ transplant therapy is becoming a usual practice also in Japan, which dramatically improves the length and quality of life in patients with end-stage organ disease. Liver transplantation was resumed in Japan much later than that in the West and is continued now under unique circumstances where more than 90% of grafts come from living donors. Nevertheless the number of liver transplantation for alcohol-related liver failure shows a sharp rise to the level comparable to the West, and not a few physical and/or psychosocial problems caused by recidivism after transplantation are coming up. To find appropriate solutions to how to predict recidivism and define psychosocial indication of liver transplantation in our society, and to how to monitor and support sobriety after transplantation, there is an urgent need for multidisciplinary management by hepatologist, transplant surgeon, psychiatrist, and dependence specialist. Life-saving therapy and dependence management are expected to work closely together from the viewpoints of transparency, equity, utility, and autonomy requested in transplant therapy, protection of living donors, and consideration for donor family and public emotion.