Final answer:
Individuals with chronic liver failure due to various causes such as cirrhosis, viral infections, and autoimmune diseases, as well as those with specific pediatric liver conditions, are likely to require a liver transplant. Blood relatives are often preferred donors, and managing immune rejection through immunosuppression is crucial for transplant success.
Step-by-step explanation:
In their lifetime, individuals who will most likely need a liver transplant are those suffering from chronic liver failure due to conditions such as cirrhosis, which itself can be a result of excessive alcohol intake, hepatitis B or C, autoimmune disorders, hereditary and metabolic causes like iron or copper overload, or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Pediatric liver diseases such as biliary atresia, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, alagille syndrome, and progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis also necessitate liver transplantation in children. The immune system's rejection of transplanted organs, the availability of organ donors, ABO blood type compatibility, and the duration on the waitlist are crucial factors affecting the need and success of a transplant. Blood relatives are often preferred as organ donors due to a higher likelihood of tissue match, which can reduce the chance of organ rejection. Immunosuppression is essential in transplantation to prevent the recipient's immune system from rejecting the donor organ.