The entertainment world was recently shaken by the unexpected death of actress Michelle Trachtenberg at the age of 39.
Known for her roles in Gossip Girl and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, her untimely passing has sparked widespread discussion—not only about her legacy in film and television but also about liver transplants, a procedure she reportedly underwent not long before her death.
Although an official cause of death has not been publicly confirmed, several major media outlets, including ABC News, TMZ, People, and the New York Post, have reported that the actress received a liver transplant in the months leading up to her death.
This has prompted many to ask: how could someone so young end up needing such a significant and life-altering surgery?
A Sudden and Somber Ending
According to The New York Times, the New York Police Department (NYPD) responded to a 911 call just after 8 a.m. EST on a Wednesday and found Trachtenberg unconscious and unresponsive in a Manhattan apartment. Emergency medical workers pronounced her dead at the scene. As of now, the NYPD has stated that the city’s medical examiner has not yet determined a cause of death.
In the absence of official medical disclosures, speculation has grown due to the reports linking her recent liver transplant to possible complications. While the full circumstances remain unknown, the situation has brought renewed public attention to the challenges associated with liver disease, the causes behind transplants, and what recovery and long-term health can look like for those undergoing the procedure.
The Liver: A Vital Organ With Life-Saving Functions
The liver is one of the body’s most crucial organs. It is responsible for a variety of functions that are vital for survival and overall health. It aids in digestion, detoxifies the body by removing harmful substances, and produces proteins such as clotting factors, which help control bleeding.
When the liver begins to fail, whether due to chronic disease, injury, or genetic conditions, the body cannot function properly. In such cases, a liver transplant may become a life-saving necessity.
Why Do People Need Liver Transplants?
Liver disease has many potential causes, ranging from inherited conditions to lifestyle-related factors. The most frequent causes that lead to liver failure and necessitate a transplant include:
- Hepatitis B and C: Chronic infections with these viruses can severely damage liver tissue over time.
- Alcoholic liver disease: Long-term, excessive alcohol use remains a major cause of cirrhosis.
- Metabolic dysfunction-associated liver disease (MASLD): Formerly known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, this condition is strongly associated with obesity and involves fat buildup in the liver.
- Genetic conditions: Disorders like hemochromatosis (excess iron accumulation) and Wilson’s disease (copper buildup) can irreparably harm the liver.
- Bile duct diseases: Conditions such as primary biliary cirrhosis and biliary atresia affect bile flow and liver function. Notably, biliary atresia is the leading cause of liver transplants in children.
- Liver cancer: In some cases, transplantation is an option for patients diagnosed with certain forms of liver cancer.
While Hepatitis C once led the pack in liver transplant causes, advances in medication have changed that trend.
“Hepatitis C has decreased significantly as a cause of cirrhosis and the need for transplantation because we can cure this infection now with very effective medications,” explains Dr. Leopoldo Arosemena, a transplant hepatologist at Cleveland Clinic Weston Hospital in Florida.
Why Are Liver Transplants on the Rise?
Interestingly, the number of liver transplants is increasing in the United States. According to a report from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), two major contributors are the rising rates of MASLD, linked to the obesity epidemic, and an increase in alcohol-related liver disease.
“During and after the pandemic, alcohol consumption increased in the United States, leading to more liver-related problems, like acute alcohol-associated hepatitis and worsening cirrhosis from any etiology,” says Dr. Arosemena. “Young adults were more likely to increase their alcohol intake.”
This shift is notable. In 2022, alcohol-related liver disease accounted for 41 percent of adult liver transplants, up dramatically from 17 percent a decade prior. Transplants due to MASLD also rose—from 14 percent to 20 percent over the same period.
Furthermore, more young adults are receiving transplants. Those aged 35 to 49 represented 23 percent of recipients in 2022, up from 17 percent a decade earlier.
Demand vs. Supply: The Reality of Liver Transplants
As of September 2024, HRSA reported that 9,424 people were on the waiting list for a liver transplant in the United States. In 2023 alone, 10,659 people underwent the procedure. However, not everyone in need receives an organ in time.
A comprehensive study reviewing over 15 years of transplant data revealed that around 13,000 to 15,000 people remain on the waiting list at any moment. Of these, roughly 6,000 receive a transplant annually, while approximately 2,000 die waiting. The rest are removed from the list due to changes in their medical condition or other factors.
Post-Transplant Life and Risks
While many transplant recipients can return to relatively normal lives, the surgery carries risks. “Initially, there may be technical problems like infections, blood clots, bleeding, and medication side effects, which are usually manageable,” says Dr. Arosemena.
Long-term, patients must take immunosuppressive medications to prevent the body from rejecting the new liver. Failure to adhere to these regimens can result in organ failure. Doctors also monitor for recurrence of the original disease, potential malignancies, and chronic rejection.
Still, with proper care, outcomes are often positive. “The great majority of patients have a normal quality of life, as long as they keep following the instructions of the transplant centers,” says Arosemena.
How Long Do Liver Transplant Patients Live?
Survival rates following a liver transplant are encouraging. For those who receive a liver from a deceased donor—by far the most common scenario—the one-year survival rate is 86 percent, and the five-year survival rate is 72 percent. Impressively, over half of recipients survive at least 20 years post-transplant.
Remembering Michelle Trachtenberg Through Awareness
Although the specific cause of Michelle Trachtenberg’s death has not been officially released, reports indicating complications following a liver transplant have opened the door to a broader conversation about liver health and transplant realities.
Her passing, while heartbreaking, may also serve as a call to action: to prioritize preventive health, improve organ donation rates, and raise awareness about the lifestyle factors—such as alcohol consumption and obesity—that continue to drive liver disease in younger populations.
As the public mourns a beloved figure, the tragedy may ultimately contribute to saving lives by shedding light on an issue that too often remains hidden until it’s too late.