Long‐term outcome of human leukocyte antigen mismatching in liver transplantation: Results of the national institute of diabetes and digestive and kidney diseases liver transplantation database

Vijayan Balan, Kris Ruppert, A. Jake Demetris, Tatiana Ledneva, Rene J. Duquesnoy, Katherine M. Detre, Yuling L. Wei, Jorge Rakela, Daniel F. Schafer, John P. Roberts, James E. Everhart, Russell H. Wiesner – 30 May 2008 – A perfect or nearly perfect human leukocyte antigen (HLA) match has been associated with better immediate and long‐term survival of diseased donor kidney transplants. However, the effect of HLA matching for hepatic allografts remains poorly defined.

Biochemical response to ursodeoxycholic acid and long‐term prognosis in primary biliary cirrhosis

Christophe Corpechot, Ludovico Abenavoli, Nabila Rabahi, Yves Chrétien, Tony Andréani, Catherine Johanet, Olivier Chazouillères, Raoul Poupon – 30 May 2008 – Biochemical response to ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is variable. It has been recently proposed that an alkaline phosphatase (ALP) decline of more than 40% in baseline value or a normal level after 1 year of UDCA treatment (Barcelona criteria) could serve as a good marker of long‐term prognosis.

Comparison of four model for end‐stage liver disease–based prognostic systems for cirrhosis

Teh‐Ia Huo, Han‐Chieh Lin, Samantha C. Huo, Pui‐Ching Lee, Jaw‐Ching Wu, Fa‐Yauh Lee, Ming‐Chih Hou, Shou‐Dong Lee – 28 May 2008 – Serum sodium (Na) has been suggested for incorporation into the Model for End‐Stage Liver Disease (MELD) to enhance its prognostic ability for patients with cirrhosis. Three Na‐containing models—the Model for End‐Stage Liver Disease with the incorporation of serum sodium (MELD‐Na), the integrated Model for End‐Stage Liver Disease (iMELD), and the Model for End‐Stage Liver Disease to sodium (MESO) index—were independently proposed for this purpose.

Role of Kupffer cells in the induction of tolerance of orthotopic liver transplantation in rats

Yong Chen, Zuojin Liu, Shaoyong Liang, Xiaofeng Luan, Feiwu Long, Jie Chen, Yong Peng, Lünan Yan, Jianping Gong – 28 May 2008 – Because the role of Kupffer cells (KCs) in liver transplantation (LT) tolerance is not well understood, we investigated their role in liver allograft acceptance in rats. Male Sprague‐Dawley rats were randomly assigned to either an LT group or a transplantation group pretreated with GdCl3 (Gd group).

Current diagnosis and management of primary sclerosing cholangitis

Jens J. W. Tischendorf, Andreas Geier, Christian Trautwein – 28 May 2008 – Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is an important liver disease with major morbidity and mortality. The diagnosis of PSC is confirmed by magnetic resonance cholangiopancreaticography, and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreaticography is performed in patients needing therapeutic endoscopy. As a result of the unknown cause of the disease, current medical therapies are unsatisfactory.

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