Steroid avoidance in liver transplantation: Meta‐analysis and meta‐regression of randomized trials

Dorry L. Segev, Stephen M. Sozio, Eun Ji Shin, Susanna M. Nazarian, Hari Nathan, Paul J. Thuluvath, Robert A. Montgomery, Andrew M. Cameron, Warren R. Maley – 26 March 2008 – Steroid use after liver transplantation (LT) has been associated with diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, obesity, and hepatitis C (HCV) recurrence. We performed meta‐analysis and meta‐regression of 30 publications representing 19 randomized trials that compared steroid‐free with steroid‐based immunosuppression (IS). There were no differences in death, graft loss, and infection.

Chronic hepatitis E virus infection in liver transplant recipients

Elizabeth B. Haagsma, Arie P. van den Berg, Robert J. Porte, Cornelis A. Benne, Harry Vennema, Johan H. J. Reimerink, Marion P. G. Koopmans – 26 March 2008 – Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is known to run a self‐limiting course. Sporadic cases of acute hepatitis due to infection with HEV genotype 3, present in pig populations, are increasingly recognized. Zoonotic transmission seems infrequent. The entity of unexplained chronic hepatitis after liver transplantation has been recognized. Detection of HEV in 2 liver transplant recipients triggered a review of these cases.

Health‐related quality of life and family function following pediatric liver transplantation

Estella M. Alonso, Katie Neighbors, Franca B. Barton, Sue V. McDiarmid, Stephen P. Dunn, George V. Mazariegos, Jeanne M. Landgraf, John C. Bucuvalas – 26 March 2008 – This multicenter study compared health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) and family function of pediatric liver transplant recipients to those of healthy children to determine if this population differed from a healthy population and to distinguish which pretransplant and posttransplant factors impact HRQOL and family function.

Treatment of Small‐For‐Size Syndrome

James D. Perkins – 26 March 2008 – The portal hyperperfusion, or small‐for‐size syndrome (SFSS), is a widely recognized clinical complication that may occur after segmental liver transplantation. Several surgical strategies have been proposed to reduce portal blood inflow and portal pressure after partial liver transplantation. In particular, splenic artery ligation and splenectomy have been used without a firm hemodynamic basis for these procedures.

The impact of postreperfusion syndrome on short‐term patient and liver allograft outcome in patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation

Ibtesam Hilmi, Charles N. Horton, Raymond M. Planinsic, Tetsuro Sakai, Ramona Nicolau‐Raducu, Daniela Damian, Silivu Gligor, Amadeo Marcos – 26 March 2008 – The greatest part of liver allograft injury occurs during reperfusion, not during the cold ischemia phase. The aim of this study, therefore, was to investigate how the severity of postreperfusion syndrome (PRS) influences short‐term outcome for the patient and for the liver allograft. Over a 2‐year period, 338 consecutive patients who presented for orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) were included in this retrospective study.

Antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen trough levels and half‐lives do not differ after intravenous and intramuscular hepatitis B immunoglobulin administration after liver transplantation

Nazanin Hooman, Kinan Rifai, Johannes Hadem, Bernhard Vaske, Gunnar Philipp, Andrea Priess, Juergen Klempnauer, Hans L. Tillmann, Michael P. Manns, Jens Rosenau – 26 March 2008 – Hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) administration remains an essential component of standard reinfection prophylaxis after liver transplantation for hepatitis B virus–related liver disease. Previous studies have suggested that intramuscular (IM) HBIG administration compared to intravenous (IV) HBIG administration may be cost‐effective and dose‐saving.

Value of an individual liver biopsy in the preoperative evaluation of apparently healthy potential liver donors

Nurten Savas, Mehmet Coskun, Banu Bilezikci, Irfan Uruc, Hamdi Karakayali, Ugur Yilmaz, Mehmet Haberal – 26 March 2008 – Living donor liver transplantation has acquired widespread acceptance. A thorough workup of the potential living donor is guided by 2 objectives: the first is ensuring the safety of the surgical procedure for the donor, and the second is identifying donor grafts that pose potential risks for the recipient. Of 305 living‐related liver donors, liver biopsy was performed in 201.

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