Robert Pfitzmann, Jeannette Schwenzer, Nada Rayes, Daniel Seehofer, Ruth Neuhaus, Natascha C. Nüssler – 4 January 2007 – The relevance of sobriety for outcome after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) for alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is still discussed controversially. We conducted a retrospective analysis of 300 patients transplanted for ALD with regard to recurrent alcohol consumption, risk factors for drinking after OLT, and long‐term survival. The 300 patients underwent OLT for ALD between 1989 and 2002. Median follow‐up was 89 months.

Lisa R. Dixon, James M. Crawford – 4 January 2007 – Recurrent hepatitis C (RHCV) after liver transplantation is almost universal, and occasional patients will have an aggressive course characterized histologically by pericellular/sinusoidal fibrosis and cholestasis, known as fibrosing cholestatic hepatitis (FCH). The early stages and evolution of this disease have not been well characterized. A total of 77 liver biopsies performed for indication (nonprotocol) were evaluated for necroinflammation, rejection, cholestasis, and fibrosis.

Robert Pfitzmann, Birgit Benscheidt, Jan Michael Langrehr, Guido Schumacher, Ruth Neuhaus, Peter Neuhaus – 4 January 2007 – Compared to primary liver transplantation (LT), the inferior results in the outcome of liver retransplantation (re‐LT) continue to be a major challenge. The purpose of this study was to analyze changes in and outcomes of re‐LT over a period of 15 years at the Charité Virchow Clinic. Between 1989 and 2003, we performed 1,619 LTs and 157 re‐LTs (9.7%) in 1,462 patients.

D. Neil Roberts, Miguel R. Arguedas, Michael B. Fallon – 4 January 2007 – The hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) is present in 15–20% of patients with cirrhosis undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) evaluation. Both preoperative and post‐OLT mortality is increased in HPS patients particularly when hypoxemia is severe. Screening for HPS could enhance detection of OLT candidates with sufficient hypoxemia to merit higher priority for transplant and thereby decrease mortality. However, the cost‐effectiveness of such an approach has not been assessed.

28 December 2006

Ying Luo, Chung Mau Lo, Cindy K. Cheung, George K. Lau, Sheung Tat Fan, John Wong – 27 December 2006 – Both animal and human studies have demonstrated the adoptive transfer of immunity against hepatitis B virus (HBV) through liver transplantation that may be attributed to the presence of HBV‐specific immunocompetent cells of donor origin in liver grafts.

Ye Htun Oo, James Neuberger – 27 December 2006

Jan Petrasek, Milan Jirsa, Jan Sperl, Libor Kozak, Pavel Taimr, Julius Spicak, Karel Filip, Pavel Trunecka – 27 December 2006 – Fulminant Wilson's disease (WD) is almost invariably fatal, and liver transplantation is the only life‐saving treatment. Decompensated chronic WD usually responds to chelation therapy. Our aim was to validate 3 published scoring systems for deciding between chelation treatment and liver transplantation in patients with chronic decompensated and fulminant WD.

Srinath Chinnakotla, Douglas M. Smith, Rana Domiati‐Saad, Edward D. Agura, David L. Watkins, George Netto, Tadahiro Uemura, Edmund Q. Sanchez, Marlon F. Levy, Goran B. Klintmalm – 27 December 2006 – Graft‐versus‐host disease (GVHD) after liver transplantation is rare but associated with a very high mortality (over 85%). Most treatments focus on increasing immunosuppression, addition of antibody preparations such as OKT3 and antithymocyte globulin to eliminate the donor lymphocytes, and supporting myelopoiesis by use of cytokines. However, the results are very poor.

James D. Perkins – 27 December 2006 – With improved survival after liver transplantation (LT), the referral of older candidates has increased. The increasing demand for, and the decreased supply of, liver donors makes careful preoperative cardiac risk assessment imperative. There is a paucity of information regarding the cardiac characteristics of patients being referred for LT in the current era.