A novel three‐dose regimen of daclizumab in liver transplant recipients with hepatitis C: A pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic study

W. Kenneth Washburn, Lewis W. Teperman, Thomas G. Heffron, David D. Douglas, Steven Gay, Eliezer Katz, Goran B.G. Klintmalm – 2 February 2006 – This study evaluated the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of a novel 3‐dose regimen of daclizumab in de novo hepatitis C liver transplant recipients.

A new side effect of immunosuppression: High incidence of hearing impairment after liver transplantation

Kinan Rifai, Gabriele I. Kirchner, Matthias J. Bahr, Tobias Cantz, Jens Rosenau, Björn Nashan, Jürgen L. Klempnauer, Michael P. Manns, Christian P. Strassburg – 2 February 2006 – Little is known about hearing impairment in patients after organ transplantation. We conducted a single‐center study to evaluate hearing impairment in patients after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). A questionnaire was sent to 695 adult patients after OLT to assess characteristics and course of auditory impairment. Risk factors such as ototoxic drugs were taken into consideration.

Prevention of hepatitis B recurrence after liver transplantation using lamivudine or lamivudine combined with hepatitis B Immunoglobulin prophylaxis

Shusen Zheng, Yaomin Chen, Tingbo Liang, Anwei Lu, Weilin Wang, Yan Shen, Min Zhang – 30 January 2006 – The aim of our study was to determine the outcomes of liver transplant recipients receiving either lamivudine (LAM) monotherapy or LAM combined with low‐dose intramuscular (IM) hepatitis B Immunoglobulin (HBIG) therapy. We performed a retrospective review of the medical records of patients that had had liver transplantation in a single center for HBV‐related liver diseases from December 1999 to June 2004.

Noninvasive measures of liver fibrosis

Don C. Rockey, D. Montgomery Bissell – 30 January 2006 – As novel therapies for liver fibrosis evolve, non‐invasive measurement of liver fibrosis will be required to help manage patients with chronic liver disease. Although liver biopsy is the current and time‐honored gold standard for measurement of liver fibrosis, it is poorly suited to frequent monitoring because of its expense and morbidity, and its accuracy suffers from sampling variation. At the current writing, serum markers and imaging methods are available and increasingly in use as alternatives to biopsy.

Cyclosporine A withdrawal during follow‐up after pediatric liver transplantation

Rene Scheenstra, Maarten L.J. Torringa, Herman J. Waalkens, Erik H. Middelveld, Peter M.J.G. Peeters, Maarten J.H. Slooff, Annette S.H. Gouw, Henkjan J. Verkade, Charles M.A. Bijleveld – 30 January 2006 – It is unclear whether cyclosporine A (CsA) can be withdrawn safely during follow‐up after pediatric liver transplantation. In our transplant program we have been using a strict protocol to withdraw CsA. The aim of this study was to retrospectively assess the effects of CsA withdrawal after pediatric liver transplantation on the incidence of rejection and renal function.

Donor graft outflow venoplasty in living donor liver transplantation

Allan Concejero, Chao‐Long Chen, Chih‐Chi Wang, Shih‐Ho Wang, Chih‐Che Lin, Yeuh‐Wei Liu, Chin‐Hsiang Yang, Chee‐Chien Yong, Tsan‐Shiun Lin, Salleh Ibrahim, Bruno Jawan, Yu‐Fan Cheng, Tung‐Liang Huang – 30 January 2006 – Hepatic venous outflow reconstruction is a key to successful living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) because its obstruction leads to graft dysfunction and eventual loss. Inclusion or reconstruction of most draining veins is ideal to ensure graft venous drainage and avoids acute congestion in the donor graft.

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