Recurrent primary biliary cirrhosis: Peritransplant factors and ursodeoxycholic acid treatment post‐liver transplant

Jennifer E. Guy, Peiqing Qian, Jeffrey A. Lowell, Marion G. Peters – 23 September 2005 – Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) recurs after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) in up to one‐third of patients. These patients are typically asymptomatic, can be identified by abnormal liver biochemistries, and have evidence of histologic recurrence on liver biopsy. The effect of treatment on recurrence has not been determined. This pilot study evaluates the factors associated with recurrent PBC and describes our experience using ursodeoxycholic acid treatment in this patient population.

Gc‐globulin and prognosis in acute liver failure

Frank V. Schiødt, Lorenzo Rossaro, Richard T. Stravitz, A. Obaid Shakil, Raymond T. Chung, William M. Lee, Acute Liver Failure Study Group – 23 September 2005 – Serum concentrations of the actin scavenger Gc‐globulin are reduced in acute liver failure (ALF). Prospectively, we tested Gc‐globulin's value to predict outcome following ALF using sera from 182 patients with ALF from the U.S. ALF Study Group. Admission serum levels of Gc‐globulin (normal range: 350‐500 mg/L) were studied by an immunonephelometric method.

Evaluation for liver transplantation: Adherence to AASLD referral guidelines in a large veterans affairs center

Venodhar R. Julapalli, Jennifer R. Kramer, Hashem B. El‐Serag – 23 September 2005 – Access of patients to liver transplantation involves three levels: referral for evaluation for transplantation, placement on a waiting list for transplantation, and receipt of a liver transplant. No study has formally evaluated access to liver transplantation at the referral level. Therefore, we sought to estimate the magnitude and determinants of consideration of liver transplantation in patients at a single, large Veterans Affairs medical center.

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