Response to an experimental HBV vaccine permits withdrawal of HBIg prophylaxis in fulminant and selected chronic HBV‐infected liver graft recipients

Peter Stärkel, Michel Stoffel, Jan Lerut, Yves Horsmans – 23 September 2005 – Strategies using lamivudine and hepatitis B immunoglobulins (HBIg) for prevention of hepatitis B virus (HBV) reinfection after liver transplantation (LT) are expensive since life‐long treatment is needed.

Endothelin activation and postoperative renal failure after human liver transplantation

Hubert Hetz, Michael Bauer, Daniel Lahner, Peter Faybik, Johannes Winning, Hendrik Jan Ankersmit, Andreas Bacher, Claus Georg Krenn – 23 September 2005 – Renal failure is an established risk factor for impaired patient outcome after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). As the endothelin pathway is known to be involved in the development of acute renal failure (ARF), we designed a study to clarify its role in ARF following OLT. Twenty consecutive patients with intact kidney function scheduled for their first OLT were prospectively studied.

Recurrent primary sclerosing cholangitis after liver transplantation: A magnetic resonance cholangiography study with analyses of predictive factors

Bjorn Brandsaeter, Erik Schrumpf, Oystein Bentdal, Kurt Brabrand, Hans Jorgen Smith, Andreas Abildgaard, Ole Petter Clausen, Kristian Bjoro – 23 September 2005 – Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a well‐established indication for orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT), but post‐OLT bile duct strictures complicate the outcome for these patients. These strictures might represent recurrent PSC (rPSC).

Influence of hepatic venous pressure gradient on the prediction of survival of patients with cirrhosis in the MELD Era

Cristina Ripoll, Rafael Bañares, Diego Rincón, María‐Vega Catalina, Oreste Lo Iacono, Magdalena Salcedo, Gerardo Clemente, Oscar Núñez, Ana Matilla, Luis‐Miguel Molinero – 20 September 2005 – Measurements of portal pressure, usually obtained via the hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) may be a prognostic marker in cirrhosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of HVPG on survival in patients with cirrhosis in addition to the Model for End‐Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score.

Alendronate improves bone mineral density in primary biliary cirrhosis: A randomized placebo‐controlled trial

Claudia O. Zein, Roberta A. Jorgensen, Bart Clarke, Doris E. Wenger, Jill C. Keach, Paul Angulo, Keith D. Lindor – 20 September 2005 – Bone loss is a well‐recognized complication of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). Although it has been suggested that alendronate might improve bone mineral density (BMD) in PBC, no randomized placebo‐controlled trial has been conducted. The primary aim of this study was to compare the effects of alendronate versus placebo on BMD and biochemical measurements of bone turnover in patients with PBC‐associated bone loss.

Dietary factors alter hepatic innate immune system in mice with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Zhiping Li, Mark J. Soloski, Anna Mae Diehl – 20 September 2005 – Dietary factors promote obesity and obesity‐related disorders, such as fatty liver disease. Natural killer T (NKT) cells are components of the innate immune system that regulate proinflammatory (Th‐1) and anti‐inflammatory (Th‐2) immune responses.

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