Reducing the shortage of donor livers: What would it take to reliably split livers for transplantation into two adult recipients?

Steven M. Strasberg, Jeffrey A. Lowell, Todd K. Howard – 30 December 2003 – This article examines the scientific, technical, and administrative barriers to splitting donor livers for use in two adults. The main scientific barrier is that cadaveric donor livers at their current level of postoperative function are not sufficiently large to support life in two adult recipients. However, glycogenation of livers from young donors may be a method to overcome this problem in the short term.

Adrenomedullin in liver transplantation and its relationship with vascular complications

Emilio Fábrega, Javier Crespo, Fernando Casafont, Joaquin de la Peña, Maria Teresa García‐Unzueta, Jose Antonio Amado, Fernando Pons‐Romero – 30 December 2003 – Adrenomedullin (AM) is a potent vasodilating peptide that increases rat platelet cyclic adenosine monophosphate levels and acts on endothelial cells to stimulate nitric oxide release. Both mechanisms inhibit platelet function. Considering these effects, AM may have a role in cardiovascular regulation after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) and could have an antithrombotic effect.

Liver transplantation for wilson's disease: A single‐center experience

Bijan Eghtesad, Nosrat Nezakatgoo, Lynda C. Geraci, Nicolas Jabbour, William D. Irish, Wallis Marsh, John J. Fung, Jorge Rakela – 30 December 2003 – Wilson's disease is a hereditary defect in copper excretion leading to the accumulation of copper in the tissues, with subsequent tissue damage. The most serious sequela is that of progressive central nervous system involvement. The use of orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) has been controversial for those patients with neurological symptoms attributed to Wilson's disease.

Prediction of liver allograft fibrosis after transplantation for hepatitis C virus: Persistent elevation of serum transaminase levels versus necroinflammatory activity

Shawn J. Pelletier, Julia C. Iezzoni, Traves D. Crabtree, Young S. Hahn, Robert G. Sawyer, Timothy L. Pruett – 30 December 2003 – Recurrence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) remains a significant source of morbidity and mortality. Factors that reliably predict allograft injury from HCV have not been identified. Demographics, clinical data, and histopathological characteristics of recipients with and without persistently elevated serum transaminase levels (PEST) were compared.

Ascites after liver transplantation

Isabel Cirera, Miguel Navasa, Antoni Rimola, Juan Carlos García‐Pagán, Luis Grande, Juan Carlos Garcia‐Valdecasas, Josep Fuster, Jaime Bosch, Juan Rodes – 30 December 2003 – Massive ascites after liver transplantation, although uncommon, usually represents a serious adverse event. The pathogenesis of this complication has not been adequately investigated. To determine the incidence, characteristics, and pathogenic factors of massive ascites after liver transplantation (ascitic fluid > 500 mL/d for >10 days), the charts of 378 liver transplant recipients were reviewed.

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