Francis Y. Yao, Robert W. Osorio, John P. Roberts, Fred F. Poordad, Marjorie N. Briceno, Richard Garcia‐Kennedy, Robert R. Gish – 30 December 2003 – Immunoprophylaxis using intravenous (IV) hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) decreases the recurrence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). However, IV HBIG is expensive, has significant side effects, and is inconvenient to administer. An alternative approach for prophylaxis using intramuscular (IM) HBIG and oral lamivudine was prospectively evaluated in this study.

Thomas E. Trouillot, Roshan Shrestha, Igal Kam, Michael Wachs, Gregory T. Everson – 30 December 2003 – Corticosteroid withdrawal after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) represents an attractive therapeutic option for ameliorating post‐OLT metabolic complications, although several reports suggest patients who undergo transplantation for autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) may have a greater incidence of acute and chronic rejection when withdrawn from corticosteroid therapy. The aim of this study is to evaluate the success of corticosteroid withdrawal in patients with AIH after OLT.

Eishi Totsuka, Forrest Dodson, Atsushi Urakami, Natalia Moras, Tomohiro Ishii, Ming‐Che Lee, Jorge Gutierrez, Mauricio Gerardo, Ernesto Molmenti, John J. Fung – 30 December 2003 – Donor hypernatremia was reported to cause postoperative graft dysfunction in human orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). However, the effects of the correction of donor hypernatremia before organ procurement have not been confirmed.

Charles J. Hearn, Nicholas G. Smedira – 30 December 2003 – Infective endocarditis is a rare complication affecting solid‐organ transplant recipients. Isolated pulmonic valve endocarditis is also rare. A case of persistent bacteremia secondary to an isolated pulmonic valve vegetation occurred in a woman 10 days after liver transplantation. A pulmonary vegetectomy was performed as an alternative to valve replacement in addition to long‐term antibiotic therapy.

Michael J. Krowka, Gregory A. Wiseman, Jeffery L. Steers, Russell H. Wiesner – 30 December 2003 – Recurrence of hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) in an adult has never been reported. We describe a 23‐year‐old woman who initially underwent OLT because of debilitating and severe HPS associated with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Although the clinical resolution of HPS was well documented day 117 post‐OLT, the reappearance of NASH was documented by liver biopsy.

David J. Plevak – 30 December 2003

Michelle Y. Braunfeld – 30 December 2003

Jerry A. Cohen – 30 December 2003

William T. Merritt – 30 December 2003

Dennis Feierman – 30 December 2003