W. Ray Kim, Michael J. Krowka, David J. Plevak, Jaeho Lee, Steven R. Rettke, Robert P. Frantz, Russell H. Wiesner – 30 December 2003 – Pulmonary hypertension has been associated with poor outcome after liver transplantation. We assessed the diagnostic accuracy of Doppler echocardiography in detecting significant pulmonary hypertension. Seventy‐four potential liver transplant candidates underwent Doppler echocardiography in which the systolic right ventricular pressure (RVsys) was used to estimate the systolic pulmonary artery pressure (PAsys).

Peter W. Angus, Geoffrey W. McCaughan, Edward J. Gane, Darryl H.G. Crawford, Hugh Harley – 30 December 2003 – Although antiviral prophylaxis with lamivudine monotherapy appears to reduce post–liver transplantation recurrence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, breakthrough infections occur in at least 20% of the patients because of the development of drug resistance. Combined lamivudine and intravenous hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) therapy (10,000‐IU doses) may reduce this risk, but its use is limited by cost (∼US $45,000/yr) and availability.

Pankaj Rajvanshi, George B. McDonald – 30 December 2003 – Severe veno‐occlusive disease (VOD) of the liver is a leading cause of mortality after bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Vascular and parenchymal injuries account for acute portal hypertension and liver failure is frequently present. We describe the results of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) for the management of VOD after BMT. TIPS was performed in 10 patients with histologically proven severe VOD.

Robin Patel – 30 December 2003 – Abstract Unavailable. Please See Print Journal.

Pamela B. Sylvestre, Mounif El‐Youssef, Deborah K. Freese, Michael B. Ishitani – 30 December 2003

Lydia M. Petrovic – 30 December 2003

Stephen P. Pereira, Roger Williams – 30 December 2003

Betsy T. Kren, Cecilia M.P. Rodrigues, Kenneth D.R. Setchell, Clifford J. Steer – 30 December 2003 – Liver regeneration after two thirds partial hepatectomy (PH) is an orchestrated hyperplastic growth process requiring coordinated expression of many genes. The synchronous progression of 95% of the remnant hepatocytes through the cell cycle provides an in vivo model for examining the influence of bile acids on the molecular regulation of hepatocyte replication and growth.

Marina Berenguer, José M. Rayón, Martín Prieto, Victoria Aguilera, David Nicolás, Vicente Ortiz, Domingo Carrasco, Rafael López‐Andujar, José Mir, Joaquín Berenguer – 30 December 2003 – Controversy exists about the usefulness of yearly protocol liver biopsies after liver transplantation, mainly among patients with normal transaminase levels.

James F. Trotter, Michael E. Wachs, Thomas E. Trouillot, Thomas Bak, Marcelo Kugelmas, Igal Kam, Gregory Everson – 30 December 2003 – Since its approval as an immunosuppressive agent in renal transplantation, sirolimus (RAPA) recently has been used in the primary immunosuppression regimen at several liver transplant centers. One of the major side effects of RAPA is hypercholesterolemia, which is reported in up to 44% of patients. We describe our experience in 57 primary liver transplant recipients treated with RAPA and either cyclosporine A (CSA) or tacrolimus (TAC).