Hugo R. Rosen, Robert J. Fontana, Robert S. Brown, Russell H. Wiesner, Thomas D. Schiano, Nathan M. Bass, Joseph R. Bloomer, Lee Kaplan – 30 December 2003

Mathias Goyen, Jörg Barkhausen, Jörg F. Debatin, Hilmar Kühl, Silke Bosk, Giuliano Testa, Massimo Malago, Stefan G. Ruehm – 30 December 2003 – The purpose of this study was to determine the practicability and diagnostic accuracy of a magnetic resonance (MR) protocol capable of replacing computed tomography, catheter angiography, and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography for the presurgical evaluation of potential liver donors before right hepatectomy. MR imaging (MRI) was performed on a 1.5 T scanner using a phased‐array torso surface coil for signal reception.

Ye‐Dong Fan, Marleen Praet, Jacques Van Huysse, Bart Lelie, Bernard De Hemptinne – 30 December 2003 – Although portal venous supply is considered essential to preserve hepatic integrity, in this study, effects of portal arterialization on liver regeneration were evaluated in a rat model of partial hepatectomy (PH). Ninety‐six Lewis rats were randomly assigned to four groups of 24 rats each: PH only (group 1), PH with either venous or arterialized portal supply (groups 2 and 3, respectively), and PH without portal supply (group 4).

Julie Ratcliffe, Louise Longworth, Tracey Young, Stirling Bryan, Andrew Burroughs, Martin Buxton – 30 December 2003 – We report on a prospective multicenter study to assess pretransplantation and posttransplantation health‐related quality of life (HRQL) of liver transplant recipients. HRQL was assessed at several timepoints using a self‐completion questionnaire consisting of the EuroQol instrument (EQ‐5D) and the 36‐Item Short‐Form Health Survey (SF‐36) health status profile measure.

Carlijn I. Buis, Eelco F.M. Wijdicks – 30 December 2003 – Central Pontine Myelinolysis (CPM) is a rare neurologic complication after liver transplantation. The true incidence of CPM after orthotopic liver tranplantation remains an estimate. However, with the introduction of magnetic resonance imaging, early recognition became feasible. In this report, we present a case of rapid resolution of CPM followed by serial magnetic resonance imaging scans.

Gary A. Levy, Philip A. Marsden – 30 December 2003

Byers W. Shaw – 30 December 2003

Eric A. Collisson, Hamid Nourmand, Mark H. Fraiman, Christopher B. Cooper, Paul E. Bellamy, Douglas G. Farmer, John M. Vierling, Rafik M. Ghobrial, Ronald W. Busuttil – 30 December 2003 – The hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS), consisting of elevated alveolar‐arterial oxygen gradient and intrapulmonary vascular abnormalities in the presence of advanced liver disease, is associated with high mortality. Liver transplantation (LT) has been used for the treatment of HPS; however, the success of LT for the treatment of HPS is not uniformly documented.

Cynthia L. Cotton, Sanjay Gandhi, Paul T. Vaitkus, Malek G. Massad, Enrico Benedetti, Robert G. Mrtek, Thelma E. Wiley – 30 December 2003 – Portopulmonary hypertension (PPHTN) is a recognized complication of end‐stage liver disease that adversely affects the outcome of orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). There are limited data on the role of Doppler echocardiography in assessing pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) in this population.

Junichi Kaneko, Yasuhiko Sugawara, Masatoshi Makuuchi – 30 December 2003 – A 57‐year‐old woman underwent liver transplantation and developed osteomyelitis in the femur attributable to Aspergillus fumigatus. The patient was treated successfully with amphotericin B and 5‐fluorocytosine for 30 days, and then switched to itraconazole for 12 months. Plasma (1‐>3)‐beta‐D‐glucan levels decreased significantly after the chemotherapy. Early diagnosis by (1‐>3)‐beta‐D‐glucan measurement and extended treatment with itraconazole can improve the prognosis of invasive Aspergillus infection.