Umberto Baccarani, Andrea Sanna, Alessio Cariani, Mauricio Sainz‐Barriga, Gian Luigi Adani, Anna Maria Zambito, Giuseppe Piccolo, Andrea Risaliti, Alessandro Nanni‐Costa, Lorenza Ridolfi, Mario Scalamogna, Fabrizio Bresadola, Annibale Donini – 30 December 2003 – The offer of liver transplantation to many patients affected by liver failure is limited by organ shortage.

Carlos O. Esquivel – 30 December 2003

Francis Y. Yao, Nathan M. Bass, Bev Nikolai, Raphael Merriman, Timothy J. Davern, Robert Kerlan, Nancy L. Ascher, John P. Roberts – 30 December 2003 – Since our interim report of the intention‐to‐treat outcome of orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), we have performed a follow‐up analysis of an expanded cohort of 70 patients to further assess whether the observed pattern and predictors of dropout are consistent with the rationale behind current HCC‐adjusted Model for End Stage Liver Disease (MELD) organ allocation scheme.

Hasan Yersiz, John F. Renz, Garrett M. Hisatake, Sherylin Gordon, Bob H. Saggi, Nicholas J. Feduska, Ronald W. Busuttil, Douglas G. Farmer – 30 December 2003 – Improved outcomes in multivisceral and isolated intestinal transplantation have generated increased demand for these procedures. Enhanced recognition of potential multivisceral/intestinal donors and widespread application of advanced organ procurement techniques is necessary in the current climate of organ scarcity.

Ashokkumar B. Jain, Raman Venkataramanan, Bijan Eghtesad, Amadeo Marcos, Margaret Ragni, Ron Shapiro, Ann B. Rafail, John J. Fung – 30 December 2003 – With the advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), HIV positivity is no longer a contraindication for liver transplantation. Some of the antiretroviral agents, particularly protease inhibitors (e.g., ritonavir, indinavir, and nelfinavir) have been described as potent inhibitors of the metabolism of certain immunosuppressive drugs.

Roberto Troisi, Bernard de Hemptinne – 30 December 2003 – Size mismatching is a major concern in adult living donor liver transplantation (ALDLT). Graft hyperperfusion in these grafts is considered the main factor leading to graft dysfunction and poor survival. We describe the clinical significance of graft inflow modification (GIM) by splenic artery ligation in a series of 24 consecutive ALDLT. Between September 1999 and December 2001, 24 patients underwent ALDLT at our institution. Patients were divided into two groups: G1, n = 11 without GIM, and G2, n = 13 with GIM.

Kymberly D.S. Watt, Elizabeth R. Lyden, Timothy M. McCashland – 30 December 2003 – Data from 1990 to 1996 suggest that the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in repeated orthotopic liver transplantation (re‐OLT) is increasing, and patient survival may be worse. Aims of the study are to: (1) assess the prevalence of HCV in re‐OLT, (2) compare survival between primary OLT and re‐OLT for HCV versus non‐HCV diseases, and (3) evaluate Model for End‐Stage Liver Disease (MELD) scores in re‐OLT.

Thomas Becker, Miguel Nyibata, Rainer Lueck, Hueseyin Bektas, Gülçin Demirci, Frank Lehner, Günter Tusch, Christian Strassburg, Anke Schwarz, Juergen Klempnauer, Bjoern Nashan – 30 December 2003 – Experience with combined liver‐kidney transplantation (L‐KTx) has increased, but controversy regarding this procedure continues because the indications are not clearly defined yet. Between 1984 and 2000, 38 patients underwent simultaneous L‐KTx and 9 patients underwent sequential transplantation, receiving either a liver before a kidney or a kidney before a liver.

James F. Trotter – 30 December 2003 – Key points

Hugo R. Rosen – 30 December 2003 – Key points