Mehmet Arslan, Russell H. Wiesner, Corey Sievers, Kathleen Egan, Nizar N. Zein – 30 December 2003 – The aims of this study are to assess the efficacy of hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination using an accelerated schedule and double dose of recombinant vaccine in liver transplant recipients and identify factors associated with seroconversion and persistence of antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti‐HBs). Three hundred fifty‐six patients were enrolled.

Dena M. Bravata, Ingram Olkin, Amber E. Barnato, Emmet B. Keeffe, Douglas K. Owens – 30 December 2003 – The purpose of the study is to evaluate patterns of employment and alcohol use among liver transplant recipients with alcoholic (ALD) and nonalcoholic liver disease (non‐ALD). MEDLINE, EMBASE, and bibliographic searches identified 5,505 potentially relevant articles published between January 1966 and October 1998. Eighty‐two studies reporting data on 5,020 transplant recipients met our inclusion criteria.

Pierre Honoré, Olivier Detry, Etienne Hamoir, Thierry Defechereux, Bernard Detroz, Michel Meurisse, Nicolas Jacquet – 30 December 2003 – Retransplantation is common after liver transplantation (LT). However, in the present era of organ shortages, every attempt to save the liver graft should be performed before considering retransplantation. We report our experience with right hepatic lobectomy (RHL) for liver graft salvage. In a retrospective series of 180 adult LTs, 4 patients underwent RHL (Couinaud's segments V, VI, VII, VIII) in the post‐LT period.

Michael J. Krowka – 30 December 2003

Julius Špicák, Štefan Vítko, Miroslav Ryska, Pavel Trunecka, František Belina, Marek Krawczyk, Ferenc Perner, Pavel Taimr, Jan Šperl, Halima Hrncárková, Jan Peregrín, Helena Filipová, Karel Filip – 30 December 2003 – The aim of this report is to evaluate the development of liver transplantation in eastern Europe until mid‐1998. Representatives of gastroenterological and hepatological societies of the respective countries answered a questionnaire about the most descriptive items of the issue of liver transplantation.

S. Forrest Dodson, Michael E. de Vera, C. Andrew Bonham, David A. Geller, Jorge Rakela, John J. Fung – 30 December 2003 – The prevention of recurrent hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) with hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) is expensive and requires indefinite parenteral administration. Lamivudine is a nucleoside analogue capable of inhibiting HBV replication.

Amadeo Marcos – 30 December 2003

Thomas P. Beresford, Gregory T. Everson – 30 December 2003

William J. Wall, Paul J. Marotta – 30 December 2003 – Key Points

Michael Oertel, Frieder Berr, Sabine Schröder, Rene Schwarz, Andrea Tannapfel, Michael Wenzke, Peter Lamesch, Johann Hauss, Kay Kohlhaw – 30 December 2003 – Acute rejection of hepatic allografts does not show consistent association with the number of mismatches of HLA classes I and II. Therefore, we investigated the relation between specific donor or recipient HLA antigens and the occurrence of acute rejection.