Are posttransplantation protocol liver biopsies useful in the long term?

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.

Modulation of steady‐state messenger RNA levels in the regenerating rat liver with bile acid feeding

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.

Expanding the use of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts for veno‐occlusive disease

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.

Combination low‐dose hepatitis B immune globulin and lamivudine therapy provides effective prophylaxis against posttransplantation hepatitis B

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.

Accuracy of doppler echocardiography in the assessment of pulmonary hypertension in liver transplant candidates

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).

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