Portopulmonary hypertension: Results from a 10‐year screening algorithm

Michael J. Krowka, Karen L. Swanson, Robert P. Frantz, Michael D. McGoon, Russell H. Wiesner – 28 November 2006 – Portopulmonary hypertension (POPH) is the elevation of pulmonary artery pressure due to increased resistance to pulmonary blood flow in the setting of portal hypertension. Increased mortality has occurred with attempted liver transplantation in such patients and thus, screening for POPH is advised. We examined the relationship between screening echocardiography and right heart catheterization determinations of pressure, flow, volume, and resistance.

Monocrotaline promotes transplanted cell engraftment and advances liver repopulation in rats via liver conditioning

Brigid Joseph, Vinay Kumaran, Ekaterine Berishvili, Kuldeep K. Bhargava, Christopher J. Palestro, Sanjeev Gupta – 28 November 2006 – Disruption of the hepatic endothelial barrier or Kupffer cell function facilitates transplanted cell engraftment in the liver. To determine whether these mechanisms could be activated simultaneously, we studied the effects of monocrotaline, a pyrollizidine alkaloid, with reported toxicity in liver sinusoidal endothelial cells and Kupffer cells.

Liver transplantation for fulminant hepatitis related to nevirapine therapy

Sophie Buyse, Eric Vibert, Mylène Sebagh, Teresa Antonini, Philippe Ichai, Denis Castaing, Didier Samuel, Jean‐Charles Duclos‐Vallée – 28 November 2006 – Drug‐induced hepatotoxicity is an important cause of hepatocellular injury. Non‐nucleoside retroviral transcriptase inhibitors are known to cause hepatotoxicity. We describe a detailed case of fulminant hepatitis induced by nevirapine (Viramune) and treated by liver transplantation. Liver Transpl 12:1880–1882, 2006. © 2006 AASLD.

Mycophenolate mofetil in combination with reduction of calcineurin inhibitors for chronic renal dysfunction after liver transplantation

Georges‐Philippe Pageaux, Lionel Rostaing, Yvon Calmus, Christophe Duvoux, Claire Vanlemmens, Jean Hardgwissen, Pierre‐Henri Bernard, Eric Barbotte, Lucille Vercambre, Michael Bismuth, Pierre Puche, Françis Navarro, Dominique Larrey – 28 November 2006 – The purpose of the study was to introduce mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in liver transplant recipients with renal dysfunction to decrease calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) dosages without increasing rejection risk.

Surprises from the crystal structure of the hepatitis C virus NS2‐3 protease

Jerome Gouttenoire, Darius Moradpour, François Penin – 28 November 2006 – Hepatitis C virus is a major global health problem affecting an estimated 170 million people worldwide. Chronic infection is common and can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer. There is no vaccine available and current therapies have met with limited success. The viral RNA genome encodes a polyprotein that includes 2 proteases essential for virus replication. The NS2‐3 protease mediates a single cleavage at the NS2/NS3 junction, whereas the NS3‐4A protease cleaves at 4 downstream sites in the polyprotein.

Fulminant hepatitis A virus infection in the United States: Incidence, prognosis, and outcomes

Ryan M. Taylor, Timothy Davern, Santiago Munoz, Stephen‐Huy Han, Brendan McGuire, Anne M. Larson, Linda Hynan, William M. Lee, Robert J. Fontana, U.S. Acute Liver Failure Study Group – 28 November 2006 – Acute liver failure (ALF) due to hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection is an uncommon but potentially lethal illness. The aim of this study was to identify readily available laboratory and clinical features associated with a poor prognosis among ALF patients with HAV infection.

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