Emilio Fábrega, Javier Crespo, Fernando Casafont, Joaquin de la Peña, Maria Teresa García‐Unzueta, Jose Antonio Amado, Fernando Pons‐Romero – 30 December 2003 – Adrenomedullin (AM) is a potent vasodilating peptide that increases rat platelet cyclic adenosine monophosphate levels and acts on endothelial cells to stimulate nitric oxide release. Both mechanisms inhibit platelet function. Considering these effects, AM may have a role in cardiovascular regulation after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) and could have an antithrombotic effect.

Steven M. Strasberg, Jeffrey A. Lowell, Todd K. Howard – 30 December 2003 – This article examines the scientific, technical, and administrative barriers to splitting donor livers for use in two adults. The main scientific barrier is that cadaveric donor livers at their current level of postoperative function are not sufficiently large to support life in two adult recipients. However, glycogenation of livers from young donors may be a method to overcome this problem in the short term.

M. Susan Mandell, Thomas Henthorn – 30 December 2003

William L. Lanier – 30 December 2003

William T. Merritt – 30 December 2003

Moni Stein, Steven M. Rudich, Jonathan L. Riegler, Richard V. Perez, Daniel P. Link, John P. McVicar – 30 December 2003 – Hepatic artery thrombosis remains one of the most serious complications after orthotopic liver transplantation. Sepsis, biliary leakage and strictures, and retransplantation are often the result of this devastating complication. Because retransplantation or reoperation is sometimes not possible or advisable, other means of reestablishing hepatic artery continuity are desirable.

Rubén Bonilla Guerrero, Kenneth P. Batts, Jeffrey J. Germer, Rogelio G. Perez, Russell H. Wiesner, David H. Persing – 30 December 2003 – Currently, one of the major indications for liver transplantation is infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV). Many studies have suggested that recurrent infection with HCV is universal after transplantation. Fastidious techniques, such as reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR), have proved to be highly sensitive for detecting HCV RNA in serum and in fresh‐frozen and formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded (FFPE) liver tissue.

Mario G. Pessoa, Norah A. Terrault, Linda D. Ferrell, Jill Detmer, Janice Kolberg, Mark L. Collins, Maurene Viele, John R. Lake, John P. Roberts, Nancy L. Ascher, Teresa L. Wright, – 30 December 2003 – This study was designed to determine the cause of posttransplantation hepatitis in patients undergoing transplantation for liver disease of nonviral cause; the role of acquired hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and hepatitis G virus (HGV) in posttransplantation hepatitis; and the course of posttransplantation hepatitis of unknown cause.

Hiroto Egawa,, Yukihiro Inomata, Shingo Nakayama, Akira Matsui, Hirohiko Yamabe, Shinji Uemoto, Katsuhiro Asonuma, Koichi Tanaka – 30 December 2003 – Neonatal disseminated herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection, including fulminant hepatic failure (FHF), is lethal, and the patients rarely have a chance for liver transplantation because of the rapid development of the disease. We describe of a case of FHF secondary to HSV infection in a neonate successfully treated by aggressive intensive care followed by liver transplantation.

Rui Tato Marinho, Fernando Ramalho, José Velosa – 30 December 2003