Liver Transplant News and Research

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When a patient presents with end stage liver disease or liver failure he or she may be considered for a liver transplantation. The first step in this is often a rigorous assessment and being placed on a waiting list.

Where are Australia’s missing hepatitis C cases?

Around 90% of those infected have not received treatment, despite the potential for cure, a report to coincide with National Hepatitis Week shows

18 May 2010

Inhibitex commences trials on INX-189 for treatment of Hepatitis C infections

The first clinical trials have started on a new investigational drug, discovered by researchers at Cardiff University, which is being developed to treat infections caused by Hepatitis C virus.

15 May 2010

Hepatitis B treatment appears to improve liver transplant outcomes for some patients: Study

Treatment to reduce recurrence of hepatitis B appears to improve liver transplant outcomes for some patients, according to a Mayo Clinic study presented at the American Transplant Congress under way May 1-5 in San Diego.

5 May 2010

Extended hepatitis C treatment increases sustained virological response after liver transplant

Extending hepatitis C treatment for liver transplant patients beyond current standards results in high clearance rates of the hepatitis C virus from the blood, and a low relapse rate, according to a study by Henry Ford Hospital.

3 May 2010

Choice of transplant center can make noteworthy difference in patients' outcomes: Study

For patients in need of a liver transplant, their choice of a transplant center can make a noteworthy difference in their outcomes, according to a Mayo Clinic study presented at the American Transplant Congress under way May 1-5 in San Diego.

3 May 2010

Heart and liver transplant recipients at higher risk of developing lung cancer: Researchers

Heart and liver transplant recipients are at particularly high risk of developing lung cancer after receiving the donated organ, researchers report at the 2nd European Lung Cancer Conference. They are advising doctors to screen for such cancers in these patients to maximize the chance of detecting the malignancy early.

3 May 2010

Health outcomes explored at DDW 2010

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, which may soon be the leading indication for liver transplant, is found to be significantly associated with worse transplant outcomes. In addition, a new tool for diagnosing NAFLD represents an alternative to liver biopsy, which is more expensive and prone to complications, and ultrasound and alfafeprotein blood test screening are an effective alternative to CT scan and MRI for patients with cirrhosis at high risk for hepatocellular cancer.

3 May 2010

Liver transplant recipients develop premature immune senescence: Researchers

Researchers at the University of Cambridge found that liver transplant recipients develop premature immune senescence, the normal process by which the immune system ages and becomes less effective. Full details appear in the May issue of Liver Transplantation, a journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases.

30 Apr 2010

Jefferson Medical College surgeon uses artificial liver assist device as bridge to transplantation

Cataldo Doria, M.D., Ph.D., Nicoletti Family Professor of Transplant Surgery at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, and director of the Division of Transplantation at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital is the first transplant surgeon in the United States to use a new totally artificial liver assist device as a bridge to transplantation.

27 Apr 2010

New blood test to determine patients at low risk for rejection of transplanted hearts

After his heart transplant in 2005, Ramon Llenado underwent a biopsy every week, then every month, then every three months. Most heart transplant patients face a lifetime of these invasive tests, which involve snipping out tiny pieces of heart to check for possible organ rejection.

23 Apr 2010

LSF gene plays important role in development and progression of HCC: VCU researchers

Virginia Commonwealth University researchers have identified a new tumor-promoting gene that may play a key role in the development of liver cancer. Levels of the gene's expression are significantly higher in more than 90 percent of patients with the disease compared to their healthy counterparts.

20 Apr 2010

Study evaluates therapeutic effects of FXR and TGR5 agonist in PSC

Results of a study presented today at the International Liver Congress 2010 demonstrate that a dual FXR and TGR5 agonist decreases liver damage and modulates hepatic inflammation and fibrosis in a mouse model of primary sclerosing chlolangitis. In contrast, selective FXR or TGR5 agonists have no beneficial effect.

19 Apr 2010

New treatment options for patients with SAH

Results from two French studies presented today at the International Liver CongressTM 2010 press conference will help inform clinical practice in the treatment of patients with severe or acute alcoholic hepatitis.

17 Apr 2010

Treatment with high dose UDCA no more effective for NASH: German study

Results of a German study presented today at the International Liver CongressTM 2010, the Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Liver in Vienna, Austria, have shown that overall, treatment with high dose (23-28mg/kg/d) ursodeoxycholic acid is no more effective than placebo in the treatment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, the most advanced form of non-alcoholic liver disease associated with cirrhosis of the liver.

17 Apr 2010

Liver transplant loan repayment expected says WA Premier

Claire Murray, 24 died last week in a Singapore hospital following complications related to her second liver transplant. Her first tax-payer funded transplanted liver was damaged due to her relapsing into heroin addiction.

7 Apr 2010

Exchange donor programs are viable alternatives for blood-group incompatible transplants

2 Apr 2010

Living donor exchange poses new option for liver transplantation

Two major transplant centers in Hong Kong and South Korea released results from their paired donor exchange programs for living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). A single paired exchange, performed by the Hong Kong team under emergency circumstances, was a success. The Korean team reported 16 donor exchanges conducted over a 6-year period were successful. Full details of this novel approach to organ transplantation appear in the April issue of Liver Transplantation, a journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD).

1 Apr 2010

Young mother dies of post-liver transplant complications in Singapore

Claire Murray, a 25 year old woman from Perth, suffered from a liver failure due to drug addition. She underwent a controversial second live liver transplant where a part of her aunt’s liver was given to her two weeks ago. She has reportedly succumbed to her condition and died just before 12:00pm (AWST) from complications in Singapore.

1 Apr 2010

Potential new target for treating HCV infection

A team of scientists including University of Utah researchers has discovered that binding of a potent inhibitor of the hepatitis C virus to the genetic material of the virus causes a major conformational change that may adversely affect the ability of the virus to replicate.

30 Mar 2010

Sirolimus-based immunosuppression improves survivals after transplantation for HCC

A recent study found that sirolimus-based immunosuppression following liver transplantation in patients with non-resectable hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer) significantly increases survival rates for this patient population.

26 Mar 2010

Liver Transplant News and Research

Further Reading

Where are Australia’s missing hepatitis C cases?

Inhibitex commences trials on INX-189 for treatment of Hepatitis C infections

Hepatitis B treatment appears to improve liver transplant outcomes for some patients: Study

Extended hepatitis C treatment increases sustained virological response after liver transplant

Choice of transplant center can make noteworthy difference in patients' outcomes: Study

Heart and liver transplant recipients at higher risk of developing lung cancer: Researchers

Health outcomes explored at DDW 2010

Liver transplant recipients develop premature immune senescence: Researchers

Jefferson Medical College surgeon uses artificial liver assist device as bridge to transplantation

New blood test to determine patients at low risk for rejection of transplanted hearts

LSF gene plays important role in development and progression of HCC: VCU researchers

Study evaluates therapeutic effects of FXR and TGR5 agonist in PSC

New treatment options for patients with SAH

Treatment with high dose UDCA no more effective for NASH: German study

Liver transplant loan repayment expected says WA Premier

Exchange donor programs are viable alternatives for blood-group incompatible transplants

Living donor exchange poses new option for liver transplantation

Young mother dies of post-liver transplant complications in Singapore

Potential new target for treating HCV infection

Sirolimus-based immunosuppression improves survivals after transplantation for HCC

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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