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.

Thomas Jefferson University Hospital commences live donor liver transplant program

The Division of Transplantation in the Department of Surgery at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital (TJUH) has started a live donor liver transplant program. Live donor liver transplantation (LDLT) is a procedure in which a living person donates a portion of his or her liver to another person. Combined, the two operations typically take about 12 hours. Since the program began in summer 2010, three patients and their donors have successfully undergone the procedure.

4 Oct 2010

NIH to award $64M under Transformative Research Projects program

The National Institutes of Health will award up to $64 million over five years to encourage exploration of exceptionally innovative and original research ideas that have the potential for extraordinary impact.

4 Oct 2010

Candidates who have strong religious connection have better post-transplant survival

Italian researchers report that liver transplant candidates who have a strong religious connection have better post-transplant survival. This study also finds that religiosity—regardless of cause of death—prolongs the life span of individuals who underwent liver transplantation.

1 Oct 2010

AASLD, TFAH report calls for action to help identify Americans living with HBV, HCV

The American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and the Trust for America's Health issued a new report today calling for action to be taken to transform how the country deals with viral hepatitis – to help identify millions of Americans who know they are living with chronic forms of hepatitis B and C and to assure access to treatment for all who need it, to prevent even more Americans from becoming infected.

28 Sep 2010

First intestine transplant in Michigan performed on 50-year-old Port Austin patient

The first intestine (bowel) transplant in Michigan was performed on a 50-year-old patient from Port Austin by physicians at Henry Ford Hospital.

23 Sep 2010

Vital Therapies expands SILVER clinical trial to Middle East

Vital Therapies, Inc., is pleased to announce that the first subject has been enrolled at National Guard Hospital in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the further expansion of its SILVER clinical trial to the Middle East. The trial is evaluating whether VTI's biological cellular therapy product, ELAD, can prevent deterioration of liver function and improve the survival of patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure.

17 Sep 2010

Study finds Laotian/Hmong-Americans have low survival rates for liver cancer

Among Asian-Americans living in California, Laotian/Hmong-Americans have the lowest survival rates for the most common type of liver cancer, a new study by researchers with the UC Davis School of Medicine has found.

10 Sep 2010

Researchers complete INX-189 clinical trials for Hepatitis C virus

The first clinical trials on a new investigational drug being developed to treat infections caused by Hepatitis C virus have been successfully completed.

3 Sep 2010

Pfizer enters agreement to acquire FoldRx Pharmaceuticals

Pfizer Inc. and FoldRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a privately held drug discovery and clinical development company, today announced that they have entered into an agreement under which Pfizer will acquire FoldRx.

2 Sep 2010

Beaumont Hospital expands new multi-organ transplant program

Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak became Michigan's third liver transplant center on Aug. 31. A 59-year-old man from Royal Oak was the first patient to receive a liver transplant through Beaumont's new multi-organ transplant program.

2 Sep 2010

FDA extends review on Acetadote for non-acetaminophen acute liver failure

Cumberland Pharmaceuticals Inc. today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has extended its review of the supplemental new drug application (sNDA) for the use of Acetadote® (acetylcysteine) Injection in patients with non-acetaminophen acute liver failure.

21 Aug 2010

Study finds Hispanics, Asians less likely to receive liver transplants

Researchers at the University of Michigan and Arbor Research Collaborative for Health, both in Ann Arbor, have identified geographic variation as a key factor accounting for disparities in access to liver transplantation among racial and ethnic groups.

20 Aug 2010

Study finds factor behind alcohol use disorder after liver transplantation

Patients who receive a liver transplant due to alcoholic liver disease need to demonstrate periods of abstinence and often attend addiction treatment before transplantation. However, alcohol use disorders can recur, as can other diseases requiring transplantation, and thus alcohol use after liver transplantation is not uncommon.

19 Aug 2010

Hepatitis C rather than Donor Risk Index is major contributor to poor graft survival in transplant patients

The Donor Risk Index, which assesses donor characteristics impacting liver transplantation outcomes, does not bear the same impact on outcomes on a small scale as is suggested from large-scale, national data.

17 Aug 2010

Clinical cases that use IQQA-Liver for operative assessments exceed 1000: EDDA Technology

EDDA Technology announced today that the number of clinical cases evaluated for pre- and post- operative assessment using IQQA-Liver in hospitals has exceeded 1000 examinations, since the first commercial system installation in Q2 2009. EDDA's IQQA-Liver, now marketed worldwide, is a comprehensive workflow solution supporting modern multidisciplinary liver imaging evaluation and management.

12 Aug 2010

Anti-viral drug addition to standard treatment regimen increases cure rate for hepatitis C

Adding a direct acting anti-viral drug to the standard treatment regimen for hepatitis C significantly increases the cure rate in the most difficult to treat patients, according to a research report published Monday in the online edition of the journal The Lancet.The research team, led by Paul Kwo, M.D., of Indiana University School of Medicine, reported that adding the drug nearly doubled the treatment's effectiveness when given for 48 weeks in one treatment arm of the study.

9 Aug 2010

Recommendations available for managing ascites, SBP and hepatorenal syndrome

The peer reviewed guidelines will be available in the September 2010 issue, (Volume 53, No.3) of the Journal of Hepatology and online in advance of publication at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20633946 . They also provide recommendations for the management of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis and hepatorenal syndrome, which often affect patients with cirrhosis.

3 Aug 2010

New trend in management of post-liver transplantation biliary strictures

Endoscopic intervention has emerged to become the first line treatment for benign biliary strictures following liver transplantation. The current endoscopic approach involves repetitive dilatation of the stricture and placement of multiple large-diameter parallel plastic stents with frequent stent exchange to prevent biliary infection.

3 Aug 2010

Taligen Therapeutics to highlight three pipeline candidates at XXIII ICW

Taligen Therapeutics, a biotechnology company developing therapies that regulate the complement system to treat inflammatory and immune diseases, today announced that preclinical data on three of its pipeline candidates will be highlighted at the XXIII International Complement Workshop taking place August 1-5, 2010, in New York City.

2 Aug 2010

VBDS secondary to nevirapine use in HIV-positive, pregnant female: Report

Vanishing bile duct syndrome refers to a group of disorders characterized by destruction and disappearance of intrahepatic (inside the liver) bile ducts. Multiple causes have been identified including infections, malignancies, autoimmune conditions and adverse effects of medications. The usual course of this condition is variable and many patients with VBDS respond to treatment of the underlying condition and/ or removal of the offending agent. However, others progress to cirrhosis and end stage liver disease requiring liver transplantation.

31 Jul 2010