Objective To investigate the effective regimen and security to treat the hepatitis C virus (HCV) recurrence after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT).Methods The clinical data of 9 cases of HCV related end-stage hepatopathy after liver transplantation were retrospectively analyzed.Five patients with recurrent HCV after OLT were selected for treatment,and all of them were given pygylated interferon αα-2a and ribavirin.The treatment course was 48 weeks.The changes in hemoglobin,white blood cells,transaminase,and HCV RNA copies were observed before and after treatment.The early viral response (EVR),sustained viral response (SVR) and adverse reactions were assessed.Results Three cases out of 5 cases of HCV recurrence after OLT obtained EVR within 12 weeks,all of them obtained SVR after the treatment,and the function of the transplanted liver returned to normal; In one case,HCV RNA was declined by less than 102 copies after 12 weeks of treatment,and the treatment was terminated; In one case,HCV RNA was declined by greater than 102 copies after 12 weeks of treatment,and at 24th week,HCV RNA was still positive and the treatment was terminated,but HCV RNA remained at a low level at 48th week.Side effects occurred in all 5 cases after antiviral treatment,and alleviated after symptomatic treatment.Conclusion To treat the recurrence of HCV timely after OLT by pygylated interferon (in combination with ribavirin was safe,and the majority of patients could achieved sustained virological response.

Objective To evaluate the relevant causes of neurologic complications following liver transplantation.Methods 155 adult patients (131 males, 24 females) who received liver transplantation for the first time at Tongji Hospital between January 2005 and September 2009 were identified.Case notes were reviewed and demographic data, details of the liver disease, neurologic complications, MELD score and discharge information were recorded.Results Neurologic complications occurred following 36 transplants (23.2 %), The complications included mental symptoms in 15 cases (41.7 %), disorder of consciousness and action in 9 cases (25 %), and coma in 12 cases (33.3 %).Twelve percent patients with liver cancer experienced a neurologic complication, which was lower than for other transplant indications, like acute and chronic hepatic failure because of HBV infection (33.3 %, P＜0.01), inborn/metabolic disease (40 %, P＜0.05), and HCV Infection (25 %, P = 0.36).Patients who experienced a neurologic problem had significantly higher MELD score (for non-cancer patients:22.93 ± 8.21; for cancer patients:17 ± 5.4) than the other Patients (for non-cancer patients:18.33 + 8.47, P＜0.05; for cancer patients:13 ±3.4, P＜0.01).The rate of infection (36.1 %) and mortality (30.5 %) were significantly higher in patients with neurologic complications (P＜0.01).The levels of ALT, TBil, ALB, PT and the concentrations of serum sodium and chlorine had no impact on neurologic complications.Conclusion Neurologic complications are common in liver transplant recipients.These complications are related to primary disease and liver function before the operation, and increase the rate of infection and mortality.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of comprehensive treatment for liver cancer recurrence and metastasis after liver transplantation, and investigate the risk factors affecting the lifespan of patients with liver cancer recurrence and metastasis. Methods Of 29 patients with liver cancer recurrence and metastasis after liver transplantation, 11 patients in the comprehensive treatment group were treated by TACE, microwave coagulation, radiotherapy or hepatectomy, and the remaining 18 patients were classified into chemotherapy group. The differences in efficacy between the 2 treatment modalities were compared, and the factors influencing the patients' lifespan were analyzed. Results Compared with patients in the chemotherapy group, patients in the comprehensive treatment group had significantly longer lifespan after liver cancer recurrence and metastasis (t = 5. 617, P < 0.01). TNM staging, pathological classification, time of postoperative recurrence and metastasis and treatment method were the factors that influence the lifespan of patients with liver cancer recurrence and metastasis after liver transplantation (t =2.843, 3.061,22.781,5.617, P <0.01). Conclusions Comprehensive treatment could prolong the lifespan of patients with liver cancer recurrence and metastasis after liver transplantation. The efficacy of comprehensive treatment is superior to that of the chemotherapy.

We report a case of reversible hepatofugal portal flow after auxiliary partial orthotopic liver transplantation (APOLT) from a living donor in this study. On postoperative day 6, continuous hepatofugal portal flow was observed in the grafted liver without portal thrombosis and obstruction of the hepatic vein. Based on histological findings, acute rejection was the suspected cause. The normal portal venous flow was restored after steroid pulse and antithymocyte globulin (ATG) therapies. The patient was discharged on the 30th postoperative day. It was concluded that hepatofugal flow after liver transplantation is a sign of serious acute rejection, and can be successfully treated by anti-rejection therapy.

Objective To discuss the improvement of surgical techniques and adjustment of immunosuppressive regimen for combined liver and intestinal transplantation.Method A male patient with liver dysfunction and short bowel syndrome underwent the combined liver and intestinal transplantation.Ostomy of graft was performed instead of intestinal anastomosis during the operation.The anastomosis of graft and autologous intestine was performed 8 months after transplantation.Hospital and follow-up data of the patients were analyzed retrospectively.Result The functions of liver and small bowel recovered smoothly after operation.Slight rejection occurred one month after operation with normal function of intestine but dysfunction of liver.In the first month after operation, abdominal infection was controlled by intraperitoneal drainage with open surgery.Immunosuppression protocol was administrated with alemtuzumab for induction plus maintenance treatment with tacrolimus, and mycophenolate mofetil was added because of renal dysfunction 2 years after transplantation.The patient was followed up for nearly 3 years with good quality of life without rejection and infection.Conclusion Combined liver and intestinal transplantation could improve patient's life quality and extend the survival time through the improvement of surgical techniques and individual immunosuppressive regimen.

Objective To investigate the effects of treatment on end-stage liver disease and diabetes mellitus by simultaneous liver-pancreas-duodenum transplantation with the pancreas of the recipients reserved.Method Simultaneous liver-pancreas-duodenum transplantations were carried out in three patients with the pancreas of the recipients reserved.The diseases of the recipient 1,2,and 3 were alcoholic liver cirrhosis and diabetes mellitus,chronic hepatitis B liver cirrhosis and diabetes mellitus,and chronic hepatitis B liver cirrhosis and diabetes mellitus complicated with renal function failure.The recipient 3 received simultaneous renal transplantation.Result The recipient 1 suffered from pancreatitis after the operation and discharged with normal liver function and blood glucose levels,and he was treated with insulin at 4th year after the operation.Intestinal fistula occurred in the recipient 2 and drainage was done without acute peritonitis,the liver allograft was experienced an acute rejection episode treated by intravenous bolus methylpredisolone at 19th month after operation,but gastrointestinal perforation happened and the patient died of acute peritonitis.In the recipient 3,peripancreatic effusion and pancreatitis happened and were treated by drainage,and the recipient survived to now with normal liver and kidney functions,but given insulin at first year after operation.Conclusion It is effective to implement simultaneous liver-pancreas-duodenum transplantation with the pancreas of the recipients reserved on the patients with end-stage liver disease and diabetes mellitus.However,how to maintain the pancreatic endocrine function after the transplantation for a long period awaits further investigation.

Objective To discuss the curative effect of transplantation using donation after cardiac death (DCD) according with Chinese standard Ⅲ (C-Ⅲ).Methods The organs were obtained from 4 DCDs from 2011 to 2012,and the clinical data of DCD transplantation were retrospectively analyzed.Withdrawal of life support occurred in the operating room.Donor warm ischemia time was 7-15 min.Results The biopsy of liver was performed on the 3rd DCD.Eight cases were subjected to renal transplantations,and 3 to liver transplantations.One patient exhibited delayed graft function of the kidney from the 4th DCD.All patients made an uneventful recovery and were discharged from the hospital without rejection or surgical complication.They were followed up in outpatient department.Conclusion The use of DCD according with C-Ⅲ is an effective way to increase the number of organs available for transplantation,and can obtain satisfactory effects.

Objective To analyze the curative effect of simultaneous liver and kidney transplantation (SLKT) for patients with end-stage liver and kidney diseases and liver cirrhosis patients with hepatorenal syndrome.Methods All SLKTs (n=21) performed at our center from January 1999 to December 2010 were reviewed and SLKT outcomes were compared with those of kidney transplantation (KT) (n=609) and liver transplantation (LT) (n=133) performed during the same period.Results There were 3 deaths due to infection 2 weeks, 6 months and 5 years respectively after operation. One patient died due to multiple organ dysfunction syndrome 2 weeks after operation. One patient was dead 5 years after operation because of rejection. MELD level between SLKT and LT had no significant difference, but serum creatinine in SLKT group was significantly higher than in LT group (516.0±329.9 vs 111.4±138.1 mmol/L, P<0.01). The 1-year acute kidney rejection rate and rate of delayed graft function (DGF) of the kidney had no significant difference between SLKT group (0 vs 9.5 %) and KT group (6 % vs 17.3 %). There was no significant difference in one-, 3- and 5-year patient survival rate between SLKT group (87.7 %, 67.8 % and 67.8 %) and LT group (84.2 %, 73.5 % and 69.4 %).Conclusion SLKT is a safe and effective treatment for end-stage liver and kidney diseases.

Objective To discuss the surgical procedures and treatment after combined liver and intestinal transplantation with portal venous drainage and enterostomy of two ends in one case.Methods A male patient with liver dysfunction and short bowel syndrome underwent the combined liver and intestinal transplantation.With the techniques of en bloc,the liver and intestinal grafts were harvested from cadaveric donor.The intestinal graft,200 cm long,was implanted with portal venous drainage and aortic inflow,and enterostomy of both ends was performed instead of intestinal anastomosis.The liver graft was placed in a piggyback fashion with end to end anastomosis of the bile ducts without T tube. Inmunosuppression protocol was administrated with campath-1H and tacrolimus.Endoscopic biopsy of intestinal graft was performed regularly,and clinical observation was done to monitor the acute rejection.Results In the first month after operation,abdominal infection was controlled by intraperitoneal drainage with open surgery.One suspect acute rejection was treated with methylprednisolone.Until sixth month,the functions of liver and intestine were progressively restored.However,the patient lost weight and could not be free from intravenous nutrition because of diarrhea.Conclusion Combined liver and intestinal transplantation with portal venous drainage and enterostomy of two ends is a simple surgical procedure with lower risk of surgical complications.This method is propitious to monitoring rejection and function improvement of the grafts.Diarrhea and loss of digestive juice are the main reasons of low body weight and malnutrition.

We report a case of reversible hepatofugal portal flow after auxiliary partial orthotopic liver transplantation (APOLT) from a living donor in this study. On postoperative day 6, continuous hepatofugal portal flow was observed in the grafted liver without portal thrombosis and obstruction of the hepatic vein. Based on histological findings, acute rejection was the suspected cause. The normal portal venous flow was restored after steroid pulse and antithymocyte globulin (ATG) therapies. The patient was discharged on the 30th postoperative day. It was concluded that hepatofugal flow after liver transplantation is a sign of serious acute rejection, and can be successfully treated by anti-rejection therapy.
Adult ; Antilymphocyte Serum ; therapeutic use ; Graft Rejection ; prevention & control ; Hepatic Artery ; diagnostic imaging ; physiology ; Hepatolenticular Degeneration ; surgery ; Humans ; Immunosuppression ; methods ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; therapeutic use ; Liver Transplantation ; adverse effects ; methods ; Living Donors ; Male ; Portal Vein ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Tacrolimus ; therapeutic use ; Ultrasonography