Hepatitis B immunoglobulin prophylaxis after liver transplantation: experience in a tertiary transplant centre.

Background: Prophylaxis with hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) and nucleoside analogs can prevent hepatitis B virus (HBV) recurrence after liver transplant (LT).

Aim: To determine the efficacy and cost of maintaining immunoprophylaxis with HBIG and hyperimmune plasma (HIP) for 6 months after LT.

Material & Methods: The study included 22 HBV related LT recipients who were on entecavir and either HBIG or HIP for 6 months.

Tuberculosis in liver transplant recipients: experience of a South Indian liver transplant center.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious disease for liver transplant recipients (LTRs). Data on post-liver transplant TB from high-burden countries are scant. The aims of this study were to describe the prevalence of TB in LTRs from a high-prevalence area and to analyze the risk factors for the development of post-liver transplant TB.

Tacrolimus-related adverse effects in liver transplant recipients: its association with trough concentrations.

Background: Tacrolimus is an important immunosuppressant administered to patients following liver transplantation (LT), with a recommended trough concentration of 8 to 11 ng/mL to prevent allograft rejection. We retrospectively examined our data to identify the tacrolimus trough concentration that combined efficacy with minimal adverse effects.

Methods: The case records of LT recipients, who were nondiabetic, nonhypertensive, and with normal renal parameters prior to LT were retrospectively examined for acute cellular rejection (ACR) episodes and three major adverse effects of tacrolimus, i.

Perioperative bacterial infections in deceased donor and living donor liver transplant recipients.

Background: Deceased donor (DDLT) and living donor (LDLT) liver transplant (LT) is in vogue in several centers in India. Most centers are resorting to LDLT as a preferred surgery due to shortage of deceased donor liver. The risk of infection and its effect on survival in both groups of recipients from the Indian subcontinent are not known.

A surveillance programme for Barrett's oesophagus in a UK general hospital.

Background: Surveillance programmes for oesophageal cancer in patients with Barrett's columnar-lined oesophagus have reported varying efficacies.

Aim: To review the effectiveness of an endoscopic surveillance programme for patients with Barrett's oesophagus in a UK general hospital.

Methods: Patients with Barrett's oesophagus (> or =3 cm histologically proven columnar-lined oesophagus) were identified from endoscopic and histological records and outcomes recorded when surveillance was performed with 2-yearly endoscopies and quadrantic biopsies at 3 cm intervals.