Assessing cardiovascular risk in the prerenal transplant population: Comparison of myocardial perfusion imaging and coronary angiography with risk factor stratification.

Introduction: Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) have a higher incidence of coronary artery disease (CAD). Hence, it is crucial to evaluate CAD before renal transplantation. This study compares the utility of pharmacologic single-photon emission computed-tomography (SPECT) imaging directly to coronary angiography for diagnosis of CAD with correlation to cardiovascular risk factors.

Aggressive use of ribavirin and prolonged course of peginterferon to improve the rate of viral response in liver transplant patients with recurrent hepatitis C viral infection.

Objectives: There are different approaches for treating recurrent hepatitis C viral infection after a liver transplant. However, sustained virologic response is achieved in < 40% of infected allografts. We examined sustained virologic response improvement using a prolonged course of peginterferon and aggressive use of ribavirin.

Effect of liver transplant on pulmonary functions in adult patients with alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency: 7 cases.

Objectives: Alpha 1 antitrypsin (A1A) is a 52 kD glycoprotein that is mainly synthesized in the liver. As a major protease inhibitor, it binds to and neutralizes neutrophil elastase, thereby limiting the damage to the normal tissues after an inflammatory response. A deficiency in A1A leads to end-stage liver disease, both in children and in adults.

Utility of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts in liver-transplant recipients.

Background: Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPS) have been used to control symptomatic portal hypertension in patients awaiting liver transplant. Although their role in pretransplantation patients is well established, their role in posttransplantation patients is unclear.

Study Design: Retrospective analyses were performed for 18 liver-transplant recipients who underwent TIPS for recurrent end-stage liver disease.

Rituximab (chimeric anti-CD20 antibody) for posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder after solid organ transplantation in adults: long-term experience from a single center.

Background: Occurrence of posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) after transplantation is known. Drastic reduction or withdrawal of immunosuppression with anti-viral therapy for Ebstein-Barr virus (EBV) is the primary treatment for all PTLD. Many PTLD are B cell in origin have CD20 antigen on the cell surface.

Pregnancy after kidney and kidney-pancreas transplantation under tacrolimus: a single center's experience.

Background: Chronic renal failure leads to amenorrhea, and successful pregnancy is rare. The aim of the present report is to examine the outcome of pregnancies under tacrolimus after kidney transplantation (KTx) and simultaneous kidney-pancreas transplantation (SPKTx).

Method: All pregnancies under tacrolimus after KTx or SPKTx from 1993 to April 2002 were retrospectively examined.

Pregnancy after liver transplantation with tacrolimus immunosuppression: a single center's experience update at 13 years.

Background: Chronic liver disease often leads to amenorrhea in women of childbearing age. There are several reports of successful pregnancy after liver transplantation (LTx) with cyclosporine A immunosuppression. Tacrolimus has been increasingly used in solid-organ transplantation, and the effect of the drug on pregnancy is still of interest to clinicians.

Effect of coadministered lopinavir and ritonavir (Kaletra) on tacrolimus blood concentration in liver transplantation patients.

With the advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), HIV positivity is no longer a contraindication for liver transplantation. Some of the antiretroviral agents, particularly protease inhibitors (e.g.