Outcome of Liver Retransplantation in Patients With Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis.

Background And Aims: Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is among the most common indications for liver transplantation in the Nordic countries and with an increasing trend in Europe and North America. Due to post-transplant complications and high prevalence of disease recurrence this group is at risk of requiring retransplantation (re-LTX). Results from re-LTX for PSC are not extensively studied and there is a lack of knowledge regarding prognosis after re-LTX in this population.

Evaluation of Methods to Obtain Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells From Deceased Donors for Tolerance-Induction Protocols.

Regulatory cell therapies have shown promise in tolerance-induction protocols in living donor organ transplantation. These protocols should be pursued in deceased donor transplantation. Donor peripheral mononuclear cells (PBMCs) are an optimal source of donor antigens for the induction of donor-specific regulatory cells.

Recent outcomes of liver transplantation for Budd-Chiari syndrome: A study of the European Liver Transplant Registry (ELTR) and affiliated centers.

Background And Aims: Management of Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) has improved over the last decades. The main aim was to evaluate the contemporary post-liver transplant (post-LT) outcomes in Europe.

Approach And Results: Data from all patients who underwent transplantation from 1976 to 2020 was obtained from the European Liver Transplant Registry (ELTR).

Cyclosporine vs. tacrolimus after liver transplantation for primary sclerosing cholangitis - a propensity score-matched intention-to-treat analysis.

Background & Aims: There is controversy regarding the optimal calcineurin inhibitor type after liver transplant(ation) (LT) for primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). We compared tacrolimus with cyclosporine in a propensity score-matched intention-to-treat analysis based on registries representing nearly all LTs in Europe and the US.

Methods: From the European Liver Transplant Registry (ELTR) and Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR), we included adult patients with PSC undergoing a primary LT between 2000-2020.

Long-term survival after liver transplantation for alcohol-related liver disease in the Nordic countries.

Objectives: Alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) is among the most common indications for liver transplantation (LTX) in Europe and North America, with good five-year survival rates post-LTX. Here we evaluated survival up to and beyond 20 years after LTX for patients with ALD compared to a comparison group.

Methods: Patients with ALD and a comparison group transplanted in the Nordic countries between 1982 and 2020 were included.

Alcohol as a risk factor for mortality in liver transplant patients in Sweden.

Objectives: Liver transplantation (LT) is the only available cure for end-stage liver disease and one of the best treatment options for hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC). Patients with known alcohol-associated cirrhosis (AC) are routinely assessed for alcohol dependence or abuse before LT. Patients with other liver diseases than AC may consume alcohol both before and after LT.

Autofluorescence in freshly isolated adult human liver sinusoidal cells.

Autofluorescent granules of various sizes were observed in primary human liver endothelial cells (LSECs) upon laser irradiation using a wide range of wavelengths. Autofluorescence was detected in LAMP-1 positive vesicles, suggesting lysosomal location. Confocal imaging of freshly prepared cultures and imaging flow cytometry of non-cultured cells revealed fluorescence in all channels used.

Risk Factors for Development of Biliary Stricture After Liver Transplant in Adult Patients: A Single-Center Retrospective Study.

Identification of risk factors for biliary stricture after liver transplant and its potential prevention is crucial to improve the outcomes and reduce the complications. We retrospectively analyzed donor and recipient characteristics with intraoperative and postoperative parameters to identify the risk factors for development of post-transplant anastomotic and nonanastomotic biliary strictures with additional analysis of the time onset of those strictures. A total of 412 patients were included in this study.

Effects of a Domino Liver Transplantation Program on Patient Survival and Waiting List Time: A Single-Center Retrospective Study.

Explanted livers from patients with familial amyloid polyneuropathy have often been used for domino liver transplantation (DLT). This has expanded the organ pool for liver transplantation. We evaluated the effects of a single-center DLT program on waiting list duration and patient survival.

Access of non-residents to transplantation of deceased donor organs: practices and strategies in the European setting.

The access of non-resident patients to the deceased donor waiting list (DDWL) poses different challenges. The European Committee on Organ Transplantation of the Council of Europe (CD-P-TO) has studied this phenomenon in the European setting. A questionnaire was circulated among the Council of Europe member states to inquire about the criteria applied for non-residents to access their DDWL.

Cibinetide Protects Isolated Human Islets in a Stressful Environment and Improves Engraftment in the Perspective of Intra Portal Islet Transplantation.

During intra-portal pancreatic islet transplantation (PITx), innate immune reactions such as the instant blood mediated inflammatory reaction (IBMIR) cause an immediate loss of islets. The non-hematopoietic erythropoietin analogue cibinetide has previously shown islet-protective effects in mouse PITx. Herein, we aimed to confirm cibinetide's efficacy on human islets, and to characterize its effect on IBMIR.

COVID-19 in liver transplant candidates: pretransplant and post-transplant outcomes - an ELITA/ELTR multicentre cohort study.

Objective: Explore the impact of COVID-19 on patients on the waiting list for liver transplantation (LT) and on their post-LT course.

Design: Data from consecutive adult LT candidates with COVID-19 were collected across Europe in a dedicated registry and were analysed.

Results: From 21 February to 20 November 2020, 136 adult cases with laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection from 33 centres in 11 European countries were collected, with 113 having COVID-19.

Symptomatic Val122del mutated hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis: Need for early diagnosis and prioritization for heart and liver transplantation.

Background: Hereditary transthyretin (ATTRv) amyloidosis is an autosomal dominant disease linked to transthyretin gene mutations which cause instability of the transthyretin tetramer. After dissociation and misfolding they reassemble as insoluble fibrils (i.e.

Recurrence of primary sclerosing cholangitis after liver transplantation - analysing the European Liver Transplant Registry and beyond.

Liver transplantation for primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) can be complicated by recurrence of PSC (rPSC). This may compromise graft survival but the effect on patient survival is less clear. We investigated the effect of post-transplant rPSC on graft and patient survival in a large European cohort.

COVID-19 in solid organ transplant recipients: A national cohort study from Sweden.

Solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients run a high risk for adverse outcomes from COVID-19, with reported mortality around 19%. We retrospectively reviewed all known Swedish SOT recipients with RT-PCR confirmed COVID-19 between March 1 and November 20, 2020 and analyzed patient characteristics, management, and outcome. We identified 230 patients with a median age of 54.

Protective Role of Tacrolimus, Deleterious Role of Age and Comorbidities in Liver Transplant Recipients With Covid-19: Results From the ELITA/ELTR Multi-center European Study.

Background And Aims: Despite concerns that liver transplant (LT) recipients may be at increased risk of unfavorable outcomes from COVID-19 due the high prevalence of co-morbidities, immunosuppression and ageing, a detailed analysis of their effects in large studies is lacking.

Methods: Data from adult LT recipients with laboratory confirmed SARS-CoV2 infection were collected across Europe. All consecutive patients with symptoms were included in the analysis.

Characteristics, Trends, and Outcomes of Liver Transplantation for Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis in Female Versus Male Patients: An Analysis From the European Liver Transplant Registry.

Background: The influence of sex on primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), pre- and postliver transplantation (LT) is unclear. Aims are to assess whether there have been changes in incidence, profile, and outcome in LT-PSC patients in Europe with specific emphasis on sex.

Methods: Analysis of the European Liver Transplant Registry database (PSC patients registered before 2018), including baseline demographics, donor, biochemical, and clinical data at LT, immunosuppression, and outcome.

The role of the comprehensive complication index for the prediction of survival after liver transplantation.

In the last years, several scoring systems based on pre- and post-transplant parameters have been developed to predict early post-LT graft function. However, some of them showed poor diagnostic abilities. This study aims to evaluate the role of the comprehensive complication index (CCI) as a useful scoring system for accurately predicting 90-day and 1-year graft loss after liver transplantation.

Improvement of Islet Allograft Function Using Cibinetide, an Innate Repair Receptor Ligand.

Background: During intraportal pancreatic islet transplantation (PITx), early inflammatory reactions cause an immediate loss of more than half of the transplanted graft and potentiate subsequent allograft rejection. Previous findings suggest that cibinetide, a selective innate repair receptor agonist, exerts islet protective and antiinflammatory properties and improved transplant efficacy in syngeneic mouse PITx model. In a stepwise approach toward a clinical application, we have here investigated the short- and long-term effects of cibinetide in an allogeneic mouse PITx model.

Blood Group Antigen Expression in Isolated Human Liver Cells in Preparation for Implementing Clinical ABO-Incompatible Hepatocyte Transplantation.

Background: ABO blood group antigens in the liver are expressed mainly on endothelial cells or biliary epithelial cells but not on hepatocytes. This suggests that ABO-incompatible hepatocyte transplantation (ABOi-HTx) is theoretically feasible. However, the effects of stress on ABO blood group antigen expression caused by isolation and intraportal infusion require thorough investigation before ABOi-HTx can be implemented in clinical settings.

Transfer of Hemolysis, Elevated Liver Enzymes, and Low Platelets Syndrome by a Liver Graft From a Pregnant Female Donor to a Male Recipient: A Case Report.

Eclampsia with hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets (HELLP) syndrome is a rare complication of pregnancy. HELLP syndrome may occur up to a week postpartum in women with eclampsia. CASE REPORT: We report a case of liver transplantation with the organ procured from a pregnant (gestation week 28) female donor who suffered brain death after cerebellar hemorrhage owing to eclampsia.

Impact of Hepatic Artery Variations and Reconstructions on the Outcome of Orthotopic Liver Transplantation.

Background: Donor variational arteries often require complex reconstruction.

Methods: We analysed the incidence of different variations, types of arterial reconstructions and their impact on post-operative results from 409 patients undergoing liver transplantation at Karolinska Institute between 2007 and 2015.

Results: A total of 292 (71.