Randomized controlled trial of total immunosuppression withdrawal in liver transplant recipients: role of ursodeoxycholic acid.

Background: Total immunosuppression withdrawal (TIW) without causing rejection has been reported in stable liver recipients. The role of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and patient characteristics that predict the success of this tolerance are unclear. There are two goals, to determine: 1) whether TIW is frequently associated with rejection; and 2) whether UDCA decreases the risk of liver disease (both rejection and recurrence) after TIW.

Are chronic hepatitis C viral infections more benign in patients with hemophilia?

Background And Aims: Cirrhosis is associated with thromboses of the intrahepatic vasculature. This raises the possibility that HCV infections in hemophiliacs may differ from those in non-hemophiliacs

Methods: Liver biopsy findings from 12 hemophiliacs and 20 age- and gender-matched, non-hemophiliac controls with chronic hepatitis C viral (HCV) infections were compared for inflammatory activity and fibrosis.

Results: The mean ages of hemophiliacs and controls were 35.