Prospective evaluation of cystatin C in the assessment of kidney dysfunction and survival in liver transplant candidates.

Kidney dysfunction is associated with decreased survival in liver transplant (LT) candidates, yet serum creatinine (sCr) is a poor surrogate for glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in this population. Serum cystatin C (CysC) may provide a more accurate assessment of kidney function and predict outcomes. We performed a multicenter prospective cohort study of consecutive candidates for LT.

Long-term outcomes (beyond 5 years) of liver transplant recipients-A transatlantic multicenter study.

The long-term (>5 y) outcomes following liver transplantation (LT) have not been extensively reported. The aim was to evaluate outcomes of LT recipients who have survived the first 5 years. A multicenter retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from 3 high volume LT centers (Dallas-USA, Birmingham-UK, and Barcelona-Spain) was undertaken.

Detailed Analysis of Simultaneous Renal and Liver Allografts in the Presence of DSA.

Unlabelled: Liver allografts protect renal allografts from the same donor from some, but not all, preformed donor specific alloantibodies (DSA). However, the precise mechanisms of protection and the potential for more subtle alterations/injuries within the grafts resulting from DSA interactions require further study.

Methods: We reevaluated allograft biopsies from simultaneous liver-kidney transplant recipients who had both allografts biopsied within 60 d of one another and within 30 d of DSA being positive in serum (positive: mean florescence intensity ≥5000).

Belatacept Treatment of Recurrent Late-onset T Cell-mediated Rejection/Antibody-mediated Rejection With De Novo Donor-specific Antibodies in a Liver Transplant Patient.

Unlabelled: T cell-mediated rejection that appears and persists late after transplantation is often associated with development of de novo donor-specific antibodies. Treatment of this condition often presents a conundrum because of the uncertainty regarding the trade-off between immunosuppression-related toxicities/complications and restoration of allograft function and structure.

Methods: Herein, we report an illustrative case of a young 20-y-old otherwise healthy woman who underwent liver replacement for Alagille's syndrome from an ABO-compatible, 6 antigen-mismatched crossmatch-negative 24-y-old man.

New ERAS in liver transplantation - Past, present, and next steps.

There are parallels between the history of Enhanced Recovery after Surgery (ERAS) and liver transplantation. Both have been established and advanced by innovative individuals, often going against perceived wisdom and convention. Liver transplantation has traditionally been considered too complex for ERAS pathways, despite a small number of trials showing them to be both safe and of benefit.

Molecular Signature Predictive of Long-Term Liver Fibrosis Progression to Inform Antifibrotic Drug Development.

Background & Aims: There is a major unmet need to assess the prognostic impact of antifibrotics in clinical trials because of the slow rate of liver fibrosis progression. We aimed to develop a surrogate biomarker to predict future fibrosis progression.

Methods: A fibrosis progression signature (FPS) was defined to predict fibrosis progression within 5 years in patients with hepatitis C virus and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) with no to minimal fibrosis at baseline (n = 421) and was validated in an independent NAFLD cohort (n = 78).

Implication of TIGIT human memory B cells in immune regulation.

Regulatory B cells (Bregs) contribute to immune regulation. However, the mechanisms of action of Bregs remain elusive. Here, we report that T cell immunoreceptor with Ig and ITIM domains (TIGIT) expressed on human memory B cells especially CD19CD24CD27CD39IgDIgMCD1c B cells is essential for effective immune regulation.

Non-HLA Autoantibodies at 1 Year Negatively Affect 5-Year Native Renal Function in Liver Transplant Recipients.

Background: Angiotensin II type-1 receptor (ATR) and endothelin-1 type A receptor (ETR) autoantibodies, in addition to allograft injury, can bind native endothelial cells and cause vascular vasoconstriction and fibrosis progression in nontransplanted organs. Therefore, we investigated long-term native renal function in liver transplant (LT) recipients with and without anti-ATR-Abs and/or anti-ETR-Abs present in serum.

Methods: Primary LT recipients at our single center from January 2000 to April 2009 had their prospectively collected pre-LT (1269 patients) and year 1 post-LT (795 patients) serum tested retrospectively for anti-ATR-Abs and/or anti-ETR-Abs.

ALLY in fighting COVID-19: magnitude of albumin decline and lymphopenia (ALLY) predict progression to critical disease.

The global severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic leading to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is straining hospitals. Judicious resource allocation is paramount but difficult due to the unpredictable disease course. Once hospitalized, discerning which patients may progress to critical disease would be valuable for resource planning.

Posttransplant Outcomes in Older Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma Are Driven by Non-Hepatocellular Carcinoma Factors.

The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is growing in the United States, especially among the elderly. Older patients are increasingly receiving transplants as a result of HCC, but the impact of advancing age on long-term posttransplant outcomes is not clear. To study this, we used data from the US Multicenter HCC Transplant Consortium of 4980 patients.

Multicenter validation of the liver graft assessment following transplantation (L-GrAFT) score for assessment of early allograft dysfunction.

Background & Aims: Early allograft dysfunction (EAD) following liver transplantation (LT) negatively impacts graft and patient outcomes. Previously we reported that the liver graft assessment following transplantation (L-GrAFT) risk score was superior to binary EAD or the model for early allograft function (MEAF) score for estimating 3-month graft failure-free survival in a single-center derivation cohort. Herein, we sought to externally validate L-GrAFT, and compare its prognostic performance to EAD and MEAF.

Liver Transplantation Outcomes in a U.S. Multicenter Cohort of 789 Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma Presenting Beyond Milan Criteria.

Background And Aims: The Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network recently approved liver transplant (LT) prioritization for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) beyond Milan Criteria (MC) who are down-staged (DS) with locoregional therapy (LRT). We evaluated post-LT outcomes, predictors of down-staging, and the impact of LRT in patients with beyond-MC HCC from the U.S.

Pathologic Response to Pretransplant Locoregional Therapy is Predictive of Patient Outcome After Liver Transplantation for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Analysis From the US Multicenter HCC Transplant Consortium.

Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the rate, predictors, and impact of complete pathologic response (cPR) to pretransplant locoregional therapy (LRT) in a large, multicenter cohort of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients undergoing liver transplantation (LT).

Background: LRT is used to mitigate waitlist dropout for patients with HCC awaiting LT. Degree of tumor necrosis found on explant has been associated with recurrence and overall survival, but has not been evaluated in a large, multicenter study.

Donor-specific Antibodies, Immunoglobulin-free Light Chains, and BAFF Levels in Relation to Risk of Late-onset PTLD in Liver Recipients.

Background: Posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) is a neoplastic complication of transplantation, with early cases largely due to immunosuppression and primary Epstein-Barr virus infection. Etiology may differ for later-onset cases, but the contributions of immunosuppression, immune reactivity to the donor organ, and chronic B cell activation are uncertain.

Methods: We conducted a case-control study of late-onset PTLD (diagnosed >1 year posttransplant) in a cohort of liver recipients.

Eversion Bile Duct Anastomosis: A Safe Alternative for Bile Duct Size Discrepancy in Deceased Donor Liver Transplantation.

Bile duct size discrepancy in liver transplantation may increase the risk of biliary complications (BCs). The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and outcomes of the eversion bile duct anastomosis technique in deceased donor liver transplantation (DDLT) with duct-to-duct anastomosis. A total of 210 patients who received a DDLT with duct-to-duct anastomosis from 2012 to 2017 were divided into 2 groups: those who had eversion bile duct anastomosis (n = 70) and those who had standard bile duct anastomosis (n = 140).

Living uterus donation and transplantation: experience of interest and screening in a single center in the United States.

Background: Little is known about attitudes toward uterus donation and transplantation in society and the interest of the women the treatment is aimed to assist.

Objective: This study examined the interest of recipients and living donors in our uterus transplantation program; it describes the screening protocol we developed and the results of the screening and reports demographic data and characteristics of screened candidates.

Study Design: Initial screening and evaluation included physical examinations by a gynecologist and a transplant surgeon; psychological evaluation; imaging (x-ray, computed tomography, ultrasound); blood tests; immunological testing; viral, bacterial, and fungal testing; drug screen; hormonal testing; Papanicolau smear; urinalysis; and electrocardiogram.

A Concentric Neighborhood Solution to Disparity in Liver Access That Contains Current UNOS Districts.

Background: Policymakers are deliberating reforms to reduce geographic disparity in liver allocation. Public comments and the United Network for Organ Sharing Liver and Intestinal Committee have expressed interest in refining the neighborhoods approach. Share 35 and Share 15 policies affect geographic disparity.

The role of multiorgan procurement for abdominal transplant in general surgery resident education.

Background: To assess the impact of participation of multiorgan procurement (MP) by general surgery (GS) residents on surgical knowledge and skills, a prospective cohort study of GS residents during transplant surgery rotation was performed.

Methods: Before and after participation in MPs, assessment of knowledge was performed by written pre and post tests and surgical skills by modified Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skill (OSATS) score. Thirty-nine residents performed 84 MPs.