Infections in acute liver failure - Assessment, prevention, and management.

Infections in acute liver failure (ALF) increase the associated morbidity and mortality, and often hamper the possibility of transplantation. Two-thirds of the infections in ALF are bacterial while one-third is fungal. High suspicion for infection is essential whenever there is clinical deterioration.

Randomized controlled trial of sustained release tacrolimus vs twice daily tacrolimus in adult living donor liver transplantation.

Background: To compare the safety and efficacy of once-daily tacrolimus (ODT) versus twice-daily tacrolimus (BDT) in adult live donor liver transplantation (LDLT).

Methods: In this open-labelled randomized trial, 174 adult patients undergoing LDLT were randomized into ODT or BDT, combined with basiliximab induction and mycophenolate mofetil (steroid-free regimen). Tacrolimus was started at a total dose of 1 mg and the trough level was aimed at 3-7 ng/ml.