Efficacy of Self-Expandable Absorbable Stents during Liver Transplant to Minimize Early Biliary Complications.

Objective: We analyzed the use of a self-expandable absorbable biliary stent (SEABS) to reduce biliary complications in liver transplant (LT).

Background: Complications related to biliary anastomosis are a still a challenge in LT with a high impact on the patient outcomes and hospital costs.

Methods: This non-randomized prospective study was conducted between July 2019 and September 2023 in adult LT patients with duct-to-duct biliary anastomoses.

Cell-specific Extracellular Vesicles and Their miRNA Cargo Released Into the Organ Preservation Solution During Cold Ischemia Storage as Biomarkers for Liver Transplant Outcomes.

Background: Liver transplantation (LT) is crucial for end-stage liver disease patients, but organ shortages persist. Donation after circulatory death (DCD) aims to broaden the donor pool but presents challenges. Complications like acute rejection, hepatic artery thrombosis, and biliary issues still impact posttransplant prognosis.

Operational tolerance research in liver transplantation: a bibliometric analysis using a new web resource.

Background: Operational tolerance in liver transplantation (OT-LT), defined as the graft survival with normal function in absence of immunosuppression, has been a field of intense research since the 1980s. Thereafter, tens of clinical trials and hundreds of articles have been published, making it challenging for researchers to assimilate all the information, more so outside of their disciplines. The aim of the present study was to analyze the research in OT-LT through a new web tool (https://tolerance.

Is the Development of Ascites in Alcoholic Liver Patients Influenced by Specific KIR/HLA Gene Profiles?

Decompensated cirrhosis is the most common cause of ascites due to hemodynamic and renal alteration by continuous fluid leakage from the hepatic sinusoids and splanchnic capillaries into the interstitial space. Then, fluid leakage exceeds lymphatic return, leading to progressive fluid accumulation directly into the peritoneal cavity. Alcohol consumption is one of the main risks of developing alcoholic cirrhosis (AC), but not all AC patients develop ascites.

Selecting the Appropriate Downstaging and Bridging Therapies for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: What Is the Role of Transarterial Radioembolization? A Pooled Analysis.

Background: Transarterial radioembolization in HCC for LT as downstaging/bridging has been increasing in recent years but some indication criteria are still unclear.

Methods: We conducted a systematic literature search of primary research publications conducted in PubMed, Scopus and ScienceDirect databases until November 2022. Relevant data about patient selection, HCC features and oncological outcomes after TARE for downstaging or bridging in LT were analyzed.

Postoperative negative-pressure incision therapy after liver transplant (PONILITRANS study): A randomized controlled trial.

Background: Postoperative complications of surgical incisions are frequent in liver transplantation. However, evidence justifying the use of incisional negative pressure wound therapy to improve surgical wound outcomes remains limited.

Methods: Participating patients were randomly assigned to receive incisional negative pressure wound therapy or standard surgical dressing on the closed surgical incision of the liver transplantation.

Emerging Role of NLRP3 Inflammasome and Pyroptosis in Liver Transplantation.

The nucleotide-binding domain leucine-rich repeat-receptor, pyrin domain-containing-3 (NLRP3) inflammasome contributes to the inflammatory response by activating caspase-1, which in turn participates in the maturation of interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18, which are mainly secreted via pyroptosis. Pyroptosis is a lytic type of cell death that is controlled by caspase-1 processing gasdermin D. The amino-terminal fragment of gasdermin D inserts into the plasma membrane, creating stable pores and enabling the release of several proinflammatory factors.

Decreased Long-Term Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2-Specific Humoral Immunity in Liver Transplantation Recipients 12 Months After Coronavirus Disease 2019.

Long-term humoral immunity and its protective role in liver transplantation (LT) patients have not been elucidated. We performed a prospective multicenter study to assess the persistence of immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies in LT recipients 12 months after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). A total of 65 LT recipients were matched with 65 nontransplanted patients by a propensity score including variables with recognized impact on COVID-19.

Biomarkers of Early Liver Graft Damage in Circulatory Death and Brain Death Donors: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis.

Background: Donation after circulatory death (DCD) is related to a warm ischemia time and more complications compared with traditional donors (donation after brain death [DBD]).

Methods: This study included biopsy samples retrospectively collected from November 2014 to December 2018 to compare histologic and biological markers of DCD and DBD liver grafts. The analysis includes marker of early apoptosis (p21), senescence (telomerase reverse transcriptase [TERT]), cell damage (caspase-3 active), endothelial damage (vascular endothelial growth factor), stem cell (CD90), hypoxia (HIF1A), inflammatory activation (COX-2), and cross-organ allograft rejection (CD44).

Are We Ready for Bariatric Surgery in a Liver Transplant Program? A Meta-Analysis.

Background: Obesity-related non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are two main causes of end-stage liver disease requiring a liver transplantation. Studies exploring bariatric surgery in the liver transplantation setting have increased in recent years; however, a systematic analysis of the topic is lacking to date. This meta-analysis was conducted to explore the perioperative and long-term outcomes of bariatric surgery in obese patients undergoing liver transplantation.

Epidemiological pattern, incidence, and outcomes of COVID-19 in liver transplant patients.

Background & Aims: The incidence and outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in immunocompromised patients are a matter of debate.

Methods: We performed a prospective nationwide study including a consecutive cohort of liver transplant patients with COVID-19 recruited during the Spanish outbreak from 28 February to 7 April, 2020. The primary outcome was severe COVID-19, defined as the need for mechanical ventilation, intensive care, and/or death.

Resilience Related to Quality of Life Perceived in Elderly Patients With Orthotopic Liver Transplant for More Than 10 Years.

Introduction: Resilience is the ability to recover or adequately face adverse situations. It acts as a protective factor against negative events and/or complex stages of life, such as a chronic and complex disease requiring liver transplant. Age can also have an effect on a patient's ability to deal with liver transplant, resilience here being a predictor of well-being.

Self-Esteem Related to Quality of Life in Patients Over 60 Years Old Who Received an Orthotopic Liver Transplantation More Than 10 Years Ago.

Background: Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) represents an improvement in the quality of life (QoL) in the short to medium term. However, there is little information about QoL in the long-term post-transplant and its relation with psychological variables such as self-esteem.

Objective: To analyze the perceived QoL in relation to the level of self-esteem in patients over 60 years of age who received an OLT more than 10 years ago.

Predisposition Toward Living Liver Donation Is Low Among Relatives of Patients on the Waiting List for Transplantation in Spain.

Introduction: The attitude toward living liver donation (LLD) among the Spanish population is mostly positive; however, the reality is that liver transplants from live donations are currently minimal. Given this situation, studies that analyze these discrepancies should be carried out.

Objective: Analyze the attitude toward LLD among family members of patients on the waiting list for liver transplantation.

Attitude Toward Related Living Donation Among Patients on Waiting List for Liver Transplantation.

Introduction: In liver transplantation, living donation shows better and better results. However, rates of living liver donation (LLD) are low.

Objective: To analyze the attitude towards LLD among patients on the waiting list for liver transplantation.

Psychological profile and disease-coping strategies of patients on the waiting list for liver transplantation.

Aim: To determine the psychological characteristics of patients on the liver transplant waiting list; to analye the implications of the patient's psychological profile on coping with the disease.

Material And Methods: Study population: patients on the liver transplant waiting list. Psychological-profile: Socio-personal history; Mini Mental State Examination; Brief-Symptom Inventory of psychopathological problems; International Neuropsychiatric Interview; Family APGAR questionnaire; Social Support Questionnaire.

VI consensus document by the Spanish Liver Transplantation Society.

The goal of the Spanish Liver Transplantation Society (La Sociedad Española de Trasplante Hepático) is to promote and create consensus documents about current topics in liver transplantation with a multidisciplinary approach. To this end, on October 20, 2016, the 6th Consensus Document Meeting was held, with the participation of experts from the 24 authorized Spanish liver transplantation programs. This Edition discusses the following subjects, whose summary is offered below: 1) limits of simultaneous liver-kidney transplantation; 2) limits of elective liver re-transplantation; and 3) liver transplantation after resection and hepatocellular carcinoma with factors for a poor prognosis.

VI consensus document by the Spanish Liver Transplantation Society.

The goal of the Spanish Liver Transplantation Society (La Sociedad Española de Trasplante Hepático) is to promote and create consensus documents about current topics in liver transplantation with a multidisciplinary approach. To this end, on October 20, 2016, the 6th Consensus Document Meeting was held, with the participation of experts from the 24 authorized Spanish liver transplantation programs. This Edition discusses the following subjects, whose summary is offered below: 1) limits of simultaneous liver-kidney transplantation; 2) limits of elective liver re-transplantation; and 3) liver transplantation after resection and hepatocellular carcinoma with factors for a poor prognosis.

Tenofovir lamivudine plus adefovir in chronic hepatitis B: TENOSIMP-B study.

Aim: To demonstrate the non-inferiority (15% non-inferiority limit) of monotherapy with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) the combination of lamivudine (LAM) plus adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) in the maintenance of virologic response in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and prior failure with LAM.

Methods: This study was a Phase IV prospective, randomized, open, controlled study with 2 parallel groups (TDF and LAM+ADV) of adult patients with hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-negative CHB, prior failure with LAM, on treatment with LAM+ADV for at least 6 mo, without prior resistance to ADV and with an undetectable viral load at the start of the study, in 14 Spanish hospitals. The follow-up time for each patient was 48 wk after randomization, with quarterly visits in which the viral load, biochemical and serological parameters, adverse effects, adherence to treatment and consumption of hospital resources were analysed.

Efficacy and safety of daclatasvir-based antiviral therapy in hepatitis C virus recurrence after liver transplantation. Role of cirrhosis and genotype 3. A multicenter cohort study.

Direct-acting antiviral agents (DAA) combining daclatasvir (DCV) have reported good outcomes in the recurrence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection after liver transplant (LT). However, its effect on the severe recurrence and the risk of death remains controversial. We evaluated the efficacy, predictors of survival, and safety of DAC-based regimens in a large real-world cohort.