III Consensus Meeting of the Spanish Society of Liver Transplantation. Hepatitis C, living-donor liver transplantation, quality of liver grafts and of liver transplantation programs

The constant updating in the field of liver transplant led to the holding of the III Consensus Meeting of the Spanish Liver Transplant Association. Three current topics of great clinical interest were debated during this meeting; transplant in patients with liver cirrhosis due to hepatitis C, live donor liver transplant and the evaluation of the quality of liver grafts. A subject of great interest to Liver Transplant Units was also discussed: the assessment of their quality.     

Liver transplantation in Japan: Registry by the Japanese Liver Transplantation Society

As of 31 December 2017, a total of 9242 liver transplants have been carried out in 67 institutions in Japan. There were 447 deceased donor transplants (444 from heart‐beating donors and 3 from non‐heart‐beating donors) and 8795 living‐donor transplants. The annual total of liver transplants in 2017 was 416 (69 deceased donor transplants and 347 living‐donor transplants). The most frequent indication was cholestatic disease, followed by neoplastic disease and hepatocellular disease. In terms of hepatocellular disease in 2017, cirrhosis due to hepatitis C and B decreased (13 and 8, respectively), whereas alcoholic cirrhosis markedly increased (32). Patient survival following transplantation from heart‐beating donor (444 transplants: 1 year, 89.1%; 3 years, 85.2%; 5 years, 82.9%; 10 years, 75.4%; 15 years, 70.7%) was similar to that from living‐donor (8794 transplants: 1 year, 85.0%; 3 years, 80.9%; 5 years, 78.5%; 10 years, 73.2%; 15 years, 68.5%; 20 years, 65.7%; 25 years, 64.6%). Graft survival was very much the same as patient survival (heart‐beating donor: 1 year, 88.4%; 3 years, 84.5%; 5 years, 82.2%; 10 years, 74.7%; 15 years, 70.1%; living donor: 1 year, 84.3%; 3 years, 79.9%; 5 years, 77.3%; 10 years, 71.4%; 15 years, 66.3%; 20 years, 63.3%; 25 years, 61.9%). Survival data are reported according to age and sex of recipient, indication, age and sex of donor, ABO compatibility, and other factors.     

Liver transplantation in Japan: Registry by the Japanese Liver Transplantation Society

As of December 31, 2013, a total of 7474 liver transplants have been carried out at 66 institutions in Japan. This total included 7255 living‐donor transplants and 219 deceased‐donor transplants (216 from heart‐beating donors and 3 from non‐heart‐beating donors). The annual total of liver transplants in 2013 decreased to 408, from 422 in 2012. The number of liver transplants from living donors decreased to 369, from 381, whereas the number of liver transplants from heart‐beating deceased donors did not change significantly. The most frequent indication was cholestatic disease, followed by neoplastic disease. In terms of graft liver in living‐donor cases, right‐lobe graft was the most popular (36%). Patient survival following transplantations from heart‐beating donors (1 year, 85.9%; 3 years, 82.6%; 5 years, 81.3%; 10 years, 73.8%) was similar to those from living donors (1 year, 83.8%; 3 years, 79.6%; 5 years, 77.1%; 10 years, 71.9%; 15 years, 67.8%; 20 years, 66.1%). Graft survival was very much the same as patient survival. As for ABO‐incompatible transplantation, transplant period affected the outcome significantly, probably due to local infusion therapy and rituximab prophylaxis, which were introduced in many transplant centers after 2000 and 2004, respectively.     

The diagnosis and treatment of peripheral lymphedema. Consensus document of the International Society of Lymphology

This International Society of Lymphology (ISL) Consensus Document is the current revision of the 1995 Document for the evaluation and management of peripheral lymphedema. It is based upon modifications suggested and published following the 1997 XVI International Congress of Lymphology (ICL) in Madrid, Spain, discussed at the 1999 XVII ICL in Chennai, India, considered at the 2000 (ISL) Executive Committee meeting in Hinterzarten, Germany, and derived from integration of discussions and written comments obtained during and following the 2001 XVIII ICL in Genoa, Italy as modified at the 2003 ISL Executive Committee meeting in Cordoba, Argentina. The document attempts to amalgamate the broad spectrum of protocols advocated worldwide for the diagnosis and treatment of peripheral lymphedema into a coordinated proclamation representing a "Consensus" of the international community. The document is not meant to override individual clinical considerations for problematic patients nor to stifle progress. It is also not meant to be a legal formulation from which variations define medical malpractice. The Society understands that in some clinics the method of treatment derives from national standards while in others access to medical equipment and supplies is limited and therefore the suggested treatments are impractical. We continue to struggle to keep the document concise while balancing the need for depth and details. With these considerations in mind, we believe that this version of the Consensus represents the best judgment of the ISL membership on how to approach patients with peripheral lymphedema as of 2003. We anticipate that the document will and should be challenged, debated in the pages of Lymphology (e.g., as Letters to the Editor), and ideally become a continued focal point for robust discussion at local, national and international conferences in lymphology and related disciplines. We further anticipate as experience evolves and new ideas and technologies emerge that this "living document" will undergo periodic revision and refinement.     

Executive summary of imported infectious diseases after returning from foreign travel: Consensus document of the Spanish Society for Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology (SEIMC)

In a global world, knowledge of imported infectious diseases is essential in daily practice, both for the microbiologist–parasitologist and the clinician who diagnoses and treats infectious diseases in returned travelers. Tropical and subtropical countries where there is a greater risk of contracting an infectious disease are among the most frequently visited tourist destinations. The SEIMC considers it appropriate to produce a consensus document that will be useful to primary care physicians as well as specialists in internal medicine, infectious diseases and tropical medicine who help treat travelers returning from tropical and sub-tropical areas with infections. Preventive aspects of infectious diseases and infections imported by immigrants are explicitly excluded here, since they have been dealt with in other SEIMC documents.Various types of professionals (clinicians, microbiologists, and parasitologists) have helped produce this consensus document by evaluating the available evidence-based data in order to propose a series of key facts about individual aspects of the topic. The first section of the document is a summary of some of the general aspects concerning the general assessment of travelers who return home with potential infections. The main second section contains the key facts (causative agents, diagnostic procedures and therapeutic measures) associated with the major infectious syndromes affecting returned travelers [gastrointestinal syndrome (acute or persistent diarrhea); febrile syndrome with no obvious source of infection; localized cutaneous lesions; and respiratory infections]. Finally, the characteristics of special traveler subtypes, such as pregnant women and immunocompromised travelers, are described.     

The Spanish Registry of Heart Transplantation. The 10th Official Report (1984-1998). Spanish Heart Transplantation Groups. The Section of Heart Transplantation of the Spanish Society of Cardiology

The results of the Spanish Registry of Heart Transplantation are hereby presented. A total of 349 transplants were performed in 1998--representing a net 2756 transplants since 1984. The number of procedures increased again in the last year, with a 9.8% rise over the preceding year. This was probably due to an increase in the number of available organs, combined with less restrictive acceptance conditions imposed by the prolonged waiting list. Early mortality improved compared to 1997 (11% versus 16%), despite an increase in the proportion of urgent transplants performed (26% versus 22%). Overall survival increased for all transplant types and situations (urgent, pediatric, elderly and combined with kidney, liver or lung) on incorporating the 1998 data to the previous year (survival at 1 and 5 years: 74% and 62% versus 73% and 60%). Mean patient survival also increased from 8.6 to 9.5 years. As in the previous year, over 100 variables per patient have been analyzed to establish predictors of early and late mortality. In conclusion, heart transplantation in Spain has not yet reached a plateau, and year after year the number of procedures increases, with improved results.     

Spanish Heart Transplantation Registry. 16th official report of the Spanish Society of Cardiology Working Group on Heart Failure, Heart Transplantation, and Associated Therapies

This paper describes the general situation regarding heart transplantation in Spain and the results obtained using the technique, incorporating data for the year 2004. In 2004, 294 heart transplants were carried out, which brings the total number of procedures performed since 1984 to 4680. Clinically, the typical heart transplant recipient in Spain is male, aged around 50 years, has blood group A, has non-revascularizable coronary artery disease, and is in NYHA functional class IV/IV. The percentage of emergency heart transplantations was 35%, which is higher than in the previous year (29%), and higher than the mean for the preceding 5 years (22%). The early mortality rate was 10%, which is lower that the mean for the preceding 5 years (13%). After combining the results for 2004 with those of previous years, the probability of survival at 1, 5 and 10 years was 80%, 70% and 60%, respectively. When the survival rates for different time periods were analyzed, a significant improvement could be seen in the last 5 years, with recent survival rates being 85% and 72% at 1 and 5 years, respectively. The most frequent cause of death in the first month was acute graft failure; in the first year, infection and rejection; and, over the long term, tumors and a combination of graft vasculopathy and sudden death. A comparative analysis of survival rates showed that long-term results in Spain are slightly better than those published in the world literature. Moreover, survival has tended to improve gradually in recent years.     

Standards of care in pulmonary hypertension. Consensus statement of the Spanish Society of Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery (SEPAR) and the Spanish Society of Cardiology (SEC)

Substantial progress in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with pulmonary hypertension in recent years has led to significant improvement in survival. Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines issued by scientific societies reflect these new developments. However, certain clinically relevant issues have not been covered in consensus guidelines because of the lack of conclusive scientific evidence. Therefore, the Spanish Society of Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery (SEPAR) and the Spanish Society of Cardiology (SEC) have promoted the present consensus statement in order to define national standards of care in the evaluation and management of pulmonary hypertension in its various forms, as well as to outline a clinical pathway and the basic principles for organizing health care in this clinical setting, with special emphasis on the requirements for and functions of specialized referral units. To prepare the statement, SEPAR and SEC formed a task force composed of national experts in various aspects of pulmonary hypertension. The resulting consensus is based on international clinical guidelines, a review of available scientific evidence, and panel discussion among the task force members. The final statement, approved by all participants, underwent external review.     

Update of the Consensus Statement of the Spanish Society of Rheumatology on the management of biologic therapies in rheumatoid arthritis

ObjectiveTo provide a reference to rheumatologists and to those involved in the treatment of RA who are using, or about to use biologic therapy.MethodsRecommendations were developed following a nominal group methodology and based on systematic reviews. The level of evidence and grade of recommendation were classified according to the model proposed by the Center for Evidence Based Medicine at Oxford. The level of agreement was established through Delphi technique.ResultsWe have produced recommendations on the use of the seven biologic agents available for RA in our country. The objective of treatment is to achieve the remission of the disease as quickly as possible. Indications and nuances regarding the use of biologic therapy were reviewed as well as the evaluation that should be performed prior to administration and the follow up of patients undergoing this therapy.ConclusionsWe present an update on the SER recommendations for the use of biologic therapy in patients with RA.