Long-term outcome of Hepatitis B-positive renal allograft recipients after development of antiviral treatment

Background/Aims: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection can adversely affect the clinical outcome of kidney transplantation (KT). Short-term efficacy of lamivudine has been demonstrated for chronic hepatitis B in KT recipients (KTR). Methods: To clarify the long-term impact of antiviral treatment for HBV-positive KTR, we retrospectively reviewed 94 HBV-positive (male 73%) and 282 age/sex-matched HBV-negative patients who underwent KT from February 1997 to November 2009, after lamivudine had come into wide use. Results: Mean follow-up was 75.7 months. 56 patients received antiviral agent for prophylaxis, and other 18 for HBV reactivation. During follow-up, 15 died, with 5 deaths being HBV related. Although the patient survival rate was lower for HBVpositive than HBV-negative KTRs (89% vs. 94% at 5 years, 78% vs. 88% at 10 years, p = 0.031), graft survival was comparable (86% vs. 92% at 5 years, 73% vs. 81% at 10 years, p = 0.113). In multivariate analysis, HBsAg positivity was a significant risk factor for patient death (OR 2.19, 95% CI 1.14 - 4.20, p = 0.019), but not significant for graft loss (OR 1.64, 95% CI 0.94 - 2.86, p = 0.079). Of the 26 hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive patients, 14 experienced HBV reactivations, but all survived with stable liver chemistry, except for one who died of hepatocellular carcinoma. Among 57 HBeAg-negative patients, 12 died, whereas the remaining 45 survived without hepatic dysfunction. Conclusion: Long-term outcomes of HBV-positive KTRs may be favorable after antiviral agents have been introduced.     

Value of thallium myocardial imaging in the prediction of future cardiovascular events in patients with end-stage renal failure

Chronic renal failure is associated with an increased rate ofpremature death from cardiovascular disease. Non-invasive identificationof asymptomatic cardiac disease should be valuable in the managementof such patients, and in selection for transplantation. Onehundred and three high-risk patients (66 male, 37 female) withchronic renal failure who were without cardiovascular symptomswere assessed by exercise-graded thallium myocardial perfusionimaging and followed prospectively for 4 years. The developmentof a cardiovascular event, or death, and the interval to eventor death were recorded. Cardiovascular events were documented in 50 patients; in 44of the 60 patients with a positive thallium test and in onlysix of the 43 patients with a negative thallium test (test sensitivity88%, specificity 70%, predictive value of a positive test 73%).Forty patients died, 28 from cardiovascular causes, during thestudy period. Thallium myocardial perfusion imaging is of value in the predictionof future cardiovascular events in patients with chronic renalfailure, and is a useful non-invasive screening technique inpatients with end-stage renal failure being considered for transplantation.     

Hepatic artery resistance index can predict early death in children with biliary atresia

Hepatic artery resistance index has been measured by ultrasonography Doppler and has been found to predict rapid deterioration and death in children with biliary atresia. Clinical, biochemical, ultrasonographic, and outcome data were collected prospectively and retrieved on 32 patients with resistance index of > or = 1.0 (group A). These were compared with the same data for 32 age- and sex-matched patients with biliary atresia and a resistance index of ≤ 1.0 (group B). Group A was found to have significantly worse liver function tests than group B. In group A, all patients died (n = 11) or underwent transplantation (n = 21; of whom 4 died) compared with only 2 patients who died in group B and 4 patients who underwent transplantation without fatality. Survival at 2 years was 52% in group A v 94% in group B. It is suggested that regular ultrasonography Doppler examination in patients with biliary atresia can detect a group with a resistance index of > 1.0 who have a very high risk of early mortality. Such patients require early evaluation and listing for transplantation. Those listed for liver transplantation on other grounds require ultrasonography examinations every 2 to 3 months with immediate upgrading of the priority of those patients found to have a resistance index of ≤ or = 1.0. (Liver Transpl Surg 1997 Nov;3(6):604-10)     

Glasgow Coma Score and Tumor Necrosis Factor α as Predictive Criteria for Initial Poor Graft Function

Initial poor graft function (IPGF) is a major factor influencing the clinical outcome after liver transplantation (LT), but there is no reliable method to assess and predict graft dysfunction. To help clinicians determine prognosis in the early postoperative period, individual parameters and complex scoring systems have been suggested, but most of them are inaccurate because of the multifactorial nature of transplantation courses. Therefore, the aim of our study was to retrospectively evaluate predictive criteria for retransplantation. Forty-two patients were enrolled in this study: 18 who experienced primary non-function (PNF) and 24 with delayed graft function (DGF). All of the patients were treated with the Molecular Adsorbent Recirculating System (MARS). They were into 3 subgroups: patients who survived without LT (n = 20; 47.7%); patients who underwent LT (n = 16; 37%), and patients who died before transplantation (n = 6; 14%). Stepwise multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed with the intent to find the risk factors for LT or death after MARS treatment (second analysis). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were performed on significant variables in the logistic regression model with the intent to individually predict variables for LT or death. After a stepwise multivariable logistic regression analysis enrolling all of the previously reported features only 2 variables, tumor necrosis factor (TFN)-α and Glasgow coma score (GCS) score, were statistically significant. TNF-α was an unique independent risk factor for retransplantation or death after MARS treatment (odds ratio [OR] 1.235; P = .013). Conversely, GCS score was protective against retransplantation or death (OR 0.150; P = .003). Starting from these assumptions, a predictive model was created using these 2 variables. On ROC analysis, the combined score showed an area under the curve greater than that of the 2 variables considered separately. Validating these results with a larger number of patients, we considered these 2 factors as subjective parameters to determine outcomes and the difference between PNF and DGF.     

A prognostic model for the prediction of survival in cystic fibrosis

BACKGROUND: The treatment for endstage cystic fibrosis is, where appropriate, double-lung, heart-lung or, occasionally, heart-lung-liver transplantation. Optimising the timing of transplantation depends upon an accurate prediction of survival, but while current criteria give some guidance to this, they are not based upon statistically derived prognostic models. METHODS: Data collected prospectively on 403 patients with cystic fibrosis, recruited between 1969 and 1987 (cohort A), were analysed by log rank and univariate Cox regression analysis to determine variables that accurately predict survival. The significant variables were then subject to time dependent multivariate Cox regression analysis to generate a prognostic model. The model was validated, within the study population, using split sample testing, and was subsequently validated in a further cohort of patients recruited since October 1988 (cohort B). RESULTS: One hundred and eighty eight (50.4%) of the study cohort died within the study period. Percentage predicted forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), percentage predicted forced vital capacity (FVC), short stature, high white cell count (WBC), and chronic liver disease (as evidenced by the presence of hepatomegaly) were negatively correlated with survival. These variables, when combined into a prognostic index, accurately predicted one year survival in the study population and in the cohort recruited since 1988. CONCLUSION: This prognostic index may prove valuable in predicting prognosis in other cohorts with cystic fibrosis and thereby improve the timing of transplantation.


     

Causes of late mortality in pediatric liver transplant recipients.

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to review the incidence and causes of death in children who have survived long-term (more than 1 year) after liver transplantation (LT). SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: No studies of the causes of late mortality in pediatric LT recipients are currently available in the literature. METHODS: The study group consists of 212 pediatric patients who survived more than 1 year after LT. Twenty-three of these patients subsequently died (mean follow-up = 5.3 yr). Hospital records, office charts, and autopsy records were reviewed retrospectively to identify the causes of death. The patients who died were further evaluated by age, gender, length of survival, primary diagnosis, immunosuppression, and retransplantation. RESULTS: The most common cause of death was graft failure, followed closely by infection. In patients dying from graft failure, eight of the nine patients underwent retransplantation and no child survived more than three liver transplants. Overwhelming infections occurred suddenly in eight children who had been previously healthy. Noncompliance was the third most common cause of death, primarily in older children. One child died from a posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD). Actuarial survival at 10 years is 83.7% (based on 100% survival at 1 year). There was no difference in survival based on primary disease. Retransplantation was far more prevalent in the nonsurvivors (47.8%) compared with survivors (13.7%) (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in survival based on age, gender, or immunosuppression. CONCLUSIONS: Late mortality in children continues to be directly related to complications of LT and immunosuppression, even after the first year of transplantation. This is in contrast to adult liver transplant recipients, where approximately 50% of late deaths were related to LT and the remainder were because of unrelated illnesses.     

原位肝移植中下腔静脉逆灌注法对胆道并发症的影响

目的探讨原位肝移植中下腔静脉逆灌注法对肝移植术后胆道并发症的影响。方法对我院1999年10月至2007年10月间肝移植生存1年以上的86例病例进行回顾性分析。其中经典原位肝Σ植组36例、下腔静脉逆灌注原位肝移植组50例,观察各组胆道并发症的发生情况,分别对两组早期及晚期胆道并发症发生率进行统计分析。结果所有患者随访时间1个月～8年,总共有12例发生胆道并发症,发生率为13.95%。①原位肝移植组36例,5例发生胆道并发症,发生率为13.89%。其中2例为早期并发症 另3例为晚期并发症,5例患者经保守治疗后有好转。②下腔静脉逆灌注法原位肝移植组50例,7例发生胆道并发症,发生率为14%。其中3例为早期并发症,1例死于合并腹腔感染,2例经保守治疗后好转。另4例为晚期并发症,经保守治疗后好转。分别对两组早期及晚期胆道并发症发生率进行统计分析,无显著差异。结论下腔静脉逆灌注法并没有增加肝移植术后胆道并发症发生率。     

烧伤患者吸入性损伤和肺部感染的发生特点及其对死亡的影响

为了评价吸入性损伤和肺部感染的发生特点及其对死亡的影响，总结了我科近１４年住院治疗的热力烧伤患者９４０例，其中吸入性损伤７５例，轻度１５例，全部治愈，中度２５例，死亡１３例，死亡率为５２．０％，重度３５例，死亡３１例，死亡率为８８．６％。统计分析表明，合并吸入性损伤者６９．３％在密闭空间发生，同时伴有面部烧伤者达９６．０％。随着烧伤面积的增加，吸入性损伤发生率和肺部感染的发生率相应增加。有吸入性损伤肺部感染较无吸入性损伤肺部感染率为高（Ｐ＜０．０１），发生时间早。两组同等烧伤面积、深度、年龄患者，有吸入性损伤组发生死亡的危险比无吸入性损伤组大１７．２倍（Ｐ＜０．００１）。烧伤面积、深度和年龄相近，合并肺部感染者明显增加了死亡的机会（Ｐ＜０．００１）。     

烧伤患者吸入性损伤和肺部感染的发生特点及其对死亡的影响

为了评价吸入性损伤和肺部感染的发生特点及其对死亡的影响,总结了我科近14年住院治疗的热力烧伤患者940例,其中吸入性损伤175例,轻度15例。全部治愈,中度25例,死亡13例,死亡率为52.0％,重度35例。死亡31例,死亡率为88.6％,统计分析表明,合并吸入性损伤者69.3％在密闭空间发生,同时伴有面部烧伤者达96.0％。随着烧伤面积的增加,吸入性损伤发生率和肺部感染的发生率相应增加,有吸入性损伤肺部感染较无吸入性损伤肺部感染率为高(P<0.01),发生时间早,两组同等烧伤面积、深度、年龄患者、有吸入性损伤组发生死亡的危险比无吸入性损份组大17.2倍(P<0.001)。烧伤面积、深度和年龄相近,合并肺部感染者明显增加了死亡的机会(P<0.001)。     

肝移植相关性肾功能衰竭的防治

目的 总结肝移植相关性肾功能衰竭(肾衰)的防治经验。方法 回顾性分析36例术后早期肝移植相关性肾衰防治方法的改进及效果。结果 36例肝移植受者中，死亡10例，死亡率为27．78％。术后并发症：肺部感染22例；多器官功能衰竭11例；成人呼吸窘迫综合征(ARDS)14例；腹腔内出血4例；胆漏1例。术后2例存活超过3年，4例存活超过2年，9例存活超过1年。结论 采用背驮式肝移植；改进连续性肾替代治疗(CRRT)的使用方法；术后早期使用赛尼哌；减少或完全不用钙调素抑制剂；是提高肝移植相关性肾衰治疗成功率的关键。     

Risk stratification for cardiac death in hemodialysis patients without obstructive coronary artery disease

The incidence of cardiac death is higher among patients receiving dialysis compared with the general population. Although obstructive coronary artery disease is involved in cardiac deaths in the general population, deaths in hemodialysis patients occur in the apparent absence of obstructive coronary artery disease. To study this further, we prospectively enrolled 155 patients receiving hemodialysis after angiography had confirmed the absence of obstructive coronary lesions. All patients were examined by single-photon emission computed tomography using the iodinated fatty acid analog, BMIPP, the uptake of which was graded in 17 standard myocardial segments and assessed as summed scores. Insulin resistance was determined using the homeostasis model assessment index of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). During a mean follow-up of 5.1 years, 42 patients died of cardiac events. Stepwise Cox hazard analysis associated cardiac death with reduced BMIPP uptake and increased insulin resistance. Patients were assigned to subgroups based on BMIPP summed scores and HOMA-IR cutoff values for cardiac death of 12 and 5.1, respectively, determined by receiver operating characteristic analysis. Cardiac death-free survival rates at 5 years were the lowest (32.2%) in the subgroup with both a summed score and assessment equal to or above the cutoff values compared with any other combination (52.9-98.7%) above, equal to, or below the thresholds. Thus, impaired myocardial fatty acid metabolism and insulin resistance may be associated with cardiac death among hemodialysis patients without obstructive coronary artery disease.     

肾移植术后新发恶性肿瘤临床分析

目的探讨肾移植术后新发恶性肿瘤的临床特征。方法回顾性分析2001年6月至2005年1月在中山大学附属第五医院行‘肾移植术后生存半年以上并能接受定期随访的236例受者中新发恶性肿瘤患者的临床资料。结果在236例肾移植受者中,共有新发恶性肿瘤5例,发生率2．1％（5／236）。患者均为男性,新发肿瘤类型分别为直肠癌2例、肺癌1例、移行细胞癌1例、非霍奇金淋巴瘤1例。患者肾移植时年龄为46—70岁,平均年龄61岁,肿瘤确诊时的年龄为48～73岁,平均年龄65岁;从接受。肾移植手术至发生肿瘤的时间为14～77个月,平均时间46个月。5例患者经确诊为新发恶性肿瘤后,给予手术治疗和（或）化学药物治疗及减少免疫抑制剂或者转换免疫抑制方案治疗,均未发生肾功能异常和排斥反应。其中2例患者死于肿瘤进展和多器官功能衰竭,3例存活。结论 肾移植术后新发恶性肿瘤进展隐匿迅速,早期诊断、早期治疗是提高其疗效的关键措施。     

Endoscopic ligation of esophageal varices

One hundred consecutive patients with bleeding esophageal varices were treated with a new endoscopic ligating device that effects strangulation of varices using small elastic "O" rings. Treatments were continued after initial hospitalization to achieve variceal eradication. Follow-up ranged from 6 to 26 (mean: 15) months. Bleeding was controlled until discharge from hospital or death in 18 of 21 patients who were actively bleeding at index endoscopy. Overall, 26 patients died during the study, 12 during the index hospitalization. Cause of death was organ failure in 21, exsanguination in 3, and cancer in 2. Forty-one of 88 initial survivors experienced 72 episodes of recurrent bleeding (1 to 4 per patient). All but five rebleeds occurred before eradication. Sixty of 88 patients (68%) who survived index hospitalization had their varices eradicated. A median of 5 (1 to 12) treatments was required. Nine patients eventually had other forms of treatment for recurrent bleeding. Only 3 non-bleeding complications resulted from 462 endoscopic treatment sessions. We conclude that endoscopic ligation controls active variceal bleeding and eradicates varices with efficacy similar to that of sclerotherapy and with minimal risk of complications.     

合并门静脉血栓形成的肝细胞癌肝移植12例分析

目的探讨合并门静脉血栓形成(PVT)的肝细胞癌肝移植手术疗效、手术技巧及围手术期处理。方法回顾性分析中山大学附属第三医院自2003年10月至2005年6月12例合并PVT的肝细胞癌肝移植临床及随访情况。结果术后随访8d至36个月,中位时间19.5个月。术后第12天、第21天、第30天各死亡1例,死于肺部感染、多器官功能衰竭。随访期间死亡1例(术后第15个月死于肝癌复发)。目前存活8例,其中7例已经无瘤生存13、14、24、24、25、28、30个月,1例带瘤存活36个月。12例病人1年累积存活率75.0%。1例病人肝移植术后2个月吻合口局部PVT复发,目前已经存活30个月。结论合并PVT的肝细胞癌肝移植者预后良好,合理的手术技巧和恰当的术后处理可以避免术后PVT复发。     

A revised scoring system utilizing serum alphafetoprotein levels to expand candidates for living donor transplantation in hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND: The development of living donor liver transplantation has stimulated discussion about the expansion of tumor burden limits for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Although serum alphafetoprotein (AFP) level is an important predictor of tumor recurrence, it is not included in the existing selection criteria for HCC in transplantation. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of 63 consecutive adults with HCC diagnosed preoperatively who received living donor liver transplantation from February 1999 to September 2005 and survived over 1 month. The authors devised new scoring criteria that included tumor size, tumor number, and pretransplant AFP level as prognostic factors. The score of each parameter was classified from 1 to 4 points (tumor size, < or =3, 3.1 to 5, 5.1 to 6.5, >6.5 cm; tumor number, 1, 2 or 3, 4 or 5, or > or =6 nodules; and AFP, < or =20, 20.1 to 200, 200.1 to 1000, >1000 ng/mL, respectively). We defined that 3 to 6 points and 7 to 12 points were "transplantable" and "nontransplantable," respectively. The usefulness of the devised criteria was then investigated as a method of selecting candidates with HCC for transplantation. RESULTS: The candidates' overall 3-year survival rate and recurrence-free survival rate were 67% and 70% after transplantation, respectively. Based on pretransplant imaging, 37 (59%), 41 (65%), and 44 (70%) of the 63 patients met the Milan criteria, University of Californica, San Francisco (UCSF) criteria, and the new scoring criteria. Their 3-year survival rates were 80%, 78%, and 79%, respectively. Moreover, based on posttransplant data, the scoring criteria correlated with the risk of death and HCC recurrence (Milan criteria, P = .005 and .001; UCSF criteria, P = .013 and .001 for death and recurrence; scoring criteria, P < .001 for both). CONCLUSIONS: The newly devised scoring criteria could expand usefully current selection criteria for transplantation without detrimentally affecting outcome in the living donor transplantation setting for HCC.     

Scoring systems for predicting outcome in acute hemorrhagic necrotizing pancreatitis.

Five scoring systems for predicting the severity and outcome of acute haemorrhagic necrotizing pancreatitis were retrospectively evaluated in 39 patients. The respective scores were Ranson, Imrie, APACHE II, multiple organ failure (MOF) and Sepsis Sensitivity Score (SSS). Twenty-two (56%) of the patients died. The survivors were significantly younger than the non-survivors, 68% of whom died within 3 weeks of admission to the intensive care unit. Stay in the unit was significantly longer in the former group. Sensitivity in prediction of death was best with APACHE II score greater than 9 (96%) and Ranson score greater than or equal to 3 (95%). Of the five scores, MOF greater than or equal to 4 gave the best equilibration between sensitivity (73%) and specificity (76%) and the strongest prediction of lethal outcome (80%). Although the independent factor age had low sensitivity (55%), it showed the highest values for specificity (88%) and prediction of death (86%). APACHE II scoring is concluded to be best for grading the severity of disease on admission to intensive care, while the MOF score is best for monitoring the degree of organ dysfunction and the intensity of supportive treatment.     

Early experience with adult extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in the modern era.

In 1980 we stopped using extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for adults because only 1 of 20 patients treated between 1973 and 1979 survived. In October 1988 we returned to adult extracorporeal life support (ECLS) with a modified protocol including venovenous access when possible, large oxygenators for CO2 clearance, activated clotting time of 180 to 200 seconds, and case selection based on 90% mortality (30% transpulmonary shunt). Of 19 patients referred, 14 met criteria for ECLS. Three of these 14 patients with isolated respiratory failure died before ECLS could be started, and 1 patient refused ECLS and died. Ten were placed on ECLS for 2 to 24 days. Indications were pneumonia (3), post-cardiac operation (2), and adult respiratory distress syndrome (5). Five recovered and 5 died. The cause of early death was progressive pulmonary injury (3), hemorrhage (1), and ventricular arrhythmia (1). One late death occurred at 3 months secondary to intraabdominal complications related to liver transplantation. In conclusion, 10 adult patients with severe respiratory failure were treated with extracorporeal life support; 5 patients recovered lung function and 4 of these patients survived and were discharged to home. Surviving patients were typically younger and were placed on ECLS early in their disease process, emphasizing that early intervention is one key factor to a successful outcome.     

肝移植治疗肝豆状核变性的单中心疗效分析

目的探讨肝移植治疗肝豆状核变性的疗效。方法 回顾性分析2003年9月至2009年7月接受肝移植手术治疗的5例肝豆状核变性患者的临床资料。结果 采用附加腔静脉整形的改良背驮式肝移植3例,成人间活体部分肝移植2例。围手术期死亡1例,死于肺部真菌感染和多器官功能衰竭,另4例患者恢复良好且存活,其中生存时间≥1年4例,≥3年3例。3例伴有神经精神功能障碍的患者中,除1例死亡外,另2例症状得到不同程度的改善。存活的4例术后1个月肝功能较术前明显改善,血清铜蓝蛋白水平明显升高。结论 全肝移植或活体部分肝移植术能改善肝豆状核变性患者的铜代谢和神经精神症状,提高患者的生活质量和存活率。     

单中心肝移植治疗多囊肝病的疗效分析

目的 探讨肝移植治疗多囊肝病的疗效.方法 回顾性分析2003年9月至2009年7月中山大学附属第三医院收治的8例接受肝移植术的多囊肝病患者的临床资料.手术方式均采用附加腔静脉整形的改良背驮式肝移植术,其中1例同时行肝肾联合移植.术后对急性排斥反应、并发症、移植物功能、患者生存时间等进行随访.结果 全组患者手术均获得成功.平均手术时间为(7.5±2.8)h(4～11 h);平均无肝期时间为(42±14)min(25～70 min);术中平均出血量为(2250±1850)ml(2000～6500ml).围手术期患者死亡2例,其中1例于肝移植术后第39天死于肺部感染和MODS,另1例于肝肾联合移植术后第59天死于MODS.1例患者于肝移植术后第45天因肝动脉狭窄行再次肝移植术.6例患者中位随访时间为60个月(37 ～93个月),生存3年以上6例、5年以上4例、7年以上2例.截至随访终点,未发现移植物急性排斥反应.结论 肝移植是治疗多囊肝病患者安全、有效的方法.