Prolonged liver dysfunction caused by hemosiderosis in a renal transplant recipient

BACKGROUND: Liver dysfunction is a frequent complication that arises in the period following kidney transplantations, often resulting in death. We reported a case proving hemosiderosis as a cause of prolonged liver dysfunction after cadaveric kidney transplantation. METHODS: A 47-year-old man, who had been undergoing hemodialysis, was referred to our hospital on 2 November 1999. On the same day, cadaveric kidney transplantation was performed, and serum creatinine level reached a normal level within 2 weeks after surgery. However, serum transaminase gradually increased in the postoperative period. Serum ALT rose up to 116 IU/L on day 20 after the operation and 215 IU/L on day 30. Microscopic examination by needle biopsy revealed hemosiderosis of the liver. Recombinant human erythropoietin was administered and phlebotomy was performed. Liver function improved as a result. CONCLUSION: Early histological diagnosis can be a useful marker in predicting the course of chronic liver disease.     

两剂激素联合两剂达利珠单抗及他克莫司的免疫抑制方案在肝移植中的应用

目的 探讨两剂激素联合两剂达利珠单抗及他克莫司(FK506)的免疫抑制方案在肝移植中应用的安全性及有效性.方法 中山大学附属第一医院器官移植中心2006年9月至2008年3月共实施成人肝移植74例,排除3例血型不合、4例围手术期死亡外,余67例纳人本研究,其中男性54例,女性13例,年龄28～66岁,平均(46.9±8.7)岁.将67例成人肝移植患者随机分为两组:传统免疫抑制方案(激素3个月撤离)组(n=35)和两剂激素免疫抑制方案组(n=32),比较两组术后代谢并发症、感染(含细菌、真菌及巨细胞病毒感染)及排斥反应的发生率的差异.结果 两组患者的术后早期高血糖发生率,高血糖患者使用胰岛素的平均剂量,随访期内糖尿病、高血压及感染的发生率的差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);术后早期高血压发生率及随访期内排斥反应的发生率和高脂血症发生率无明显差异(P0.05).结论 两剂激素的免疫抑制方案是安全有效的,其不增加急性排斥反应的发生率,并可显著减少长期使用激素引起的各种不良反应及并发症的发生.     

Situs inversus of donor or recipient in liver transplantation

Situs inversus is a rare anatomical abnormality that is often associated with multiple, complex malformations. In the past, patients with situs inversus were considered unsuitable candidates for transplantation or organ donation because associated visceral, and especially vascular, anomalies pose special technical difficulties. Recently, several cases of successful liver transplantation in recipients with situs inversus have been published using modified surgical techniques. This report reviews the literature and describes our own experience, including two liver graft recipients with complete and incomplete situs inversus, and one patient who underwent successful transplantation using a liver from a donor with situs inversus. Received: 10 October 1997 Received after revision: 22 December 1997 Accepted: 9 January 1998     

Case report of unchanged tacrolimus clearance in a hypoxemic pediatric liver transplant recipient with hepatopulmonary syndrome

Reductions in hepatic oxygen supply may reduce the oxidative metabolism of drugs, including tacrolimus. We encountered a patient (2.3-year-old girl) with hypoxemia [arterial oxygen tension (PaO₂) 40.9 mmHg in room air] due to hepatopulmonary syndrome who had undergone living related liver transplantation. After transplantation, tacrolimus was initially administered by continuous intravenous infusion, and her PaO₂ was maintained at more than 50 mmHg [72.8±10.4 (SD) mmHg] by oxygen supplementation. Apparent clearance of tacrolimus (calculated as: the infusion rate of tacrolimus/blood concentration) in the patient (0.075 l/h per kg) was comparable to those of non-hypoxemic control pediatric cases (0.092±0.014 l/h per kg, n=7, mean age 2.2 years, PaO₂ 149.2±41.5 mmHg), except for the acute decline in the early period after transplantation. These findings suggest that the reduction in tacrolimus clearance is negligible when arterial oxygen tension is maintained at more than 50 mmHg, even in patients with hypoxemia.     

Intercostal hernia and spontaneous pneumothorax in a liver transplant recipient: a case report

Intercostal hernia can occur after blunt trauma and can also complicate thoracotomy. This report describes a 13-year-old liver transplant recipient with chronic asymptomatic intercostal hernia at site of thoracotomy. This hernia became manifest upon development of spontaneous pneumothorax. She presented with pleuritic pain and radiographic evidence of spontaneous pneumothorax. Her history included liver transplantation at age 19 months for tyrosinemia, posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder at age 7 years with thoracotomy for lung biopsy, and prolonged corticosteroid administration. Examination and computed tomography revealed an intercostal hernia. She underwent repair of hernia, stapled resection of apical blebs, and pleurodesis. Reconstruction of chest wall involved rib fracture and intercostal approximation with nonabsorbable sutures covered by serratus muscle advancement. She is symptom free with intact repair 2 years and 9 months after surgery and is able to participate in vigorous physical activity. This is the first report of an intercostal hernia detected upon development of spontaneous pneumothorax. The hernia occurred at the site of a prior thoracotomy, possibly because of impaired healing from corticosteroid administration. This case suggests that nonabsorbable sutures should be used for intercostal approximation after thoracotomy in patients with impaired wound healing.     

Sirolimus-induced signaling modifications in Kaposi's sarcoma with resolution in a liver transplant recipient

Ho C-M, Huang S-F, Hu R-H, Ho M-C, Wu Y-M, Lee P-H. Sirolimus-induced signaling modifications in Kaposi's sarcoma with resolution in a liver transplant recipient.
Clin Transplant 2010: 24: 127–132. © 2009 John Wiley & Sons A/S.
Abstract:  Sirolimus is one treatment option in transplant recipients with Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), which involves dysregulation of Akt-mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway. Signal modifications after sirolimus therapy in organ recipients with KS are largely unknown and not verified. We reported a case of KS found two yr after liver transplantation in which the immunosuppression was changed from tacrolimus, MMF, and steroid to sirolimus alone. In skin, which was found to have persistent KS after a two-month treatment of sirolimus and was removed completely one yr later, KS was no longer present. The patient went well without graft rejection. Tumor biopsies were performed before, two months, and one yr after the start of sirolimus. Immunohistochemical staining of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), p-Akt, p-mTOR, p-p70 S6 kinase, and Western blot for p-tuberin/ tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC)2 was performed. VEGF was suppressed thoroughly in two-month use of sirolimus. In addition, p-Akt and p-mTOR, which were decreased at two months, could not be detected after one yr of treatment. Moreover, p-p70 S6 kinase, expressed strongly in overlying epidermis initially, was suppressed completely after two months of treatment. However, p-tuberin/TSC2, contrary to suggested theoretically, was not detected through all specimens, implying not to be a significant event. Suppressed expression of VEGF, p-Akt, and p-mTOR was the major event of signaling modification through the long-term use of sirolimus.     

Two grams daily of oral acyclovir reduces the incidence of cytomegalovirus disease in CMV-seropositive liver transplant recipients

Our objective in this study was to determine the efficacy of 2 grams a day of oral acyclovir administered for 16 weeks after transplantation for the prevention of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and disease in CMV-seropositive liver transplant recipients. Seventy-three adult liver transplant recipients, seropositive for CMV, were randomized to receive either 2 grams a day of oral acyclovir for 16 weeks after transplantation or no prophylaxis. The incidence of CMV disease was significantly lower in the acyclovir group (5 %) than in the control group (27 %; P < 0.05). By log-rank analysis, the differences in the probability of presenting CMV disease over the first 16 weeks and over the 1st year were also significant (P < 0.05). We conclude that 2 grams a day of oral acyclovir provides effective prophylaxis against CMV disease in CMV-seropositive liver transplant recipients. Received: 14 March 1997 Received after revision: 30 May 1997 Accepted: 9 June 1997     

肝移植后并发他克莫司不良反应者的西罗莫司单药转换治疗14例

目的 总结出现钙调磷酸酶抑制剂(CNI)相关并发症的患者采用西罗莫司(SRL)单药转换治疗的体会.方法 肝移植患者14例,其中因CNI类药物致肾功能受损而行转换治疗者13例,因移植后血糖升高而行转换治疗者1例.转换治疗前,患者采用他克莫司(Tac)和糖皮质激素预防排斥反应,部分患者还加用霉酚酸酯.进行转换治疗后,初次给予SRL 4 mg/d;1周内给予SRL 1～2 mg/d,同时Tac的用量减至原来的一半;治疗1周后,根据血SRL浓度调整其剂量,维持血SRL浓度谷值为5～10μg/L,于转换治疗后1～2周完全撤除Tac.观察患者转换治疗后并发症的改善情况,肾功能、肝功能和急性排斥反应的发生情况及药物不良反应等.结果 转换治疗前,13例肾功能受损者的血肌酐为(158.3±41.6)μmol/L,随访结束时降低到(103.7±21.2)μmol/L;另1例血糖升高者在转换治疗后血糖得到有效控制,胰岛素用量由转换前的80 IU/L减少至24 IU/L.转换治疗后6个月内,14例中有2例(14.3%)发生急性排斥反应,治疗后均逆转.随访过程中,4例出现血脂升高,4例出现贫血或血小板减少,5例出现溃疡型口疮,但无患者因SRL不良反应而终止转换治疗.结论 肝移植术后出现CNI相关并发症的患者可以采用SRL单药转换治疗.     

A retrospective analysis of the use of caspofungin in recipients of liver transplant with a modified high index of suspicion for fungal infection. A critical review of mortality,acute cellular rejection,infections, and changes in the liver function tests while on caspofungin

Doria C, Bodzin AS, Vaccino S, Daskalakis C, Krawitz S, Ramirez CB. A retrospective analysis of the use of caspofungin in recipients of liver transplant with a modified high index of suspicion for fungal infection. A critical review of mortality, acute cellular rejection, infections, and changes in the liver function tests while on caspofungin.
Clin Transplant 2011: 25: 569–575. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Abstract: This study is a retrospective analysis of death, adverse events (AE), fungal infections, and hepatic function among recipients of liver transplantation at high risk of fungal infection who received prophylactic treatment with caspofungin. After reviewing data of 105 patients who had received isolated liver transplant between January 2003 and April 2007, we identified and analyzed 82 high‐risk patients. Post‐transplant patients at high risk for fungal infection are commonly defined by the presence of at least one of the following: (i) re‐transplantation; (ii) re‐operation; (iii) renal dysfunction. However, in our practice, patients are also considered at high risk for developing fungal infections if they present with the following: (iv) fever of unknown origin; (v) hypothermia; (vi) positive random culture for fungus at the time of transplant (bile and/or ascites); (vii) sepsis; (viii) use of vasopressors; (ix) re‐intubation, during the first hospitalization after liver transplant; (x) prolonged intubation (>24 h), and (xi) acute respiratory distress syndrome, until negative fungal cultures are obtained. Exact conditional logistic regression was used to compare the risk of death, AEs, and fungal infections between patients who received caspofungin, other antifungal drugs, and no antifungal drugs. Analyses were then performed with SAS 9.1 (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA). Patients were between 27 and 72 yr old (mean = 55), with two‐thirds male and three‐quarters Caucasian. Sixteen patients received caspofungin (11 preventively), and 32 received other antifungal (26 preventively). There were no proven fungal infections among the patients who received caspofungin, three infections among patients who received other antifungal (3/26 = 12%), and 14 infections among patients who were not preventively treated (14/45 = 31%). These infection rates were significantly different across the three groups (p = 0.029), with caspofungin and other antifungal preventive treatment comparable (p = 0.540), and both better than no preventive treatment at all (OR = 0.15, p = 0.049, for caspofungin versus no preventive treatment; OR = 0.29, p = 0.085, for other antifungal versus no preventive treatment). Caspofungin appears to be an effective preventive agent against fungal infections when used in recipients of liver transplant designated as high risk for fungal infection. Usage of caspofungin in these patients does not carry an apparent increase in risk of death or acute cellular rejection, although we observed a significantly higher risk of AEs, especially acute renal failure (p = 0.001), in patients who received this agent.     

Portal vein thrombosis after intraportal hepatocytes transplantation in a liver transplant recipient

Hepatocytes transplantation is viewed as a possible alternative or as a bridge therapy to liver transplantation for patients affected by acute or chronic liver disorders. Very few data regarding complications of hepatocytes transplantation is available from the literature. Herein we report for the first time a case of portal vein thrombosis after intraportal hepatocytes transplantation in a liver transplant recipient. A patient affected by acute graft dysfunction, not eligible for retransplantation, underwent intraportal infusion of 2 billion viable cryopreserved ABO identical human allogenic hepatocytes over a period of 5 h. Hepatocytes were transplanted at a concentration of 14 million/ml for a total infused volume of 280 ml. Doppler portal vein ultrasound and intraportal pressure were monitored during cell infusion. The procedure was complicated, 8 h after termination, by the development of portal vein thrombosis with liver failure and death of the patient. Autopsy showed occlusive thrombosis of the intrahepatic portal vein branches; cells or large aggregates of epithelial elements (polyclonal CEA positive), suggestive for transplanted hepatocytes, were co-localized inside the thrombus.     

Extrahepatic biliary stricture associated with cytomegalovirus in a liver transplant recipient

We describe a patient who developed a stricture in the distal common bile duct 6 weeks after orthotopic liver transplantation. Histopathologic examination of the bile duct epithelium in the region of the stricture showed characteristic cytomegalovirus (CMV) inclusions. CMV was also identified in pulmonary alveoli and in the duodenum. Although CMV has been demonstrated in the biliary epithelium of AIDS patients with extrahepatic biliary strictures and biliary obstruction, this entity has not, to our knowledge, been described in liver transplant recipients. This report confirms that CMV infection should be included as a probable cause of extrahepatic biliary strictures and bile duct obstruction in liver transplant patients.     

Clostridial infection in a liver transplant recipient

Clostridium perfringens infection in a liver transplant recipient is a rare complication. We report a case of a liver allograft gas gangrene. The case illustrates the fulminant and rapidly devastating course of this complication.     

Successful treatment of severe COVID‐19 pneumonia in a liver transplant recipient

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic spreads rapidly and may be an increasing challenge for transplant community. Clinical data on COVID‐19 infection in transplant population is very limited. Herein we presented the clinical course and outcome of a 50‐year‐old male post liver transplantation who contracted COVID‐19, with subsequent infection of his wife. The process of illness was representative. A therapeutic regime with temporary immunosuppression withdrawal and systemic low‐dose corticosteroid as principle was involved in the management of the patient which made him recover from severe COVID‐19 pneumonia.     

Dysarthria and cerebellar ataxia: late occurrence of severe neurotoxicity in a liver transplant recipient

Neurological complications of cyclosporin (CyA) therapy are frequent, usually occurring within the 1st month after transplantation. Though leukoencephalopathy is one of them, it is rarely documented. Here we report the case of an anti-HCV-positive patient with cirrhosis who underwent liver transplantation and developed cyclosporin-induced leukoencephalopathy. The presenting symptoms were dysarthria, difficulty walking, and dysphagia. They were first noted 6 months after transplantation in association with an episode of recurrent HCV acute hepatitis. White matter abnormalities were evident on computed tomography (CT) scanning and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. This condition improved to some degree after cyclosporin withdrawal. To our knowledge this is the second reported case of CyA neurotoxicity occurring late after liver transplantation. Moreover, the association with acute hepatitis suggests the possibility of graft dysfunction as a contributing and triggering factor.     

Herpes zoster-associated idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura in a liver transplant recipient: a case report and overview

Idiopathic (autoimmune) thrombocytopenic purpura has been previously reported as a rare complication in children and in a few adults following chickenpox. We report a case of varicella zoster virus-associated idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura in an adult liver transplant recipient following dermatomal zoster. Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura developed 3 days after the onset of herpes zoster in our patient, with a nadir platelet count of 3000/mm³. The patient was treated with intravenous gamma globulin with recovery of thrombocytopenia after 3 weeks. Transplant clinicians need to be aware that this serious and potentially life-threatening complication may occur with herpes zoster in transplant recipients.     

Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma of the orbit in a liver transplant recipient

Although an increased incidence of de novo malignancies is reported in transplant recipients, rhabdomyosarcoma, an aggressive mesenchymal tumor typical of childhood, is not considered a neoplasm commonly related to immunosuppression. A 21-year-old woman presented with unilateral diplopia and proptosis 16 months after liver transplantation for fulminant hepatic failure. A tumoral mass originating from the medial rectus muscle was partially removed and diagnosed as being an embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma. Since the patient refused complete orbital excision, one course of radiotherapy and six courses of chemotherapy were administered, while immunosuppression was re-modulated, without interruption of the administration of cyclosporine. Complete control of tumor growth was achieved, while no alterations of graft function were observed throughout the treatment period.     

Successful pregnancy in a liver transplant recipient treated with lamivudine for de novo hepatitis B in the graft

Abstract Pregnancy is often successful after liver transplantation, despite the potentially toxic effects of immunosuppressive drug therapy. Liver transplant recipients with recurrent hepatitis C or hepatitis B nonetheless appear to be at risk of a worse graft function in the event of pregnancy, and antiviral drugs are generally contraindicated in pregnancy because of their teratogenic effects. A 33-year-old woman had undergone liver transplantation for Caroli's disease 6 years previously. Two years later the patient experienced de novo HBV hepatitis. Lamivudine treatment (100 mg/day) was started and clearance of HBsAg was documented 1 year later. Four years after starting antiviral treatment the patient became pregnant, despite of the risk of teratogenic effects; lamivudine, cyclosporine and azathioprine were not discontinued for risk of break-through hepatitis and acute or chronic rejection. The course of gestation was uneventful and caesarean section was performed after 36 weeks. The newborn infant was a healthy male weighing 3,080 g and measuring 50 cm.