Effect of hepatitis C antibody screening in blood donors on post-transfusion hepatitis in Taiwan

A national screening programme for antibody to hepatitis C virus (HCV) in blood donors in Taiwan began in July 1992 using a second-generation immunoassay. To study the impact of this screening on post-transfusion hepatitis in Taiwan, a prospective study on post-transfusion hepatitis, that was started in 1987, was continued. As of June 1994, 245 patients who received a blood transfusion after July 1992 had completed a follow-up period for more than 6 months post-transfusion. Of them, seven (2.8%) recipients developed acute post-transfusion hepatitis. The hepatitis in six cases could not be attributed to infection by hepatitis A, B, C, D, E viruses or cytomegalovirus (CMV) or Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). The remaining patient seroconverted to both IgG and IgM anti-CMV. All seven patients recovered in 6 months without development of chronicity, and the mean peak alanine aminotransferase level was lower compared with that of the cases before anti-HCV screening (i.e. pre-July 1992). These results indicate that the current anti-HCV screening has effectively interrupted HCV transmission through blood transfusion in Taiwan.     

Pediatric cerebellar hemorrhages

Cerebellar hemorrhage is a devastating condition with morbidity and mortality related not only to the etiology of the hemorrhage, but also to the timing of the intervention. Sixteen consecutive pediatric patients with acute cerebellar hemorrhages are presented: 6 had vascular abnormalities, 3 had tumors, and 2 had hemorrhages of unknown etiology. Thirteen of the 16 patients survived with only 1 of the 13 having persistent vegetative state as a neurologic outcome. Six of 8 patients presenting in a moribund condition had good outcomes, and 3 of 4 patients presenting with fixed and dilated pupils also had good outcomes. Thus, in contrast to adults, rapid evaluation by CT scanning, followed by the judicious use of ventricular drainage and prompt surgical treatment, have resulted in favorable outcomes in pediatric patients despite their poor clinical presentations. None of the neonates having cerebellar hemorrhages required surgical intervention; their courses could be followed clinically and with transfontanel ultrasound.Presented as a poster at the 14th Congress of the European Society for Paediatric Neurosurgery, Lyon, France, 21–23 September 1994, and the XXII Annual Meeting of the International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery, Birmingham, UK, 25–28 September 1994     

Reflections and Perspectives on Pediatric Psychology: Editor's Vale Dictum

Reviews major activities of the Editor and changes in the Journalof Pediatric Psychology (JPP) for issues published in 1993 through1997. Significant trends and accomplishments are reviewed, includingthe increased use of Special Issues and Special Sections tohighlight current pediatric psychological research. Articlespublished during the term are analyzed interms of article typeand population type Comarisons are made to earlier trends inJPP publication as reported by Roberts (1 992).     

抗—HCV阳性单采浆供血员HGV感染随访研究

为了解单采浆供血员庚型肝炎病毒（ＨＧＶ）感染及其转归，对１０２名抗－ＨＣＶ阳性单采浆供血员冻存血清进行抗－ＨＧＶ和ＨＧＶＲＮＡ检测，对抗－ＨＧＶ和（或）ＨＧＶＲＮＡ阳性者作３年随访研究。采用ＥＩＡ法检测抗－ＨＧＶ，包被抗原来自ＨＧＶ不同功能区的合成肽。应用ＲＴ－ＰＣＲ法检测ＨＧＶＲＮＡ，引物选自ＨＧＶＮＳ３区。结果表明，抗－ＨＣＶ阳性单采浆供血员ＨＧＶＲＮＡ阳性率为１９．６１％（２０／１０２），抗－ＨＧＶ阳性率为１７．６５％（１８／１０２），ＨＧＶ感染率（抗ＨＧＶ和／或ＨＧＶＲＮＡ阳性）为２４．５１％（２５／１０２），而对照组仅为０．９４％（１／１０６）。提示单采血浆是ＨＧＶ感染的重要危险因素。ＨＧＶＲＮＡ和抗－ＨＧＶ的３年阴转率分别为３５．００％（７／２０）和１１．１１％（２／１８），说明ＨＧＶ感染有慢性携带趋势     

Matching blood donations to type-specific product needs: A recruitment technique

The conversion of multiple whole blood donors to apheresis donors is a challenge since a rapidly expanding apheresis donor base could erode homologous collections. We addressed this concern with a plan to enhance apheresis recruitment as well as donations among homologous donors with types O and B blood. Focusing the donor's attention on blood type as it relates to type-specific product needs was the basis of our approach. A matrix was used to recruit the desired types for the desired procedures (whole blood, platelet/plasma apheresis). The matrix instructed donors of blood types O, A-, and B- to primarily give whole blood and to give apheresis as a secondary donation. Donors AB, A+, and B+ were primarily directed to apheresis donations, whole blood donation being secondary. A+ and O- donors only gave their secondary donation if they were at maximum donations with the primary donation. The collections by blood type in percentages for 12 months of 1992/93 for whole blood were O+ 38.9, 0- 7.3, A+ 29.5, A- 5.7, B+ 11.9, B- 2.1, AB+ 3.7, AB+ 0.7. For apheresis it was 0+ 36.2, 0- 6.7, A+ 33.0, A- 6.6, B+ 10.4, B- 1.2, AB+ 4.9, AB+ 1.0. In 1992/93, A+ and B+ apheresis collections as compared to total apheresis collections increased by 4.9% and 13.7%, respectively. For O group apheresis donations, a decrease of 2.5% was shown and A+ whole blood donations decreased by 5.35%. During the same period of time, total apheresis collections increased by 3,058 units. We demonstrated that integration of apheresis recruitment with type-specific whole blood recruitment yielded significant increases of type-specific products.     

Laparoscopic Versus Open Renal Procurement for Pediatric Recipients of Living Donor Renal Transplantation

Despite reports demonstrating the safety of laparoscopic donor nephrectomy (LDN) for pediatric recipients of renal transplants, recent evidence has challenged using LDN for recipients 5 years of age or younger. We retrospectively reviewed the records of all pediatric recipients of living donor renal transplants from September 2000 through August 2004. We compared those who received allografts recovered by LDN (n = 34) with those recovered by open donor nephrectomy (ODN, n = 26). Outcomes of interest included operative complications, postoperative renal function, the incidence of delayed graft function or episodes of acute rejection and long-term graft function. Donor and recipient demographic data were similar for the LDN and ODN groups. Serum creatinine and calculated creatinine clearance were not significantly different between groups both in the early postoperative period and at long-term follow-up (p > 0.142). Rates of delayed graft function and acute rejection did not differ between groups. Among recipients aged 5 years old or younger stratified by donor technique (9 LDN, 5 ODN recipients), no difference was noted in graft outcomes both early and long-term (p > 0.079). At our center, pediatric LDN recipients have graft outcomes comparable to those of ODN recipients. At experienced centers, we recommend continued use of LDN for pediatric recipients of all ages.     

Successful Liver and Kidney Transplantation From Cadaveric Donors With Left-Sided Bacterial Endocarditis

Bacterial infections are frequent in cadaveric organ donors and can be transmitted to the transplantation recipient, which could have devastating consequences for the recipients if adequate preventive measures are not adopted.
From the 355 consecutive brain dead cadaveric organ donors procured at our center in the last four years, 2000–2003, four of them (1.1%) had bacterial endocarditis as cause of death. The bacteria responsible for the endocarditis were Staphylococcus epidermidis, coagulase-negative Staphylococcus , Staphylococcus hominis and Streptococcus viridans , respectively. We performed five kidney and two liver transplantations on seven recipients. All donors and recipients received antibiotic treatment against the germ causing the respective endocarditis.
Infection by the bacteria responsible for the endocarditis in the respective donors was not transmitted to any of the recipients. Six of the seven recipients were alive with normal-functioning grafts after between 13 and 24 months' follow-up. Transplantectomy was performed on one kidney recipient due to thrombosis of the renal vein of the graft not related to the endocarditis.
Liver and kidney transplantation from donors dying from bacterial endocarditis can be performed without causing the transmission of infection to the recipient or the dysfunction of the graft.     

Adult Liver Transplant Candidate Attitudes Toward Graft Sharing Are Not Obstacles to Split Liver Transplantation

Split liver transplantation (SLT) benefits society by increasing the total number of transplants that can be performed, but it is yet unknown if a decreased post-transplant survival (in comparison to whole liver transplantation) would make participation in SLT less appealing to adult liver transplant candidates. A 20-item questionnaire was administered to 50 adult candidates to assess attitudes toward SLT and organ sharing. The overall attitudes of 60% of participants were classified as utilitarian (maximizing benefit to greatest number of candidates), while 26% were classified as self-preserving (maximizing individual benefit) and 14% were undecided. Ninety percent of participants would be willing to share even if expected survival was less than that of whole liver transplantation, and 69% felt that pediatric candidates should have priority over adult candidates. In conclusion, attitudes toward graft sharing and the possibility of compromised survival benefit are not barriers to SLT for most adult liver transplant candidates.     

Randomized Trial of Basiliximab Induction versus Steroid Therapy in Pediatric Liver Allograft Recipients Under Tacrolimus Immunosuppression

Avoidance of corticosteroids could be beneficial after pediatric liver transplantation (LTx). To test this hypothesis, we performed a randomized prospective study to compare immunosuppression with tacrolimus (TAC) and steroids versus TAC and basiliximab (BAS) after pediatric LTx. Seventy-two patients were recruited, 36 receiving TAC and steroids and 36 TAC and BAS. The primary endpoint was the occurrence of the first rejection episode. Secondary endpoints were the cumulative incidence and severity of rejection, patient and graft survival, and incidence of adverse events. Overall 1-year patient and graft survival rates were 91.4% and 85.5% in the steroid group, and 88.6% and 80% in the BAS group (p = NS). Patients free from rejection were 87.7% in the BAS group and 67.7% in the steroid group (p = 0.036). The use of BAS was associated with a 63.6% reduction in incidence of acute rejection episodes. Overall incidence of infection was 72.3% in the steroid group and 50% in the BAS group (p = 0.035). We conclude that the combination of TAC with BAS is an alternative to TAC and steroid immunosuppression in pediatric LTx, which allows for a significant reduction in the incidence of acute rejection and infectious complications.     

Segmental Liver Transplantation from Non-Heart Beating Donors—An Early Experience with Implications for the Future

We report our experience of pediatric liver transplantation with partial grafts from non-heart beating donors (NHBD). Controlled donors less than 40 years of age with a warm ischemia time (WI) of less than 30 min were considered for pediatric recipients. Death was declared 5 min after asystole. A super-rapid recovery technique with aortic and portal perfusion was utilized. Mean donor age was 29 years and WI 14.6 min (range 11–18). Seven children, mean age 4.9 years (0.7–11), median weight 20 kg (8.4–53) received NHBD segmental liver grafts. Diagnoses included seronegative hepatitis, neonatal sclerosing cholangitis, familial intrahepatic cholestasis, hepatoblastoma, primary hyperoxaluria and factor VII deficiency (n = 2).The grafts included four reduced and one split left lateral segments, one left lobe and one right auxiliary graft. Mean cold ischemia was 7.3 h (6.2–8.8). Complications included one pleural effusion and one biliary collection drained percutaneously. At 20 months (10–36) follow-up all children are alive and well with functioning grafts.
Donation after cardiac death is a significant source of liver grafts for adults and children with careful donor selection and short cold ischemic times.