Correlations between MELD score and left ventricular function in patients with end-stage liver disease / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the correlations between MELD score and left ventricular function in patients with end-stage liver disease.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 92 patients who prepared for orthotopic liver transplantation from January 2002 to May 2008 were enrolled in this study. Of these Patients, 75 were males and 17 were females, and the mean age was 50.3+/-9.5 years; 85 were cirrhosis, 7 were cirrhosis with primary liver cancer. Preoperative information, including biochemical parameters, coagulation parameters, indicators of hepatitis virology, two-dimensional echocardiography and electrocardiogram were collected. According to MELD (the Model for End-stage Liver Disease) scoring system, these subjects were categorized into three groups: MELD score is less than or equal to 9 points (31 cases, 33.7%); 10 is less than or equal to MELD score is less than or equal to 19 points (45 cases, 48.9%); MELD score is more than or equal to 20 points (16 cases, 17.4%). The relationships between MELD score and classification and cardiac function were determined by chi-square test, analysis of variance, rank sum test and correlation analysis, et al.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>MELD score was significantly correlated with left atrial diameter (LAD), interventricular septum thickness (IVST), left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD), aortic flow (AF), cardiac output (CO), QRS interval (QRSI) and corrected QT interval (QTc) (r = 0.317, 0.341, 0.228, 0.387, 0.325, 0.209 and 0.347, respectively; P value less than 0.01, respectively); except QRSI, these variables and left ventricular posterior wall thickness (LVPWT) were also correlated with INR (a MELD component) (r = 0.282, 0.319, 0.322, 0.435, 0.275, 0.320 and 0.237, respectively; P value less than 0.01, respectively); LAD, LVEDD, AF, CO and QTc were correlated with serum total bilirubin (r = 0.241, 0.219, 0.357, 0.246 and 0.253, respectively; P value less than 0.05, respectively); IVST and E/A ratio (A blood flow [from left atrium to left ventricular] velocity ratio between early diastole [E wave] and late diastole[A wave] ) were correlated with serum creatinine (r = 0.216 and -0.343; P value less than 0.05 and 0.01); the proportion of E/A is less than or equal to 1 in all subjects was 46.7% (43/92), and 48.4% (15/31), 35.6% (16/45) and 75.0% (12/16) in each group, besides, there was statistically significant difference between 10 is less than or equal to MELD score is less than or equal to 19 points group and MELD score is more than or equal to 20 points group (X2 = 7.359, P = 0.009).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>There are different degrees of left ventricular structure, function and electrophysiological changes in patients with end-stage liver disease, these anomalies also will be increased with the MELD score increasing.</p>

Prevention and treatment of biliary complications following orthotopic liver transplantation / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the prevention and treatment of biliary complications after orthotopic liver transplantation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Clinical data of 183 recipients who had received liver transplantation between May 1995 and December 2006 were retrospectively analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Biliary complications occurred in 15 patients (15/183, 8.2%). The incidence for short-term and long-term complication were 6.0% (11/183) and 2.2% (4/183) respectively. No biliary complications was due to hepatic artery thrombosis(HAT). Four cases who received PTC(percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography) with stent insertion,8 cases who received ERCP( endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography) with stent insertion and 1 who received Roux-en-Y choledochojejunostomy for anastomotic stricture were successfully cured. Two cases required relaparotomy died for fungus infection eventually. The mortality due to biliary complications was 1.1%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The rapid combined abdominal organ harvesting technique could shorten the ischemia time and ameliorate the injury due to vascular and bile duct variances, which could reduce the incidence of biliary complication. PTC and (or) ERCP combined with stent insertion were main procedure for biliary complications not related to HAT after liver transplantation.</p>

Prevention and treatment of rejection after simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation / 中国医学科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore methods of preventing and reversing rejection after simultaneous pancreas-kidney (SPK) transplantation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seventeen patients underwent SPK transplantation from September 1999 to September 2003 were reviewed retrospectively. Immunosuppression was achieved by a triple drug regimen consisting of cyclosporine, mycophenolate mofteil (MMF), and steroids. Three patients were treated with anti-CD3 monoclone antibody (OKT3, 5 mg x d(-1)) for induction therapy for a mean period of 5-7 days. One patients received IL-2 receptor antibodies (daclizumab) in a dose of 1 mg x kg(-1) on the day of transplant and the 5th day posttransplant. One patient was treated with both OKT3 and daclizumab for induction.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>No primary non-functionality of either kidney or pancreas occurred in this series of transplantations. Function of all the kidney grafts recovered within 2 to 4 days after transplantation. The level of serum creatinine was 94 +/- 11 micromol/L on the 7th day posttransplant. One patient experienced the accelerated rejection, resulting in the resection of the pancreas and kidney grafts because of the failure of conservative therapy. The incidence of the first rejection episodes at 3 months was 47.1% (8/17). Only the kidney was involved in 35.3% (6/17); and both the pancreas and kidney were involved in 11.8% (2/17). All these patients received a high-dose pulse of methylprednisone (0.5 g x d(-1)) for 3 days. OKT3 (0.5 mg x d(-1)) was administered for 7-10 days in two patients with both renal and pancreas rejection. All the grafts were successfully rescued.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Rejection, particularly acute rejection, is the major cause influencing graft function in SPK transplantation. Monitoring renal function and pancreas exocrine secretion, and reasonable application of immunosuppressants play important roles in the diagnosis and treatment of rejection.</p>

Analysis of rejection after simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore methods of preventing and reversing rejection after simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation (SPK).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seventeen patients performed SPK operation from Sep, 1999 to Sep, 2003 were reviewed retrospectively. Immunosuppression was achieved by triple regimen consisting of cyclosporine, mycophenolate mofetil (MMF)/azathioprine and steroid. 2 patients were treated with Dalizumab, the other three patients used OKT3 as immune induction.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>1 patient experienced the accelerated rejection, the pancreas and kidney grafts were resected because of failure of conservative therapy. 8 patients experienced renal acute rejection, 2 cases suffered from pancreas acute rejection at the same time. All these patients received daily high dose pulse steroid for 3 days. OKT3 was administered in 2 patients with steroid resistance rejection. All the grafts were successfully rescued.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Reasonable application of immunosuppression after SPK operation and adoption of systemic measures which can reduce sensitivity of high risk receptor before SPK operation are the effective methods of preventing and treating rejection.</p>