ABO-Incompatible Living Donor Liver Transplant From a Blood Type A2 Donor to a Type B Recipient: A Note of Caution.

Standardization of immunomodulation protocols has enabled ABO-incompatible liver transplants with outcomes similar to those of ABO-compatible liver transplants. Patients with the A2 blood group are unique because they have a diminished expression of the A antigen. Despite rare immune complications, this phenomenon of diminished expression has led to treatment of type A2 donors according to the regimen for type O blood group donors in ABO-incompatible liver transplants. Additionally, the requirement for pretransplant recipient immunomodulation is consi dered minimal when considering these donors. The transplant of a type A2 donor kidney to a type B recipient is well recognized; however, for liver donation the A2-to-B transplant is rare. Here, we present a case of 48-year-old male patient with blood group type B who underwent ABO-incompatible liver transplant of a right lobe liver graft from a type A2 donor. Postoperatively, despite adequate immunosuppression and initiation of thera - peutic plasma exchange, the patient developed severe and refractory antibody-mediated rejection that ultimately abated with a splenectomy. This report highlights the low but tangible risk of antibody-mediated rejection in ABO-incompatible liver transp lants from type A2 donors and emphasizes the importance of serial monitoring of anti-A isohemag glutinin titers and posttransplant splenectomy to ensure that liver grafts with antibody-mediated rejection can be rescued.

First report of auxiliary liver transplantation for severe cholangiopathy after SARS-CoV-2 respiratory infection.

Post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cholangiopathy (PCC) is a new entity observed in patients recovering from severe COVID-19 pneumonia. Most patients recover with cholestasis improving over a period of time. In some patients, cholestasis is severe and persists or progresses to liver failure necessitating liver transplant. We present a previously healthy 50-year-old man who developed PCC with peak total bilirubin of 42.4 mg/dl and did not improve with medical management. He underwent living donor auxiliary right lobe liver transplantation. He recovered well after transplant and remains asymptomatic at 6 months follow-up with good graft function and recovering function in native liver remnant.

Auto-immune hepatitis following COVID vaccination.

Unprecedented loss of life due to the COVID pandemic has necessitated the development of several vaccines in record time. Most of these vaccines have received approval without being extensively whetted for their adverse effect and efficacy profiles. Most adverse effects have been mild, nonetheless, more serious thromboembolic events have also been reported. Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) can occur in predisposed individuals where an immune mediated reaction against hepatocytes is triggered by environmental factors. Vaccines are a very rare cause of AIH. We report two such cases of AIH triggered by COVID (Covishield) vaccination. While one patient made an uneventful recovery, another succumbed to the liver disease. Ours is the first report of Covishield vaccination related AIH and second ever after any form of COVID vaccination. We hope that our report does not deter COVID vaccination drives. However, we also hope to raise awareness of its potential side effects and the increased role of pharmacovigilance in guiding treatment.

Post liver transplant recurrent and de novo viral infections.

Survival following liver transplantation has changed dramatically owing to improvement in surgical techniques, peri-operative care and optimal immunosuppressive therapy. Post-Liver transplant (LT) de novo or recurrent viral infection continues to cause major allograft dysfunction, leading to poor graft and patient survival in untreated patients. Availability of highly effective antiviral drugs has significantly improved post-LT survival. Patients transplanted for chronic hepatitis B infection should receive life-long nucleos(t)ide analogues, with or without HBIg for effective viral control. Patients with chronic hepatitis C should be commenced on directly acting antiviral (DAA) drugs prior to transplantation. DAA therapy for post-LT recurrent hepatitis C infection is associated with close to 100% sustained virological response (SVR), irrespective of genotype. De novo chronic Hepatitis E infection is an increasingly recognised cause of allograft dysfunction in LT recipients. Untreated chronic HEV infection of the graft may lead to liver fibrosis and allograft failure. CMV and EBV can reactivate leading to systemic illness following liver transplantation. With COVID-19 pandemic, post-transplant patients are at risk of SARS-Co-V2 infection. Majority of the LT recipients require hospitalization, and the mortality in this population is around 20%. Early recognition of allograft dysfunction and identification of viral aetiology is essential in the management of post-LT de novo or recurrent infections. Optimising immunosuppression is an important step in reducing the severity of allograft damage in the treatment of post-transplant viral infections. Viral clearance or control can be achieved by early initiation of high potency antiviral therapy.