Changes in thoracic radio density after living donor liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND: The outcomes after liver transplantation have greatly improved, which has resulted in greater focus on improving non-hepatic outcomes of liver transplantation. The present study aimed to evaluate thoracic spine radio density in children and adolescents after liver transplantation. METHODS: A total of 116 patients who underwent living donor liver transplantation were retrospectively analyzed. The radio density at the eleventh thoracic vertebra was measured using computed tomography scan performed preoperatively then annually for 5 years postoperatively and subsequently every 2 or 3 years. RESULTS: The mean thoracic radio density of male recipients of male grafts had the lowest values during the study. The radio density of patients receiving a graft from a female donor was higher than in recipients with grafts from males. Total mean radio density decreased for first 5 years postoperatively and then increased. Changes in radio density were equally distributed in both steroid withdrawal and no steroid withdrawal groups for 5 years, after which patients with steroid withdrawal had a greater increase. Changes in radio density were equally distributed in both the steroid withdrawal and no steroid withdrawal groups up to age 20, after which patients in the steroid withdrawal group had a greater increase. CONCLUSIONS: Gender differences may affect the outcome of radio density changes after transplantation. Given the moderate association between thoracic radio density and bone mineral density in skeletally mature adults and further studies are needed to validate this relationship between thoracic radio density and bone mineral density changes in pediatric liver transplantation.

Liver resection volume-dependent pancreatic strain following living donor hepatectomy.

The liver and pancreas work together to recover homeostasis after hepatectomy. This study aimed to investigate the effect of liver resection volume on the pancreas. We collected clinical data from 336 living liver donors. They were categorized into left lateral sectionectomy (LLS), left lobectomy, and right lobectomy (RL) groups. Serum pancreatic enzymes were compared among the groups. Serum amylase values peaked on postoperative day (POD) 1. Though they quickly returned to preoperative levels on POD 3, 46% of cases showed abnormal values on POD 7 in the RL group. Serum lipase levels were highest at POD 7. Lipase values increased 5.7-fold on POD 7 in the RL group and 82% of cases showed abnormal values. The RL group's lipase was twice that of the LLS group. A negative correlation existed between the remnant liver volume and amylase (r = - 0.326)/lipase (r = - 0.367) on POD 7. Furthermore, a significant correlation was observed between POD 7 serum bilirubin and amylase (r = 0.379)/lipase (r = 0.381) levels, indicating cooccurrence with liver and pancreatic strain. Pancreatic strain due to hepatectomy occurs in a resection/remnant liver volume-dependent manner. It would be beneficial to closely monitor pancreatic function in patients undergoing a major hepatectomy.

Neonatal onset of Niemann-Pick disease type C in a patient with cholesterol re-accumulation in the transplanted liver and inflammatory bowel disease.

BACKGROUND: Niemann-Pick disease type C (NPC) is an autosomal recessive inherited and neurodegenerative disorder. Approximately 10% of NPC patients have acute liver failure and sometimes need liver transplantation (LT), and 7% reportedly develop inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We report the case of a girl with NPC who had a re- accumulation of cholesterol in the transplanted liver and NPC-related IBD. CASE REPORT: The patient underwent living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) due to severe acute liver failure caused by an unknown etiology inherited from her father. At 1 year and 6 months (1Y6M), she developed neurological delay, catalepsy, and vertical supranuclear gaze palsy. The foam cells were found in her skin, and fibroblast Filipin staining was positive; hence, she was diagnosed with NPC. It was identified that her father had NPC heterozygous pathogenic variant. At 2 years, she had anal fissure, skin tag and diarrhea. She was diagnosed with NPC-related IBD, using a gastrointestinal endoscopy. Three years after LT, liver biopsy revealed foam cells and numerous fatty droplets. At 8 years, broken hepatocytes and substantial fibrosis were observed. She died from circulation failure due to hypoalbuminemia at 8Y2M. CONCLUSIONS: In NPC, load of cholesterol metabolism is suggested to persist even after LT. LDLT from NPC heterozygous variant donor was insufficient to metabolize cholesterol overload. In NPC patients, the possibility of cholesterol re-accumulation should be considered when LT is performed. NPC-related IBD should be considered when NPC patients have anorectal lesions or diarrhea.

Surgical approach to supradiaphragmatic inferior vena cava in patients with metallic stent in the hepatic vein during repeat liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Repeat liver transplantation (LT) for patients with the liver graft failure who underwent metallic stent placement in the previous graft hepatic vein (HV) for HV complications can be very difficult. We retrospectively reviewed the safer surgical procedures during repeat LT for patients with a metallic stent in the graft HV. CASE REPORTS: Patient 1 with biliary atresia who was treated with metallic stent placement for HV stenosis underwent a third LT form a deceased donor at the age 17 years. Patient 2 with ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency who was treated with metallic stent placement for refractory HV stenosis underwent a second LT form a deceased donor at age 9 years. In both patients, transection of the previous graft HV through an intraabdominal approach was difficult during repeat LT, and a supradiaphragmatic inferior vena cava (IVC) approach was introduced. Using a midline incision of the diaphragm, the pericardium was incised and the supradiaphragmatic IVC was encircled. After clamping the supradiaphragmatic IVC, graft hepatectomy was performed. The metallic stent was successfully removed breaking, and HV reconstruction was performed on the suprahepatic IVC. Both patients did well without serious HV complications after repeat LT. CONCLUSIONS: The surgical technique for the supradiaphragmatic IVC approach is useful to decrease the risk of fatal operative complications during repeat LT for patients with a metallic stent in the graft HV.

Telomere Attrition in Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasms of the Pancreas Associated With Carcinogenesis and Aging.

OBJECTIVES: It is challenging to preoperatively distinguish malignant and benign forms of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) of the pancreas. The aims of this study were to investigate whether telomere length is associated with pathological grade of IPMNs and age and to clarify the utility of telomere length as a marker to identify malignant IPMNs. METHODS: Pancreas tissue was obtained from 28 patients after resection. We measured the telomere lengths of tumor cells in IPMNs and normal duct cells by quantitative fluorescence in situ hybridization. The association of normalized telomere-centromere ratio (NTCR) to pathological grade of IPMNs and age were determined. RESULTS: The NTCR showed a gradual decrease with increasing pathological grade of IPMNs. The NTCR in intermediate- and high-grade dysplasia and adenocarcinoma lesions was significantly shorter than in normal pancreatic ducts (P < 0.05). In multivariate analysis, telomere length was most associated with carcinogenesis. When the cutoff value of NTCR was set to 0.74, the sensitivity for detection of high-grade dysplasia and adenocarcinoma was 82.8%, with a specificity of 87.5%. CONCLUSIONS: Telomere shortening occurs with carcinogenesis and aging. A significant reduction of telomere length in IPMNs may be useful for surgical decision making.

Hepatolithiasis After Living Donor Liver Transplantation in Pediatric Patients: Mechanism, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prognosis.

There is little information about the outcomes of pediatric patients with hepatolithiasis after living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). We retrospectively reviewed hepatolithiasis after pediatric LDLT. Between May 2001 and December 2020, 310 pediatric patients underwent LDLT with hepaticojejunostomy. Treatment for 57 patients (18%) with post-transplant biliary strictures included interventions through double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) in 100 times, percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) in 43, surgical re-anastomosis in 4, and repeat liver transplantation in 3. The median age and interval at treatment were 12.3 years old and 2.4 years after LDLT, respectively. At the time of treatments, 23 patients (7%) had developed hepatolithiasis of whom 12 (52%) were diagnosed by computed tomography before treatment. Treatment for hepatolithiasis included intervention through DBE performed 34 times and PTBD 6, including lithotripsy by catheter 23 times, removal of plastic stent in 8, natural exclusion after balloon dilatation in 7, and impossibility of removal in 2. The incidence of recurrent hepatolithiasis was 30%. The 15-years graft survival rates in patients with and without hepatolithiasis were 91% and 89%, respectively (p = 0.860). Although hepatolithiasis after pediatric LDLT can be treated using interventions through DBE or PTBD and its long-term prognosis is good, the recurrence rate is somewhat high.

Serum matrix metalloproteinase-7 in biliary atresia: A Japanese multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: Biliary atresia (BA) is among the commonest indications for liver transplantation (LT) in children. We examined whether serum matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7) is useful for diagnosis of BA in Japanese infants, and whether serum MMP-7 concentrations before and after Kasai portoenterostomy (KP) predicted LT within a year. METHODS: Subjects under 6 months old at eight pediatric centers in Japan were enrolled retrospectively, including patients with cholestasis and normal controls (NC) without liver disease. Patients with cholestasis were divided into groups representing BA versus cholestasis from other causes (non-BA). Serum samples were collected from patients with BA at diagnosis and 1 and 4 weeks after KP, as well as from non-BA and NC. RESULTS: Serum MMP-7 concentrations were significantly higher in BA at diagnosis (median, 89.1 ng/ml) than in non-BA (11.0; p < 0.001) or NC (10.3; p < 0.001). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis of MMP-7 for BA versus non-BA yielded an area under the ROC curve of 0.99 (95% confidence interval, 0.96-1.00). An optimal cut-off value of 18.6 ng/ml for serum MMP-7 in diagnosing BA demonstrated sensitivity and specificity of 100% and 90%, respectively. Serum MMP-7 before and 1 week and 4 weeks after KP did not differ significantly between BA requiring only KP and BA requiring LT after KP. CONCLUSION: Serum MMP-7 is a useful marker for diagnosis of BA in Japanese infants, but it could not predict LT within a year.

Prevalence and outcomes of patients with sinusoidal obstruction syndrome after liver transplantation: A ten year's experience of a single center in Japan.

BACKGROUND: Sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS) after liver transplantation (LT) is a rare and potentially lethal complication. We retrospectively reviewed the outcomes of patients with post-transplant SOS. METHODS: Between May 2001 and December 2019, of 332 patients who underwent LT, 5 (1.5%) developed SOS. The median age at LT was 1.7 years (range 0.1-66.5). SOS was histopathologically diagnosed and classified as early-onset (<1 month) or late-onset. RESULTS: The median time to diagnosis of SOS was one month after LT. All patients developed acute cellular rejection before SOS, and the cause of SOS was acute cellular rejection in four patients and unknown in one. The treatment of SOS included conversion to tacrolimus from cyclosporine, intrahepatic hepatic vein stent placement, strengthening of immunosuppression, and plasma exchange. The 5-year graft survival rates in patients with and without SOS were 53.0% and 92.5%, respectively (p < 0.001). Of three patients with early-onset SOS, two patients improved and are doing well, and one patient died of graft failure four months after LT. CONCLUSIONS: The cause and treatment of post-transplant SOS are not yet defined. The poor outcomes in patients with early-onset SOS may be improved by strengthening of immunosuppression. Patients with late-onset SOS are ultimately treated by repeat LT.

Long-term outcomes in pediatric patients who underwent living donor liver transplantation for biliary atresia.

BACKGROUND: There is no consensus about long-term outcomes in patients with biliary atresia. We retrospectively reviewed the long-term outcomes in pediatric patients who underwent living donor liver transplantation for biliary atresia. METHODS: Between May 2001 and December 2020, 221 (73%) of 302 pediatric patients who underwent living donor liver transplantation had biliary atresia. The median age at living donor liver transplantation was 1.2 (range 0.2-16.5) years, and follow-up was 10.3 ± 5.5 years. RESULTS: The 10-year graft survival rates in patients with and without biliary atresia were 94% and 89%, respectively (P = .019). The 10-year graft survival was significantly poorer in patients ≥12 years of age (84%) versus those <12 years of age at living donor liver transplantation (0-2 years: 95%; 2-12 years: 96%) (P = .016). The causes of graft failure in patients with biliary atresia included late-onset refractory rejection (n = 6), bowel perforation (n = 2), and acute encephalitis (n = 2), as well as cerebral hemorrhage, hepatic vein thrombosis, and sepsis (n = 1 for all). All 7 patients with graft failure due to refractory rejection and hepatic vein thrombosis underwent repeated liver transplantation and are alive in 2021. The rates of post-transplant portal vein complications and early-onset acute cellular rejection in patients with biliary atresia were higher than in those without biliary atresia (P = .042 and P = .022, respectively). In 2021, of 60 adolescents with biliary atresia, 14 (23%) reported medication nonadherence. The rate of liver dysfunction due to late-onset acute cellular rejection and graft failure due to late-onset refractory rejection in patients with nonadherence was higher than in patients with satisfactory adherence (P = .009). CONCLUSION: The long-term prognosis after living donor liver transplantation in pediatric patients with biliary atresia is quite good. However, long-term support to enhance medication adherence is required in adolescents with biliary atresia.

Outcomes After Living Donor Liver Transplantation in Pediatric Patients with Inherited Metabolic Diseases.

BACKGROUND There is no consensus about the long-term prognosis of pediatric patients with a variety of rare liver diseases but with inherited metabolic diseases (IMDs). We retrospectively reviewed the developmental outcomes of patients with IMDs undergoing living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). MATERIAL AND METHODS Between May 2001 and December 2020, of 314 pediatric patients who underwent LDLT, 44 (14%) had IMDs. The median age at LDLT was 3.0 years old (range 0-15.0 years). Associations between the post-transplant complications and graft survival rate in patients with IMDs and biliary atresia (BA) were calculated. We evaluated the safety of LDLT from heterozygous carrier donors, the prognosis of patients with IMDs who have metabolic defects expressed in other organs, and developmental outcomes of patients with IMDs. RESULTS The 10-year graft survival rates in patients with IMDs and BA were 87% and 94%, respectively (P=0.041), and the causes of graft failure included pneumocystis pneumonia, acute lung failure, hemophagocytic syndrome, hepatic vein thrombosis, portal vein thrombosis, and sepsis. The rate of post-transplant cytomegalovirus viremia in patients with IMDs was higher than that of patients with BA (P=0.039). Of 39 patients with IMDs, 15 patients (38%) had severe motor and intellectual disabilities in 4 patients, intellectual developmental disorders including epilepsy in 2, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in 2. Of 28 patients with IMDs, 13 (46%) needed special education. CONCLUSIONS The long-term outcomes of LDLT in patients with IMDs are good. However, further long-term social and educational follow-up regarding intellectual developmental disorders is needed.

The Efficacy and Safety of Balloon Enteroscopy-Assisted Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiography in Pediatric Patients with Surgically Altered Gastrointestinal Anatomy.

Balloon enteroscopy-assisted endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (BEA-ERC) is useful and feasible in adults with pancreatobiliary diseases, but its efficacy and safety have not been established in pediatric patients. We compared the success rate and safety of BEA-ERC between adults and pediatric patients. This single-center retrospective study reviewed 348 patients (pediatric: 57, adult: 291) with surgically altered gastrointestinal anatomies who underwent BEA-ERC for biliary disorders from January 2007 to December 2019. The success rate of reaching the anastomosis or duodenal papilla was significantly lower in pediatric patients than in adult patients (66.7% vs. 88.0%, p < 0.01). The clinical success rate was also significantly lower in pediatric patients (64.9% vs. 80.4%, p = 0.014). The rate of adverse events was significantly higher in pediatric patients than in adults (14.2% vs. 7.7%, p = 0.037). However, if the anastomotic sites were reached in pediatric patients, the treatment was highly successful (97.3%). The time of reaching target site was significantly longer in pediatric patients than in adult patients. This study shows that BEA-ERC in pediatric patients is more difficult than that in adult patients. However, in patients where the balloon enteroscope was advanced to the anastomosis, clinical outcomes comparable to those in adults can be achieved.

Rapid blood cell recovery with immunosuppressive therapy combined with romiplostim in a patient with very severe hepatitis-associated aplastic anemia who underwent liver transplantation.

Patients with hepatitis-associated aplastic anemia (HAA) who undergo living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT) have a poor prognosis with infections and bleeding complications. Rapid recovery of blood cells is critical for preventing these complications and improving the outcome. Immunosuppressive therapy (IST) combined with thrombopoietin receptor agonists is considered effective for aplastic anemia. However, there are no data on the benefits of adding thrombopoietin receptor agonists to IST for HAA. We present the case of a child with severe HAA who underwent LDLT, and who achieved rapid blood cell recovery with IST combined with romiplostim, a thrombopoietin receptor agonist. In addition, despite having undergone LDLT, the patient had no adverse events such as serious liver dysfunction or thrombosis. This case suggests that IST combined with thrombopoietin receptor agonists may be a promising treatment option for HAA patients undergoing LDLT.

Successful living donor liver transplantation for liver failure due to maternal T cell engraftment following cord blood transplantation in X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency disease: Case report.

Maternal T cells from perinatal transplacental passage have been identified in up to 40% of patients with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID). Although engrafted maternal T cells sometimes injure newborn tissue, liver failure due to maternal T cells has not been reported. We rescued a boy with X-linked SCID who developed liver failure due to engrafted maternal T cell invasion following living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) following unrelated umbilical cord blood transplantation (UCBT). After developing respiratory failure 3 weeks postpartum, he was diagnosed with X-linked SCID. Pathological findings showed maternal T cells engrafted in his liver and hepatic fibrosis gradually progressed. He underwent UCBT at 6 months, but hepatic function did not recover and liver failure progressed. Therefore, he underwent LDLT using an S2 monosegment graft at age 1.3 years. The patient had a leak at the Roux-en-Y anastomosis, which was repaired. Despite occasional episodes of pneumonia and otitis media, he is generally doing well 6 years after LDLT with continued immunosuppression agents. In conclusion, the combination of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and liver transplantation may be efficacious, and HSCT should precede liver transplantation for children with X-linked SCID and liver failure.

Ultrasonographically guided percutaneous transhepatic liver biopsy after pediatric liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Complications associated with ultrasonographically guided percutaneous transhepatic liver biopsy (PTLB) after liver transplantation (LT) have been rarely reported, and there is no consensus about its safety. We retrospectively reviewed the safety and outcomes of PTLB after pediatric LT. METHODS: Between January 2008 and December 2019, 8/1122 (0.71%) pediatric patients who underwent ultrasonographically guided PTLB after LT developed complications. The median age at PTLB was 7.8 years (range 0.1-17.9). Grafts included left lobe/left lateral segment in 1050 patients and others in 72. PTLB was performed using local anesthesia±sedation in 1028 patients and general anesthesia in 94. RESULTS: Complications after PTLB included acute cholangitis in 3 patients, sepsis in 2, respiratory failure due to over-sedation in 1, subcapsular hematoma in 1, and intrahepatic arterioportal fistula in 1. The incidence of complications of PTLB in patients with biopsy alone and those with simultaneous interventions was 0.49% and 3.19%, respectively (p = .023). Patients who developed acute cholangitis, respiratory failure, subcapsular hematoma, and arterioportal fistula improved with non-operative management. Of two patients with sepsis, one underwent PTLB and percutaneous transhepatic portal vein balloon dilatation and developed fever and seizures the following day. Sepsis was treated with antibiotic therapy. Another patient who underwent PTLB and exchange of percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage catheter developed fever and impaired consciousness immediately. Sepsis was treated with antibiotic therapy, mechanical ventilation, and continuous hemofiltration. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous transhepatic liver biopsy after pediatric LT is safe. However, combining liver biopsy with simultaneous procedures for vascular and biliary complications is associated with an increased risk of complications.

A Japanese prospective multicenter study of urinary oxysterols in biliary atresia.

Diagnosis of biliary atresia (BA) can involve uncertainties. In the present prospective multicenter study, we considered whether urinary oxysterols represent a useful marker for diagnosis of BA in Japanese children. Subjects under 6 months old at 7 pediatric centers in Japan were prospectively enrolled, including patients with cholestasis and healthy controls (HC) without liver disease. Patients with cholestasis constituted 2 groups representing BA patients and others with cholestasis from other causes (non-BA). We quantitatively analyzed 7 oxysterols including 4ß-, 20(S)-, 22(S)-, 22(R)-, 24(S)-, 25-, and 27-hydroxycholesterol by liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry. Enrolled subjects included 14 with BA (median age 68 days; range 26-170) and 10 non-BA cholestatic controls (59; 14-162), as well as 10 HC (57; 25-120). Total urinary oxysterols were significantly greater in BA (median, 153.0 µmol/mol creatinine; range 24.1-486.7; P < 0.001) and non-BA (36.2; 5.8-411.3; P < 0.05) than in HC (2.7; 0.8-7.6). In patients with BA, urinary 27-hydroxycholesterol (3.61; 0.42-11.09; P < 0.01) was significantly greater than in non-BA (0.71; 0-5.62). In receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis for distinguishing BA from non-BA, the area under the ROC curve for urinary 27-hydroxycholesterol was 0.83. In conclusion, this first report of urinary oxysterol analysis in patients with BA indicated that 27-hydroxycholesterol may be a useful marker for distinguishing BA from other causes of neonatal cholestasis.

Peliosis Hepatis in a Child with X-Linked Myotubular Myopathy Treated with Living-Donor Liver Transplant: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND: Myotubular myopathy is a rare disease sometimes accompanied by peliosis hepatis, a leading cause of fatal liver hemorrhage. CASE REPORT: We present a case of a 2-year-old boy with myotubular myopathy who developed liver hemorrhage because of peliosis hepatis and was successfully treated with living-donor liver transplant. The patient initially presented with fever, anemia, and liver dysfunction. A computed tomographic scan revealed hemorrhages in the liver, and the patient underwent hepatic artery embolization twice. After the second embolization, multiple peliosis hepatis cavities appeared in the left lobe of the liver that had increased in size. Therefore, the patient underwent ABO-incompatible living-donor liver transplant using a lateral segment graft from his father. The patient developed severe septic shock with an unknown focus on postoperative day 18, which resolved with antibiotic therapy. On postoperative day 62, he was discharged. Fourteen months after undergoing living-donor liver transplant, the patient showed no recurrence of peliosis hepatis. CONCLUSIONS: Although the long-term prognosis of peliosis hepatis due to myotubular myopathy after living-donor liver transplant remains unclear, liver transplant may be a curative treatment for patients with myotubular myopathy who have uncontrollable peliosis hepatis.

Liver Transplant for Posthepatectomy Liver Failure in Hepatoblastoma.

OBJECTIVES: Predicting the risk of posthepatectomy liver failure is important when performing extended hepatectomy. However, there is no established method to evaluate liver function and improve preoperative liver function in pediatric patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We show the clinical features of pediatric patients who underwent living donor liver transplant for posthepatectomy liver failure in hepatoblastoma. The subjects were 4 patients with hepatoblastoma who were classified as Pretreatment Extent of Disease III, 2 of whom had distal metastasis (chest wall and lung). RESULTS: Hepatic right trisegmentectomy was performed in 3 patients and extended left hepatectomy in 1 patient. The median alpha-fetoprotein level at the diagnosis of hepatoblastoma was 986300 ng/mL (range, 22500-2726350 ng/mL), and the median alpha-fetoprotein level before hepatectomy was 8489 ng/mL (range, 23-22500 ng/mL). The remnant liver volume after hepatectomy was 33.3% (range, 20% to 34.9%). Four patients had cholangitis after hepatectomy and progressed to posthepatectomy liver failure. The peak serum total bilirubin after hepatectomy was 11.4 mg/dL (range, 8.7-14.6 mg/dL). Living donor liver transplant was performed for these 4 patients with posthepatectomy liver failure, and they did not have a recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: When the predictive remnant liver volume by computed tomography-volumetry before extended hepatectomy for patients with hepatoblastoma is less than 40%, the possibility of posthepatectomy liver failure should be recognized.

Antithrombin III treatment for portal vein thrombosis after living donor liver transplantation: a case report.

BACKGROUND: There have been no reports on the effectiveness of the administration of antithrombin III (AT III) for post-transplant portal vein thrombosis (PVT). We herein report a case of post-transplant PVT that was resolved by AT III treatment after living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). CASE PRESENTATION: The patient was a 57-year-old man who had been diagnosed with decompensate liver cirrhosis by hepatitis C virus infection. He presented with repeated hepatic coma and refractory ascites. Computed tomography (CT) revealed PVT of Yerdel classification grade II before LDLT. He underwent ABO-identical LDLT using a right lobe graft. A liver function test revealed elevated liver enzyme levels on post-operative day (POD) 14. The CT examination on POD 15 revealed PVT in the left side of the main portal vein at the side of left gastric vein ligation. AT III treatment from POD 15 to POD 24 was performed. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed that the PVT had decreased 10% on POD 27. Furthermore, AT III treatment from POD 28 to POD 32 was performed. The CT examination demonstrated the disappearance of PVT on POD 69 and thereafter, he had no recurrence of PVT on 10 post-operative month (POM). CONCLUSIONS: The present case suggests that the administration of AT III is safe and suitable for the treatment of post-transplant PVT.

Pregnancy Outcomes Following Pediatric Liver Transplantation: A Single-Center Experience in Japan.

BACKGROUND The number of pregnancies after liver transplantation (LT) is increasing; however, the safety and incidence of complications associated with these pregnancies are still unclear. In this report, we retrospectively assessed the influences and problems associated with post-transplant pregnancy on allografts, recipients, and fetuses. MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 14 pregnancies were identified in 8 female recipients between 2005 and 2018. The original disease was biliary atresia in all recipients. We provide a basic guide for the management of planned pregnancies in female recipients. RESULTS Of the 7 planned pregnancies, no recipients took mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) or had allograft liver dysfunction. Among the 7 unplanned conceptions, we judged that the pregnancy was inadequate to continue in 4 recipients due to taking MMF and 2 recipients due to allograft liver dysfunction at conception. However, 4 recipients who immediately stopped taking MMF continued with their pregnancies. Ten pregnancies resulted in live 11 births. Among obstetric complications or fetal and neonatal complications, gestational diabetes mellitus in 3 recipients was the most common. There were 3 miscarriages and 1 planned termination because of MMF medication and liver dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS Planned pregnancies in LT recipients can lead to the birth of a healthy baby and no influence on either the allograft or the recipient. However, unplanned pregnancies in LT recipients, such as recipients who take MMF or have allograft liver dysfunction, may have an adverse influence on the fetus.

Iron overload as a risk factor for hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury in liver transplantation: Potential role of ferroptosis.

Hepatic ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury is a major problem in liver transplantation (LT). Although hepatocyte cell death is the initial event in hepatic I/R injury, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. In the present study, we retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 202 pediatric living donor LT and found that a high serum ferritin level, a marker of iron overload, of the donor is an independent risk factor for liver damage after LT. Since ferroptosis has been recently discovered as an iron-dependent cell death that is triggered by a loss of cellular redox homeostasis, we investigated the role of ferroptosis in a murine model of hepatic I/R injury, and found that liver damage, lipid peroxidation, and upregulation of the ferroptosis marker Ptgs2 were induced by I/R, and all of these manifestations were markedly prevented by the ferroptosis-specific inhibitor ferrostatin-1 (Fer-1) or α-tocopherol. Fer-1 also inhibited hepatic I/R-induced inflammatory responses. Furthermore, hepatic I/R injury was attenuated by iron chelation by deferoxamine and exacerbated by iron overload with a high iron diet. These findings demonstrate that iron overload is a novel risk factor for hepatic I/R injury in LT, and ferroptosis contributes to the pathogenesis of hepatic I/R injury.