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Cell-free DNA: An upcoming biomarker in transplantation
American Journal of Transplantation (login required)
After organ transplantation, donor-derived cell-free DNA (ddcfDNA) can be detected in the recipient's blood and urine. Different ddcfDNA quantification techniques have been investigated but a major breakthrough was made with the introduction of digital droplet PCR and massive parallel sequencing creating the opportunity to increase the understanding of ddcfDNA kinetics after transplantation. The observations of increased levels of ddcfDNA during acute rejection and even weeks to months before histologic features of graft rejection point to a possible role of ddcfDNA as an early, noninvasive rejection marker. In this review, we summarize published research on ddcfDNA in the transplantation field thereby elaborating on its clinical utility.
Registration open for ASTS Leadership Development Program
ASTS
Join us Sept. 27-30 at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management for this interactive, one-of-a-kind course and gain the essential skills to successfully lead transplant centers within a complex financial and regulatory environment.
Claim your ATC credits by Sept. 30
ASTS
If you haven't claimed your CME credits for attending the 2015 American Transplant Congress, you have until Sept. 30, 2015, to complete your evaluation and claim credits. If you did not receive a link to claim your credits, please contact education@asts.org to ensure your email is up to date.
Smile to support transplantation research
ASTS
The Foundation of the American Society of Transplant Surgeons has partnered with Amazon Smile. Just start your shopping here and the ASTS Foundation will automatically receive 0.5 percent of the price of your eligible Amazon Smile purchases.
Growth hormone found to predict graft function, survival post-liver transplant
Healio
Stabilized insulin-like growth factor 1 serum levels after liver transplantation predicted long-term survival post-transplant and was correlated with graft and liver function, according to study findings. "This study is the first to demonstrate that a prompt recovery of [insulin-like growth factor 1] serum levels is associated with long-term patient survival and shorter hospital stay in [liver transplant] recipients," the researchers wrote.
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Graft versus host disease after liver transplantation: A single-center
case series
Annals of Transplantation (login required)
Graft versus host disease (GVHD) is a rare complication following liver transplantation and has high mortality. We describe our single-center experience with six cases of GVHD diagnosed over a period of 14 years in a total of 604 liver transplant recipients — 283 deceased donor liver transplants and 321 living-related liver transplants.
Donation after circulatory determination of death lung transplantation for pulmonary arterial hypertension: Passing the toughest test
American Journal of Transplantation (login required)
Lung transplantation (LTx) is a therapeutic option for severe pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) patients failing optimal medical therapy. The use of donation after circulatory determination of death (DCDD) donor lungs for PAH LTx has rarely been reported, primarily reflecting concerns that DCDD lungs represent extended criteria donors, at risk of morbidity and mortality. A retrospective study of all Alfred Hospital DCDD and DNDD (donation after neurologic determination of death) PAH LTx was undertaken.
Pulmonary nodules in liver transplant candidates with hepatocellular carcinoma: Imaging characteristics and clinical outcomes
Liver Transplantation (login required)
No guidelines exist for the management of pulmonary nodules in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who are being evaluated for liver transplantation. The 172 patients with HCC who were listed for liver transplant at our institution received both pretransplant chest computed tomography (CT) and follow-up CT. Pulmonary nodules on CT were characterized and followed on subsequent scans by a blinded radiologist, with a consensus review with a second radiologist being performed for equivocal cases.
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Rational basis for optimizing short- and long-term hepatitis B virus prophylaxis post liver transplantation: Role of hepatitis B immune globulin
Transplantation
Antiviral therapy using newer nucleos(t)ide analogues with lower resistance rates, such as entecavir or tenofovir, suppress hepatitis B virus replication, improve liver function in patients with compensated or decompensated cirrhosis and delay or obviate the need for liver transplantation in some patients.
Study: Organ rejection following infection may not be permanent
By Chelsea Adams
 New research suggests that organ transplant recipients who reject organs may not necessarily reject future transplanted organs. In a study of mice at the University of Chicago, researchers found the rodents rejected a transplanted heart after a bacterial infection, but then tolerated a second heart transplant after the infection was eliminated from the body. All organ recipients must take immunosuppressive drugs to keep their bodies' immune systems from rejecting the new organs.
Stem cell therapy for liver failure could replace liver transplants
Medical News Today
For the first time, scientists have restored organ function in a severely damaged liver in a live animal by transplanting lab-grown stem cells. The achievement brings closer the day when cell-based therapies that regenerate the organ replace the need for liver transplants. In the journal Nature Cell Biology, the researchers describe what happened when they transplanted liver stem cells into mice with severely damaged livers.
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