Heart transplantation is associated with an increased risk for pancreaticobiliary disease

Article Abstract:

Patients receiving a heart transplant may be at greater risk for pancreaticobiliary disease. Pancreaticobiliary disease affects the pancreas and bile ducts. Researchers compared the frequency of pancreaticobiliary disease in 255 patients who received a heart transplant. A greater percentage of transplant patients later developed pancreaticobiliary disease (7.8%) than that normally occurring in the general population (0.2%). Fifteen of the 20 patients developed pancreaticobiliary disease within 2 years of their heart transplant. The most common signs of pancreaticobiliary disease were gallstones, which developed in 30% of the patients, and inflammation of the gall bladder, which occurred in 40%. Calcium and cyclosporine levels were not significantly different in 40 matched heart transplant patients who did not develop pancreaticobiliary disease as compared to the transplant patients who developed pancreaticobiliary disease. Most patients (75%) reported that the results of their surgeries were either good or excellent.

Risk factors, Heart, Heart transplantation, Pancreatic diseases, Biliary tract diseases

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Antimicrobial prophylaxis in bone marrow transplantation

Article Abstract:

The use of antibiotic, antiviral, and antifungal medications to prevent the development of infections in bone marrow transplant patients may be of limited usefulness. Bone marrow transplant patients can receive bone marrow either from donors or receive their own treated bone marrow. Both types of transplant patients may be at high risk for infection. Researchers reviewed the current literature to evaluate medications used to prevent infections from developing in bone marrow transplant patients. Oral penicillin may be helpful in preventing bacterial infections that might develop months after a donor transplant. If a donor recipient carries cytomegalovirus or other herpesviruses, preventive treatment with acyclovir may be helpful in keeping the virus from reactivating. Preventive acyclovir treatment for the shingles virus in bone marrow transplant patients is both expensive and controversial. Prescribing trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole may help prevent single-celled organisms from infecting donor recipients.

Usage, Anti-infective agents, Bone marrow, Bone marrow transplantation

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Liver transplantation and hepatitis B

Article Abstract:

Carefully selected patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections may be appropriate candidates for liver transplantation. Patients who suddenly develop a severe HBV infection, those also infected with hepatitis D, those who do not carry evidence of virus reproduction, and those given immune therapy after transplant may benefit from liver transplantation. Liver transplants may be inappropriate for patients with genetic evidence of virus reproduction or who have had long-term HBV infections except as part of a research study.

Editorial, Complications and side effects, Liver, Liver transplantation, Hepatitis B

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