Clinical
Briefing:
Liver Transplantation Update
January/February 2007
The Penn Transplant Institute at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania is one of the busiest centers for adult liver transplantation in the country. With more than 100 procedures performed every year since 2002, Penn consistently outpaces the national average for 1-month and 1-year survival, for both the patient and the graft.
Our multidisciplinary team of transplant surgeons, hepatologists and nurse coordinators as well as psychiatrists and social workers, all work together to bring the patient successfully through the process of evaluation, preparation, surgery and post-operative care.
One of our many specialized transplant programs specifically addresses treatment of chronic hepatitis C infection which has led to extreme cirrhosis of the liver in some patients. The case study below highlights the history, treatment and successful outcome of one of our patients who presented with severe complications of cirrhosis as a result of recurrent hepatitis C infection.
Case Study
The hepatology program at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania followed Mr. H, a 57-year-old man with hepatitis C infection, for many years. He developed severe complications of cirrhosis including encephalopathy, ascites and electrolyte disturbances despite intensive medical management.
He was evaluated for transplantation by our liver transplant team, which includes specialists from hepatology, transplant surgery, cardiology, nephrology, pathology, pulmonology and radiology. The Penn Liver Transplant Committee reviewed the data and Mr. H was listed for transplantation with the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS).
Successful liver transplantation occurred in April 2004. Pathologic examination revealed a small primary cancer in the native cirrhotic liver; and the post-operative recovery was unremarkable. Active hepatitis C recurred in the graft six months later and required a specialized treatment protocol. Despite pharmacotherapy-induced fatigue and neutropenia, Mr. H completed the regimen and the hepatitis C was cleared, successfully achieving a sustained viral response.
Mr. H is now experiencing a full recovery from his liver disease. He enjoys an active life and remains working as a senior executive in a local company. He continues annual follow-up with the UPHS Liver Transplant Team and his prognosis is excellent.
Our Team of Faculty
Penn's Liver Transplant Program brings together a team of physicians, nurse specialists and hospital support staff who provide coordinated care throughout the entire transplant process. Our goal is to meet the unique physical and emotional needs of each patient in a caring, professional environment.
Transplant Surgeons
Abraham Shaked, MD, PhD
Chief, Division of Transplantation
Surgery; Director, Penn Transplant
Institute
Kim Olthoff, MD
Surgical Director, Liver Transplant
Program, Penn Transplant Institute and
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
James Markmann, MD, PhD
Associate Director,
Liver Transplant Program
Division of Gastroenterology
Rajender Reddy, MD
Director, Hepatology; Medical
Director, Liver Transplantation
Thomas Faust, MD
Associate Professor of Clinical
Medicine
George A. Makar, MD
Instructor of Medicine
Transplant Psychiatrist
Robert Weinreib, MD
Chief Psychiatric Consultant, Liver
Transplant Service, Hospital of the
University of Pennsylvania
Transplant Pharmacist
Jennifer Trofe, Pharm D, BCPS
Transplant Coordinator
Mary Kaminski, PA-C
Manager, Penn Liver Transplant
Clinical Research
Live Donor Liver Transplant
Coordinator
Nurse Coordinators
Betsy Knight, MSN, CRNP
Charisse Henderson, RN
Patrice Pfeiffenberger, BSN, CCTC
Catalina Read, BSN, RN, CCTC
Kate Ventura, BSN, RN, CCRN
Dawn Drazek, RN
Social Worker
Laura Kotler-Klein, MSW
Current Clinical Trials
- A2ALL: Adult to Adult Living Donor Liver Transplant Cohort Study
- Comparative Safety and Efficacy Study of Prophylactic Interferon following Liver Transplantation for Hepatitis C
- Immunosuppression Withdrawal in Liver Transplantation
- A Phase II Trial to Assess the Safety of Immunosuppression Withdrawal in Liver Transplant Recipients with Hepatitis C
- Molecular Profiling and Donor and Recipient Pro Inflammatory and Alloimmune Response
- Gene Expression and Regenerative Pathways in Donor Livers
- Validation of Serum Markers for the Early Detection of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (DCP)
- Clinical, Immunologic, Pharmacologic Consequences of Liver Transplantation in people with HIV infection
- Safety and Efficacy Study of Nacetylcysteine in the Treatment of Acute Liver Failure Not Caused by Acetaminophen in Adult Patients
Access
Patient appointments are available at:
Penn Transplant Center
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Ground Rhoads
3400 Spruce Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Division of Gastroenterology
Hospital
of the University of Pennsylvania
3 Dulles
3400 Spruce Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Penn Medicine at Radnor
250 King of Prussia Road
Radnor, PA 19087
Treatment Research Center
Ground Floor
3900 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
To refer a patient and/or consult with a doctor:
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Referring Physicians: To speak with a Penn physician
or refer a patient, contact PennHealth through the secure online
referral form or by calling
1-800-789-PENN
(7366). |
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