New sarcoma data have been reported by investigators at Research Center
2007 AUG 20 -- In this recent article published in the journal Transplantation Proceedings, scientists in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia conducted a study "To report our experience with dermatological complications after both deceased donor liver transplantation (DDLT) and living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT). Between April 2001 and November 2006, a total of 116 liver transplantation (LT) procedures were performed (73 DDLTs and 43 LDLTs) in 112 patients (4 re-transplants). Posttransplant dermatological problems were recorded. Among 112 OLT recipients, 14 patients (12.5%) experienced dermatologic problems: epidermolysis bullosa acquisita in one patient, which was self-limiting; graft-versus-host-disease in one patient treated with high-dose steroids; Kaposi sarcoma in one patient treated with surgical excision and conversion to sirolimus-based immunosuppression; drug-induced cutaneous vasculitis with deep thigh ulcer formation treated by drug discontinuation and surgical excision of the ulcer; herpes zoster in one patient treated with intravenous antiviral therapy; herpes simplex in two patients treated with local antiviral cream; cyclosporine-induced gingival hyperplasia treated with conversion to FK506; cyclosporine-induced hypertrichosis treated with conversion to FK506; steroid-induced skin hyperpigmentation in one patient treated with steroid withdrawal; hypomagnesemia-induced hair loss treated with daily oral magnesium supplement; pressure-induced alopecia areata in two patients that was self-limiting; and finally, one patient with a pressure-induced heel ulcer that was treated conservatively." "In 8 of 14 patients (57%) who suffered from dermatologic problems, the complication was primarily related to immunosuppressive drugs. In our experience, dermatologic complications following LT are not uncommon and usually related to immunosuppressive therapy. Most complications could be prevented by optimizing immunosuppression," wrote G. Hassan and colleagues, Research Center. The researchers concluded: "The majority of complications were easily managed by simple adjustment of immunosuppression." Hassan and colleagues published their study in Transplantation Proceedings (Dermatologic complications after liver transplantation: A single-center experience. Transplantation Proceedings, 2007;39(4):1190-1194). Additional information can be obtained by contacting H. Khalaf, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center, Dept. of Liver Transplantation & Hepatobiliary Pancreat, POB 3354, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia. The publisher of the journal Transplantation Proceedings can be contacted at: Elsevier Science Inc., 360 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10010-1710, USA. Keywords: Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Bioengineering, Biomedical Engineering, Biomedicine, Drugs, Liver Transplant, Oncology, Organ Transplant, Pharmaceuticals, Sarcoma, Sirolimus, Therapy, Transplantation, Treatment, Ulcer, Research Center. This article was prepared by Biotech Business Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2007, Biotech Business Week via NewsRx.com.
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