View clinical trials related to Liver Transplantation.
Filter by:Liver transplantation is a high risk, high-cost intervention that extends life in over 8,000 patients in the US each year. Of those that receive transplants, 1 in 3 will have a complication related to their heart after transplant. Research has been done to attempt to reduce the risk of these complications from occurring. High blood pressure, otherwise known as "hypertension," is an important risk factor for heart complications. Hypertension is found in 92% of liver transplant recipients within 6 years of their procedure. However, using data from our transplant patients at Northwestern we recently showed that having a normal blood pressure in the first year following liver transplant lowered the risk of heart complications and the risk of death by over half. However, there are no studies investigating the best medications to lower blood pressure in liver transplant recipients. There are several types of medications that can be used to treat high blood pressure. Currently, most transplant providers use a class of medications called calcium channel blockers as the first medications for hypertension in liver transplant patients. However, there is little data to support this recommendation. There is some new evidence suggesting that another class of medications, called thiazide-like diuretics, might be beneficial to lower blood pressure in liver transplant recipients. The current study will use two different medications: the calcium channel blocker called amlodipine besylate (at dose of 10mg) and the thiazide-like diuretic known as chlorthalidone (25mg). Both medications are taken once per day by mouth and are FDA approved for the treatment of high blood pressure in the general population. The main purpose of this study is to determine how well these two medications lower blood pressure and how they may improve markers of heart function and kidney function in liver transplant recipients. The long-term goal of this research is to improve heart outcomes in those that have undergone liver transplant by addressing risk factors that can be modified, including blood pressure. This study will help determine the size of the needed group for further studies to ensure proper investigation of which of these two medications may most benefit liver transplant patients.
We will study 40 matched patients. 20 patients will receive leukoreduced whole blood from the solid organ donor. These 20 patients will be compared to 20 historical matched controls with regards to allogenic blood product usage and other physiologic markers
This study describes Cefazolin pharmacokinetics variation to target levels during liver transplantation.
Severe coagulopathy and operative bleeding are common in liver and multivisceral transplant recipients. This is related to reduced synthesis and function of clotting proteins in end-stage liver disease, thrombocytopaenia, thrombocytopathy, accelerated fibrinolysis, portal hypertension, inflammatory adhesions and intraoperative hemodilution. A pro-coagulant state is also a common finding in both groups, sometimes associated with fatal thromboembolism, and the balance between anti- and pro-coagulant effects is easily disrupted by intraoperative events. Use of point-of-care intraoperative viscoelastic testing, capable of discriminating between various potential causes of coagulopathy and of identifying some hypercoagulable states, is now routine in this setting. This has been shown to guide treatment faster and more reliably than standard laboratory screening tests. However, traditional viscoelastic tests based on a pin-and-cup arrangement are sensitive to technical error, movement and physical clot disruption, and the validity of measurements is highly dependent on operator training. A newer method (TEG® 6S) based on light reflection from a blood meniscus reduces scope for operator error but remains sensitive to movement. Measurement of ultrasonic resonance (or 'sonic estimation of elasticity via resonance [SEER] sonorheometry') using the Quantra® analyzer surgery appears to minimize these problems in studies performed in healthy volunteers, in spinal surgery and in both elective and urgent cardiac procedures. Pilot testing in the latter group suggests it may also differentiate qualitatively between fibrinogen and platelet deficiency, but the range of intrinsic coagulation disturbances in this context is limited. This study proposes to assess the validity of the Quantra® analyzer in a population with more extreme coagulopathy, including severe fibrinolysis, and recognized thrombophilic states.
Major cardiovascular events are greatest in liver transplant recipients with sustained post-transplantation diabetes1. However, the optimal A1c target after transplantation has not been studied. The objective is to understand the optimal A1c target post liver and combined liver and kidney transplant. Strict A1c control will improve mortality and cardiovascular risk post liver and combined liver and kidney transplant and improve complications post liver and combined liver and kidney transplant.
Frailty is common in patients with end-stage liver disease. It's characterized by reduced strength, low endurance and reduced physical function. While exercise intervention can improve frailty in geriatric patients without liver disease, whether or not exercise intervention can improve frailty in liver transplant candidates remains unknown.
Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is the narrowing or blockage of the artery of the heart and is prevalent in end-stage liver disease. Consultation with cardiologist and stress tests are recommended to patients under consideration for liver transplant. The purpose of this study is to evaluate if Computed Tomography Angiogram (CTA) and CTA-derived Fractional Flow Reserve (FFRct) procedure influences decisions about further cardiac testing compared with Standard of Care (SOC) such as consultation by a cardiologist, Echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart), Electrocardiogram (ECG) and stress tests.
A retrospective cohort analysis was performed comparing patients that had intra operative antegrade liver reperfusions versus patients that had retrograde liver perfusion.
This study evaluates the safety of iodinated contrast medium administered to liver transplant candidates with decreased renal function undergoing coronary CT angiography. Incidence of post-contrast acute kidney injury in liver transplant candidates with decreased renal function and normal renal function will be compared.
The investigators are interested in whether or not the use of a mobile health (mHealth) application increases the rate of immunosuppression medication adherence among adolescent liver transplant recipients. The investigators aim to test this by recruiting adolescent (ages 14-21) liver transplant recipients to use an mHealth application to record themselves taking their immunosuppression medications, and tracking medication adherence over time. The study population will be approximately 25 adolescent liver transplant recipients at the Johns Hopkins Hospital.