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S Friman

Publications and source records attributed to S Friman.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Liver transplantation in the Nordic countries, 1982-1998: changes of indications and improving results.

BACKGROUND: Liver transplantation has become an established therapeutic option for patients with life-threatening liver disease. The aim of the present study was to analyse the results of and developments in liver transplantation in the Nordic countries during a 15-year period. METHODS: Data on all patients receiving a liver allograft in the Nordic countries during 1982-98 and waiting list data for all patients listed for a liver transplantation after 1989 were obtained from the Nordic Liver Transplantation Registry. RESULTS: A total of 1485 first liver transplantations were performed during 1982-98. The annual number of first liver transplantations increased steadily up to 1993, thereafter remaining around 150-170 per year. There are major differences between countries both in the number of transplants adjusted to populations performed per year, with more than twice as many performed in Sweden as in Norway, and in the relative distribution of patients in accordance with diagnosis. The number of patients more than 60 years old increased and comprised 13%-14% of the total patient population during 1996-98. Primary biliary cirrhosis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, acute hepatic failure, malignant liver disease, and alcoholic cirrhosis are the five most frequent diagnoses. The over-all 1-year patient survival probability has increased from 66% among patients receiving a transplant in 1982-89 to 83% in 1995-1998. The waiting time remains stable, with a median waiting time of 35 days during 1990-98. The mortality of patients while on the waiting list is 7.4% and is not increasing. CONCLUSION: Results of liver transplantation in the Nordic countries are very similar to those obtained in other countries. Waiting time and mortality remain low. There are, however, major differences between the countries both as to the number of transplantations performed and as to distribution of diagnoses.

Adolescent↗

Follow-up after liver transplantation for primary sclerosing cholangitis: effects on survival, quality of life, and colitis.

BACKGROUND: Except for primary biliary cirrhosis, primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is now the commonest indication for liver transplantation in Sweden. There are several specific problems related to post-transplantation life in these patients. METHODS: We analyzed a 10-year cohort of 47 patients transplanted at our center. RESULTS: Incidental biliary carcinoma was diagnosed in 13%,, with a 2-year survival of only 17%, compared with 70% in the other patients. The 2-year survival has improved considerably (to 82%) in recent years. Quality of life was much or slightly improved in 80%. The colitis was much or slightly improved in 65%, with some deterioration in only 6%. No patient developed colonic carcinoma. Previous biliary tract surgery was identified as a risk factor for a worse 1-year mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Liver transplantation for PSC is now associated with a high survival rate and an improvement in the quality of life and course of ulcerative colitis. Previous biliary tract surgery is a risk factor for non-survival.

Adolescent↗

Liver transplantation in familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy (FAP). A comparative study of transplanted and non-transplanted patient's survival.

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the impact of liver transplantation on familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy (FAP met-30) patients' survival. Forty-five FAP patients were involved in the study; 15 non-transplanted FAP patients and 30 liver-transplanted patients. All patients' records were scrutinised for information on disease duration. Preoperative nutritional status was evaluated in all patients. No difference in survival was observed for transplanted patients overall compared to historical controls. However, for cases in good nutritional status, an increased survival can be expected as a significantly increased mortality rate for malnourished patients was observed (P < 0.05). Increased survival has so far not been found for transplanted FAP patients. However, none of the transplanted cases has yet reached the expected survival time for nontransplanted FAP control patients. which is 14 years. A high fatality rate of malnourished patients transplanted late in the course of the disease contributed significantly to the mortality among transplanted patients.

Adult↗

Bile duct bacterial isolates in primary sclerosing cholangitis: a study of explanted livers.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The pathogenesis of the inflammatory lesion in primary sclerosing cholangitis is unknown. The clinical picture is characterized by i.a. episodes of fever, the cause of which also remains speculative. Previous studies of bacterial isolates in the liver or bile ducts in primary sclerosing cholangitis have had the shortcoming of possible contamination associated with the sampling. The aim of this study was to investigate whether bile and bile duct tissue, obtained under sterile conditions in connection with liver transplantation, contain bacteria. METHODS: We studied bile from bile duct walls and bile collected from the explanted livers of 36 patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis and 14 patients with primary biliary cirrhosis. RESULTS: Positive cultures were obtained from 21 of 36 primary sclerosing cholangitis patients, but from none of the primary biliary cirrhosis patients. The number of bacterial strains was inversely related to the time after the last endoscopic retrograde cholangiography. Treatment with antibiotics or intraductal stent, or the occurrence of fever before liver transplantation did not seem to influence the culture results, whereas antibiotic treatment in connection with endoscopic retrograde cholangiography may possibly have reduced the number of isolates in the cultures. Alpha-haemolytic Streptococci were retrieved as late as 4 years after the last endoscopic retrograde cholangiography. Retrospective analysis of liver laboratory tests after endoscopic retrograde cholangiography did not indicate a deleterious effect of the investigation. CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that antibiotics should be given routinely in connection with endoscopic retrograde cholangiography. They also raise the question of a possible role of alpha-haemolytic Streptococci in the progression of primary sclerosing cholangitis.

Adult↗

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease in a kidney transplant population.

AIM: To define specific manifestations of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease in kidney transplant patients. METHODS: Of 874 consecutive first renal transplant patients 1985-1993, 114 (13%) had autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). Mean age was 53 +/- 8 years, 62% were men, and 83% received cadaveric kidneys. Control patients were matched for sex, age and donor type. Median follow-up time was 63 months. One patient was lost to follow-up. Medical records before and after transplantation were reviewed. RESULTS: Survival of patients and grafts was similar in ADPKD patients and controls. Twenty-five ADPKD patients died, four of causes not seen in the controls; two aortic aneurysms, one urothelial cancer, one colon perforation. Four more ADPKD patients but no control had diverticulitis (P = 0.03), two with perforation. Cardiovascular morbidity was not increased. Eight patients had subarachnoidal haemorrhage before transplantation and two during follow-up. Nineteen patients had undergone nephrectomy before transplantation, 11 because of voluminous kidneys, five for infection, pain or bleeding, two for suspected malignancy, one for hypertension. After transplantation, seven patients underwent nephrectomy, only one related to kidney size. During the first year, need of phlebotomy occurred in 14% of patients versus 4% of controls, P = 0.02. Urinary tract infection rates were not increased. No morbidity was related to liver cysts. CONCLUSION: The specific features of kidney transplantation to patients with ADPKD were few: enlarged kidneys, relevant only before transplantation, erythrocytosis, and as rare but serious events, diverticulitis with perforation.

Adult↗

Sympathetic and VIP-ergic control of calcium and bicarbonate transport in the feline gall bladder mucosa in vivo.

The regulation of calcium ion absorption by the gall bladder mucosa may be important for gall stone formation but this process is poorly understood. In this study performed in anaesthetized cats, the gail bladder lumen was perfused by a buffer equilibrated with 4% CO2 in air. During basal conditions, the pH and the [Ca2+] x [CO3(2-)] ion product decreased in the buffer when passing through the gall bladder lumen. The net absorption of calcium ions and fluid was significantly enhanced by stimulation of the splanchnic nerves. Intravenous infusion of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) increased pH and the [Ca2+] x [CO3(2-)] ion product significantly in the buffer during the passage through the gall bladder lumen. Moreover, the basal fluid absorption was reversed to a net fluid secretion. In view of the presence of noradrenergic and VIP-immunoreactive nerve fibres in the gall bladder wall, and VIP-receptors on the gall bladder epithelial cells, the study suggests the existence of neural control mechanisms influencing the transport of Ca2+ by the gall bladder mucosa. These may be important to reduce potential calcium lithogenicity in the gall bladder lumen.

Animals↗

VIP-antiserum and indomethacin inhibit calcium and bicarbonate secretion by the inflamed feline gallbladder mucosa.

Ionized calcium (Ca2+) and bicarbonate (HCO(3)-) are important ions for gallstone formation. In the present study the effect of indomethacin and vasoactive intestinal peptide-antiserum (VIP-antiserum) on the Ca2+, HCO(3)- and fluid secretion in the inflamed gallbladder were tested in a validated experimental model in cats. The animals were studied in acute experiments 6 weeks after cystic duct ligation and gallstone implantation. During basal conditions there was a continuous secretion of Ca2+, HCO(3)- and fluid into the lumen of the inflamed gallbladder. Indomethacin and VIP-antiserum inhibited the Ca2+, HCO(3)- and fluid secretion across the inflamed gallbladder mucosa. Intraluminal amiloride inhibited the absorption of Ca2+, HCO(3)- and fluid after indomethacin infusion. An impaired absorption of Ca2+, HCO(3)- and fluid in the inflamed gallbladder is probably important for the solubility of calcium salts in the early stages of inflammation in the gallbladder mucosa.

Animals↗

Role of nitric oxide in induction of inflammatory fluid secretion by the mucosa of the feline gallbladder.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Nitric oxide is synthesized from L-arginine and is metabolized to nitrate and nitrite. This study evaluates the effects of a pharmacological blockade of NO synthesis on fluid transport by the inflamed gallbladder mucosa. METHODS: Experiments were performed in cats with cholecystitis and in control animals. NO synthase activity was measured in gallbladder tissue; the enzyme was characterized by immunoblotting techniques and localized by immunofluorescence. Fluid transport and release of nitrate and nitrite by the gallbladder mucosa and bile and bile salt secretion from the liver were registered simultaneously in vivo. RESULTS: Fluid secretion in inflamed gallbladders was reversed to a net absorption in response to the NO synthase blockers N omega-nitro-L-arginine and aminoguanidine, and formation of nitrate was reduced. The effects were reversed by L-arginine. Increased levels of inducible NO synthase in inflamed gallbladders were shown by immunoblotting, by immunofluorescence (mainly in macrophages), and by Ca(2+)-independent [3H]citrulline formation from [3H]arginine. The NO synthase blockers had no effect on gallbladder fluid transport in normal gallbladders. CONCLUSIONS: Increased levels of inducible NO synthase activity are shown in inflamed gallbladders, and a pharmacological blockade of this enzyme blocks fluid secretion and decreases nitrate release from the mucosa.

Analysis of Variance↗

Liver uptake function measured by IODIDA clearance rate in liver transplant patients and healthy volunteers.

Hepatobiliary scintigraphy with 99Tc(m)-diethyl-iodo-HIDA (IODIDA), an iminodiacetic acid derivative, is used to assess hepatocyte function and to visualize the hepatobiliary system. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether it is possible to describe liver function by calculating the clearance rate of IODIDA from the blood. Clearance rate was evaluated in 18 liver transplant patients (28 studies) and 11 healthy volunteers (11 studies). Two different clearance rates were calculated: the clearance of IODIDA from the blood due to liver uptake and the total clearance of IODIDA from the blood due to all possible routes of elimination. Both for the healthy controls and the liver transplant patients, there was an excellent correlation between these two methods (r = 0.92 and r = 0.93, respectively), indicating that the liver is the only essential pathway for elimination of IODIDA from the blood. The difference in clearance rate between healthy controls and liver transplant patients was highly significant (P < 0.01), corresponding to the clinical condition of the two groups. We conclude that the clearance rate of IODIDA, based on a simple measurement from the time-activity curve derived from a blood pool region of interest, is a reliable test of liver function.

Adolescent↗

A new microemulsion formulation of cyclosporin: pharmacokinetic and clinical features.

Cyclosporin (cyclosporin A) has been used as an immunosuppressive agent after organ transplantation for more than 15 years. The bioavailability of cyclosporin in its conventional oral formulation 'Sandimmun' displays considerable inter- and intra-patient variability. Absorption is also bile dependent. Recently, a new galenic formulation of cyclosporin was introduced, 'Neoral', which is a water-free microemulsion of cyclosporin. The microemulsion creates micelles which are absorbed in the small bowel without the presence of bile. Pharmacokinetic studies in healthy volunteers clearly demonstrate an increased bioavailability of the microemulsion formulation of cyclosporin, measured as an increase in maximum drug concentration (Cmax) and area under the drug concentration-time curve, and a reduced time to Cmax. These findings have been confirmed in kidney, liver and heart transplant recipients. With the microemulsion formulation, an improved prediction of cyclosporin concentrations has probably attributed to the decrease found in the variability of cyclosporin absorption. This could probably enable easier and more reliable monitoring of cyclosporin concentrations after transplantation. So far, data on the effects of conversion from the conventional to the microemulsion formulation of cyclosporin are only available in a limited number of patients and with a limited follow-up period. The main questions are related to what the long term consequences of the improved bioavailability of the microemulsion formulation will be. Further long term studies are needed in order to answer these questions. In the present review, we report on the pharmacokinetic properties of, and on clinical experience after solid organ and bone marrow transplantation with, the microemulsion formulation.

Cyclosporine↗