Journal of gastroenterology and hepatology
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J. Gastroenterol. Hepatol. · Jan 2011
ReviewChanging etiologies and outcomes of acute liver failure: A perspective from Japan.
Acute liver failure in Japan usually consists of fulminant hepatitis (FH) due to viral infection, autoimmune hepatitis and drug-allergy-induced liver injury. The annual incidence of FH was estimated at 429 cases in 2004. FH is classified into acute or subacute type, and the prognosis of the latter is poor. ⋯ Artificial liver support with plasmapheresis and hemodiafiltration plays a central role while waiting for a donor liver or for the native liver to regenerate. Further research is necessary to identify the causes of unknown origin. In addition, to improve the prognosis of FH, it is necessary to establish treatment modalities that are effective for liver regeneration.
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J. Gastroenterol. Hepatol. · Oct 2010
ReviewDoes living donation have advantages over deceased donation in liver transplantation?
Liver transplantation (LT) is the best treatment option for patients with end-stage liver disease. Living donor LT (LDLT) has developed as an alternative to deceased donor LT (DDLT) in order to overcome the critical shortage of deceased organ donations, particularly in Asia. LDLT offers several advantages over DDLT. ⋯ Donor morbidity is not infrequent and the donor mortality rate is estimated at around 0.1-0.3%. In conclusion, living donation is not necessarily advantageous over deceased donation in LT. Taking the advantages and disadvantages of each option into consideration, LDLT and DDLT should both be used to facilitate effective LT for patients requiring transplant.