title: Liver transplantation for subfulminant hepatitis.
abstract: The preceding discussion has characterized the various types of viral hepatitis, both common and unusual, that can lead to subfulminant hepatic failure. Whenever specific medical therapy exists, it is preferred. If the disease has progressed sufficiently to prohibit survival inspite of medical therapy, OLT is indicated under the umbrella of continuing specific medical therapy. Conversely, if no medical therapy exists, OLT is the only possible therapy but should be used only if extrahepatic disease processes do not prohibit survival. Hopefully, with better and more effective means of immunosuppression, immunosuppression monitoring and the development of additional medical therapies for viruses, OLT will be used less often in cases of subfulminant viral hepatitis in the future.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, PA 15213.
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Van Thiel
authors.forename: H I
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fagiuoli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gurakar
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Caraceni
mesh_terms: D006501:Hepatic Encephalopathy / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D017093:Liver Failure / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D013997:Time Factors