title: Orthotopic liver transplantation for veno-occlusive disease complicating autologous bone marrow transplantation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Veno-occlusive disease of the liver is a serious and often life-threatening complication after bone marrow transplantation. Although risk factors for the development of veno-occlusive disease have been postulated, there is no precise method for accurately identifying those patients who are at risk and for whom early intervention and treatment would have maximum potential benefit. Liver transplantation has been advocated as a treatment for veno-occlusive disease in selected patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this report, we describe a patient who underwent liver transplantation for life-threatening veno-occlusive disease after autologous bone marrow transplantation for acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Liver engraftment was achieved, but the patient developed Pneumocystis pneumonia, which failed to respond to pentamidine. The patient died 6 months after liver transplantation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While acknowledging the limited experience of orthotropic liver transplantation in this patient population, we suggest its consideration as a feasible, potentially beneficial treatment option in patients with severe veno-occlusive disease after bone marrow transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Histopathology, St. Vincent's Hospital, Dublin 4, Ireland.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Norris
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Crosbie
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: McEntee
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Traynor
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nolan
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McCann
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hegarty
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006504:Hepatic Veno-Occlusive Disease / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents