title: Orthotopic liver transplantation for incurable alveolar echinococcosis: report of five cases from west China.
abstract: Alveolar echinococcosis of the liver, caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus multilocularis, has the characteristics of a slow-growing liver cancer. The aim of the present work was to report a series of patients who received orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) for life-threatening disease. Our article summarizes the medical history, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of five patients who received OLT between 2001 and 2002. Most patients had a long history of symptomatic disease (iterative cholangitis, obstructive jaundice) and repeated abdominal surgery. One patient died during the hospitalization mostly related to bacterial infection and multiple organ failure. Another accidental death happened 3 months later from heart failure. Three patients are alive in good condition verifying that OLT is a feasible option for these end-stage cases. In general, combination therapy-chemotherapy, interventional therapy, radical surgery or/and OLT at an early stage-is proposed in advanced cases of which OLT has clearly played a vital role. Despite major technical difficulties, OLT for incurable disease is feasible. Specific management is needed to improve the results: earlier decision for OLT in symptomatic disease, routine pre- and post-transplant therapy, reduced immunosuppression, and regular follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Center of Liver Transplantation, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: L-N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: N-S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: T-F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.forename: J-Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Z-H
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: W-T
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: M-L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: X-P
authors.initials: XP
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: J-G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: G-D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: J-W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000969:Antinematodal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002681:China; D004444:Echinococcosis, Hepatic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008463:Mebendazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000969:Antinematodal Agents; D008463:Mebendazole