title: Rejection is less common in children undergoing liver transplantation for hepatoblastoma.
abstract: To compare the incidence of acute histologically proven rejection in children who have had a liver transplant for hepatoblastoma with a control group of children transplanted for biliary atresia (EHBA). A retrospective case notes based study was performed. Twenty patients were identified with hepatoblastoma who were transplanted at a single unit between 1991 and 2008. These were matched as closely as possible for age, gender, year of transplant and type of immunosuppression used to the control group transplanted for biliary atresia (n = 60). There was a significant decrease in rate of acute rejection as assessed by the rejection activity index (RAI) in the hepatoblastoma group (75% vs. 50%, respectively, p < 0.04). Chronic rejection was rare in both groups, but twice as common in the biliary atresia group. Equal levels of immunosuppression were achieved in both groups. Renal function was noted to be reduced one yr post-transplant in both groups, as previously reported. A modified immunosuppression regimen could be considered in children with hepatoblastoma undergoing liver transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Liver and Small bowel transplant Unit, Birmingham Children's Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: N D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Ruth
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sharif
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Morland
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lloyd
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: McKiernan
mesh_terms: D001656:Biliary Atresia / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018197:Hepatoblastoma / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents
keywords: hepatoblastoma; liver transplantation; paediatric; rejection