title: Paclitaxel-eluting balloon dilation of biliary anastomotic stricture after liver transplantation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the safety and effectiveness of endoscopic therapy with a paclitaxel-eluting balloon (PEB) for biliary anastomotic stricture (AS) after liver transplantation (LT).
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective pilot study enrolled 13 consecutive eligible patients treated for symptomatic AS after LT at the University Hospital of Münster between January 2011 and March 2014. The patients were treated by endoscopic therapy with a PEB and followed up every 8 wk by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). In cases of re-stenosis, further balloon dilation with a PEB was performed. Follow-up was continued until 24 mo after the last intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Initial technical feasibility, defined as successful balloon dilation with a PEB during the initial ERCP procedure, was achieved in 100% of cases. Long-term clinical success (LTCS), defined as no need for further endoscopic intervention for at least 24 mo, was achieved in 12 of the 13 patients (92.3%). The mean number of endoscopic interventions required to achieve LTCS was only 1.7 ± 1.1. Treatment failure, defined as the need for definitive alternative treatment, occurred in only one patient, who developed recurrent stenosis with increasing bile duct dilatation that required stent placement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Endoscopic therapy with a PEB is very effective for the treatment of AS after LT, and seems to significantly shorten the overall duration of endoscopic treatment by reducing the number of interventions needed to achieve LTCS.
authors.affiliation: Anna Hüsing, Vito R Cicinnati, Susanne Beckebaum, Christian Wilms, Hartmut H Schmidt, Iyad Kabar, Department of Transplant Medicine, University Hospital Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hüsing
authors.affiliation: Anna Hüsing, Vito R Cicinnati, Susanne Beckebaum, Christian Wilms, Hartmut H Schmidt, Iyad Kabar, Department of Transplant Medicine, University Hospital Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Holger
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Reinecke
authors.affiliation: Anna Hüsing, Vito R Cicinnati, Susanne Beckebaum, Christian Wilms, Hartmut H Schmidt, Iyad Kabar, Department of Transplant Medicine, University Hospital Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Vito R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Cicinnati
authors.affiliation: Anna Hüsing, Vito R Cicinnati, Susanne Beckebaum, Christian Wilms, Hartmut H Schmidt, Iyad Kabar, Department of Transplant Medicine, University Hospital Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Beckebaum
authors.affiliation: Anna Hüsing, Vito R Cicinnati, Susanne Beckebaum, Christian Wilms, Hartmut H Schmidt, Iyad Kabar, Department of Transplant Medicine, University Hospital Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wilms
authors.affiliation: Anna Hüsing, Vito R Cicinnati, Susanne Beckebaum, Christian Wilms, Hartmut H Schmidt, Iyad Kabar, Department of Transplant Medicine, University Hospital Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Hartmut H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.affiliation: Anna Hüsing, Vito R Cicinnati, Susanne Beckebaum, Christian Wilms, Hartmut H Schmidt, Iyad Kabar, Department of Transplant Medicine, University Hospital Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Iyad
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kabar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D057785:Catheters; D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic; D004867:Equipment Design; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D017239:Paclitaxel
keywords: Anastomotic stricture; Balloon dilation; Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography; Endoscopic therapy; Liver transplantation; Paclitaxel-eluting balloon