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Influence of Obesity on Lymph Node Recovery from Rectal Resection Specimens

Careful lymph node dissection from colorectal resection specimens is important procedure for cancer staging. Present study intended to assess the impact of surgical technique and patient’s obesity on this process. Number of lymph nodes harvested by manual dissection from resection specimens of 141 patients with rectal cancer and the rate of nodal metastases were analyzed and compared in different groups of patients selected by length of resection specimen and body mass index. The median and mean number of lymph nodes found per patient were 6 and 6,7. The shorter resection specimens (≤16 cm after formalin fixation) yielded significantly lower number of nodes than those with length > 16 cm (5.7 versus 7.9). Most significant reduction in mean number of lymph nodes was observed in obese patients with short specimens (4.8). This subset of patients presented the lowest rate of nodal metastases (38%). The surgical technique seems to be an important factor for lymph node recovery from rectal resections specimens. The patient’s obesity had an unfavourable impact on this procedure. Standardized surgery and histopathological examination are needed even in non-specialized centers to harvest adequate number of lymph nodes.

Dipeptidyl peptidase activity of CD26 in serum and urine as a marker of cholestasis: Experimental and clinical evidence

Dipeptidyl peptidase IV (CD26) is a membrane-associated enzyme that is expressed on the surface of T cells and on the hepatocyte brush border. In a soluble form it is present in serum. CD26 has been implicated in the regulation of T cell activation and in the metabolism of hormones and cytokines. Dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP) activity is elevated in the urine and serum of patients with biliary atresia (BA). To clarify the role of cholestasis in the development of increased serum and urinary DPP/CD26 activity, we studied the mechanism of activity increase in experimentally induced cholestasis of CD26-deficient and wild-type rats. The clinical utility of serum and urinary DPP/CD26 activity measurements was tested in adult and pediatric patients with hepatobiliary diseases and in liver transplant recipients. The results establish CD26-associated serum DPP activity as a novel, clinically useful marker of cholestasis and demonstrate that in contrast with alkaline phosphatase levels, DPP levels do not change in metastatic bone disease. Additionally, DPP activity is useful as a urinary test of cholestasis in infants who are not receiving nephrotoxic medication.

Analysis of differences in outcome of two European liver transplant centers

Authors analyzed the differences in the outcome of two European liver transplant centers differing in case volume and experience. The first was the Transplantation and Surgical Clinic, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary (SEB) and the second the University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands (UMCG). We investigated if such differences could be explained. The 1‐, 3‐ and 5‐year patient survival in the UMCG was 86%, 80%, and 77% compared with 65%, 56%, and 55% in SEB. Graft survival at the same time points was 79%, 71%, and 66% in the UMCG and 62%, 55%, and 53% in SEB. Significant differences were present regarding the donor and recipient age, diagnosis mix, disease severity and operation variables, per‐operative transfusion rate, vascular complications, postoperative infection rate, and need for renal replacement. To determine factors correlating with survival, a separate uni‐ and multivariate analysis was performed in each center individually, between study parameters and patient survival. In both centers, peri‐operative red blood cell (RBC) transfusion rate was a significant predictor for patient survival. The difference in blood loss can be explained by different operation techniques and shorter operation time in SEB, with consequently less time spent on hemostasis. It was jointly concluded that measures to reduce blood loss by adapting the operation technique might lead to improved survival and reduced morbidity.

Outcome of liver transplantation based on donor graft quality and recipient status.

BACKGROUND Availability of suitable donor organs has always limited the number of liver transplantations performed. Use of marginal donor organs is an alternative to overcome organ shortage. OBJECTIVE To analyze the effect of various combinations of donor organ quality and recipient status on the outcome of liver transplantation. MATERIALS AND METHODS Data from 260 whole-liver transplantations performed between January 2003 and September 2009 were analyzed retrospectively. Study groups were established according to donor organ quality (marginal score 0-1 vs 2-5) and recipient status (Model for End-Stage Liver Disease [MELD] score <17 or >17). In patients at low risk, 102 received optimal grafts (good-to-good group [G/G], and 75 received marginal grafts (bad-to-good group [B/G]. In patients at high risk, 46 received optimal grafts (good-to-bad group [G/B], and 37 received marginal grafts (bad-to-bad group [B/B]. RESULTS No differences were observed in cumulative patient and graft survival rates; however, total survival differed in the early period after transplantation, that is, within 1 year. There was a higher rate of overall postoperative complications including initial poor graft function, bleeding, infection, and kidney failure in group B/B compared with group G/B (25 of 37 patients [67.5%] vs 27 of 46 patients [59.0%]), group B/G (25 of 37 patients [68%] vs 39 of 75 patients [52%], and group G/G (25 of 37 patients [68%] vs 43 of 102 patients [42%]) (P = .04). Patients with a high MELD score (G/B and B/B) demonstrated increased risk of postoperative complications. Use of donor organs with marginal score of 2 or higher in patients with high MELD scores increased early patient mortality. CONCLUSION In summary, patients with a high MELD score (G/B and B/B) are at an increased risk of post-OLT complications. In contrast, use of marginal grafts (B/G and B/B) increased the rate of hepatitis C virus recurrence and decreased the response rate to antiviral therapy. The combination of impaired donor grafts and recipients at high risk should be avoided.

Renal cell carcinoma of the native kidney: a frequent tumor after kidney transplantation with favorable prognosis in case of early diagnosis.

INTRODUCTION The frequency of malignant tumors as a cause of death is increasing among kidney transplant patients. The aim of our study was to characterize kidney tumors occurring in the native kidneys of renal transplanted patients, and to determine their impact on recipient survival. METHODS We retrospectively analyzed the 43/3003 (1.43%) renal cell carcinomas (RCC) in the native kidneys of patients transplanted between 1973 and 2010. RESULTS During this period we diagnosed 293 posttransplant tumors, 14.6% of which were RCC. The male/female ratio was 2.1:1. The mean age of recipients at the time of tumor detection was 52.4 ± 12.1 years. The mean time from transplantation to diagnosis was 72.4 ± 61.6 months. RCC occurred on both sides in similar numbers. Tumors were multifocal in 8 cases. According to TNM staging, RCC was stage I in 38 cases. The histologic type was clear cell (n=27), papillary (n=13), chromophobe (n=2) or sarcomatoid (n=1). Radical nephrectomy was performed in 41 cases. Immunosuppressive management was converted to proliferation signal inhibitors in 27 patients (sirolimus n=19 or everolimus n=8). Fifteeen patients died at a mean survival time of 38.9 ± 62.4 months with 28 patients still alive at a mean follow-up 43.8 ± 35.6 months. Cumulative survival according to the Kaplan-Meier method was 79.2% at 1 year, 66.1% at 5 years, and 59.0% at 10 years. The patient survival rate was better among papillary than clear cell RCC (P=.038). CONCLUSION RCC was the second most frequent tumor among kidney transplanted patients at our center. The diagnosis established at an early stage in the majority of cases, leading to favorable patient survivals. A regular yearly abdominal ultrasound screening is suggested for early tumor diagnosis.

New-onset diabetes mellitus after liver transplantation

A de novo diabetes mellitus a majatultetes gyakori szovődmenye. Celkitűzes: A de novo diabetes gyakorisagat, jelentőseget es a kockazati tenyezők szerepet vizsgaltuk. Modszer: 1995 es 2009 kozott 310 majatultetett beteg adatait dolgoztuk fel retrospektiv modszerrel. De novo diabetest allapitottunk meg, ha az ehomi vercukor a 3. posztoperativ honapon tul ismetelten >6,8 mmol/l volt, es/vagy a majatultetes utan tartos, a 3. posztoperativ honapot meghaladoan is fenntartott antidiabetikus terapia indult. Eredmenyek: De novo diabetes a betegek 20%-anal (63 beteg) alakult ki. A de novo es a kontrollcsoport kozott az alabbiakban talaltunk kulonbseget. Donor-testtomegindex (24±3 vs. 22,4±3,6 kg/m 2 , p = 0,003), ferfi nem (58% vs. 33%, p = 0,002). Recipienseletkor (47,6±7,2 vs. 38,3±14,6 ev, p<0,001), -testtomegindex (26,7±3,8 vs. 23,3±5,6 kg/m 2 , p<0,001), ferfi nem (60% vs. 44%, p = 0,031). A de novo diabetesesek csoportjaban a betegek 66%-at HCV talajan kialakult cirrhosis miatt transzplantaltak, a kontrollcs...UNLABELLED New-onset diabetes is a common complication after liver transplantation. AIM We aimed to analyze the incidence and rate of known risk factors and the impact of new-onset diabetes mellitus on postoperative outcome. METHODS We retrospectively evaluated the files of 310 patients who underwent liver transplantation between 1995 and 2009. Definition of new-onset diabetes included: repeated fasting serum glucose >6.8 mmol/l and/or sustained antidiabetic therapy that was present 3 months after transplantation. RESULTS New-onset diabetes occurred in 63 patients (20%). Differences between the new-onset and the control group were the donor body mass index (24+/-3 vs. 22.4+/-3.6 kg/m 2 , p = 0.003), donor male gender (58% vs. 33%, p = 0.002), and recipient age (47.6+/-7.2 vs. 38.3+/-14.6 year, p<0.001), body mass index (26.7+/-3.8 vs. 23.3+/-5.6 kg/m 2 , p<0.001), male gender (60% vs. 44%, p = 0.031). The 66% of patients with new-onset diabetes were transplanted with cirrhosis caused by hepatitis C virus infection, while in the control group the rate was 23% (p<0.001). Cumulative patient survival rates at 1, 3, 5 and 8 year were 95%, 90.6%, 88% and 88% in the control group, and 87%, 79%, 79% and 64% in the de novo group, respectively (p = 0.011). Cumulative graft survival rates at 1, 3, 5 and 8 year in the control group were 92%, 87%, 86% and 79%, in the de novo diabetes group the rates were 87%, 79%, 79%, 65%, respectively (p = NS). In case of early recurrence (in 6 months), majority of patients developed new-onset diabetes (74% vs. control 26%, p = 0.03). More patients had more than 10 times higher increase of the postoperative virus titer correlate to the preoperative titer in the de novo diabetes group (53% vs. 20%, p = 0.028). Mean fibrosis score was higher in new-onset group one year after the beginning of antiviral therapy (2.05+/-1.53 vs. 1.00+/-1.08, p = 0.039). CONCLUSIONS Risk factors for new-onset diabetes after transplantation are older age, obesity, male gender and cirrhosis due to hepatitis C infection. The early recurrence, viremia and more severe fibrosis after antiviral therapy have an impact on the occurrence of new-onset diabetes in hepatitis C positive patients.

Biliary complications following orthotopic liver transplantation. The Hungarian experience

INTRODUCTION The authors summarize the characteristics of biliary complications following liver transplantation in the Hungarian liver transplant program. Aims were to analyze the frequency and the types of biliary complications as well as their effect on the patient and graft survival. The authors observed the known risk factors in the Hungarian practice, and they also try to find unknown risk factors for biliary complications. They review the therapy of biliary complications. METHOD In the retrospective study, patients were divided into two groups, with and without biliary complication after liver transplantation. These two groups were compared with many factors, and with the survivals. The biliary complication group was divided into two parts: those who had an early and those with a late biliary complication. These two new groups were also compared with the controls. The results are summarized in tables and statistical figures. Categorical variables are evaluated by chi 2 -test, continuous ones are with Levine Test (for homogenicity of means), Student T test and Mann-Whitney U-test. Cumulative survivals are computed with Kaplan-Meier log rank analysis. RESULTS Biliary complication appeared in 25% of the patients. The most frequent complications were stenosis (18%), biliary leakage (9%), biliary necrosis (6%), and ischaemic type of biliary lesions (3%). The 5-year survival is worse when biliary complications were diagnosed (55%) than without such a complication (66%). In the biliary complication group the retransplantation rate was higher (15%). The most frequent treatments were interventional radiologic methods (69%), surgical methods (17%), and the ERCP. CONCLUSIONS The rate of biliary complications met the international reviews. Risk factors for biliary complications were cholangitis, hepatic artery thrombosis and stenosis, high rate of intraoperative blood transfusions, and acute rejection. Biliary complications frequently associated with the initial poor function of the transplanted graft. Early biliary complications have a negative impact on patient survival, while late complications influence a decreased quality of life. Biliary complications were treated mostly by interventional radiologic procedures.

The recurrence of hepatitis C virus after liver transplantation

A hazai majatultetesi programban magas a hepatitis C-virus (HCV) okozta vegstadiumu majbetegseg miatt vegzett majatultetesek aranya. Celkituzes: A szerzok dolgozatukban elemzik a C-hepatitis miatt majatultetesen atesett betegek adatait. Modszer: Az 1995 ota vegzett 295 primer majatultetes adatainak retrospektiv elemzese: donor- es recipiens-, valamint perioperativ es tulelesi adatok, szerumvirus-RNS-titer, percutan majbiopsziak szovettani eredmenyei. Eredmenyek: A mutet 111 betegnel tortent HCV-fertozes miatt, ez az elvegzett majatultetesek 37,6%-a. A vizsgalt 111 beteg kozul 22 beteg (20%) a posztoperativ idoszakban, a virus kiujulasanak eszlelese elott, egyeb okbol meghalt. A 89 beteg kozul 16 esetben (18%) a virus visszatereset meg nem eszleltek, 73 betegnel (82%) azonban a virus kiujulasa szovettanilag igazolhato volt. Negyven betegnel (56%) a C-virus okozta hepatitis kiujulasat egy even belul eszleltek, kozuluk 28 esetben (39%) 6 honapon belul, 12 esetben hat honapon tul, de 1 even belul (17%), es 32 betegnel (44%) egy even tul. A vegstadiumu C-cirrhosis miatt majatultetett betegek kumulativ 1, 3, 5 es 10 eves tulelese 73%, 67%, 56% es 49% volt. A HCV-negativ, majatultetett betegeknel ezek az ertekek 80%, 74%, 70% es 70%, a kulonbseg szignifikans. A majgraft kumulativ tulelese HCV-pozitiv betegeknel 72%, 66%, 56% es 49% volt, mig HCV-negativ betegeknel 76%, 72%, 68% es 68%, itt nem szignifikans a kulonbseg. Korai kiujulas eseten szignifikansan magasabb szerumvirus-RNS-titert mertek az elso 6 honapban majatultetes utan. A majatultetes utan 6 honappal vett protokollbiopszia korai kiujulas eseten magasabb Knodell-pontszamot eredmenyezett, mint kesoi kiujulaskor. A fibrosisindex eseteben ez forditva volt. A majatultetestol az elso antiviralis kezelesig eltelt ido 1995–2002 kozott atlagosan 20 honap volt, 2003 ota 8 honap. Kovetkeztetesek: Az idosebb donorokbol szarmazo, marginalis majgraftok magasabb vertranszfuzio-igeny mellett torteno beultetese elorevetiti a hamarabb bekovetkezo virusrekurrenciat. Ezt a tendenciat erositi a posztoperativ akut rejectio es az emiatt adott szteroid boluskezeles. A kombinalt antiviralis kezeles protokollja kulonbozik az altalanosan alkalmazottol: az un. „stopszabaly” nem ervenyes. Virusnegativva a betegek csak kevesebb mint 10%-a valik, melynek a fenntartott immunszuppresszio az oka. A majatultetes utan koran, akar fel even belul elkezdett antiviralis kezeles a beteg- es grafttulelest pozitivan befolyasolja, es feltehetoen csokkenti a HCV-reinfekcio miatti retranszplantaciok szamat. A masodik majatultetesnel akkor varhatok jo eredmenyek, ha idoben tortenik, a recipiens meg megfelelo fizikai allapota mellett. Ennek megiteleseben a MELD-score segit. Kulcsszavak: majatultetes, hepatitis C-virus, interferon, rekurrencia, retranszplantacio, tuleles The recurrence of hepatitis C virus after liver transplantation. The main indication of the Hungarian Liver Transplant Program is liver cirrhosis caused by hepatitis C. Aim: Authors present the results of liver transplantations performed due to HCV infection. Method: The data (donor-, recipient-, perioperative characteristics, survival, serum titer of C RNA, histology) of 111 HCV positive recipients were evaluated, that are 37.6% of the 295 patients, who were transplanted since 1995 till the closure of this report. Results: Twenty-two (22) of them (20%) died in the early postoperative period, for other reasons, before the recurrence of the HCV was detectable. Among the 89 HCV-positive patients the recurrence of the HCV is still not detected in 16 cases (18%), and there is a histology-proven recurrence in 73 cases (82%). In 40 cases (56%) the viral recurrence was proven within 1 year after OLT, while in 32 cases (44%) over 1 year. The cumulative 1, 3, 5, and 10 years patient survival is 73%, 67%, 56% and 49%, among HCV-positive patients and 80%, 74%, 70% and 70% among HCV-negatives. The difference is significant. The cumulative graft survival at the same time points is 72%, 66%, 56% and 49% among HCV-positives and 76%, 72%, 68% and 68% among HCV-negatives, which is a non-significant difference. The serum titer of HCV-RNA was significantly higher among those HCV-patients who had an early viral recur

Can a Cutoff Value for Cystatin C in the Operative Setting Be Determined to Predict Kidney Function After Liver Transplantation

Correct assessment and follow-up of kidney function is essential in liver transplant recipients. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) represents the functional capacity of the kidney. The GFR is generally determined on the basis of creatinine clearance using several methods. It has been suggested that cystatin C be used rather than GFR. Production of cystatin C is not dependent on the same factors as creatinine. It is filtered and completely metabolized in the glomeruli, and is not secreted by the kidney tubules. The objective of this study was to determine a preoperative cutoff value for cystatin C based on kidney function estimated after liver transplantation. At prefixed times before and after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT), serum cystatin C and creatinine concentrations were measured, and GFR was calculated using the Cockroft-Gault equation. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to GFR on postoperative days 1 to 5. Group 1 (healthy recipients) included patients with post-OLT GFR greater than 70 mL/min; and group 2 (kidney-impaired recipients), post-OLT GFR less than 70 mL/min. Group 2 demonstrated greater risk of postoperative complications, abnormal postoperative creatinine concentrations and GFR values, and worse patient and graft survival. Based on the preoperative cystatin C concentration, postoperative kidney function can be assessed. The cutoff value for preoperative cystatin was determined using receiver operating characteristics analysis. When the preoperative cystatin C concentration exceeded 1.28 mg/L, the postoperative GFR was less than 70 mL/min in the first 5 days after OLT. These findings suggest that if the cystatin C concentration exceeds the cutoff point preoperatively, there will be deterioration of kidney function after OLT. Along with other researchers, we suggest that cystatin C is a sensitive marker of post-OLT kidney function.

The first case of human alveolar Echinococcosis in Hungary

Infection caused by Echinococcus multilocularis is a rare helminthiasis, human cases have not been diagnosed in Hungary until now. The endemic region is Central Europe; the occurrence of this infection has been reported from most of the neighbouring countries; however, E. multilocularis has been found in the red fox population in Hungary. Summarizing the recent knowledge concerning epidemiological, clinical patterns and therapeutic options, the authors describe the first Hungarian case of alveolar echinococcosis. In the presence of appropriate clinical findings, the possibility of this rare infection has to be considered in the differential diagnosis of infiltrative hepatic lesions.