Irritable bowel syndrome in persons who acquired trichinellosis

BACKGROUND AND AIM

The postinfectious irritable bowel syndrome (PI-IBS) frequently follows bacterial infections. Since people suffering from PI-IBS and Trichinella spiralis-infected mice develop similar findings, this animal model has been successfully used for PI-IBS studies; however, IBS has never been studied in humans after trichinellosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the IBS symptoms in people who had acquired trichinellosis.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A large outbreak of trichinellosis caused by Trichinella britovi occurred in Izmir, Turkey, in 2003-2004. The diagnosis of trichinellosis was confirmed by serology and muscle biopsy. After clinical and laboratory evaluations, 72 patients (38 women, 34 men, mean age 33.2 +/- 10.4 yr) with trichinellosis without preexisting IBS were enrolled in the study. Noninfected people (N=27) were used as control group. A questionnaire was developed to assess symptoms of IBS and alarm symptoms. The first interview was done face-to-face. After 2, 4, and 6 months of the first interview, the questionnaire was readministered to the patients without any information on the occurrence of a previous trichinellosis syndrome, while it was applied after a year only to the patients who had suffered IBS symptoms according to at least one of the previous interviews.

RESULTS

According to Rome II criteria, PI-IBS developed in 10 of 72 (13.9%) people with confirmed trichinellosis, who had no preexisting IBS. The rate of PI-IBS was 13.9% and 13.9% at the 4th and 6th months, respectively. The symptoms of PI-IBS persisted in five of them up to 1 yr. People without trichinellosis did not develop any IBS symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first report of the development of PI-IBS after T. britovi. Consequently, IBS can be considered as a secondary syndrome induced by trichinellosis.

Evaluation of early atherosclerosis in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

BACKGROUND

Data regarding early atherosclerosis and inflammatory bowel disease are limited and conflicting results are present.

AIMS

The purpose of this study was to evaluate serological and sonographical evidence of subclinical vascular involvement in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

METHODS

Thirty-nine patients with inflammatory bowel disease (20 Crohn's disease, and 19 ulcerative colitis patients) and 31 healthy controls were consecutively enrolled in the study. Flow mediated dilatation of the brachial artery and intima media thickness assessments of the common carotid artery were measured sonographically. Soluble CD40 ligand levels were evaluated. Crohn's disease activity index and modified Truelove-Witt's criteria were also noted.

RESULTS

Age, sex distribution, serum lipids, smoking status, and intima media thickness of the common carotid artery were similar between the inflammatory bowel disease patients and controls (p > 0.05). However, both endothelium dependent and independent flow mediated dilatation values were significantly impaired in the inflammatory bowel disease group compared with healthy controls (p < 0.05). Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein and soluble CD40 ligand values were significantly increased in inflammatory bowel disease patients compared with controls (p < 0.05), and soluble CD40 ligand was negatively correlated with flow mediated dilatation (r = -0.3, p < 0.05). Flow mediated dilatation was significantly predicted from the concentrations of C-reactive protein and soluble CD40 ligand.

CONCLUSION

Functional atherosclerosis is present in inflammatory bowel disease before early structural changes occur in vasculature. Higher sCD40L may indicate worse vascular outcome for IBD.

Assessment of sexual functions in patients with chronic liver disease

We aimed to determine the sexual problems and the prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED) in patients with chronic liver disease by means of International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF). A total of 81 patients with stable chronic liver disease were included in the study. Patients were grouped as mild to moderate (Child Pugh A and B) (n=10), chronic hepatitis (hepatitis B, C and D) (n=28) and carriers (n=43) according to the type of their chronic liver disease. All patients were asked to complete a questionnaire including IIEF and demographics. The IIEF domain scores were calculated and ED grading was determined on erectile function domain. IIEF domain scores were compared between these groups. The mean age was 54.8 +/- 10.8 y. Using the IIEF, the prevalence of any ED was 50.6% for all patients, and 50, 50, and 51.1% for cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis and carriers, respectively. The IIEF domain scores were not significantly different among the patient groups. Sexual functions did not appear to be affected by the stable chronic liver disease.

YMDD motif variants in inactive hepatitis B carriers detected by Inno-Lipa HBV DR assay

INTRODUCTION

Mutations of hepatitis B virus (HBV) polymerase, especially occurring at the highly conserved YMDD region, are related to resistance to lamivudine. Although these mutations are frequently secondary to lamivudine use, they can also occur naturally. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of YMDD variants that exist naturally in patients who are inactive HBV carriers.

METHODS

Seventy-one adult inactive HBV carriers were studied. All of the patients were confirmed to have maintained normal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) values for one or more years by monitoring serum ALT levels at 3-monthly intervals. None of the patients received interferon or antiviral agents. YMDD variants were analyzed by the HBV Drug Resistance Line Probe assay (Inno-Lipa HBV-DR).

RESULTS

YMDD variants were detected in 13 (18.3%) of the 71 anti-HBe positive inactive HBV carriers. Of the 13 patients, 10 (76.9%) also had accompanying L180M mutation. The combination of wild type and YMDD variant HBV was present in 11 of 13 patients. In two patients, only YIDD and/or YVDD variants plus L180M were detected without the presence of wild YMDD motif.

CONCLUSION

Naturally occurring YMDD motif variants were detected at a high rate in a group of lamivudine-untreated inactive HBV carriers.

Prophylactic use of low-dose, on-demand, intramuscular hepatitis B immunoglobulin and lamivudine after liver transplantation

The combination of hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) and antivirals (nucleos[t]ide analogs) has extended the applicability of orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) for patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related liver disease. However, HBIG administrations have an extremely high cost. Herein, we evaluated our results with low-dose, on-demand, intramuscular HBIG plus lamivudine (LAM) prophylaxis after OLT. The HBV DNA status in 40 patients at the time of OLT determined the treatment: group A (n = 22), HBV DNA (-), no antiviral pretreatment; group B (n = 11), HBV DNA (-), after LAM; group C (n = 3), HBV DNA (+) after LAM (LAM resistance/Adefovir [ADV] unavailable); group D (n = 2), HBV DNA (+), no antiviral pretreatment; and group E (n = 2), HBV DNA (-) after LAM + ADV (LAM resistance/ADV available). Five patients died within 12 months after OLT unrelated to HBV infection. The remaining 35 patients were followed for a median duration of 16 months (range, 6-93 months). Only two recipients from group C, who were transplanted despite LAM resistance + no ADV pretreatment, revealed recurrent HBV infections at 14 and 16 months posttransplantation; they were then treated successfully with ADV as it became available. The third group C recipient had undetectable HBV DNA at 18 months after OLT. The mean cumulative doses of HBIG administered within the first, second, and third years were 34,014, 5258, and 5090 IU, respectively. In conclusion, low-dose, on-demand, intramuscular HBIG plus (LAM +/- ADV) prophylaxis is a safe, efficient, and cost-effective regimen to prevent recurrent HBV infection following OLT. OLT despite untreated LAM resistance may require sustained higher serum HBsAb levels after surgery.

Comparison of Milan and UCSF criteria for liver transplantation to treat hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM: To assess the validity of the Milan and University of California San Francisco (UCSF) criteria and examine the long-term outcome of orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in a single-center study.

METHODS: This study is a retrospective review of prospectively collected data. Between 1998 and 2009, 56 of 356 OLTs were performed in patients with HCC. Based on pathological examination of liver explants, patients were retrospectively categorized into 3 grou-ps: Milan + (n = 34), Milan -/UCSF + (n = 7) and UCSF - (n = 14).

RESULTS: Median follow-up period was 39.5 (1-124) mo. The 5-year overall survival rates in the Milan +, Milan -/UCSF + and UCSF-groups were 87.7%, 53.6% and 33.3%, respectively (P < 0.000). Within these groups, tumor recurrence was determined in 5.8%, 14.3% and 40% of patients, respectively (P < 0.011). Additionally, the presence of microvascular invasion within the explanted liver had a negative effect on the 5-year disease free survival (74.7% vs 46.7%, P < 0.044).

CONCLUSION: The Milan criteria are reliable in the selection of suitable candidates for OLT for the treatment of HCC. For cases of OLT involving living donors, the UCSF criteria may be applied.

Reticulated platelet levels in patients with ulcerative colitis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

In this study, we investigated whether reticulated platelets (RP) would be useful markers in the evaluation of ulcerative colitis (UC) activity and also aimed to gain indirect information about the platelet kinetics.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Complete blood count, C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and proportion of RP were measured in 16 active, 21 inactive UC patients, and 20 healthy blood donors. UC activity was assessed by Truelove-Witts criteria.

RESULTS

Mean platelet count was increased in patients with active compared to inactive UC (p=0.008) or healthy donors (p=0.000). Mean platelet volume (MPV) was significantly decreased in patients with active compared to inactive (p=0.015) and healthy donors (p=0.001). RP values was significantly decreased in active and inactive UC groups compared to healthy donors (p=0.000, p=0.000, respectively), while there was no significant difference between active and inactive UC patients (p=0.980). Significant negative correlation between platelet count and MPV in patients with active UC (r=-0.542, p=0.030) was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

RP values is reduced in active and inactive UC patients compared to healthy donors. To our knowledge, this is the first study about proportion of RP with UC in literature. However, the role of low RP values have not been determined clinically. Further studies are needed to evaluate the role of platelet abnormalities and changes in megakaryopoiesis caused by inflammatory state on low MPV and RP values during the course of UC.

Prevalence of spondyloarthritis in Turkish patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Rheumatic manifestations are the most common extraintestinal findings of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), although there are wide variations among different studies. The only previous Turkish study reported a rather high prevalence of spondyloarthritis (SpA) in patients with IBD. We aimed to determine the frequency of SpA and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in patients with IBD attending a gastroenterology clinic from a referral centre. The study was conducted in 122 patients with established diagnosis of IBD [28 with Crohn's disease (CD) and 94 with ulcerative colitis (UC)]. A detailed medical history was obtained and a complete physical examination was performed in all the patients. Standard pelvic X-rays for examination of the sacroiliac joints were performed only when clinically indicated. The X-rays were read blindly by an experienced rheumatologist and reported according to the established grading system. The modified New York criteria were used to classify AS, and the European Spondyloarthropathy Study Group criteria for SpA. The prevalence of AS and SpA in patients with IBD was 8.2 and 28.7%, respectively. SpA was found to be significantly more common in the patients with CD compared to patients with UC, but the frequency of AS was not different between these two groups. There was no correlation between localisation or extent of the intestinal inflammation and presence of AS and SpA. A higher frequency of women was observed in patients diagnosed as SpA. Almost half of the patients with SpA (45.7%) had not been diagnosed before the study, although they had a history of IBP and/or peripheral arthritis. This study suggests that the prevalences of SpA and AS in Turkish patients with IBD are similar to those in many other populations. There may be a significant female predominance of SpA among patients with IBD.

Is ileocecal valve intubation essential for routine colonoscopic examination?

BACKGROUND

In this study, we aimed to assess the diagnostic yield of terminal ileum intubation during routine colonoscopy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We routinely performed terminal ileum intubation in all patients who underwent colonoscopy at Dokuz Eylul University Hospital between February 2014 and June 2015. Two gastroenterology fellows performed colonoscopies in the Central Endoscopy Unit. Demographic data of patients, indications of colonoscopies, cecum and ileum intubation rate/time, and endoscopic and histopathologic findings of the terminal ileum were all assessed.

RESULTS

A total of 1310 consecutive patients (726 female and 584 male, median age: 55.79±14.29 years) underwent colonoscopy during this study period. The colonoscopy was successfully completed in 1144 (87.3%) cases. The terminal ileum was successfully intubated in 1032 (90.2%) cases. The mean time taken to reach the ileum from the cecum was 63.08±64.16 s. Endoscopic abnormalities on the terminal ileum were present in 62 (6%) cases, and biopsies were taken from these patients. However, endoscopic abnormalities were found in 7 and 3.3% of patients who were symptomatic and asymptomatic, respectively. There were statistically significant differences between symptomatic and asymptomatic patients (P=0.02). Clinically significant histopathologic findings were observed in 22 cases, and 12 of the 22 cases were diagnosed as having Crohn's disease.

CONCLUSION

Terminal ileum intubation is particularly indicated in symptomatic patients. In cases of chronic diarrhea, iron-deficiency anemia, abdominal pain, and suspected inflammatory bowel disease, terminal ileum intubation should be done.

A new hepatitis B virus vaccine escape mutation in a renal transplant recipient

Surface antigen mutations of hepatitis B virus (HBV) may lead to immune escape and cause failure of immunization. In this report, the development of a chronic HBV infection in a vaccinated renal transplant recipient with pre-existing anti-HBs antibody is documented. The sequencing data showed that the HBV strain carried five amino acid substitutions in the major hydrophilic region of the S protein, one (sS143L) located at the "a" determinant. A commercial HBsAg assay failed to detect the mutant antigen.

Erythrocyte deformability and oxidative stress in inflammatory bowel disease

BACKGROUND

Oxidative stress and reduced microvascular flow are important factors in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The increased oxidative stress reduces the erythrocyte deformability. However, in IBD, there are no studies in the literature which evaluate erythrocyte deformability.

AIMS

In our study, we investigated the effect of oxidative stress and erythrocyte deformability in IBD.

METHODS

Forty-three patients with active IBD, 48 patients with inactive IBD and 45 healthy controls were included. The erytrocyte deformability, malonyldialdehyde levels, glutation peroxidase and sulfhydryl levels were measured in peripheral venous blood samples.

RESULTS

Erytrocyte malonyldialdehyde levels in both active and inactive IBD were significantly increased compared with control groups. Plasma glutation peroxidase levels did not show statistically significant difference between all groups. The decreased plasma sulfhydryl levels in active IBD were statistically significant compared with both the inactive IBD and the control group, but plasma sulfhydryl levels in inactive IBD group did not show statistically significant differences when compared with the control group. Elongation index values in both active and inactive IBD increased significantly compared with the control group. Statistically significant correlations were not found between the elongation index and glutation peroxidase, malonyldialdehyde, sulfhydryl levels in all groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study is the first to evaluate the erythrocyte deformability in IBD. In our study, increased erytrocyte malonyldialdehyde levels and decreased plasma sulfhydryl levels manifested the role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of the disease. It is thought that the increased erythrocyte malonyldialdehyde values cause the reduction in erythrocyte deformability.

Diagnostic and therapeutic efficacy of double-balloon endoscopy in patients with small intestinal diseases: single-center experience in 513 procedures

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Double-balloon endoscopy (DBE) is a technique that enables the evaluation and treatment of small intestinal diseases. The aim of the study was to evaluate the indications, therapeutic interventions, complications, and safety and to describe the experience with DBE in Turkish patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Four hundred twenty consecutive patients undergoing DBE were included in our study. Demographic features, indications, diagnostic findings, therapeutic interventions, complications, and technical aspects of the procedure were recorded. A total of 513 DBEs were carried out.

RESULTS

In all, 420 patients underwent a total of 513 DBE procedures (369 (72%) oral and 144 (28%) anal). The most common clinical indications were obscure bleeding (26%), abdominal pain (25.2%), anemia (20%), chronic diarrhea (10.5%), and inflammatory bowel diseases (5.2%). A proper diagnosis was obtained or confirmed in 222 of 420 patients (52.3%). Ulcers/erosions (23.6%), vascular lesions (8.1%), and polyps/tumors (7.4%) represented the most common endoscopic findings. Perforation occurred in one patient as a complication after polypectomy. No major complications due to sedation occurred.

CONCLUSION

Double-balloon endoscopy is effective for the diagnosis and treatment of small intestinal diseases. Therapeutic interventions carried out by DBE seem to be useful and safe.

Increased levels of tissue factor pathway inhibitor may reflect disease activity and play a role in thrombotic tendency in Behçet's disease

Tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) is a Kunitz-type proteinase inhibitor that has a crucial role in haemostasis and is primarily synthesized in the vascular endothelium. We investigated plasma total TFPI, antiphospholipid antibodies, and some other coagulation and fibrinolytic system parameters in 30 patients with Behçet's disease and 15 controls by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. TFPI levels were significantly higher in the Behçet's group (119 +/- 57.5 ng/ml) compared with the control group (74.8 +/- 31.5) (P < 0.009). We also noted a statistical significance in TFPI levels between patients with active disease (n:16) (139 +/- 55) and patients without activation (n:14) (96 +/- 53) (P < 0.03), whereas inactive patients lacked any significance when compared with the control group (P < 0.29). Other parameters disclosed no statistical significance between patients and control group except for elevated fibrinogen and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 levels in the patient group (P < 0.003). Increased levels of TFPI may reflect a defensive mechanism like in other diseases characterized by thrombotic tendency and represent a parameter of disease activity.

Does glucagon like peptide-2 receptor expression have any effect on the development of human colorectal cancer?

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Glucagon like peptide-2 may play an important role in human colon cancer and polyp development because of its proliferative and antiapopitotic effects especially in colon. In this study, we investigated the role of human glucagon like peptide and it's receptor in development of human colorectal carcinogenesis.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study includes 30 patients in colon cancer group and 20 patients in colonic polyp group who have been diagnosed by endoscopic and pathologic examination in Dokuz Eylül University, Department of Gastroenterology within 2 year-period. For comparison biopsies were taken from normal appearing colonic mucosa of the same patient. The cancer, polyp and normal colon mucosa samples were stained with glucagon like peptide receptor antibody by immunohistochemical method.

RESULTS

Glucagon like peptide 2 receptor positivity of colon cancer patients was 20 % (6/30) in focal cytoplasmic coloration while it was 0 % in colonic adenomas and 100 % in enteroendocrine cells of normal colonic mucosa. Statistically significant differences were found by the comparison of colonic polyp and normal colonic tissue (p=0.000), colonic cancer and normal colonic tissue (p=0.000) and colonic polyp and cancer tissues (p= 0.023).

CONCLUSION

Glucagon like peptide-2 receptor expression in colonic adenomas was not detected in human in contrary to the study on mice. Our study suggested that Glucagon like peptide-2 receptor expression is not a factor in adenoma-cancer pathogenesis. More studies are needed on this subject with more facts and different methods.

The efficacy, safety and tolerability of pantoprazole-based one-week triple therapy in H. pylori eradication and duodenal ulcer healing

OBJECTIVE

Recently, proton pump inhibitor (PPI)-based triple therapy has been recommended as a first line treatment in the eradication of Helicobacter pylori. The aim of this open, multicentre trial was to investigate the efficacy, safety, tolerability and the ulcer healing rate of a triple regimen consisting of pantoprazole 40 mg, clarithromycin 500 mg and amoxicillin 1000 mg twice daily for 7 days, in the eradication of H. pylori in patients with duodenal ulcer in Turkey.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

H. pylori infection was assessed by histological examination and rapid urease test at baseline and 4 weeks after the completion of the therapy. Seventy-seven patients were enrolled, 5 were excluded due to various reasons and 72 completed the entire course of the trial.

RESULTS

H. pylori eradication was confirmed in 49 of these patients; the eradication rate was 68% by per-protocol analysis and 63.6% by intention-to-treat analysis. The ulcers were completely healed in 61 patients (85%) at the second endoscopic examination. Drug compliance was excellent (97.3%) and there were no serious adverse events.

CONCLUSION

Pantoprazole-based 1-week triple therapy was well tolerated and the ulcer healing rate was high (85%). Relatively low H. pylori eradication rates may be attributed to rising antibiotic resistance over recent years. A large scale, comparative study with other PPI-based regimens is warranted based on the results of this open study with the pantoprazole-based regimen.

Double-balloon endoscopy in patients with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Peutz-Jeghers syndrome is a rare hereditary syndrome characterized by mucocutaneous pigmentation and hamartomatous polyps of the gastrointestinal tract, especially in the small intestine. Double-balloon endoscopy is a new endoscopic technique that enables both endoscopic visualization of the entire small bowel and therapeutic interventions in a single procedure. In this study, we evaluate the efficacy and safety of double-balloon endoscopy for both treatment and surveillance of patients with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively evaluated 7 consecutive patients who were referred to Dokuz Eylül University, Gastroenterology Department, with the diagnosis of Peutz-Jeghers syndrome between 2007 and 2010.

RESULTS

Patients with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (M/F: 5/2) underwent a total 31 double-balloon endoscopy procedures: 21 by the oral route, 9 by the anal route, and 1 intraoperatively. All of the patients had a history of laparotomy and small bowel resection due to complications such as invagination and ileus. In 7 patients, we found a total of 110 polyps ≥10 mm in diameter (10-100 mm) and polypectomies were performed in all of them. The only complication was a bleeding after polypectomy, which was controlled by sclerotherapy. In 1 patient, because of the intraabdominal adhesions due to past laparotomies, polypectomy was done by intraoperative endoscopy. In 2 of our patients, we made surveillance colonoscopies, found new polyps in the small intestine, and performed polypectomies.

CONCLUSIONS

Double-balloon endoscopy is an effective and safe endoscopic technique, and represents a milestone for both treatment and surveillance of patients with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome. Polypectomies made in the small intestine might decrease the complication rate due to these polyps and the need for surgery.

Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor levels in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis

AIM

This study was conducted to demonstrate the plasminogen activator inhibitor- 1 (PAI-1) and thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor antigen (TAFI-Ag) levels in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty-seven patients with biopsy-proven NASH and 18 healthy controls (HC) were recruited for the study. Anthropometric data, liver histology (no.=20) and laboratory parameters including PAI-1 and TAFI-Ag assessments were recorded.

RESULTS

When compared with HC, patients with NASH had higher body weight, higher waist circumference, elevated blood pressure, higher fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels and higher homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) scores. The mean plasma PAI-1 levels of patients was found to be higher than HC (87.60 ng/ml vs 30.84 ng/ml p=0.000) and mean plasma TAFI-Ag levels of patients was found to be significantly lower (8.69 microg/ml vs 12.19 microg/ml p=0.000). PAI-1 levels were correlated with systolic blood pressure, age, body weight, transaminases, waist circumference, FPG, body mass index, and HOMA score. TAFI-Ag levels were found to be negatively correlated with transaminases, waist circumference, and body weight. In multiple regression analysis, BMI was the independent variable effecting PAI-1 levels. We did not show any association between PAI-1, TAFI-Ag, disease activity score and fibrosis score. HOMA was the independent variable effecting liver fibrosis in our patients.

CONCLUSION

In this study we demonstrated that patients with biopsy-proven NASH had higher PAI-1 and lower TAFI-Ag expression than HC. Elevated levels of PAI-1 in NASH is the consequence of insulin resistance state. Lower TAFI-Ag levels may be related to the overactivation of TAFI pathway resulting in TAFI-Ag depletion. Furthermore, liver function disturbances may impair TAFI production in NASH. We also showed that NASH patients even with slight elevations of transaminases feature marked insulin resistance and components of metabolic syndrome.

De Novo Malignancies After Liver Transplantation: A Single Institution Experience

OBJECTIVES

Our objective was to analyze characteristics, risk factors, and incidence of de novo malignancies after liver transplant.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The hospital records of 557 patients who underwent liver transplant were analyzed from the point of de novo malignancy development. We evaluated the demographic features and survival of these patients retrospectively.

RESULTS

The research covered 429 patients, 9 (2%) of whom developed de novo malignancy. All of these patients were male (100%), and their mean (SD) age was 51.33 (4.69) years (range, 45-65 y). Indications for transplant included alcohol related in 4 cases, chronic hepatitis B in 2 cases, chronic hepatitis B and C in 1 case, chronic hepatitis B and D in 1 case, and chronic hepatitis C and alcohol-related cirrhosis in 1 case. The mean (SD) time from transplant to cancer diagnosis was 63.41 (37.10) months (range, 17-122 mo). The types of tumors were lung cancer, lymphoma, neuroendocrine tumor of lung, nasopharyngeal cancer, and squamous cell carcinoma of the skin. Seven cases received chemotherapy with or without radiotherapy. Two cases received surgery and radiotherapy. One patient underwent surgical treatment. One patient died before treatment was started.

CONCLUSIONS

In recent years, improvements in surgical techniques and immunosuppressive therapies have helped prolong survival of patients who undergo liver transplant. However, this also has led to a rise in the incidence of long-term complications such as de novo malignancy. These patients are more likely to develop de novo malignancy than the general population, for which chronic immunosuppression is identified as a major risk factor. Early diagnosis and treatment of de novo malignancies can help obtain better prognosis and higher survival rates in these patients.