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Neonaki A, Lekakis V, Cholongitas E. The predictive role of autonomic neuropathy in pre- and post-liver transplantation outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Ann Gastroenterol 2024; 37:588-601. [PMID: 39238797 PMCID: PMC11372533 DOI: 10.20524/aog.2024.0905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 09/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Autonomic neuropathy (AN) in cirrhotic patients has been linked to a higher risk of cirrhosis-related complications and worse outcomes before, during or after liver transplantation (LT). However, only a few studies exist with inconsistent results. Methods We searched for all articles published until September 2023 that described a diagnosis of AN based on cardiovascular autonomic reflex tests (CARTs), assessment of the rate-corrected QT interval (QTc), heart rate variability (HRV), and baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) tests, in order to evaluate the predictive role of AN in cirrhosis and/or peri-/post-LT prognosis. Results Twenty-five studies were included: 5, 12, 9, and 1 study, respectively, assessed the predictive role of CARTs, prolonged QTc, HRV indices, and BRS in cirrhosis or peri-/post-LT prognosis. In CARTs-based analysis, the pre-LT pooled mortality rate was significantly higher in cirrhotics with AN compared to those without AN (20% vs. 6%; P=0.01). However, no difference was found between patients with and without pre-LT prolonged QTc in the pre-LT pooled mortality rates (41% vs. 18%; P=0.08), pooled peri-transplant risk of major complications (29% vs. 17%; P=0.08) or post-LT pooled mortality rates (15% vs. 12%; P=0.36). In HRV-based analysis, the standard deviation of normal-to-normal intervals was significantly lower in non-survivors, compared to survivors with cirrhosis: standardized mean difference -2.59, 95% confidence interval -4.75 to -0.43; P=0.04. Conclusions The presence of CARTs- and HRV-based AN was a good predictor of mortality in the pre-LT setting. Preoperative prolonged QTc did not seem to be associated with the outcome before or after LT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonia Neonaki
- Academic Department of Gastroenterology (Antonia Neonaki, Vasileios Lekakis, Evangelos Cholongitas)
| | - Vasileios Lekakis
- Academic Department of Gastroenterology (Antonia Neonaki, Vasileios Lekakis, Evangelos Cholongitas)
| | - Evangelos Cholongitas
- Academic Department of Gastroenterology (Antonia Neonaki, Vasileios Lekakis, Evangelos Cholongitas)
- First Department of Internal Medicine (Evangelos Cholongitas), Medical School of National and Kapodistrian University, "Laiko" General Hospital of Athens, Athens
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2
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Papadopoulos VP, Mimidis K. Corrected QT interval in cirrhosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. World J Hepatol 2023; 15:1060-1083. [PMID: 37900213 PMCID: PMC10600695 DOI: 10.4254/wjh.v15.i9.1060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2023] [Revised: 08/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Corrected QT (QTc) interval is prolonged in patients with liver cirrhosis and has been proposed to correlate with the severity of the disease. However, the effects of sex, age, severity, and etiology of cirrhosis on QTc have not been elucidated. At the same time, the role of treatment, acute illness, and liver transplantation (Tx) remains largely unknown. AIM To determine the mean QTc in patients with cirrhosis, assess whether QTc is prolonged in patients with cirrhosis, and investigate whether QTc is affected by factors such as sex, age, severity, etiology, treatment, acute illness, and liver Tx. METHODS In the present systematic review and meta-analysis, the searching protocol "{[QTc] OR [QT interval] OR [QT-interval] OR [Q-T syndrome]} AND {[cirrhosis] OR [Child-Pugh] OR [MELD]}" was applied in PubMed, EMBASE, and Google Scholar databases to identify studies that reported QTc in patients with cirrhosis and published after 1998. Seventy-three studies were considered eligible. Data concerning first author, year of publication, type of study, method used, sample size, mean age, female ratio, alcoholic etiology of cirrhosis ratio, Child-Pugh A/B/C ratio, mean model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score, treatment with β-blockers, episode of acute gastrointestinal bleeding, formula for QT correction, mean pulse rate, QTc in patients with cirrhosis and controls, and QTc according to etiology of cirrhosis, sex, Child-Pugh stage, MELD score, and liver Tx status (pre-Tx/post-Tx) were retrieved. The Newcastle-Ottawa quality assessment scale appraised the quality of the eligible studies. Effect estimates, expressed as proportions or standardized mean differences, were combined using the random-effects, generic inverse variance method of DerSimonian and Laird. Subgroup, sensitivity analysis, and meta-regressions were applied to assess heterogeneity. The study has been registered in the PROSPERO database (CRD42023416595). RESULTS QTc combined mean in patients with cirrhosis was 444.8 ms [95% confidence interval (CI): 440.4-449.2; P < 0.001 when compared with the upper normal limit of 440 ms], presenting high heterogeneity (I2 = 97.5%; 95%CI: 97.2%-97.8%); both Egger's and Begg's tests showed non-significance. QTc was elongated in patients with cirrhosis compared with controls (P < 0.001). QTc was longer in patients with Child-Pugh C cirrhosis when compared with Child-Pugh B and A (P < 0.001); Child-Pugh B patients presented longer QTc when compared with Child-Pugh A patients (P = 0.003). The MELD score was higher in patients with cirrhosis with QTc > 440 ms when compared with QTc ≤ 440 ms (P < 0.001). No correlation of QTc with age (P = 0.693), sex (P = 0.753), or etiology (P = 0.418) was detected. β-blockers shortened QTc (P< 0.001). QTc was prolonged during acute gastrointestinal bleeding (P = 0.020). Tx tended to improve QTc (P < 0.001). No other sources of QTc heterogeneity were revealed. CONCLUSION QTc is prolonged in cirrhosis independently of sex, age, and etiology but is correlated with severity and affected by β-blockers and acute gastrointestinal bleeding. QTc is improved after liver Tx.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Konstantinos Mimidis
- First Department of Internal Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis 68100, Greece
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3
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Johannsdottir HX, Gudmundsdottir IJ, Karason S, Sigurdsson MI. Association between pre-operative prolonged corrected QT interval and all-cause mortality after non-cardiac surgery. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand 2023; 67:284-292. [PMID: 36508160 DOI: 10.1111/aas.14178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2022] [Revised: 10/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prolonged corrected QT interval (QTc) has been linked to risk of arrhythmias and mortality in the general population. Pre-operative electrocardiography is often obtained for patient-and procedural cardiovascular risk assessment. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of pre-operative QTc and all-cause mortality in a non-cardiac surgical cohort. METHODS A retrospective study of all patients over 18 years undergoing non-cardiac surgery at Landspitali-the National University Hospital in Iceland between 2 January 2005 to 31 December 2015, with follow-up through 20 May 2016. Patients were separated into five categories according to their pre-operative QTc interval ≤ 379, 380-439 (reference group), 440-479, 480-519 and ≥520 ms. Primary outcome was long-term mortality and secondary outcome was 30-day mortality. RESULTS A total of 10,209 surgeries for 10,209 individuals were included. The median follow-up for mortality was 2691 days (interquartile range [IQR] 1620-3705 days). Patients with longer QTc interval had a higher comorbidity burden, were more likely to undergo emergency surgery and were often prescribed cardiac medications. After adjustment for confounding variables, the hazard ratio (HR) for long-term mortality compared with reference (QTc 380-439 ms) was 0.85 [CI: 0.66-1.09] for QTc ≤379, 1.08 [CI: 0.99-1.17] for QTc 440-479 ms, 1.26 [CI: 1.10-1.43] for QTc between 480 and 519 ms and 0.97 [CI: 0.78-1.21] for QTc ≥520 ms. When compared with reference, only patients with QTc interval between 480 and 519 ms had higher odds ratio for 30-day mortality as odds ratio for other groups were following; 1.12 [CI: 0.18-3.8] for ≤379 ms, 1.03 [CI: 0.70-1.51] for QTc 440-479 ms, 1.64 [CI: 1.02-2.60] for QTc 480-519 ms and 0.98 [0.44-2.06] for QTc ≥520 ms. CONCLUSION Pre-operative QTc between 480 and 519 ms is associated with both higher long-term and 30-day mortality after non-cardiac surgery. The results suggest that this could reflect an underlying cardiovascular risk.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ingibjorg Jona Gudmundsdottir
- Internal Medicine Services, Landspitali-The National University Hospital of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland.,Division of Cardiology, Landspitali-The National University Hospital of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Sigurbergur Karason
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland.,Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, Operational Services, Landspitali-The National University Hospital of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Martin Ingi Sigurdsson
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland.,Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, Operational Services, Landspitali-The National University Hospital of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
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4
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Lee W, Vandenberk B, Raj SR, Lee SS. Prolonged QT Interval in Cirrhosis: Twisting Time? Gut Liver 2022; 16:849-860. [PMID: 35864808 PMCID: PMC9668500 DOI: 10.5009/gnl210537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Approximately 30% to 70% of patients with cirrhosis have QT interval prolongation. In patients without cirrhosis, QT prolongation is associated with an increased risk of ventricular arrhythmias, such as torsade de pointes (TdP). In cirrhotic patients, there is likely a significant association between the corrected QT (QTc) interval and the severity of liver disease, and possibly with increased mortality. We present a stepwise overview of the pathophysiology and management of acquired long QT syndrome in cirrhosis. The QT interval is mainly determined by ventricular repolarization. To compare the QT interval in time it should be corrected for heart rate (QTc), preferably by the Fridericia method. A QTc interval >450 ms in males and >470 ms in females is considered prolonged. The pathophysiological mechanism remains incompletely understood, but may include metabolic, autonomic or hormonal imbalances, cirrhotic heart failure and/or genetic predisposition. Additional external risk factors for QTc prolongation include medication (IKr blockade and altered cytochrome P450 activity), bradycardia, electrolyte abnormalities, underlying cardiomyopathy and acute illness. In patients with cirrhosis, multiple hits and cardiac-hepatic interactions are often required to sufficiently erode the repolarization reserve before long QT syndrome and TdP can occur. While some risk factors are unavoidable, overall risk can be mitigated by electrocardiogram monitoring and avoiding drug interactions and electrolyte and acidbase disturbances. In cirrhotic patients with prolonged QTc interval, a joint effort by cardiologists and hepatologists may be useful and significantly improve the clinical course and outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Lee
- Department of Cardiac Sciences, Libin Cardiovascular Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- St Vincent's Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Bert Vandenberk
- Department of Cardiac Sciences, Libin Cardiovascular Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Satish R. Raj
- Department of Cardiac Sciences, Libin Cardiovascular Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Samuel S. Lee
- Liver Unit, Snyder Institute for Chronic Disease, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
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5
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Barman PM, VanWagner LB. Cardiac Risk Assessment in Liver Transplant Candidates: Current Controversies and Future Directions. Hepatology 2021; 73:2564-2576. [PMID: 33219576 PMCID: PMC8220582 DOI: 10.1002/hep.31647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2020] [Revised: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
In the changing landscape of liver transplantation (LT), we are now evaluating older and sicker patients with more cardiovascular comorbidities, and the spectrum of cardiovascular disease is uniquely physiologically impacted by end-stage liver disease. Cardiac complications are now the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in LT recipients, and the pretransplant risk is exacerbated immediately during the transplant operation and continues long term under the umbrella of immunosuppression. Accurate risk estimation of cardiac complications before LT is paramount to guide allocation of limited health care resources and to improve both short-term and long-term clinical outcomes for patients. Current screening and diagnostic testing are limited in their capacity to accurately identify early coronary disease and myocardial dysfunction in persons with end-stage liver disease physiology. Furthermore, a number of testing modalities have not been evaluated in patients with end-stage liver disease. As a result, there is wide variation in cardiac risk assessment practices across transplant centers. In this review, we propose a definition for defining cardiac events in LT, evaluate the current evidence for surgery-related, short-term and long-term cardiac risk assessment in LT candidates, propose an evidence-based testing algorithm, and highlight specific gaps in knowledge and current controversies, identifying areas for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pranab M. Barman
- Department of Medicine-Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA
| | - Lisa B. VanWagner
- Department of Medicine-Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL,Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL,Comprehensive Transplant Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
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6
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Li S, Hao X, Liu S, Gong Y, Niu W, Tang Y. Prolonged QTc interval predicts long-term mortality in cirrhosis: a propensity score matching analysis. Scand J Gastroenterol 2021; 56:570-577. [PMID: 33792461 DOI: 10.1080/00365521.2021.1901307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prolonged corrected QT (QTc) interval is a hallmark of cirrhotic cardiomyopathy (CCM) and has been ascertained to predict mortality in cirrhosis. However, some critical issues remain to be addressed including unanimous cut-off, calculation approach and applicable population. METHODS A total of 274 patients with cirrhosis were included. The prolonged QTc interval over 440 ms according to adjusted Fridericia's formula was used to stratify enrolled subjects. Independent predictors of 3-year mortality were identified with Cox regression model. The Kaplan-Meier method was implemented to obtain survival curves. To reduce impact of selection bias and possible confounders, a propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was used. RESULTS QTc > 440 ms was an independent risk factor in the entire cohort and PSM subset (HR 2.532, 95% CI 1.431-4.480, p=.001; HR 2.802, 95% CI 1.171-6.701, p=.021, respectively). Subgroup analysis showed that QTc > 440 ms was an independent predictor in cirrhotics with age ≤60 years (HR = 1.02, p=.035) and in the presence of ascites (HR = 1.01, p=.008). CONCLUSIONS The prolonged QTc interval might help to identify patients with high-risk of all-cause mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuhong Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, Tianjin Nankai Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Xuwen Hao
- Department of Gastroenterology, Tianjin Nankai Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Simiao Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Tianjin Nankai Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Yanxia Gong
- Department of Gastroenterology, Tianjin Nankai Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Wei Niu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Tianjin Nankai Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Yanping Tang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Tianjin Nankai Hospital, Tianjin, China
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7
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Koshy AN, Ko J, Farouque O, Cooray SD, Han HC, Cailes B, Gow PJ, Weinberg L, Testro A, Lim HS, Teh AW. Effect of QT interval prolongation on cardiac arrest following liver transplantation and derivation of a risk index. Am J Transplant 2021; 21:593-603. [PMID: 32530547 DOI: 10.1111/ajt.16145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2020] [Revised: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Liver transplantation (LT) has a 4-fold higher risk of periprocedural cardiac arrest and ventricular arrhythmias (CA/VAs) compared with other noncardiac surgeries. Prolongation of the corrected QT interval (QTc) is common in patients with liver cirrhosis. Whether it is associated with an increased risk of CA/VAs following LT is unclear. Rates of 30-day CA/VAs post-LT were assessed in consecutive adults undergoing LT between 2010 and 2017. Pretransplant QTc was measured by a cardiologist blinded to clinical outcomes. Among 408 patients included, CA/VAs occurred in 26 patients (6.4%). QTc was significantly longer in CA/VA patients (475 ± 34 vs 450 ± 34 ms, P < .001). Optimal QTc cut-off for prediction of CA/VAs was ≥480 ms. After adjustment, QTc ≥480 ms remained the strongest predictor for the occurrence of CA/VAs (odds ratio [OR] 5.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.2-12.6). A point-based cardiac arrest risk index (CARI) was derived with the bootstrap method for yielding optimism-corrected coefficients (2 points: QTc ≥480, 1 point: Model for End-Stage Liver Disease [MELD] ≥30, 1 point: age ≥65, and 1 point: male). CARI score ≥3 demonstrated moderate discrimination (c-statistic 0.79, optimism-corrected c-statistic 0.77) with appropriate calibration. QTc ≥480 ms was associated with a 5-fold increase in the risk of CA/VAs. The CARI score may identify patients at higher risk of these events. Whether heightened perioperative cardiac surveillance, avoidance of QT prolonging medications, or beta blockers could mitigate the risk of CA/VAs in this population merits further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anoop N Koshy
- Department of Cardiology, Austin Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jefferson Ko
- Department of Cardiology, Austin Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Omar Farouque
- Department of Cardiology, Austin Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Shamil D Cooray
- Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Hui-Chen Han
- Department of Cardiology, Austin Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Benjamin Cailes
- Department of Cardiology, Austin Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Paul J Gow
- The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Victorian Liver Transplant Unit, Austin Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Laurence Weinberg
- Department of Cardiology, Austin Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Anaesthesia, Austin Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Adam Testro
- The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Victorian Liver Transplant Unit, Austin Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Han S Lim
- Department of Cardiology, Austin Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Andrew W Teh
- Department of Cardiology, Austin Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Cardiology Department, Eastern Health Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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8
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Smith NK, Zerillo J, Schlichting N, Sakai T. Abdominal Organ Transplantation: Noteworthy Literature in 2018. Semin Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth 2019; 23:188-204. [DOI: 10.1177/1089253219842655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
A PubMed search revealed 1382 articles on pancreatic transplantation, 781 on intestinal transplantation, more than 7200 on kidney transplantation, and more than 5500 on liver transplantation published between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2018. After narrowing the list down to human studies, 436 pancreatic, 302 intestinal, 1920 liver, and more than 2000 kidney transplantation studies were screened for inclusion in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie K. Smith
- The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jeron Zerillo
- The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Tetsuro Sakai
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Health System, PA, USA
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