Project HELP: a study protocol to pilot test a shared decision-making tool about treatment options for patients with hepatitis C and chronic kidney disease.

BACKGROUND: Recent advances in treatment have given patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) access to safer and more effective medications to treat comorbid hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Given the variety and complexity of treatment options that depend on patients' clinical characteristics and personal preferences, education and decision support are needed to prepare patients better to discuss treatment options with their clinicians. METHODS: Drawing on International Patient Decision Aids Standards guidelines, literature reviews, and guidance from a diverse expert advisory group of nephrologists, hepatologists, and patients, we will develop and test a HCV and CKD decision support tool. Named Project HELP (Helping Empower Liver and kidney Patients), this tool will support patients with HCV and CKD during decisions about whether, when, and how to treat each illness. The tool will (1) explain information using plain language and graphics; (2) provide a step-by-step process for thinking about treating HCV and CKD; (3) tailor relevant information to each user by asking about the individual's stage of CKD, stage of fibrosis, prior treatment, and comorbidities; (4) assess user knowledge and values for treatment choices; and (5) help individuals use and consider information appropriate to their values and needs to discuss with a clinician. A pilot study including 70 individuals will evaluate the tool's efficacy, usability, and likelihood of using it in clinical practice. Eligibility criteria will include individuals who understand and read English, who are at least 18 years old, have a diagnosis of HCV (any genotype) and CKD (any stage), and are considering treatment options. DISCUSSION: This study can identify particular characteristics of individuals or groups that might experience challenges initiating treatment for HCV in the CKD population. This tool could provide a resource to facilitate patient-clinician discussions regarding HCV and CKD treatment options.

Long-term management of the liver transplant patient: recommendations for the primary care doctor.

No official document has been published for primary care physicians regarding the management of liver transplant patients. With no official source of reference, primary care physicians often question their care of these patients. The following guidelines have been approved by the American Society of Transplantation and represent the position of the association. The data presented are based on formal review and analysis of published literature in the field and the clinical experience of the authors. These guidelines address drug interactions and side effects of immunosuppressive agents, allograft dysfunction, renal dysfunction, metabolic disorders, preventive medicine, malignancies, disability and productivity in the workforce, issues specific to pregnancy and sexual function, and pediatric patient concerns. These guidelines are intended to provide a bridge between transplant centers and primary care physicians in the long-term management of the liver transplant patient.

A yeast artificial chromosome contig from human chromosome 14q24 spanning the Alzheimer's disease locus AD3.

Familial Alzheimer's disease has been previously linked to three genetic loci on chromosomes 21, 19 and 14. The AD3 locus on chromosome 14 has not been cloned and the molecular defect in chromosome 14-linked AD3 families has yet to be identified. Genetic linkage analysis has placed the AD3 locus in band 14q24 between the dinucleotide markers D14S61 and D14S289, a genetic distance of approximately 6.4 cM. We have constructed a yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) contig that covers the entire minimal region, encompassing all genetic markers that are non-recombinant for the disease in AD3-linked families. This contig, constructed by using a combination of YAC end sequence walking and sequence-tagged site (STS) mapping, consists of 63 YACs from three different libraries. The AD3 contig contains 12 polymorphic dinucleotide repeat markers from D14S61 to D14S251, as well as an additional 43 non-polymorphic STSs. This contiguous physical map of the region will allow the physical distances between the markers to be determined, as well as providing a framework for the identification of candidate genes.