Long-term results of kidney transplantation in patients with familial mediterranean fever.

INTRODUCTION: Long-term kidney transplantation (KT) results in patients with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF)-related amyloidosis are not well studied. This study reviewed the long-term survival outcomes of FMF patients who underwent KT. METHODS: We compared the outcomes of 31 patients who underwent (KT) for biopsy-proven amyloidosis secondary to FMF with 31 control patients (five with diabetes mellitus and 26 with nondiabetic kidney disease) undergoing KT between 1994 and 2021 at Baskent University Hospital. All data were recorded retrospectively from patients' files. RESULTS: THE MEDIAN AGE (QUARTILE DEVIATION: QD) at the time of KT in the FMF and control group were 31 (6.7) and 33 (11), respectively. The median follow-up period (QD) after KT was 108 (57) months in the FMF and 132 (72) months in the control group. In the FMF group, graft and patient survivals were 71% and 84% at 5 years and 45% and 48% at 10 years, respectively. In the control group, graft and patient survivals were 79% and 100% at 5 years and 63% and 71% at 10 years, respectively. Patient survival in the FMF group at 5 years was significantly lower than in the control group (p = .045). There was no statistically significant difference between the FMF and control groups in terms of graft and patient survival, and serum creatinine levels at 10 years. All patients were given triple immunosuppressive treatment with cyclosporine, mycophenolate mofetil, and prednisolone. Three patients received anakinra and one received canakinumab in addition to colchicine treatment. One FMF patient also underwent heart transplantation due to AA amyloidosis. Of the FMF patients, 11 died during follow-up. CONCLUSION: We have found that the long-term outcome of KT in patients with FMF amyloidosis is numerically worse but not statistically different from the control group. However, short- and long-term complications still need to be resolved.

Administration of oral medication by parents at home.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine parents' experiences and problems with administering medication to their children at home. BACKGROUND: Parents' experiences and access to information for the treatment of their children's illnesses at home is necessary for their children's safety. DESIGN: A descriptive cross-sectional study. METHODS: Four hundred parents from children's hospital outpatient clinics were included. A questionnaire was used to determine parents' experiences and problems with administering medication to their children at home. Descriptive statistical analyses were performed using the spss software package (version 22.00). RESULTS: Antipyretics (59%) and antibiotics (25%) were the most commonly used medicines by parents without prescription. Nearly half of the parents stated that they gave liquid medicine with a household spoon. It was found that 54% of the parents whose children refused to take tablets or liquid medicine mixed these medications into foods. Treatment was delayed in 20·7% of the children who refused to take tablets and in 29·1% of the children who refused to take liquid medicine. As a result of the project, a form and device were developed as a solution to the problems experienced by parents while administering oral medication in the home environment. CONCLUSION: The results of the study showed that a significant percentage of the parents did not use the correct equipment to administer medications, used non-prescription medicines, did not administer medications at correct intervals and mixed medication into foods. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Healthcare professionals, especially nurses, should continually evaluate medication administration by parents at home and the readmission rate in the emergency department to further improve children's health.

Clinical importance of mean platelet volume in children with nephrotic syndrome.

AIM: The importance of changes about platelet emphasized in most chronically diseases in recent years. Mean platelet volume (MPV) and platelet count can be used as a prognostic biomarker. In this study, clinical importance of the changes of MPV during active and remission phases in children with nephrotic syndrome was investigated. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty-five children with nephrotic syndrome (30 females, 25 males) and 29 healthy children (18 females, 11 males) were included to the study. Patients were divided in two groups (steroid sensitive nephrotic syndrome and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis). Demographic characteristics of the patients, type of nephrotic syndrome were recorded and laboratory parameters in active and remission phases were evaluated. RESULTS: Mean platelet count in the patient group was significantly higher than control group. Mean platelet count of FSGS group was significantly higher than SSNS group. Mean MPV value was significantly lower in active period of nephrotic syndrome when compared with control group. A significant negative relation between mean MPV value and mean platelet count was found. Significant positive correlations between mean platelet count and mean total cholesterol and mean triglyceride levels were demonstrated. CONCLUSION: MPV in nephrotic syndrome patients can be an easy, cheap and simple method for determine the prognosis of the disease and steroid resistance.

The effects of stem cells and platelet-rich fibrin on colonic anastomosis: An experimental study.

AIM - Anastomotic leakage is among the most common complications following gastrointestinal surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS - This study aimed to determine the effects of stem cells and platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) on anastomotic healing. The study included 60 rats that were randomly divided into 3 groups, each with 2 subgroups. The study included the control group (no treatment post anastomosis), the PRF group (PRF administered following anastomosis), and the PRF + stem cell group (PRF + stem cells administered following anastomosis). Anastomosis was performed at the descending colon in all groups. Anastomosis bursting pressure was determined, and histopathological and angiographic examination were performed on postoperative D 7. RESULTS - Intraabdominal adhesion was significantly more common in the control group. Anastomosis bursting pressure was significantly higher and angiogenesis was significantly more common in the PRF + stem cell group (P < 0.005). Based on histopathologic examination, vascular proliferation and inflammation were significantly more common in the PRF + stem cell group than in the control group (P < 0.005). CONCLUSION : In cases of risky gastrointestinal system anastomosis, PRF + stem cells might reduce the incidence of anastomotic healing. KEY WORDS: Anastomosis, Platelet-rich fibrin, Stem cell, Wound healing.

Approach to optimal assessment of right ventricular remodelling in heart transplant recipients: insights from myocardial work index, T1 mapping, and endomyocardial biopsy.

AIMS: Right ventricular (RV) dysfunction is an important cause of graft failure after heart transplantation (HTx). We sought to investigate relative merits of echocardiographic tools and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) with T1 mapping for the assessment of functional adaptation and remodelling of the RV in HTx recipients. METHODS AND RESULTS: Sixty-one complete data set of echocardiography, CMR, right heart catheterization, and biopsy were obtained. Myocardial work index (MWI) was quantified by integrating longitudinal strain (LS) with invasively measured pulmonary artery pressure. CMR derived RV volumes, T1 time, and extracellular volume (ECV) were quantified. Endomyocardial biopsy findings were used as the reference standard for myocardial microstructural changes. In HTx recipients who never had a previous allograft rejection, longitudinal function parameters were lower than healthy organ donors, while ejection fraction (EF) (52.0 ± 8.7%) and MWI (403.2 ± 77.2 mmHg%) were preserved. Rejection was characterized by significantly reduced LS, MWI, longer T1 time, and increased ECV that improved after recovery, whereas RV volumes and EF did not change MWI was the strongest determinant of rejection related myocardial damage (area under curve: 0.812, P < 0.0001, 95% CI: 0.69-0.94) with good specificity (77%), albeit modest sensitivity. In contrast, T1 time and ECV were sensitive (84%, both) but not specific to detect subclinical RV damage. CONCLUSION: Subclinical adaptive RV remodelling is characterized by preserved RV EF despite longitudinal function abnormalities, except for MWI. While ultrastructural damage is reflected by MWI, ECV, and T1 time, only MWI has the capability to discriminate functional adaptation from transition to subclinical structural damage.

Nutcracker syndrome manifesting with severe proteinuria: a challenging scenario in a single-kidney patient.

Nutcracker syndrome (NS) refers to compression of the left renal vein between the aorta and the superior mesenteric artery which results in left renal venous hypertension. The typical clinical presenting feature is hematuria. In this report we describe the case of patient with a single kidney who developed severe proteinuria due to NS. She was successfully treated with left renal vein transposition. This case clearly shows the relation between NS and severe proteinuria based on normal biopsy findings and the complete disappearance of proteinuria following surgery.

Respiratory-chain deficiency presenting as diffuse mesangial sclerosis with NPHS3 mutation.

Renal manifestations of mitochondrial cytopathies have been described, but nephrotic syndrome with respiratory-chain disorders have been described extremely rarely. We report a 9-month-old boy with a mitochondrial cytopathy preceded by a 2-month history of steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome. Percutaneous renal biopsy revealed diffuse mesangial sclerosis, and mutational analysis was compatible with PLCE1 mutation. However, electron microscopic findings of renal tissue, sensorineural hearing loss, and other ocular and neurologic findings led us to suspect mitochondrial cytopathy. Muscle tissue analysis showed a deficiency of the respiratory chain complex IV. The clinical presentation of our patient is not typical for primary cytochrome oxidase (COX) deficiency but showed similarities with patients carrying AR mutations in COX10. This was the first case in the literature with both PLCE1 mutation and COX deficiency. We could not identify pathogenic mutations in the COX10 gene, suggesting that PLCE1 deficiency could be the cause of the secondary deficiency of COX. Another, more likely, possibility is that the mitochondriopathy phenotype is caused by another mutation homozygous by descent in a yet unidentified recessive gene.

Clinical impact of complement deposition findings on biopsies in acute rejection episodes of pediatric renal transplant patients.

INTRODUCTION: Rejection is the most important problem for renal graft function and survival. Complement system plays a key role in immune responses from host to graft. It was demonstrated that complement system activation is related with renal fibrosis. We evaluate clinical impact of complement deposition findings on biopsies in acute rejection episodes of pediatric renal transplant patients. METHOD: Demographics of the patients, graft functions, acute rejection episodes and graft loss were recorded from data files of 165 pediatric renal transplant patients. Findings of 98 renal biopsies were retrospectively evaluated. RESULTS: Thirty three patients with kidney transplant had 44 acute rejection episodes (32 pure cellular acute rejection episodes / 1 pure humoral acute rejection episode / 11 combined acute cellular and acute humoral rejection episodes) proven by biopsy. C1q staining was positive in 7 biopsies, C3 staining in 15 biopsies and, C4d staining in 15 biopsies. 26 patients had graft fibrosis. All patients with a rejection history had a significant decrease in GFR value during follow-up. Patients who did not have fibrotic changes in first biopsy had same level of deterioration of GFR when compared with patients who had fibrotic changes in first biopsy. CONCLUSION: We could not demonstrate a significant relation between complement deposition and renal fibrosis, and between complement deposition and GFR values. Our data demonstrated that graft outcomes and graft loss after acute rejection episodes cannot be predicted only with complement deposition on graft or only with graft fibrosis.

Recurrence and Outcomes of Complement-Related Renal Disease After Pediatric Renal Transplantation.

Complement dysregulation is related to different glomerular pathologies. Patients with complement dysregulation have high recurrence risk after transplant; however, with trough-effective therapeutics, renal transplant can be an option for these patients. Here, we present 2 boys with renal disease related to complement dysregulation and their outcomes after renal transplant. Patient 1 had atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome, which was treated with eculizumab before renal transplant; eculizumab therapy was also continued after transplant as preventive therapy. Eculizumab therapy was stopped at year 2 post-transplant. At year 4 post-transplant, his serum creatinine level was 0.87 mg/dL. Patient 2, who had chronic renal disease related to C3 glomerulopathy, was not responsive to eculizumab before renal transplant. At month 4 posttransplant, C3 glomerulopathy recurrence was demonstrated with biopsy, and serum creatinine level was 1.96 mg/dL at this time. Eculizumab was started as a rescue therapy. At year 4 posttransplant, his serum creatinine level was 2.07 mg/dL. In our 2 patients with complement dysregulation, eculizumab was an effective and preventive therapy after renal transplant. However, more studies are needed to understand the long-term efficacy and safety of eculizumab after renal transplant.

The efficiency of propranolol on occurrence and development of 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide-induced squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue in rats.

AIMS: The aim of this study to investigate the efficiency of propranolol on occurrence and development of 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide (4NQO)-induced squamous cell carcinogenesis of the tongue in rats. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The sample was composed of 27 male Sprague Dawley rats that received 50 ppm 4NQO for 20 weeks in drinking water. Group 1 (n = 9) was treated with 50 mg/kg/day propranolol for 20 weeks, Group 2 (n = 9), after carcinogenesis inducement for 20 weeks, received propranolol (50 mg/kg/day) for 2 weeks and Group 3 (n = 9) received no treatment. At the end of the experimental stage, the tongue specimens were evaluated under a light microscope and categorized as low- or high-risk lesions according to a binary system. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: The statistical comparison was performed with a likelihood ratio test. RESULTS: Histopathological analysis revealed the risk of malignant transformation rates as 33.3% in Group 1, 55.5% in Group 2 and 77.8% in Group 3; however, the difference between the groups was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The results of the study suggest that propranolol has a tendency to preventive effect against carcinogenesis.

T1 Mapping by Cardiac Magnetic Resonance and Multidimensional Speckle-Tracking Strain by Echocardiography for the Detection of Acute Cellular Rejection in Cardiac Allograft Recipients.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that echocardiographic strain imaging, by tracking subtle alterations in myocardial function, and cardiac magnetic resonance T1 mapping, by quantifying tissue properties, are useful and complement each other to detect acute cellular rejection in heart transplant recipients. BACKGROUND: Noninvasive alternatives to endomyocardial biopsy are highly desirable to monitor acute cellular rejection. METHODS: Surveillance endomyocardial biopsies, catheterizations, and echocardiograms performed serially according to institutional protocol since transplantation were retrospectively reviewed. Sixteen-segment global longitudinal strain (GLS) and circumferential strain were measured before, during, and after the first rejection and at 2 time points for patients without rejection using Velocity Vector Imaging for the first part of the study. The second part, with cardiac magnetic resonance added to the protocol, served to validate previously derived strain cutoffs, examine the progression of strain over time, and to determine the accuracy of strain and T1 measurements to define acute cellular rejection. All tests were performed within 48 h. RESULTS: Median time to first rejection (16 grade 1 rejection, 15 grade ≥2 rejection) was 3 months (interquartile range: 3 to 36 months) in 49 patients. GLS and global circumferential strain worsened significantly during grade 1 rejection and ≥2 rejection and were independent predictors of any rejection. In the second part of the study, T1 time ≥1,090 ms, extracellular volume ≥32%, GLS >-14%, and global circumferential strain ≥-24% had 100% sensitivity and 100% negative predictive value to define grade ≥2 rejection with 70%, 63%, 55%, and 35% positive predictive values, respectively. The combination of GLS >-16% and T1 time ≥1,060 ms defined grade 1 rejection with 91% sensitivity and 92% negative predictive value. After successful treatment, T1 times decreased significantly. CONCLUSIONS: T1 mapping and echocardiographic GLS can serve to guide endomyocardial biopsy selectively.

Correlation between proteinuria level and renal morphology with special reference to electron microscopy in kidney donors.

The aims of this study were to evaluate whether there is a correlation between protein level in urine and renal morphology in kidney transplant donors, as well as to detect the role of electron microscopy. For this purpose, kidney biopsies of 10 donors with urine protein levels were evaluated. Seven patients were female and three were male. Two had physiologic proteinuria (< 150 mg/24h), four had non-significant proteinuria (150-300 mg/24h), and three had significant (> 300 mg/24h) proteinuria. Serum creatinine levels were in normal ranges in all patients except for one who had a slight increase (1.76 mg/dL). Seven cases were reported to have normal or nonspecific light microscopic findings. Two of those seven cases had physiologic proteinuria, three had non-significant proteinuria, and two had significant proteinuria. One case had IgA nephropathy with significant proteinuria. One donor had early stage focal segmental glomerulosclerosis with non-significant proteinuria, and one donor had focal interstitial fibrosis with normal urine protein level. There was no statistically significant difference between score means of ultrastructural morphology of the six patients with same patients' light microscopic results and score means of light microscopic results with urine protein levels of all patients. However, there was a significant difference between score means of ultrastructural morphology with urine protein levels of those six patients. In conclusion, urine protein levels and light microscopic findings did not always reflect the detailed morphology alone and together. Therefore, combining with electron microscopic examination could be more beneficial in relieving problems occurring in long-term prognoses.

Role of platelet-rich fibrin on intestinal anastomosis wound healing in a rat.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study is to investigate the role of platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) on the intestinal anastomotic wound healing in a mesenteric ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) rat model. METHODS: Forty male Sprague Dawley rats were allocated into four groups: Group I (n = 10): anastomosis to normal bowel; Group II (n = 10): anastomosis after I/R injury; Group III (n = 10): anastomosis and PRF; Group IV: anastomosis after I/R and PRF. Animals were followed up for 7 days, then sacrificed. Anastomotic complications, anastomosis bursting pressures and histopathologic evaluations of the anastomoses were the study parameters. RESULTS: The I/R injury caused more anastomotic adhesion and very low anastomotic bursting pressure when compared with the other groups (p < 0.01). Application of PRF onto the bowel, however, dramatically decreased the local complications and significantly increased the anastomosis bursting pressures (p < 0.01). Histologic evaluation of the anastomoses showed almost complete healing in all animals. The mean histologic scores of the animals were not different between the groups. CONCLUSION: PRF has a beneficial effect on the intestinal healing process by prevention of local complications and increases the tensile strain of the anastomosis. This effect was more prominent, particularly when healing is disrupted. Therefore, we conclude that PRF could be an alternative treatment option to prevent anastomotic complications for elderly, co-morbid and emergency patients.

An Exploration of Nursing Students' Clinical Decision-Making Process.

PURPOSE: This study was carried out descriptively and retrospectively with the purpose of determining nursing diagnoses used by intern students in their clinical practice. METHODS: The study data were obtained by checking the care plans of the internship files of 248 students studying at a nursing faculty. FINDINGS: The students determined 77 different nursing diagnoses in 13 domains of North American Nursing Diagnosis Association (NANDA)-I taxonomy II. The total number of nursing diagnosis used in the care plans was 1,469. CONCLUSION: Most of the diagnoses determined by the students were in the "safety/ protection" domain; however, they determined no diagnoses in the "life principles" domain.

Technique of Ileobladder and Kidney Transplant in Rats and Pigs.

OBJECTIVES: Kidney transplant is the best choice for treatment of patients with advanced chronic renal disease. However, small, poorly compliant, and unstable bladders can result in major problems for patients. Here, we aimed to develop and evaluate a new ileobladder model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifteen rats (250-300 g) and 5 pigs (~100 kg) were cared for according to institutional and published guidelines. After general anesthesia, laparotomy was done through midline incision. Ileal loops were prepared for ileobladder. After cystectomy (0.5 cm above the trigone in rats, 1 cm above the trigone in pigs), anastomoses were done between antimesenteric sides of ileal loops and bladder remnant with 6/0 Prolene suture. Three other pigs received simultaneous renal transplant. RESULTS: One rat died on day 1 postsurgery from multiorgan hemorrhage. Two rats survived for 5 days, 3 rats for 7 days, and 3 rats for 11 days; 6 rats were killed for pathologic evaluation after 3 months. One pig survived for 22 days and 1 for 9 days. Of the 3 pigs that received a simultaneous renal transplant, 2 pigs were alive and doing well 80 and 72 days after surgery with normal urinary discharge (1 pig was killed for pathologic evaluation after 3 days). When ileobladder was opened, complete recovery of the anastomosis line was observed. Pathologic examination of the anastomosis sites reported a normal healing process with moderate inflammation and the muscular wall of the intestine showed hypertrophia that nearly reached the size of the bladder muscularis propria. CONCLUSIONS: Although we had some complications because no draining procedure was used, in terms of technique, our new ileobladder model is promising for providing functional bladder volume. A larger scale series in the clinical setting is planned. This technique can be useful for small bladders and bladder physiology disorders.

Recombinant human-activated protein C inhibits cardiomyocyte apoptosis in a rat model of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion.

OBJECTIVES: Myocardial apoptosis is recognized as a major mechanism of cell death during ischemia-reperfusion. In this study, we assessed the hypothesis that activated protein C may have a cardioprotective effect via preventing apoptosis in a rat model of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion. METHODS: Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats were anesthetized, instrumented for hemodynamic measurements and ventilated mechanically. Twenty rats were subjected to 20 min of left anterior descending coronary artery occlusion and 2 h of reperfusion. They were randomly assigned to receive intravenous Ringer lactate (vehicle) or activated protein C (2 mg/kg/h) 10 min after occlusion and during reperfusion. The other 10 rats were sham-operated. At the end of the reperfusion period, serum samples were obtained for evaluation of creatine kinase, C-reactive protein and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. Apoptosis was measured quantitatively by the terminal deoxynucleotide transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling method. RESULTS: Serum creatine kinase, C-reactive protein and tumor necrosis factor-alpha values and percentage of terminal deoxynucleotide transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling- positive myocyte nuclei demonstrated negligible myocardial injury in sham-operated controls. During reperfusion, mean arterial pressures were significantly higher in activated protein C-treated rats than in the control group (68.2+/-10.3 vs. 55.4+/-11.6 mmHg, P=0.01). Number of apoptotic cells was significantly reduced from 47.7 to 24.8% with activated protein C administration (P=0.008). No difference was seen between activated protein C-treated and untreated animals with respect to creatine kinase, C-reactive protein and tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with activated protein C significantly improved hemodynamics after ischemia-reperfusion and reduced ischemia-reperfusion-induced myocardial apoptosis in rats.

Mixed connective tissue disease: a case with scleroderma renal crisis following abortion.

The term mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) has been applied to a particular subset of patients with overlapping clinical features of systemic sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and polymyositis. Immune response to U1-ribonucleoprotein is the defining serological feature of MCTD. There are different organ and system involvements in MCTD including the heart, lung, kidney, muscle, joints, gastrointestinal, and hematologic involvements. Reports describing pregnancies in patients with MCTD are rare, and the results have been contradictory: a high risk of fetal loss and of disease exacerbation or no influence on fetus or mother. In MCTD, simultaneous pulmonary and renal involvement is very rare. In this paper, we report a case of MCTD with pulmonary involvement that developed scleroderma renal crisis after an abortion.

Ultrastructural examination of glomerular and tubular changes in renal allografts with acute rejection.

Acute rejection is the most important threat to transplanted kidneys in the early phase after transplantation. With the advances in renal transplant surgery and immunosuppressive therapies, one-year graft survival rates reached 90%, but long-term graft survival did not improve to a similar degree. To prevent acute rejection more effectively and decrease the risk of chronic nephropathy development, the pathogenesis and effects of acute rejection on renal grafts should be further explored. This study aimed to examine the glomerular and tubular changes ultrastructurally. Tissues were obtained from 11 renal allografts with acute rejection, fixed in 1% Osmium tetra oxide embedded in Epon. The changes in glomerular basement membrane, podocyte, mesangium, and proximal tubules were examined by electron microscope. Tubular changes such as tubular basement membrane multi-lamellation, MN and PMN cells in peritubular capillaries, tubular vacuolization, mitochondrial changes (increase in number, alterations in cristae organization, or cristae effacement), and infiltration of tubular epithelium by MN cells (mainly lymphocytes) were found statistically significant (p < 0.01) when compared to those of control group. Some forms of endothelial injury (swelling of endothelial cells or fenestrae loss) were also statistically significant (p < 0.01). Acute rejection is an important predictor of long-term graft survival, and there may be no clinical clue to make diagnosis easier. Therefore ultrastructural changes may help solve this problem together with molecular studies.

Expanded Criteria for Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Liver Transplant.

OBJECTIVES: Hepatocellular carcinoma is the sixth most common cancer worldwide and is the third highest cause of malignancy-related death. Because of its typically late diagnosis, median survival is approximately 6 to 20 months, with 5-year survival of < 12%. Hepatocellular carcinoma typically arises in the background of cirrhosis, with liver transplant regarded as the optimal therapy for selected patients. Initially, orthotopic liver transplant was limited to patients with extensive unresectable tumors, resulting in uniformly dismal outcomes due to high tumor recurrence rates. Here, we evaluated our long-term results with expanded-criteria liver transplant. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From December 1988 to January 2017, we performed 552 liver transplants at Baskent University. In candidates with hepatocellular carcinoma, our expanded criteria for liver transplant is applied regardless of tumor size and number, includes those without major vascular invasion and without distant metastasis, and those with negative cytology (if the patient has ascites). Since 1994, of 61 liver transplants for hepatocellular carcinoma, 36 patients received transplants according to our expanded criteria. RESULTS: Of 36 expanded-criteria patients, 11 were children and 25 were adults. Sixteen patients (4 pediatric, 12 adult) were within our expanded criteria both radiologically and pathologically before transplant. The other 20 patients (7 pediatric, 13 adult) were within Milan criteria radiologically before transplant; however, after liver transplant, when pathologic specimens were evaluated, patients were found to be within our center's expanded criteria. During follow-up, 9/36 patients (25%) had hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence. In pediatric patients, 5-year and 10-year survival rates were 90%; in adults, 5-year survival was 58.7% and 10-year survival was 49.7%. Overall 5-year and 10-year survival rates were 71.7% and 62.7%. CONCLUSIONS: Liver transplant is safe and effective in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in combination with interventional radiology procedures, regardless of tumor size and number, without major vascular invasion and distant metastasis.