Clinical Trials
National Hereditary Hemochromatosis Transplant Registry
Purpose Hereditary hemochromatosis is a relatively uncommon liver disease that when advanced, may lead to liver transplantation. In this genetic disorder, dietary iron is inappropriately absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and subsequently deposited in the liver and other body organs, causing problems such as cirrhosis, impotence, arthritis, heart disease, and so forth.
Sinceliver transplantation replaces only the liver (which contains the largest tissue stores of iron) but does not correct the abnormal absorption of iron from the gut, researchers do not know the long-term outcome of transplantation for this disorder. The goal in this multicenter study, funded by the National Institutes of Health, is to analyze the outcome of liver transplantation for hemochromatosis.Who is Eligible?All patients undergoing liver transplantation for hemochromatosis are eligible.Contact Information:Dana Supan(650) 724-3051
Prevention of Recurrent Hepatitis B after Liver Transplantation
PurposeFor patients undergoing liver transplantation for acute or chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV)infection, reinfection of the new liver with HBV can be prevented in part by the use of high-dose intravenous hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIg) and/or lamivudine (Epivir-HBV). HBIg is very expensive, with pharmaceutical and administration costs approaching $100,000 in the first post-transplant year.In addition, patients with active viral replication pretransplant (HBeAg and HBV DNA positive) appear to have an increased risk of post-transplant reinfection. This multicenter study will address questions such as the optimal dose and route of administration (intramuscular vs. intravenous) of HBIg; whether or not long-term HBIg is required; and whether long-term lamivudine alone will be effective.These related studies are funded by the National Institutes of Health.Who is Eligible?All patients with acute or chronic HBV infection undergoing liver transplantation are eligible.Contact InformationDana Supan(650) 724-3051