Showing papers by "René Adam published in 1993"

Liver resection versus transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhotic patients.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: Currently, there is considerable controversy about the place of transplantation in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study compared resection to transplantation in cirrhotic patients with HCC in order to determine reasonable indications of each treatment. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: The usual procedure is to resect when feasible and to transplant in other cases. METHODS: Three-year survival with and without recurrence was analyzed in 60 patients who underwent resection and 60 who underwent transplantation. Several prognostic factors, such as size, number of nodules, portal thrombus, and histologic form, were studied. RESULTS: In terms of overall survival rates, resection and transplantation yield the same results (50% vs. 47%, respectively, at 3 years). For transplantation, however, the rate for survival without recurrence is better than that for resection (46% vs. 27%, respectively; p 3 cm, or presence of portal thrombus). CONCLUSIONS: The best indication for transplantation seems to be patients with small and uninodular or binodular tumors; until now, these patients were considered to be the best candidates for resection. Patients undergoing transplantation for unresectable, large, multinodular or diffuse tumors seem to represent bad indications for transplantation. These results could help define reasonable indications for transplantation in an era with a shortage of liver grafts.

Xenotransplantation: baboons as potential liver donors? Scientific and ethical issues.

Abstract: The dramatic development of liver transplantation compared to a relative shortage of donors has brought a renewed interest to xenotransplantation. Because of anatomical and immunological compatibilities, nonhuman primates are the most appropriate donors. The aim of this work was to analyze the different problems of a baboon-to-man liver xenotransplantation. Thirty baboons bred in a French Primatology Center were studied. The analysis of anatomical, microbiological, and immunological data showed that only 8 baboons out of 30 were suitable as donors for xenotransplantation. Considering these data and the ethical issues, the actual feasibility of xenotransplantation programs is discussed.