MedBlog

Digestive; Transplant

Fighting fatty liver disease – the No. 1 risk factor for women's liver transplants

In the U.S, 1 in 3 adults have nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) – and it is the No. 1 reason women are added to the liver transplant list. In this MedBlog, Thomas Kerr, M.D., Ph.D., discusses why NAFLD is rampant and how it can be prevented and treated.

Thomas Kerr, M.D., Ph.D.

October 14, 2020

COVID; Transplant

Dual epidemics in Texas: Navigating kidney transplantation during COVID-19

Patients with kidney disease and living donors face new challenges in the wake of COVID-19. Get answers to pre- and post-transplant FAQs in this MedBlog.

David Wojciechowski, D.O.

June 10, 2020

Transplant

Tina’s Transplant Story: A race against time and acute liver failure

When acute liver failure strikes, it’s like a bolt of lightning. Tina Bartolucci knows the reality of this all too well. She had what felt like a cold and a day later she was rushed to UT Southwestern in need of a liver transplant. By the grace of an unnamed donor and the rapid response by the UT Southwestern transplant doctors, Tina survived the fight of her life.

April 9, 2020

Discovery; Transplant

Cystic fibrosis breakthrough: 3-drug combo pill may benefit 90% of patients

A new 3-drug combo drug for cystic fibrosis has been approved by the FDA. TRIKAFTA offers life-changing treatment potential for approximately 90% of patients with the disease. In this MedBlog, discover who is eligible and how the drug works. Learn more.

Raksha Jain, M.D.

March 6, 2020

Cancer; Transplant

Hepatitis C treatment can cut risk of liver-related death by 50% for patients with a history of liver cancer

This study looked at medical records for patients who were cured of liver cancer at 31 North American medical centers. The findings demonstrate that patients who were treated and cured of their hepatitis C had significantly better survival rates than those patients whose hepatitis C was not treated.

Amit Singal, M.D.

January 18, 2020

Transplant

Jared’s story: 4 kidney transplants in 30 years

When Jared Rumbo’s kidneys failed at age 19, he embarked on a 30-year transplant journey that would lead to four new kidneys and a complex procedure at UT Southwestern. In this week’s blog, transplant surgeon Parsia A. Vagefi, M.D., discusses Jared’s inspiring kidney transplant story.

Parsia Vagefi, M.D.

April 17, 2019

Transplant

Complex liver transplant gives Frisco man new lease on life

Of the 7,000 liver transplants that take place nationwide every year, only 1 percent address bile duct cancer in the same surgery. Dr. Parsia Vagefi brought the new surgical protocol for bile duct cancer and liver disease to UT Southwestern in 2018 and he was able to save Frisco resident Juan Cueto with a new liver by transplant and surgically removing the bile duct.

March 9, 2019

Transplant

Why lung transplant rejection is more normal – and treatable – than most think

Acute rejection of a lung transplant is surprisingly normal; 40 to 50 percent of transplant patients deal with it during the first year after surgery. Discover why Dr. Fernando Torres says these rejections are very treatable through medication at home or at the doctor’s office.

Fernando Torres, M.D.

October 11, 2018

Transplant

Xenotransplantation: How pigs could one day save kidney patients’ lives

Who knew a pig could save the life of someone with kidney disease? With nearly 100,000 people on the kidney transplant waiting list, Parsia Vagefi, M.D., says transplanting pig kidneys into humans could one day eliminate the wait time and save more lives.

Parsia Vagefi, M.D.

April 26, 2018

Heart; Transplant

Too few hearts to go around: How science can solve the organ donor dilemma

Nearly 4,000 people across the U.S. are waiting for a heart transplant, and there aren’t enough donor hearts to go around. Discover what the future of heart transplantation might hold and how Texans can help narrow the gap today

Mark Drazner, M.D.

April 25, 2018