ABP Transplant Hepatology study guide
ABP Transplant Hepatology · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
Transplant Hepatology is a subspecialty certificate offered by the American Board of Pediatrics in collaboration with the American Board of Internal Medicine, intended for pediatricians who already hold certification in pediatric gastroenterology and now devote their practice to pediatric liver disease and liver transplantation. Eligibility is narrow by design: candidates must be currently certified in pediatric gastroenterology, and keeping the transplant hepatology certificate requires Maintenance of Certification in pediatric gastroenterology. The ABP Transplant Hepatology study guide has 6 sections and about 1,783 words.
01Evaluation and Management of Acute and Chronic Liver Disease in Children
Neonatal liver disease is dominated by cholestasis, infection, metabolic disease, and biliary atresia; older children by autoimmune hepatitis, Wilson disease, drug injury, viral hepatitis, and metabolic or genetic disorders. Always confirm conjugated hyperbilirubinemia: a conjugated bilirubin above 1 mg/dL or more than 20% of total is pathologic and mandates urgent evaluation.
327 words, about 2 min02Complications of Cirrhosis and Portal Hypertension
Cirrhosis complications include varices, ascites, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, hepatic encephalopathy, hepatorenal syndrome, hepatopulmonary syndrome, portopulmonary hypertension, and hypersplenism. In children, growth failure and malnutrition are additional markers.
325 words, about 2 min03Pediatric Cholestatic, Metabolic, and Genetic Liver Disorders
Biliary atresia is the most common surgical cause of neonatal cholestasis; acholic stools, conjugated hyperbilirubinemia, and an absent or small gallbladder on ultrasound prompt urgent referral. Kasai portoenterostomy is most successful before 60 days.
296 words, about 1 min04Liver Transplantation Candidate Evaluation and Waitlist Management
Transplant evaluation begins when chronic liver disease complications or progressive synthetic failure predict poor 1-year survival without transplant. Indications include intractable cholestasis or pruritus, growth failure, recurrent variceal bleeding, refractory ascites or SBP, encephalopathy, hepatopulmonary syndrome, HCC within criteria, and selected metabolic disease.
284 words, about 1 min05Perioperative and Long-Term Post-Transplant Management
Graft types include whole, reduced, split, and living-donor left lateral segment. Early graft function is assessed by lactate clearance, glucose, acid-base status, bile output, and INR trend.
272 words, about 1 min06Immunosuppression, Rejection, and Post-Transplant Complications
Most pediatric liver recipients receive a calcineurin inhibitor (tacrolimus or cyclosporine), often with mycophenolate and a steroid taper. Tacrolimus is monitored by trough levels; goal levels decline over time.
279 words, about 1 min