Robert J. Fontana

A fatal case of bupropion (Zyban) hepatotoxicity with autoimmune features: Case report (2007)

Humayun, Fawwaz, Shehab, Thomas M, Tworek, Joseph A, Fontana, Robert J

Abstract Background Bupropion is approved for the treatment of mood disorders and as an adjuvant medication for smoking cessation. Bupropion is generally well tolerated and considered safe. Two...

Immune thrombocytopenic purpura following liver transplantation: A case series and review of the literature (2006)

Taylor, Ryan M., Bockenstedt, Paula, Su, Grace L., Marrero, Jorge A., Pellitier, Shawn M., Fontana, Robert J.

Thrombocytopenia is common among liver transplant candidates and recipients. The aim of our study was to determine the incidence and outcome of new-onset immune-mediated thrombocytopenic purpura...

Efficacy and safety of low-dose valganciclovir in the prevention of cytomegalovirus disease in adult liver transplant recipients (2006)

Park, Jeong M., Lake, Kathleen D., Arenas, Juan D., Fontana, Robert J.

The efficacy and safety of valganciclovir (VGCV) for cytomegalovirus (CMV) prophylaxis in liver transplant recipients has not been established. We retrospectively compared the efficacy and safety of...

Acute Liver Failure Due To Amoxicillin and Amoxicillin/Clavulanate (2005)

Fontana, Robert J., Shakil, A. Obaid, Greenson, Joel K., Boyd, Ian, Lee, William M.

The aim of our study is to report upon the presentation of two patients with life-threatening acute liver failure (ALF) due to amoxicillin and amoxicillin/clavulanate. A 59-year-old, Caucasian male...

Prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma: Comparison of 7 staging systems in an American cohort Potential conflict of interest: Nothing to report. (2005)

Marrero, Jorge A., Fontana, Robert J., Barrat, Ashley, Askari, Frederick K., Conjeevaram, Hari S., Su, Grace L., ...

Currently there is no consensus as to which staging system is best in predicting the survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aims of this study were to identify independent...

Improving the prediction of hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhotic patients with an arterially-enhancing liver mass (2005)

Marrero, Jorge A., Hussain, Hero K., Nghiem, Hahn V., Umar, Ramsey, Fontana, Robert J., Lok, Anna Suk-Fong

In the United States, cirrhotic patients with known or suspected hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are prioritized for liver transplantation. Noninvasive criteria for the diagnosis of HCC rely on...

A simple noninvasive index can predict both significant fibrosis and cirrhosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C (2003)

Wai, Chun-Tao, Greenson, Joel K., Fontana, Robert J., Kalbfleisch, John D., Marrero, Jorge A., Conjeevaram, Hari S., ...

Information on the stage of liver fibrosis is essential in managing chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients. However, most models for predicting liver fibrosis are complicated and separate formulas are...

The Role of Optimism/Pessimism in HRQOL in Chronic Hepatitis C Patients (2003)

Moyer, Cheryl A., Fontana, Robert J., Hussain, Khozema, Lok, Anna Suk-Fong, Schwartz, Steven M.

One hundred and twenty three outpatients with compensated chronic hepatitis C (CHC) completed the SF-36, BSI, and questions regarding the expected impact of CHC on their health. Respondents were...

NAFLD may be a common underlying liver disease in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in the United States (2002)

Marrero, Jorge A., Fontana, Robert J., Su, Grace L., Conjeevaram, Hari S., Emick, Dawn M., Lok, Anna S.

The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the United States is increasing, but the clinical characteristics of American patients with HCC have not been well described. The aims of this study...

Percutaneous radiofrequency thermal ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma: A safe and effective bridge to liver transplantation (2002)

Fontana, Robert J., Hamidullah, Halimi, Nghiem, Hahn V., Greenson, Joel K., Hussain, Hero K., Marrero, Jorge A., ...

The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is increasing in the United States. Although liver transplantation is an effective means of treating selected patients, pretransplantation tumor...

NAFLD may be a common underlying liver disease in patients with hepatocellular Carcinoma in the United States (2002)

Marrero, Jorge A., Fontana, Robert J., Su, Grace L., Conjeevaram, Hari S., Emick, Dawn M., Lok, Anna Suk-Fong

The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the United States is increasing, but the clinical characteristics of American patients with HCC have not been well described. The aims of this study...

Noninvasive monitoring of patients with chronic hepatitis C (2002)

Fontana, Robert J., Lok, Anna S. F.

Hepatic fibrosis is the main determinant of clinical outcomes of chronic hepatitis C. Liver histology is frequently considered the gold standard for assessing hepatic fibrosis. However, liver biopsy...

Noninvasive monitoring of patients with chronic hepatitis C (2002)

Fontana, Robert J., Lok, Anna Suk-Fong

Hepatic fibrosis is the main determinant of clinical outcomes of chronic hepatitis C. Liver histology is frequently considered the gold standard for assessing hepatic fibrosis. However, liver biopsy...

Combination of HBIG and lamivudine-resistant mutations: A formula for trouble? (2002)

Fontana, Robert J., Lok, Anna Suk-Fong

Background & Aims: Lamivudine has become a main therapeutic option for treating hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Although drug resistance develops, the clinical course after selection of...

Effect of lamivudine treatment on survival of 309 North American patients awaiting liver transplantation for chronic hepatitis B (2002)

Fontana, Robert J., Keeffe, Emmet B., Carey, William, Fried, Michael, Reddy, Rajender K., Kowdley, Kris V., ...

The primary aim of this study is to determine whether treatment with lamivudine improved pre–liver transplantation (pre-LT) and LT-free survival of patients awaiting LT for hepatitis B virus...

Is it Crohn's disease? A severe systemic granulomatous reaction to sulfasalazine in patient with rheumatoid arthritis (2001)

Quallich, Leonard G, Greenson, Joel, Haftel, Hilary M, Fontana, Robert J

Abstract Background Sulfasalazine is a widely used anti-inflammatory agent in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease and several rheumatological disorders. Although as many as 20% of treated...

Outcome of liver transplantation for hepatitis B: Report of a single center's experience (2001)

Chu, Chi-Jen, Fontana, Robert J., Moore, Charles, Armstrong, Douglas R., Punch, Jeffrey D., Su, Grace L., ...

Results of liver transplantation (LT) for hepatitis B have improved significantly with the use of hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) and/or lamivudine. The aim of this study is to review the...

A multicenter study of lamivudine treatment in 33 patients with hepatitis B after liver transplantation (2001)

Fontana, Robert J., Hann, Hie-Won L., Wright, Teresa L., Everson, Gregory T., Baker, Alfred, Schiff, Eugene R., ...

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection after liver transplantation (LT) may lead to severe and rapidly progressive graft failure. Antiviral treatment may be of benefit in selected patients with recurrent...

Hepatitis B infection in patients with acute liver failure in the United States (2001)

Teo, Eng-Kiong, Ostapowicz, George, Hussain, Munira, Lee, William M., Fontana, Robert J., Lok, Anna Suk-Fong

Occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection has been reported in 30% to 50% of patients with acute liver failure (ALF) in small case series. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of...

Iron reduction before and during interferon therapy of chronic hepatitis C: Results of a multicenter, randomized, controlled trial (2000)

Fontana, Robert J., Israel, Jonathan, LeClair, Paula, Banner, Barbara F., Tortorelli, Kristina, Grace, Norman, ...

Patients with chronic hepatitis C and low serum and hepatic iron stores may have an improved response to interferon (IFN). We tested whether iron reduction before and during IFN therapy would lead to...

Acute liver failure associated with prolonged use of bromfenac leading to liver transplantation (1999)

Fontana, Robert J., McCashland, Timothy M., Benner, Kent G., Appelman, Henry D., Gunartanam, Naresh T., Wisecarver, James L., ...

Bromfenac, a nonnarcotic analgesic nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, was associated with reversible, minor elevations in serum aminotransferase levels during clinical trials. The aim of this study...

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts and liver transplantation in patients with refractory hepatic hydrothorax (1998)

Jeffries, Mark A., Kazanjian, Sahira, Wilson, Mark, Punch, Jeffery D., Fontana, Robert J.

Hepatic hydrothorax is a relatively infrequent but potentially serious complication of cirrhosis resulting from the accumulation of ascitic fluid in the chest cavity. Medical management is initially...

Modeling hepatic fibrosis in African American and Caucasian American patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection

Fontana, Robert J., Kleiner, David E., Bilonick, Richard, Terrault, Norah, Afdhal, Nezam, Belle, Steven H., ...

Assessment of histological stage is an integral part of disease management in patients infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV). The aim of this study was to develop a model incorporating objective...

Low risk of hepatitis B virus recurrence after withdrawal of long-term hepatitis B immunoglobulin in patients receiving maintenance nucleos(t)ide analogue therapy

Wong, Stephen N., Chu, Chi-Jen, Wai, Chun-Tao, Howell, Terese, Moore, Charles, Fontana, Robert J., ...

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) recurrence rates of 0-16% had been reported in patients maintained on nucleoside analogues (NA) after hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) discontinuation after orthotopic liver...

Cognitive function does not worsen during pegylated interferon and ribavirin retreatment of chronic hepatitis C

Fontana, Robert J., Bieliauskas, Linas A., Lindsay, Karen L., Back-Madruga, Carla, Wright, Elizabeth C., Snow, Kristin K., ...

Treatment of chronic hepatitis C with pegylated interferon (peginterferon) and ribavirin can cause or exacerbate depression but its effects on cognitive function are largely unknown. The aim of this...

Myxovirus-1 and protein kinase haplotypes and fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C virus Potential conflict of interest: Nothing to report.

Yee, Leland J., Tang, Yong-Ming, Kleiner, David E., Wang, Dai, Im, KyungAh, Wahed, Abdus, ...

Candidate genes, including myxovirus resistance-1 (Mx1), protein kinase (PKR), transforming growth factor- Β 1 (TGF-Β), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and interferon-gamma (IFN-Γ), were evaluated for...

Sustained virologic response to therapy of recurrent hepatitis C after liver transplantation is related to early virologic response and dose adherence

Sharma, Pratima, Marrero, Jorge A., Fontana, Robert J., Greenson, Joel K., Conjeevaram, Hari, Su, Grace L., ...

Sustained virologic response (SVR) after antiviral therapy for recurrent hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in liver transplant (LT) recipients is consistently lower than that achieved in non-LT...

Relationship of serum fibrosis markers with liver fibrosis stage and collagen content in patients with advanced chronic hepatitis C

Fontana, Robert J., Goodman, Zachary D., Dienstag, Jules L., Bonkovsky, Herbert L., Naishadham, Deepa, Sterling, Richard K., ...

This study determined the utility of a panel of serum fibrosis markers along with routine laboratory tests in estimating the likelihood of histological cirrhosis in a cohort of prior nonresponders...