PTS is a frequent complication of DVT, despite the widespread use of elastic compression stockings. Women, obese patients, patients with proximal DVT and those with varicose veins have an increased risk of PTS, whereas the elderly appeared to have a decreased risk.

Our present study verifies the protective effect of methylprednisolone treatment in deceased donor liver transplantation, suggesting it as a potential therapeutical approach.

Abberrant DNA methylation is one of the hallmarks of cancerogenesis. Our study aims to delineate differential DNA methylation in cirrhosis and hepatic cancerogenesis. Patterns of methylation of 27,578 individual CpG loci in 12 hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs), 15 cirrhotic controls and 12 normal liver samples were investigated using an array-based technology. A supervised principal component analysis (PCA) revealed 167 hypomethylated loci and 100 hypermethylated loci in cirrhosis and HCC as compared to normal controls. Thus, these loci show a ''cirrhotic'' methylation pattern that is maintained in HCC. In pairwise supervised PCAs between normal liver, cirrhosis and HCC, eight loci were significantly changed in all analyses differentiating the three groups (p < 0.0001). Of these, five loci showed highest methylation levels in HCC and lowest in control tissue (LOC55908, CELSR1, CRMP1, GNRH2, ALOX12 and ANGPTL7), whereas two loci showed the opposite direction of change (SPRR3 and TNFSF15). Genes hypermethylated between normal liver to cirrhosis, which maintain this methylation pattern during the development of HCC, are depleted for CpG islands, high CpG content promoters and polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) targets in embryonic stem cells. In contrast, genes selectively hypermethylated in HCC as compared to nonmalignant samples showed an enrichment of CpG islands, high CpG content promoters and PRC2 target genes (p < 0.0001). Cirrhosis and HCC show distinct patterns of differential methylation with regards to promoter structure, PRC2 targets and CpG islands.Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver malignancy and globally the third most common cause of cancer mortality. 1,2 Approximately one million new cases are diagnosed globally each year. The highest incidences are observed in sub-Saharan Africa and Eastern Asia, where hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infections are endemic. HCC incidence is rising also due to an increase in incidence of alcoholic cirrhosis and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. 3,4 As for many other tumors, the development of HCC is a multistep process characterized by the accumulation of genetic and epigenetic alterations leading to the activation of oncogenes and inactivation or loss of tumor suppressor genes. Genomic alterations as part of the somatic evolution of the cancer genome are common in human cancer in general and also in

To cite this article: Tick LW, Doggen CJM, Rosendaal FR, Faber WR, Bousema MT, Mackaay AJC, van Balen P, Kramer MHH. Predictors of the post-thrombotic syndrome with non-invasive venous examinations in patients 6 weeks after a first episode of deep vein thrombosis. J Thromb Haemost 2010; 8: 2685-92.Summary. Background: Post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) is a chronic complication of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) affecting a large number of patients. Because of its potential debilitating effects, identification of patients at high risk for the development of this syndrome is relevant, and only a few predictors are known. Objectives: To assess the incidence and potential predictors of PTS. Methods: We prospectively followed 111 consecutive patients for 2 years after a first episode of objectively documented DVT of the leg. With non-invasive venous examinations, residual thrombosis, valvular reflux, calf muscle pump function and venous outflow resistance were assessed at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years. The Clinical, Etiologic, Anatomic, and Pathophysiologi classification was used to record the occurrence and severity of PTS. Regression analysis with area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was performed to identify potential predictors. Results: The cumulative incidence of PTS was 46% after 3 months, and the incidence and severity did not increase further. Men appeared to be at increased risk as compared with women (risk ratio [RR] 1.4, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.9-2.2), as were patients over 50 years as compared with younger patients (RR 1.4%, 95% CI 0.9-2

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