Udeme D Ekong, MBBS MD| Pediatric Transplant Hepatology, Pediatrics | MedStar Health
About me
Dr. Ekong specializes in treating babies and children with a wide range of liver diseases including autoimmune diseases, biliary atresia, progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis syndromes, other genetic/metabolic liver diseases, non-cirrhotic portal hypertension, and chronic hepatitis B and C. She also provides care for children who need a liver transplant and those who have undergone liver transplantation.
She is triple-board certified in general pediatrics, pediatric gastroenterology and transplant hepatology, in addition to being a member of the Royal College of Physicians of the United Kingdom. Dr. Ekong attended medical school at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria. She then earned her Master of Public Health degree at Northwestern University in Chicago and did a pediatrics residency at Lincoln Hospital, Bronx, NY. She completed a fellowship in pediatrics/pediatric gastroenterology at Columbia University in New York and a fellowship in pediatrics/transplant hepatology at Northwestern University.
Dr. Ekong’s approach to treating her patients focuses on providing care from a skilled, compassionate multidisciplinary team consisting of clinical psychologists, registered dieticians, transplant pharmacists, and hepatobiliary and transplant surgeons. The team is dedicated to supporting not only the patient, but also the patient’s family as they deal with their child’s illness.
In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Ekong is an active researcher. Her laboratory focuses on developing ways to improve the long-term function of the transplanted liver in children and investigates the pathogenesis of autoimmune liver diseases both before and following liver transplantation. She has published several articles in the American Journal of Transplantation, Hepatology, Liver Transplantation, Pediatric Transplantation, Journal of Immunology, as well as several book chapters on pediatric liver transplantation.
Dr. Ekong is a member of several national societies including the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Nutrition (NASPGHAN), American Society for Transplantation (AST), Society of Pediatric Liver Transplantation (SPLIT) and American Association of Immunologists (AAI). She has held leadership positions with many of these societies.
She has been an invited speaker at several meetings in North America, and Europe.
She is also an Associate Professor of Pediatrics (Gastroenterology/Hepatology) at Georgetown University.
When not at work, Dr. Ekong enjoys traveling and running.
Clinical areas of focus
- Artificial Liver Therapy
- Autoimmune Hepatitis
- Blood Clotting Disorder Treatment
- Bone Cancer Staging
- Chronic Liver Disease Treatment
- Hepatitis B
- Hepatitis C
- Intestinal Atresia
- Liver Cancer
- Liver Cancer Treatment
- Liver Cirrhosis
- Liver Failure
- Liver Function Testing
- Liver Transplant For Toxicity
- Polycystic Liver Disease
- Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis
- Renal Failure Treatment
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Acquired Absence Of Organs
- Arterial Embolism
- Ascites
- Autoimmune Hepatitis
- Biliary Tract Disease
- Cardiometabolic Disorders
- Cholestasis
- Chronic Kidney Disease
- Congenital Malformations Of Gallbladder, Bile Ducts And Liver
- Congenital Malformations Of Great Veins
- Congenital Malformations Of Musculoskeletal System
- Cytomegaloviral (CMV) Infection
- Disorders Involving The Immune Mechanism
- Disorders Of Amino
- Disorders Of Carbohydrate Metabolism
- Disorders Of Fluid, Electrolyte And Acid
- Disorders Of Mineral Metabolism
- Disorders Of Sphingolipid Metabolism And Lipid Storage
- Family History Of Malignant Neoplasm
- Functional Intestinal Disorders
- Gastric Cancer
- Hemochromatosis
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Hepatitis C
- Immunodeficiencies
- Infectious Mononucleosis
- Intestinal Atresia
- Intestinal Infections
- Intrahepatic Bile Ducts Cancer
- Liver Cancer
- Liver Cirrhosis
- Liver Failure
- Liver Fibrosis
- Liver Metastases
- Liver Transplant Rejection
- Long Term Drug Therapy
- Malabsorption
- Necrotizing Vasculopathies
- Neoplasms Of Lymphoid, Hematopoietic And Related Tissue
- Neutropenia
- Newborn Feeding Problems
- Newborn Hypoglycemia
- Perinatal Digestive System Disorders
- Polycystic Liver Disease
- Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis
- Protozoal Diseases
- Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis
- Transplanted Organ And Tissue Status
- Transplanted Organ Failure
- Venous Embolism
- Viral Hepatitis
- Viral Infection
- Wilson Disease
Procedures I perform
- Adrenal Tumor Treatment
- Arterial Thrombolysis
- Arthrocentesis
- Artificial Liver Therapy
- Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba Syndrome Treatment
- Bile Duct Cancer Treatment
- Blood Chemistry Test
- Blood Clotting Disorder Treatment
- Blood Gas Analysis
- Bone Cancer Staging
- Breast Cancer Treatment
- Budd-Chiari Syndrome Treatment
- Cerebral Fibromuscular Dysplasia Treatment
- Chronic Liver Disease Treatment
- Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan
- Coronary Thrombectomy
- Cryoablation Of Liver Tumors
- Dialysis
- Dilation Of Common Hepatic Duct
- Duplex Scan Of Abdominal Organs
- Endocrinology Care
- Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography
- Enteroscopy
- Eosinophilic Esophagitis Treatment
- Esophageal Dilation
- Esophageal PH Monitoring
- Gastric Surgery
- Gastrointestinal Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba Syndrome Treatment
- Gastrointestinal Biopsy
- Gastrointestinal Cancer Treatment
- Gastrointestinal Duplication Cyst Treatment
- Gastrointestinal Functional Disorder Treatment
- Gastrointestinal Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor Treatment
- Gastrointestinal Lymphangiectasia Treatment
- Gastrointestinal Lymphoma Treatment
- Gastrointestinal Melanoma Treatment
- Gastrointestinal Motility Study
- Gastrointestinal Neuroendocrine Tumor Treatment
- Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor Treatment
- Gastrointestinal Tube Placement
- Gastrointestinal Varices Treatment
- Gastrointestinal Vascular Malformation Treatment
- Gastrointestinal Virus Treatment
- Hepatic Artery Embolization
- Hepatic Artery Stenosis Treatment
- Hepatic Encephalopathy Management
- Hepatic Vein Thrombosis Treatment
- Hepatitis E Treatment
- Hydrogen Breath Test
- Hypertension Treatment
- Inferior Mesenteric Artery Stenosis Treatment
- Intestinal Atresia Treatment
- Intragastric Balloon Procedure
- Liver Abscess Drainage
- Liver Arteriovenous Malformation Treatment
- Liver Biopsy
- Liver Cancer Surgery
- Liver Cancer Treatment
- Liver Health Screening
- Liver Imaging
- Liver Mass Treatment
- Liver Metastases Treatment
- Liver Resection
- Liver Transplant
- Liver Vascular Malformation Treatment
- Lobectomy
- Lower Gi Endoscopy
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
- Mesenteric Angiography
- Mesenteric Artery Stenosis Treatment
- Milk Allergy Treatment
- Neonatal Abdominal Paracentesis
- Nutrition Counseling
- Pancreas Transplant Rejection Treatment
- Pancreatic Cancer Treatment
- Pancreatic Disease Management
- Paraganglioma Treatment
- Parotid Biopsy
- Percutaneous Cholecystostomy
- Percutaneous Nephrostomy Tube Exchange
- Percutaneous Transhepatic Cholangiography
- Percutaneous Tumor Chemoembolization
- Pheochromocytoma Treatment
- Portal Vein Stenosis Treatment
- Portosystemic Shunt
- Purine Nucleoside Phosphorylase Deficiency Treatment
- Rectal Stricture Dilation
- Renal Failure Treatment
- Skin Allergy Testing
- Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) Testing
- Splenic Vein Stenosis Treatment
- Stent Placement
- Stomach Drainage
- Superior Mesenteric Artery Stenosis Treatment
- Transitional Cell Carcinoma Treatment
- Transplant Evaluation
- Transrectal Ultrasound
- Trichiasis Treatment
- Upper Gi Endoscopy
- Urinary Tract Obstruction Treatment
- Venous Access Device Removal
- Venous Ulcer Treatment
- Viral Gastroenteritis Treatment
Practice locations
Distance from Change LocationEnter your Location
3800 Reservoir Rd NW Pasquerilla Healthcare Center 2nd Fl Washington, DC, 20007
202-444-3700Fax 202-444-6193
Insurance
MedStar Health accepts most major health insurance plans. If you are uncertain as to whether your individual health insurance plan is accepted at MedStar Health, please call your insurance company.
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List of insurance plans we accept
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
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- POS OA
- OA Plus
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- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
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- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
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- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
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- Employee Health Plan
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- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
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- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Aetna Classic 3500
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
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- Network OA
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- MultiPlan, Inc
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- IH-POS
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
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- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Choice POS II
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- Navigate
- HumanaChoice PPO
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- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Kaiser Permanente Select
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- First Health PPO
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- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- United Healthcare Choice
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Videos
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Pediatrics, Pediatrics
Fellowship: McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University (2004)
Fellowship: Columbia University Irving Medical Center (2003)
Residency: Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center (2000)
Medical School: Ahmadu Bello University Faculty of Medicine (1992)
Awards
- 1. Best Doctors, Connecticut Magazine, 2019.
- 2. Fellow Research Award, North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Nutrition (NASPGHAN), 2002.
- 3. Best Graduate, Pediatrics, Lincoln Hospital, Bronx, NY, 2000.
Hospital affiliations
News and publications
i. Original Papers in Refereed Journals
1. *Ekong UD, Gupta N, Urban R, Andrews W. 20 – 25-year patient and graft survival following a single pediatric liver transplant – analysis of the United Network of Organ Sharing database; whete to go from here. Pediatr Transplant 2019 Sep;23(6).Epub 2019 Jun 18:e13523. doi; 10.1111/petr.13523. PubMed PMID: 31211487.
2. Ekong UD, Antala S, Bow L, Sese D, Morotti R, Rodriguez-Davalos M, Gan G, Deng Y, Emre S. HLA, non-HLA antibodies and eplet mismatches in pediatric liver transplantation: observations from a small, single-center cohort. Experimental and Clinical Transplantation 2019 Jan: 17(Suppl 1): 6-17. doi;10.6002/ect.MESOT2018.L30. PubMed PMID: 30777518.
3. Arterbery AS, Yao J, Ling A, Avitzur Y, Martinez M, Lobritto S, Deng Y, Gan G, Mehta S, Wang G, Knight J, *Ekong UD. Inflammasome priming mediated via Toll-like receptors 2 and 4, induces TH1-like regulatory T cells in de novo autoimmune hepatitis. Front. Immunol 2018 Jul, 9:1612. doi;10.3389/fimmu.2018.01612. PMID: 30072988.
4. *Ekong UD, McKiernan P, Martinez M, Lobritto S, Kelly DA, Ng VL, Alonso EM, Avitzur Y. Long-term outcomes of de novo autoimmune hepatitis in pediatric liver transplant recipients. Pediatr Transplant 2017 Sep; 21(6). doi;10.1111/petr.12945. Epub 2017 May 29. PubMed PMID: 28556542.
5. Feng S, Demetris AJ, Spain KM, Kanaparthi S, Burrell BE, Ekong UD, Alonso EM, Rosenthal P, Turka LA, Ikle D, Tchao NK. Five-year histological and serological follow-up of operationally tolerant pediatric livertransplant recipients enrolled in WISP-R. Hepatology 206 Jun 15. doi;10.1002/hep.28681. PubMed PMID: 27302659.
6. Arterbery A, Osafo-Addo A, Avitzur Y, Ciarleglio M, Deng Y, Lobritto S, Martinez M, Hafler D, Kleinewietfeld M, *Ekong UD. Production of pro-inflammatory cytokines by monocytes in liver transplanted recipients with de novo autoimmune hepatitis is enhanced and induces TH1-like regulatory T cells. J Immunol 2016 May 15; 196(10): 4040-51. doi;10.4049/jimmunol.1502276. Epub 2016 Apr 18. PubMed PMID: 27183637.
7. Edmunds C, *Ekong UD. Autoimmune liver disease post-liver transplantation: a summary and proposed areas for future research. Transplantation 2016 Mar; 100(3): 515-24. doi:10.1097/TP. 0000000000000922. PubMed PMID: 26447505.
8. Lin HC, Melin-Aldana H, Mohammad S, Ekong UD, Alonso EM. Extended follow-up of pediatric liver transplantation patients receiving once daily calcineurin inhibitor. Pediatr Transplant 2015 Nov; 19(7): 709-15. doi;10.1111/petr.12557. Epub 2015 Aug 10. PubMed PMID: 26256288.
9. Perito E, Mohammad S, Rosenthal P, Alonso E, Ekong UD, Lobritto S, Feng S. Post-transplant metabolic syndrome in the withdrawal of immunosuppression in pediatric liver transplant recipients (WISP-R) pilot trial. Am J Transplant 2015 Mar; 15(3): 779-85. doi;10.1111/ajt.13024. Epub 2015 Feb 3. PubMed PMID: 25648649.
10. Lin HC, Alvarez L, Laroche G, Melin-Aldana H, Schwartz K, Whitington PF, Alonso EM, *Ekong UD. Rituximab as therapy for recurrence of bile salt export pump deficiency after liver transplantation. Liver Transpl 2013 Dec; 19(12): 1403-10. doi;10.1002/lt.23754. PubMed PMID: 24115678.
11. Alonso EM, Ng VL, Anand R, Anderson CD, Ekong UD, Fredericks EM, Furuya KN, Gupta NA, Lerret SM, Sundaram S, Tiao G. The SPLIT research agenda 2013. Pediatr Transplant 2013 Aug; 17(5): 412-22. doi;1111/petr.12090. Epub 2013 May 30. PubMed PMID: 23718800.
12. *Ekong UD, Mathew J, Melin-Aldana H, Wang D, Alonso EM. Successful resolution of inflammation and increased regulatory T cells in Sirolimus treated post transplant allograft hepatitis. Pediatr Transplant 2012 Mar;16(2):165-75. doi;10.1111/j.1399-3046.2012.01648.x. PubMed PMID: 22360400.
13. Feng S, Ekong UD, Lobritto S, Demetris AJ, Roberts JP, Rosenthal P, Alonso EM, Philogene MC, Ikle D, Poole KM, Bridges ND, Turka LA, Tchao NK. Complete immunosuppression withdrawal and subsequent allograft function among pediatric recipients of parental living donor liver transplants. JAMA 2012 Jan 18; 307(03): 283-293. doi;10.1001/jama.2011.2014. PubMed PMID: 22253395.
14. *Ekong UD, Luo X, Yu M, Wang D, Miller SD, O’Gorman MR. Lymphocyte activation markers may predict the presence of donor specific alloreactivity in pediatric living related liver transplant recipients. Hum Immunol 2011 May; 72(5): 392-7. doi;10.1016/j.humimm.2011.02.003. Epub 2011 Feb 26. PubMed PMID: 21315129.
15. *Ekong UD, Bhagat H, Alonso EM. Once daily calcineurin inhibitor monotherapy in pediatric liver transplantation. Am J Transplant 2010 Apr; 10(4): 883-8. doi;10.1111/j.1600-6143.2010.03061.x. PubMed PMID: 20420643.
16. *Ekong UD, Melin-Aldana H, Seshadri R, Lokar J, Harris D, Whitington PF, Alonso EM. Graft histology characteristics in long-term survivors of pediatric liver transplantation. Liver Transpl 2008 Nov; 14(11): 1582-7. doi;10.1002/lt.21549. PubMed PMID: 18975292.
17. *Ekong UD, Melin-Aldana H, Whitington PF. Regression of severe fibrotic liver disease in 2 children with neonatal hemochromatosis. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2008 Mar; 46(3): 329-33. doi:10.1097/MPG.0b013e318046772f. PubMed PMID: 18376253.
18. *Ekong UD, Zeng S, Hao-Dun, Feirt N, Guo J, Ippagunta N, Guarrera JV, Lu Y, Weinberg A, Qu W, Ravichandran R, Schmidt AM, Emond JC. Blockade of RAGE attenuates acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in mice. J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2006 Apr; 21(4): 682-8. PubMed PMID: 16677153.
19. *Ekong UD, Kelly S, Whitington PF. Disparate clinical presentation of neonatal hemochromatosis in twins. Pediatrics 2005 Dec; 116(6): e880-4. Epub 2005 Nov 15. PubMed PMID: 16291733.
20. Zeng, Feirt, Goldstein, Guarrera, Ippagunta, Ekong UD, Dun, Lu, Qu, Schmidt, Emond. Blockade of the receptor for advanced glycation end product (RAGE) attenuates ischemia and reperfusion injury in mouse liver. Hepatology 2004 Feb; 39(2): 422-432. PubMed PMID: 14767995.
ii. Reviews or Editorials in Refereed Journals
21. Saubermann LJ, Deneau M, Falcone RA, Murray KF, Ali S, Kohli R, Ekong UD, Valentino PL, Grossman AB, Rand EB, Jonas MM, Saeed SA, Kamath BM. Hepatic issues and complications associated with inflammatory bowel disease: a clinical report from the NASPGHAN inflammatory bowel disease and hepatology committees J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2017 Apr; 64(4): 639-652. doi;10.1097/MPG0000000000001492. PubMed PMID: 27984347.
22. Fawaz R, Baumann U, Ekong U, Fischler B, Hadzic N, Mack CL, McLin VA, Molleston JP, Neimark E, Ng VL, Karpen SJ. Guideline for the evaluation of cholestatic jaundice in infants: joint recommendations of the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition and the European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2017 Jan; 64(1): 154-168. doi;10.1097/MPG.0000000000001334. PubMed PMID: 27429428.
23. Squires RH, Ng V, Romero R, Ekong U, Hardikar W, Emre S, Mazariegos GV. Evaluation of the pediatric for liver transplantation: 2014 practice guideline by the American Association for Study of Liver Diseases, American Society of Transplantation, and the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2014 Jul; 59(1): 112-31. doi;10.1097/MPG.0000000000000431. PubMed PMID: 25222807.
24. Squires RH, Ng V, Romero R, Ekong U, Hardikar W, Emre S, Mazariegos GV. Evaluation of the pediatric for liver transplantation: 2014 practice guideline by the American Association for Study of Liver Diseases, American Society of Transplantation, and the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition. Hepatology 2014 Jul; 60(1): 362-98. doi;10.1002/hep.27191. PubMed PMID: 24782219.
25. *Ekong UD. The long-term liver graft and protocol biopsy: do we want to look? What will we find? Curr Opin Organ Transplant 2011 Oct; 16(5): 505-8. doi;10.1097/MOT.0b013e32834a8caf. PubMed PMID: 21836515.
26. *Ekong UD, Miller SD, O’Gorman MRG. In vitro assays of allosensitization. Pediatr Transplant 2009 Feb; 13(1): 25-34. doi;10.1111/j.1399-3046.2008.01042.x. Epub 2008 Nov 12.
27. *Ekong U. The treatment conundrum of neonatal hemochromatosis. Pediatr Transplt 2007 Jun; 11(4): 347-8. PubMed PMID: 17493212.
28. Whitington PF, Kelly S, Ekong UD. Neonatal hemochromatosis: fetal liver disease leading to liver failure in the fetus and newborn. Pediatr Transplant 2005 Oct; 9(5): 640-5. PubMed PMID: 16176424.
29. Ekong UD, Emerick K. Powerful new genetic tools may unlock old mysteries. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2004 Oct; 39(4): 439-40. PubMed PMID: 154484444.
iii. Books or Chapters in Books (indicate if refereed)
26. Ekong UD, Alonso EM, Whitington PF. Recipient characteristics. In Tine R, Harmon W, Weber S, Kelly DA, Olthoff K eds. Pediatric Solid Organ Transplantation, Oxford: Blackwell Publishing Ltd, 2007,199-206.
27. Ekong U, Emerick KM. Autoimmune hepatitis. In: Liacouras CA, Piccoli DA Eds. Pediatric Gastroenterology: The requisites in pediatrics, Philadelphia: Elsevier Inc, 2005.
vi. Other Publications
28. Alrabadi LS, Morotti RA, Valentino PL, Rodriguez-Davalos MI, Ekong UD, Emre SH. Biliary drainage as treatment for allograft steatosis following liver transplantation for PFIC-1 disease: a single-center experience. Pediatr Transplant 2018 Jun; 22(4): e13184. doi;10.1111/petr.13184. Epub 2018 Apr 14. PubMed PMID: 29654655.
29. Vilarinho S, Erson-Omay EZ, Harmanci AS, Morotti R, Carrion-Grant G, Baranoski J, Knisely AS, Ekong U, Emre S, Yasuno K, Bilguvar K, Gunel M. Paediatric hepatocellular carcinoma due to somatic CTNNB1 and NFE2L2 mutations in the setting of inherited bi-allelic ABCB11 mutations. J Hepatol 2014 Nov; 61(5): 1178-83. doi;10.1016/j.jhep.2014.07.003. Epub 2014 Jul 10. PubMed PMID: 25016225.
30. Jericho H, Weinstein J, Melin-Aldana H, Leuer KC, Wyers M, Alonso EM, *Ekong UD. Successful treatment with rituximab of an Epstein-Barr virus-associated leimyosarcoma occurring after liver transplantation. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2014 Jan; 58(1): e2-4. doi; 10.1097/MPG.0b013e31826f2786. PubMed PMID: 24378523.
31. Kurowski J, Melin-Aldana H, Bass L, Alonso EM, *Ekong UD. Sirolimus as rescue therapy in pediatric autoimmune hepatitis. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2014 Jan; 58(1): e4-6. doi; 10.1097/MPG.0b013e318291feaa. PubMed PMID: 23539046.
32. Chaudhury S, Hormaza L, Mohammad S, Lokar J, Ekong U, Alonso EM, Wainwright MS, Kletzel M, Whitington PF. Liver transplantation followed by allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for atypical mevalonic aciduria. Am J Transplant 2012 Jun; 12(6): 1627-31. Doi; 10.1111/j.1600-6143.2011.03989.x. Epub 2012 Mar 8. PubMed PMID: 22405037.
1. *Ekong UD, Gupta N, Urban R, Andrews W. 20 – 25-year patient and graft survival following a single pediatric liver transplant – analysis of the United Network of Organ Sharing database; whete to go from here. Pediatr Transplant 2019 Sep;23(6).Epub 2019 Jun 18:e13523. doi; 10.1111/petr.13523. PubMed PMID: 31211487.
2. Ekong UD, Antala S, Bow L, Sese D, Morotti R, Rodriguez-Davalos M, Gan G, Deng Y, Emre S. HLA, non-HLA antibodies and eplet mismatches in pediatric liver transplantation: observations from a small, single-center cohort. Experimental and Clinical Transplantation 2019 Jan: 17(Suppl 1): 6-17. doi;10.6002/ect.MESOT2018.L30. PubMed PMID: 30777518.
3. Arterbery AS, Yao J, Ling A, Avitzur Y, Martinez M, Lobritto S, Deng Y, Gan G, Mehta S, Wang G, Knight J, *Ekong UD. Inflammasome priming mediated via Toll-like receptors 2 and 4, induces TH1-like regulatory T cells in de novo autoimmune hepatitis. Front. Immunol 2018 Jul, 9:1612. doi;10.3389/fimmu.2018.01612. PMID: 30072988.
4. *Ekong UD, McKiernan P, Martinez M, Lobritto S, Kelly DA, Ng VL, Alonso EM, Avitzur Y. Long-term outcomes of de novo autoimmune hepatitis in pediatric liver transplant recipients. Pediatr Transplant 2017 Sep; 21(6). doi;10.1111/petr.12945. Epub 2017 May 29. PubMed PMID: 28556542.
5. Feng S, Demetris AJ, Spain KM, Kanaparthi S, Burrell BE, Ekong UD, Alonso EM, Rosenthal P, Turka LA, Ikle D, Tchao NK. Five-year histological and serological follow-up of operationally tolerant pediatric livertransplant recipients enrolled in WISP-R. Hepatology 206 Jun 15. doi;10.1002/hep.28681. PubMed PMID: 27302659.
6. Arterbery A, Osafo-Addo A, Avitzur Y, Ciarleglio M, Deng Y, Lobritto S, Martinez M, Hafler D, Kleinewietfeld M, *Ekong UD. Production of pro-inflammatory cytokines by monocytes in liver transplanted recipients with de novo autoimmune hepatitis is enhanced and induces TH1-like regulatory T cells. J Immunol 2016 May 15; 196(10): 4040-51. doi;10.4049/jimmunol.1502276. Epub 2016 Apr 18. PubMed PMID: 27183637.
7. Edmunds C, *Ekong UD. Autoimmune liver disease post-liver transplantation: a summary and proposed areas for future research. Transplantation 2016 Mar; 100(3): 515-24. doi:10.1097/TP. 0000000000000922. PubMed PMID: 26447505.
8. Lin HC, Melin-Aldana H, Mohammad S, Ekong UD, Alonso EM. Extended follow-up of pediatric liver transplantation patients receiving once daily calcineurin inhibitor. Pediatr Transplant 2015 Nov; 19(7): 709-15. doi;10.1111/petr.12557. Epub 2015 Aug 10. PubMed PMID: 26256288.
9. Perito E, Mohammad S, Rosenthal P, Alonso E, Ekong UD, Lobritto S, Feng S. Post-transplant metabolic syndrome in the withdrawal of immunosuppression in pediatric liver transplant recipients (WISP-R) pilot trial. Am J Transplant 2015 Mar; 15(3): 779-85. doi;10.1111/ajt.13024. Epub 2015 Feb 3. PubMed PMID: 25648649.
10. Lin HC, Alvarez L, Laroche G, Melin-Aldana H, Schwartz K, Whitington PF, Alonso EM, *Ekong UD. Rituximab as therapy for recurrence of bile salt export pump deficiency after liver transplantation. Liver Transpl 2013 Dec; 19(12): 1403-10. doi;10.1002/lt.23754. PubMed PMID: 24115678.
11. Alonso EM, Ng VL, Anand R, Anderson CD, Ekong UD, Fredericks EM, Furuya KN, Gupta NA, Lerret SM, Sundaram S, Tiao G. The SPLIT research agenda 2013. Pediatr Transplant 2013 Aug; 17(5): 412-22. doi;1111/petr.12090. Epub 2013 May 30. PubMed PMID: 23718800.
12. *Ekong UD, Mathew J, Melin-Aldana H, Wang D, Alonso EM. Successful resolution of inflammation and increased regulatory T cells in Sirolimus treated post transplant allograft hepatitis. Pediatr Transplant 2012 Mar;16(2):165-75. doi;10.1111/j.1399-3046.2012.01648.x. PubMed PMID: 22360400.
13. Feng S, Ekong UD, Lobritto S, Demetris AJ, Roberts JP, Rosenthal P, Alonso EM, Philogene MC, Ikle D, Poole KM, Bridges ND, Turka LA, Tchao NK. Complete immunosuppression withdrawal and subsequent allograft function among pediatric recipients of parental living donor liver transplants. JAMA 2012 Jan 18; 307(03): 283-293. doi;10.1001/jama.2011.2014. PubMed PMID: 22253395.
14. *Ekong UD, Luo X, Yu M, Wang D, Miller SD, O’Gorman MR. Lymphocyte activation markers may predict the presence of donor specific alloreactivity in pediatric living related liver transplant recipients. Hum Immunol 2011 May; 72(5): 392-7. doi;10.1016/j.humimm.2011.02.003. Epub 2011 Feb 26. PubMed PMID: 21315129.
15. *Ekong UD, Bhagat H, Alonso EM. Once daily calcineurin inhibitor monotherapy in pediatric liver transplantation. Am J Transplant 2010 Apr; 10(4): 883-8. doi;10.1111/j.1600-6143.2010.03061.x. PubMed PMID: 20420643.
16. *Ekong UD, Melin-Aldana H, Seshadri R, Lokar J, Harris D, Whitington PF, Alonso EM. Graft histology characteristics in long-term survivors of pediatric liver transplantation. Liver Transpl 2008 Nov; 14(11): 1582-7. doi;10.1002/lt.21549. PubMed PMID: 18975292.
17. *Ekong UD, Melin-Aldana H, Whitington PF. Regression of severe fibrotic liver disease in 2 children with neonatal hemochromatosis. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2008 Mar; 46(3): 329-33. doi:10.1097/MPG.0b013e318046772f. PubMed PMID: 18376253.
18. *Ekong UD, Zeng S, Hao-Dun, Feirt N, Guo J, Ippagunta N, Guarrera JV, Lu Y, Weinberg A, Qu W, Ravichandran R, Schmidt AM, Emond JC. Blockade of RAGE attenuates acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in mice. J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2006 Apr; 21(4): 682-8. PubMed PMID: 16677153.
19. *Ekong UD, Kelly S, Whitington PF. Disparate clinical presentation of neonatal hemochromatosis in twins. Pediatrics 2005 Dec; 116(6): e880-4. Epub 2005 Nov 15. PubMed PMID: 16291733.
20. Zeng, Feirt, Goldstein, Guarrera, Ippagunta, Ekong UD, Dun, Lu, Qu, Schmidt, Emond. Blockade of the receptor for advanced glycation end product (RAGE) attenuates ischemia and reperfusion injury in mouse liver. Hepatology 2004 Feb; 39(2): 422-432. PubMed PMID: 14767995.
ii. Reviews or Editorials in Refereed Journals
21. Saubermann LJ, Deneau M, Falcone RA, Murray KF, Ali S, Kohli R, Ekong UD, Valentino PL, Grossman AB, Rand EB, Jonas MM, Saeed SA, Kamath BM. Hepatic issues and complications associated with inflammatory bowel disease: a clinical report from the NASPGHAN inflammatory bowel disease and hepatology committees J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2017 Apr; 64(4): 639-652. doi;10.1097/MPG0000000000001492. PubMed PMID: 27984347.
22. Fawaz R, Baumann U, Ekong U, Fischler B, Hadzic N, Mack CL, McLin VA, Molleston JP, Neimark E, Ng VL, Karpen SJ. Guideline for the evaluation of cholestatic jaundice in infants: joint recommendations of the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition and the European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2017 Jan; 64(1): 154-168. doi;10.1097/MPG.0000000000001334. PubMed PMID: 27429428.
23. Squires RH, Ng V, Romero R, Ekong U, Hardikar W, Emre S, Mazariegos GV. Evaluation of the pediatric for liver transplantation: 2014 practice guideline by the American Association for Study of Liver Diseases, American Society of Transplantation, and the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2014 Jul; 59(1): 112-31. doi;10.1097/MPG.0000000000000431. PubMed PMID: 25222807.
24. Squires RH, Ng V, Romero R, Ekong U, Hardikar W, Emre S, Mazariegos GV. Evaluation of the pediatric for liver transplantation: 2014 practice guideline by the American Association for Study of Liver Diseases, American Society of Transplantation, and the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition. Hepatology 2014 Jul; 60(1): 362-98. doi;10.1002/hep.27191. PubMed PMID: 24782219.
25. *Ekong UD. The long-term liver graft and protocol biopsy: do we want to look? What will we find? Curr Opin Organ Transplant 2011 Oct; 16(5): 505-8. doi;10.1097/MOT.0b013e32834a8caf. PubMed PMID: 21836515.
26. *Ekong UD, Miller SD, O’Gorman MRG. In vitro assays of allosensitization. Pediatr Transplant 2009 Feb; 13(1): 25-34. doi;10.1111/j.1399-3046.2008.01042.x. Epub 2008 Nov 12.
27. *Ekong U. The treatment conundrum of neonatal hemochromatosis. Pediatr Transplt 2007 Jun; 11(4): 347-8. PubMed PMID: 17493212.
28. Whitington PF, Kelly S, Ekong UD. Neonatal hemochromatosis: fetal liver disease leading to liver failure in the fetus and newborn. Pediatr Transplant 2005 Oct; 9(5): 640-5. PubMed PMID: 16176424.
29. Ekong UD, Emerick K. Powerful new genetic tools may unlock old mysteries. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2004 Oct; 39(4): 439-40. PubMed PMID: 154484444.
iii. Books or Chapters in Books (indicate if refereed)
26. Ekong UD, Alonso EM, Whitington PF. Recipient characteristics. In Tine R, Harmon W, Weber S, Kelly DA, Olthoff K eds. Pediatric Solid Organ Transplantation, Oxford: Blackwell Publishing Ltd, 2007,199-206.
27. Ekong U, Emerick KM. Autoimmune hepatitis. In: Liacouras CA, Piccoli DA Eds. Pediatric Gastroenterology: The requisites in pediatrics, Philadelphia: Elsevier Inc, 2005.
vi. Other Publications
28. Alrabadi LS, Morotti RA, Valentino PL, Rodriguez-Davalos MI, Ekong UD, Emre SH. Biliary drainage as treatment for allograft steatosis following liver transplantation for PFIC-1 disease: a single-center experience. Pediatr Transplant 2018 Jun; 22(4): e13184. doi;10.1111/petr.13184. Epub 2018 Apr 14. PubMed PMID: 29654655.
29. Vilarinho S, Erson-Omay EZ, Harmanci AS, Morotti R, Carrion-Grant G, Baranoski J, Knisely AS, Ekong U, Emre S, Yasuno K, Bilguvar K, Gunel M. Paediatric hepatocellular carcinoma due to somatic CTNNB1 and NFE2L2 mutations in the setting of inherited bi-allelic ABCB11 mutations. J Hepatol 2014 Nov; 61(5): 1178-83. doi;10.1016/j.jhep.2014.07.003. Epub 2014 Jul 10. PubMed PMID: 25016225.
30. Jericho H, Weinstein J, Melin-Aldana H, Leuer KC, Wyers M, Alonso EM, *Ekong UD. Successful treatment with rituximab of an Epstein-Barr virus-associated leimyosarcoma occurring after liver transplantation. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2014 Jan; 58(1): e2-4. doi; 10.1097/MPG.0b013e31826f2786. PubMed PMID: 24378523.
31. Kurowski J, Melin-Aldana H, Bass L, Alonso EM, *Ekong UD. Sirolimus as rescue therapy in pediatric autoimmune hepatitis. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2014 Jan; 58(1): e4-6. doi; 10.1097/MPG.0b013e318291feaa. PubMed PMID: 23539046.
32. Chaudhury S, Hormaza L, Mohammad S, Lokar J, Ekong U, Alonso EM, Wainwright MS, Kletzel M, Whitington PF. Liver transplantation followed by allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for atypical mevalonic aciduria. Am J Transplant 2012 Jun; 12(6): 1627-31. Doi; 10.1111/j.1600-6143.2011.03989.x. Epub 2012 Mar 8. PubMed PMID: 22405037.