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
- Benign Neoplasm Of Digestive System
- Biliary Tract Disease
- Cardiometabolic Disorders
- Cholestasis
- Cholestasis Of Pregnancy
- Chronic Kidney Disease
- Complications Of Transplanted Organs And Tissue
- Congenital Malformations Of Bile Ducts
- Congenital Malformations Of Gallbladder, Bile Ducts And Liver
- Congenital Malformations Of Great Veins
- Congenital Malformations Of Musculoskeletal System
- Cytomegaloviral (CMV) Infection
- Cytomegaloviral Disease In Liver Transplant Patients
- Disorders Involving The Immune Mechanism
- Disorders Of Amino
- Disorders Of Aromatic Amino
- Disorders Of Branched
- 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 Encephalopathy
- 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
- Secondary Hypertension
- Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis
- Transplanted Organ And Tissue Status
- Transplanted Organ Failure
- Venous Embolism
- Viral Hepatitis
- Viral Infection
- Wilson Disease
Procedures I perform
- Acute Liver Failure Treatment
- Adrenal Tumor Treatment
- Arterial Thrombolysis
- Arthrocentesis
- Artificial Liver Therapy
- Ascites Treatment
- Autoimmune Hepatitis Diagnosis
- Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba Syndrome Treatment
- Bile Duct Cancer Treatment
- Biopsy Interpretation
- Blood Chemistry Test
- Blood Clotting Disorder Treatment
- Blood Gas Analysis
- Bone Cancer Staging
- Breast Cancer Treatment
- Budd-Chiari Syndrome Treatment
- Celiac Artery Stenosis Treatment
- Cerebral Fibromuscular Dysplasia Treatment
- Chemotherapy For Liver Cancer
- Chronic Liver Disease Treatment
- Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan
- Coronary Thrombectomy
- Cryoablation Of Liver Tumors
- Cystitis Management
- Deceased Donor Liver Transplant
- Dialysis
- Dilation Of Common Hepatic Duct
- Duplex Scan Of Abdominal Organs
- Embolization Of Glomus Tumors
- Endocrinology Care
- Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography
- Enteroscopy
- Eosinophilic Esophagitis Treatment
- Esophageal Dilation
- Esophageal PH Monitoring
- Familial Adenomatous Polyposis Management
- Fructose Malabsorption Test
- Gallbladder Cancer Treatment
- Gastric Surgery
- Gastrointestinal Adenoma Treatment
- Gastrointestinal Amyloidosis Treatment
- Gastrointestinal Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba Syndrome Treatment
- Gastrointestinal Biopsy
- Gastrointestinal Cancer Treatment
- Gastrointestinal Carcinoid Tumor Treatment
- Gastrointestinal Diverticulosis Treatment
- Gastrointestinal Duplication Cyst Treatment
- Gastrointestinal Foreign Body Removal
- Gastrointestinal Functional Disorder Treatment
- Gastrointestinal Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor Treatment
- Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage Treatment
- Gastrointestinal Infection Treatment
- Gastrointestinal Juvenile Polyposis Treatment
- Gastrointestinal Lymphangiectasia Treatment
- Gastrointestinal Lymphoma Treatment
- Gastrointestinal Melanoma Treatment
- Gastrointestinal Motility Study
- Gastrointestinal Neuroendocrine Tumor Treatment
- Gastrointestinal Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome Treatment
- Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor Treatment
- Gastrointestinal Tube Placement
- Gastrointestinal Varices Treatment
- Gastrointestinal Vascular Malformation Treatment
- Gastrointestinal Virus Treatment
- Gastrostomy Tube Replacement
- Gene Therapy For Bladder Cancer
- Glucose Breath Test
- Hepatic Artery Angioplasty
- Hepatic Artery Embolization
- Hepatic Artery Stenosis Treatment
- Hepatic Artery Thrombosis Treatment
- Hepatic Encephalopathy Management
- Hepatic Vein Stenosis Treatment
- Hepatic Vein Thrombosis Treatment
- Hepatitis E Treatment
- Hydrogen Breath Test
- Hypertension Treatment
- Immunodeficiency Treatment
- Inferior Mesenteric Artery Stenosis Treatment
- Interstitial Nephritis Treatment
- Intestinal Atresia Treatment
- Intra-Abdominal Infection Treatment
- Intragastric Balloon Procedure
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome Treatment
- Lactose Tolerance Test
- Liver Abscess Drainage
- Liver Arterioportal Fistula Treatment
- Liver Arteriovenous Malformation Treatment
- Liver Biopsy
- Liver Cancer Surgery
- Liver Cancer Treatment
- Liver Cyst Drainage
- Liver Function Testing
- Liver Health Screening
- Liver Imaging
- Liver Infection Treatment
- Liver Mass Treatment
- Liver Metastases Treatment
- Liver Necrosis Treatment
- Liver Resection
- Liver Segmentectomy
- Liver Transplant
- Liver Transplant For Toxicity
- Liver Vascular Malformation Treatment
- Lobectomy
- Lower Gi Endoscopy
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
- Mesenteric Angiography
- Mesenteric Artery Stenosis Treatment
- Milk Allergy Treatment
- Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome Treatment
- Neonatal Abdominal Paracentesis
- Neuroendocrine Tumor Treatment
- Nutrition Counseling
- Osler-Weber-Rendu Syndrome Treatment
- Pancreas Transplant Rejection Treatment
- Pancreatic Cancer Treatment
- Pancreatic Disease Management
- Paraganglioma Treatment
- Parotid Biopsy
- Percutaneous Cholecystostomy
- Percutaneous Diagnostic Liver Excision
- Percutaneous Nephrostomy Tube Exchange
- Percutaneous Transhepatic Cholangiography
- Percutaneous Tumor Chemoembolization
- Pheochromocytoma Treatment
- Portal Hypertension Treatment
- Portal Vein Stenosis Treatment
- Portal Vein Thrombosis Treatment
- Portosystemic Shunt
- Purine Nucleoside Phosphorylase Deficiency Treatment
- Radioembolization Of Liver Tumors
- Rectal Stricture Dilation
- Renal Failure Treatment
- Rhabdomyolysis 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
- Veno-Occlusive Disease 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 877-680-8194
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
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- TRICARE East Prime
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Sentara Health
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Beech Street PPO
- First Health PPO
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Aetna HMO
- Navigate
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- CIGNA PPO
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- HumanaChoice PPO
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Aetna VA Exchange
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- CareFirst NASCO
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- United Student Resources
- IH-Open POS II
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- CareFirst EPO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- IH-EPO Plus
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- First Health PPO
- United Healthcare Choice
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Optimum Choice
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Aetna Classic 5000
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- IH-PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- IH-POS
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Employee Health Plan
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- IH-POS Plus
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Police and Fire Clinic
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Medicare Direct
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Aetna Classic 3500
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Choice POS II Open Access
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- HighMark
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- OA Plus
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Medicare FFS
- Choice POS II
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- IH-Open POS Plus
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Network OA
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- POS OA
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- IH-HMO
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Aetna Basic
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- CareFirst Administrators
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Choice POS
- IH-Indemnity
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- TRICARE East Select
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Choice Fund PPO
- CIGNA EPO
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- IH-Open HMO
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- UHC Passport
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- TRICARE for Life East
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
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.