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Monday, August 29, 2011

Comparing Outcomes Associated With Dose Manipulations of Enteric-Coated Mycophenolate Sodium Versus Mycophenolate Mofetil in Renal Transplant Recipients

Comparing Outcomes Associated With Dose Manipulations of Enteric-Coated Mycophenolate Sodium Versus Mycophenolate Mofetil in Renal Transplant Recipients: Background. This study assessed the incidence of reported gastrointestinal (GI) complications in patients treated with enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium (EC-MPS) versus mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and to examine the impact of dose manipulations on biopsy-proven acute rejection (BPAR).
Methods. A retrospective study was conducted in 379 renal transplant recipients initiated on EC-MPS or MMF through 3-months posttransplant between the years of 2001 to 2007. Descriptive univariate analyses were used for comparisons of baseline characteristics and outcome measures between the cohorts. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to evaluate the time to a first BPAR event.

Histologic Recurrence of Henoch-Schonlein Purpura Nephropathy After Renal Transplantation on Routine Allograft Biopsy

Histologic Recurrence of Henoch-Schonlein Purpura Nephropathy After Renal Transplantation on Routine Allograft Biopsy: Background. Henoch-Schonlein Purpura nephropathy (HSPN) recurrence in renal transplant recipients (RTRs) has been reported in 35% of patients, leading in 11% of these patients to graft loss at 5 years. However, its true incidence is unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate this recurrence incidence using routine allograft biopsies (RBs).

Monday, August 22, 2011

Long-term follow up for anti-HLA donor specific antibodies postrenal transplantation: high immunogenicity of HLA class II graft molecules

Long-term follow up for anti-HLA donor specific antibodies postrenal transplantation: high immunogenicity of HLA class II graft molecules:

Summary

Τhe clinical significance of de novo post-transplant anti-HLA donor-specific antibodies (DSA) was evaluated using 4241 serum samples collected between 2000 and 2007 from 597 renal transplant recipients. Patients transplanted before December 1996 (n = 77) were included in the historic group and those transplanted thereafter (n = 520) were included in the study group.

Results of Repeat Renal Transplantation After Graft Loss From BK Virus Nephropathy

Results of Repeat Renal Transplantation After Graft Loss From BK Virus Nephropathy: Background. BK virus nephropathy (BKVN) is an important cause of renal graft loss in recent years. The aims of this study are to (1) describe the management of patients undergoing retransplantation after allograft loss in the setting of BKVN and (2) to identify risk factors for BK virus replication in the retransplant.

Kidney Transplantation With Minimized Maintenance: Alemtuzumab Induction With Tacrolimus Monotherapy-An Open Label, Randomized Trial

Kidney Transplantation With Minimized Maintenance: Alemtuzumab Induction With Tacrolimus Monotherapy-An Open Label, Randomized Trial: Background. Immunosuppressive regimens for kidney transplantation which reduce the long-term burden of immunosuppression are attractive, but little data are available to judge the safety and efficacy of the different strategies used. We tested the hypothesis that the simple, cheap, regimen of alemtuzumab induction combined with tacrolimus monotherapy maintenance provided equivalent outcomes to the more commonly used combination of interleukin-2 receptor monoclonal antibody induction with tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil combination maintenance, both regimens using steroid withdrawal after 7 days.

Eculizumab in Acute Recurrence of Thrombotic Microangiopathy After Renal Transplantation

Eculizumab in Acute Recurrence of Thrombotic Microangiopathy After Renal Transplantation:
Renal thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) is a severe complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), which is associated with the presence of antiphospholipid (aPL) antibodies. In its most fulminant form, TMA leads to a rapid and irreversible end-stage renal failure. Eculizumab, an anti-C5 monoclonal antibody, is a novel therapy of choice for patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) and atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome.

Long-term Outcome of Renal Transplantation Patients with Henoch-Schonlein Purpura

Long-term Outcome of Renal Transplantation Patients with Henoch-Schonlein Purpura: SummaryBackground and objectives
Although Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) is the most common form of renal vasculitis in childhood, progression to ESRD is rare, and there are few data on outcomes of renal transplantation in patients with HSP.
Design, setting, participants, & measurements: This is a matched retrospective cohort study of renal allografts using the United Network of Organ Sharing database (1987 to 2005). Of the 189,211 primary renal allografts, there were 339 with a diagnosis of HSP. The primary end point was allograft survival.

Impact of Cytomegalovirus Disease in D+/R– Kidney Transplant Patients Receiving 6 Months Low-Dose Valganciclovir Prophylaxis

Impact of Cytomegalovirus Disease in D+/R– Kidney Transplant Patients Receiving 6 Months Low-Dose Valganciclovir Prophylaxis:
Late-onset cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease remains common in CMV serology naïve kidney transplant patients of CMV serology positive organs (D+/R–) despite the use of antiviral prophylaxis. We studied clinical efficacy of 6-month low-dose valganciclovir (VGCV) prophylaxis, risk factors for late-onset CMV disease and its impact on kidney transplant outcomes. Between October 2005 and December 2009, 166 consecutive D+/R– kidney alone and simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplant patients received VGCV 450 mg daily for 6 months after transplantation. After a median follow-up of 3.2 years, 30 cases of CMV disease occurred within the first 2 years after transplantation with a cumulative incidence of 11.5 and 18.1% at 1 and 2 years, respectively.

Nocardia infection in kidney transplant recipients: case report and analysis of 66 published cases

Nocardia infection in kidney transplant recipients: case report and analysis of 66 published cases:
X. Yu, F. Han, J. Wu, Q. He, W. Peng, Y. Wang, H. Huang, H. Li, R. Wang, J. Chen. Nocardia infection in kidney transplant recipients: case report and analysis of 66 published cases. Transpl Infect Dis 2011: 13: 385–391. All rights reserved
Abstract: Nocardiosis is a rare but life-threatening opportunistic infection, especially in immune compromised patients, including kidney transplant recipients. Primary pulmonary infection is the most common clinical pattern, and can easily result in disseminated Nocardia infection if treatment therapy is not adequate at the beginning. In this article, we report a new case of disseminated nocardiosis (lungs, skin, and pericardium) after renal allograft transplantation. We also review the English literature published from 1980 to 2010 and analyze the clinical characteristics of nocardiosis in kidney transplant recipients.

Revisiting Traditional Risk Factors for Rejection and Graft Loss After Kidney Transplantation

Revisiting Traditional Risk Factors for Rejection and Graft Loss After Kidney Transplantation:
Single-antigen bead (SAB) testing permits reassessment of immunologic risk for kidney transplantation. Traditionally, high panel reactive antibody (PRA), retransplant and deceased donor (DD) grafts have been associated with increased risk. We hypothesized that this risk was likely mediated by (unrecognized) donor-specific antibody (DSA).

Monday, August 8, 2011

Cytomegalovirus Incidence Between Everolimus Versus Mycophenolate in De Novo Renal Transplants: Pooled Analysis of Three Clinical Trials

Cytomegalovirus Incidence Between Everolimus Versus Mycophenolate in De Novo Renal Transplants: Pooled Analysis of Three Clinical Trials: "
Everolimus (EVR) in heart and renal transplant (RTx) recipients may be associated with a decreased incidence of cytomegalovirus (CMV). A detailed analysis of the association between EVR versus mycophenolic acid (MPA) and CMV events has not been reported.

Rituximab-Induced Depletion of Anti-PLA2R Autoantibodies Predicts Response in Membranous Nephropathy

Rituximab-Induced Depletion of Anti-PLA2R Autoantibodies Predicts Response in Membranous Nephropathy: "
Autoantibodies to the M-type phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) are sensitive and specific for idiopathic membranous nephropathy. The anti-B cell agent rituximab is a promising therapy for this disease, but biomarkers of early response to treatment currently do not exist. Here, we investigated whether levels of anti-PLA2R correlate with the immunological activity of membranous nephropathy, potentially exhibiting a more rapid response to treatment than clinical parameters such as proteinuria.

Efficacy and Safety of Early Cyclosporine Conversion to Sirolimus with Continued MMF—Four-Year Results of the Postconcept Study

Efficacy and Safety of Early Cyclosporine Conversion to Sirolimus with Continued MMF—Four-Year Results of the Postconcept Study: "
Calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) withdrawal has been used as a strategy to improve renal allograft function. We previously reported that conversion from cyclosporine A (CsA) to sirolimus (SRL) 3 months after transplantation significantly improved renal function at 1 year. In the Postconcept trial, 77 patients in the SRL group and 85 in the CsA group were followed for 48 months.

Steroids and Recurrent IgA Nephropathy After Kidney Transplantation

Steroids and Recurrent IgA Nephropathy After Kidney Transplantation: "
We studied the impact of steroid use on kidney graft loss due to recurrent IgA nephropathy (IgAN). We used data from the Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant Registry (ANZDATA) to conduct a survival analysis of adult recipients of a first kidney transplant for IgAN who received a graft between 1988 and 2007. Predictors of graft loss due to recurrent IgAN were analyzed in a competing risk survival analysis with steroid use modeled as a time-varying covariate.