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Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Risk of Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia in patients long after renal transplantation

Risk of Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia in patients long after renal transplantation:
Background. Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PCP) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in renal transplant recipients (RTRs). Chemoprophylaxis with trimethoprim/sulphamethoxazole is recommended during the early post-transplantation period, but the optimal duration has not been determined and a main drawback of chemoprophylaxis is the development of resistance of the commensal faecal flora. A cluster outbreak of PCP occurred in our outpatient Renal Transplant Unit. We aimed to investigate risk factors for PCP in RTRs to determine who should receive long-term chemoprophylaxis.

Summary of the British Transplantation Society Guidelines for the Prevention and Management of CMV Disease After Solid Organ Transplantation

Summary of the British Transplantation Society Guidelines for the Prevention and Management of CMV Disease After Solid Organ Transplantation: The third edition of the British Transplantation Society Guidelines for the Prevention and Management of CMV Disease after Solid Organ Transplantation was published in March 2011. This article summarizes the important changes and advances in management in this rapidly evolving field. The pros and cons of universal, or targeted anti-cytomegalovirus (CMV) prophylaxis, and pre-emptive anti-CMV therapy are discussed, especially with respect to advances in CMV polymerase chain reaction monitoring. The evidence for oral anti-CMV prophylaxis using valganciclovir is presented, together with a summary of the treatment of CMV disease and emerging fields such as CMV vaccination, CMV genotyping, and drug resistance.
(C) 2011 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.

Thymoglobulin Versus Basiliximab Induction Therapy for Simultaneous Kidney-Pancreas Transplantation: Impact on Rejection, Graft Function, and Long-Term Outcome

Thymoglobulin Versus Basiliximab Induction Therapy for Simultaneous Kidney-Pancreas Transplantation: Impact on Rejection, Graft Function, and Long-Term Outcome: Background. Thymoglobulin (ATG) and basiliximab induction therapies are used by the majority of centers for pancreas transplantation today. Although both strategies have different mechanisms, there is a paucity of studies comparing them. We compared the efficacy and side effects of both methods in simultaneous pancreas-kidney (SPK) transplantation.
Methods. We analyzed 128 SPKs at our institution between January 2001 and August 2008. Forty-nine patients received basiliximab (40 mg), whereas 79 patients had ATG (5 mg/kg). Graft function, complications, rejection, and survival rates were analyzed.

Three-Year Outcomes from BENEFIT, a Randomized, Active-Controlled, Parallel-Group Study in Adult Kidney Transplant Recipients

Three-Year Outcomes from BENEFIT, a Randomized, Active-Controlled, Parallel-Group Study in Adult Kidney Transplant Recipients:
The clinical profile of belatacept in kidney transplant recipients was evaluated to determine if earlier results in the BENEFIT study were sustained at 3 years. BENEFIT is a randomized 3 year, phase III study in adults receiving a kidney transplant from a living or standard criteria deceased donor.

Human Herpes Virus 8 in Solid Organ Transplantation

Human Herpes Virus 8 in Solid Organ Transplantation: Human herpes virus 8 (HHV-8) is a geographically limited virus that causes neoplastic and nonneoplastic diseases predominantly in endemic regions. Primary HHV-8 infection, which is usually asymptomatic in immunocompetent individuals, result in lifelong latency. When the equilibrium between virus and host immunity is disturbed, such as after organ transplantation, HHV-8 may activate molecular pathways that drive oncogenesis.

Outcomes of Late Corticosteroid Withdrawal after Renal Transplantation in Patients Exposed to Tacrolimus and/or Mycophenolate Mofetil: Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Outcomes of Late Corticosteroid Withdrawal after Renal Transplantation in Patients Exposed to Tacrolimus and/or Mycophenolate Mofetil: Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials:
Background: Corticosteroids are increasingly used in renal transplant patients to minimize organ rejection after transplantation. In attempts to reduce corticosteroids adverse effects, transplant professionals are customary attempted to taper off, and permanently stop corticosteroids after few months of administration with other immunosuppressants.
Objective: To evaluate clinical benefits and risks of late corticosteroid withdrawal in renal transplant patients treated with tacrolimus (TAC) or mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), or both.
Methods: A meta-analysis was performed of published randomized controlled trials that reported outcomes in kidney transplant patients who were randomized to corticosteroids maintenance or late withdrawal under concomitant immunosuppression by TAC, MMF or both. Outcomes included acute graft rejection; graft failure rate; all-cause mortality; incidence of post-transplant diabetes; change in serum creatinine and total cholesterol; and change in pediatric standardized height z-score. PubMed and Google Scholar were used in literature search between 1999 and April 1, 2010. Data were combined using unweighted random effects model.
Results: Nine studies randomized 1907 patients met the inclusion criteria: TAC (n=1); MMF (n=6); both (n=2). Compared to maintenance therapy, late corticosteroid withdrawal was associated with 34% increase in the risk of acute graft rejection (95% CI for OR: 0.47–3.82); 35% and 5% reductions in the risk of graft failure and patient’s all-cause mortality (95% CI for OR: 0.26–1.60; 0.23–3.93, respectively); and 4% increase in post-transplant diabetes risk (95% CI for OR: 0.45–2.41). Late corticosteroid withdrawal was associated with substantial reduction in total cholesterol levels (mean difference: 18.1 mg/dL; 95% CI: 7.1–29.0 mg/dL), but did not reduce serum creatinine levels (‑0.00 mg/dL; 95% CI: ‑0.17 to 0.17). Stopping corticosteroids was associated with better pediatric growth outcomes.
Conclusion: Late corticosteroid withdrawal under TAC and/or MMF-lead immunosuppression after kidney transplantation could provide benefits in terms of total cholesterol, patient and graft survival, and pediatric growth. This strategy, however did not reduce the risk of acute graft rejection, post-transplant diabetes mellitus, and deterioration in serum creatinine levels.

Associations of Renal Function at 1-Year After Kidney Transplantation With Subsequent Return to Dialysis, Mortality, and Healthcare Costs

Associations of Renal Function at 1-Year After Kidney Transplantation With Subsequent Return to Dialysis, Mortality, and Healthcare Costs: Background. Improved early kidney transplant outcomes limit the contemporary utility of standard clinical endpoints. Quantifying the relationship of renal function at 1 year after transplant with subsequent clinical outcomes and healthcare costs may facilitate cost-benefit evaluations among transplant recipients.
Methods. Data for Medicare-insured kidney-only transplant recipients (1995–2003) were drawn from the United States Renal Data System. Associations of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) level at the first transplant anniversary with subsequent death-censored graft failure and patient death in posttransplant years 1 to 3 and 4 to 7 were examined by parametric survival analysis. Associations of eGFR with total health care costs defined by Medicare payments were assessed with multivariate linear regression.

Human Leukocyte Antigen Antibody-Incompatible Renal Transplantation: Excellent Medium-Term Outcomes With Negative Cytotoxic Crossmatch

Human Leukocyte Antigen Antibody-Incompatible Renal Transplantation: Excellent Medium-Term Outcomes With Negative Cytotoxic Crossmatch: Background. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) antibody-incompatible renal transplantation has been increasingly performed since 2000 but with few data on the medium-term outcomes.
Methods. Between 2003 and 2011, 84 patients received renal transplants with a pretreatment donor-specific antibody (DSA) level of more than 500 in a microbead assay. Seventeen patients had positive complement-dependent cytotoxic (CDC) crossmatch (XM), 44 had negative CDC XM and positive flow cytometric XM, and 23 had DSA detectable by microbead only. We also reviewed 28 patients with HLA antibodies but no DSA at transplant. DSAs were removed with plasmapheresis pretransplant, and patients did not routinely receive antithymocyte globulin posttransplant.