Transplantation
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Clinical and epidemiological data of pandemic influenza A H1N1 infection in solid-organ transplant recipients have been described, but scarce data compare these outcomes with nonimmunocompromised patients. ⋯ No significant differences in morbidity and mortality were observed comparing KT and non-KT patients infected with pandemic H1N1 influenza A virus.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Valganciclovir prophylaxis versus preemptive therapy in cytomegalovirus-positive renal allograft recipients: 1-year results of a randomized clinical trial.
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) prevention can be achieved by prophylaxis or preemptive therapy. We performed a prospective randomized trial to determine whether renal transplant recipients with a positive CMV serostatus (R+) had a higher rate of CMV infection and disease after transplantation when treated preemptively for CMV infection, compared with primary valganciclovir prophylaxis. ⋯ Oral valganciclovir prophylaxis significantly reduces CMV infection and disease, particularly for D+/R+ patients. Hence, our study supports routine prophylaxis for all D+/R+ recipients.
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ABOi transplantation is an accepted method of expanding the kidney donor pool but there is little analysis of the protocols used. We established an ABOi programme utilising leukocyte depletion, tacrolimus, TPE and IvIg. There are few reports in the literature on the success rates of antibody removal protocols or relating to patients in whom antibody removal fails. The purpose of this study was to define the likelihood of achieving transplantation depending on ABO antibody titers. ⋯ This is the first study to demonstrate a cut off titer for entry in to the ABO incompatible program using the relationship between ABO titer and amount of TPE required to reach transplantation. We now tailor the antibody removal protocol prior to transplantation and have introduced a cut-off entry titer to the program (≤1:256), because of the unacceptable risk of exposing patients with higher titers to long-lasting immunosuppression and costly, prolonged, courses of TPE without the guarantee of successful transplantation. Patients whose ABO titer exceeds the cut-off are counselled and offered alternative routes to transplantation.
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Comparative Study
Plasma neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin in kidney transplantation and early renal function prediction.
This prospective observational study aimed to assess the relevance of serial postoperative plasma neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) measurements on prediction of early renal transplant function. ⋯ pNGAL level early and accurately predicted DGF after renal transplantation. pNGAL measurements allowed monitoring of the renal function in this striking situation of ischemia-reperfusion aggression. Early identification of patients at risk of DGF, before graft lesions are consolidated, opens the field of a precise monitoring of renal injury and the impact of future protective therapeutics.
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Acute decompensation in patients with chronic liver disease, resulting from acute kidney injury and infections, leads to significant morbidity and mortality. It is unclear whether patients who develop acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) have poor outcomes after liver transplantation. ⋯ One hundred fifty-seven patients in the study had ACLF and 175 patients had no ACLF (non-ACLF) pretransplant. Thirty-four patients in the entire cohort received dual organs, 10 of them (29.4%) had ACLF. Seventy-six percent of the patients with ACLF had acute kidney injury as their reason for decompensation and 23.6% had an infection. Mean Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score at transplant was significantly different between the groups (ACLF 28.77 vs. non-ACLF 21.23, P<0.0001). A total of 16.6% of the patients achieved an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) less than 30 mL/min, 21% of patients died, 12.3% developed cirrhosis, and 7.5% received a second transplant. There was no difference in mean eGFR between the ACLF and non-ACLF cohorts at 3 years posttransplant (56.35 mL/min vs. 59.93 mL/min, respectively, P=0.27). On multivariate analysis, ACLF was not significantly associated with eGFR less than 30 mL/min, death, recurrent cirrhosis, or retransplantation when adjusted for potential confounders.