Thrombotic Micro‐Angiopathy with Sirolimus‐Based Immunosuppression: Potentiation of Calcineurin‐Inhibitor‐Induced Endothelial Damage?

Thrombotic microangiopathy is a rare but important finding in the context of organ transplantation. Acute renal insufficiency in the setting of hemolysis and thrombocytopenia, a triad that constitutes 'hemolytic uremic syndrome', can be associated with, or triggered by, conditions such as verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli, viral infections, malignant hypertension, scleroderma, allograft rejection, lupus erythematosus, pregnancy, and medications including mitomycin C, calcineurin inhibitors, and oral contraceptives. After renal transplantation, it can occur, as either a de novo episode, or recurrent disease. Calcineurin inhibitors have long been associated with post-transplantation thrombotic microangiopathy. Sirolimus has been used as a primary immunosuppressant in patients transplanted with a history of earlier hemolytic-uremic syndrome, and also as rescue therapy in patients with calcineurin-inhibitor-associated thrombotic microangiopathy. We describe four cases where there was significant thrombotic microangiopathy in the context of contemporaneous or contiguous calcineurin inhibitor and sirolimus usage. As the intrarenal cyclosporin concentration is thought to be significantly elevated when cyclosporin and sirolimus are used together, this may explain these findings, and mandates caution in their co-administration.     

针刺对肾血管性高血压大鼠的降压效应

目的　探讨针刺对肾血管性高血压大鼠的降压作用及其神经 -内分泌调节机制。方法　采用二肾一夹法制备高血压大鼠模型 ,测定实验各组大鼠血浆内皮素 (ET)、一氧化氮 (NO)含量和心率变异性 (HRV)的动态变化。结果　与模型组相比 ,针刺组血压 (BL 2 3:19.1± 1.1k Pa,ST36:18.1± 2 .5 k Pa)及 ET水平明显下降 (P<0 .0 1) ,其中针刺肾俞组血浆 ET水平 (91.3± 9.45 pg/ ml)较足三里组 (10 8.48± 13.0 6pg/ ml)下降更明显 (P<0 .0 5 ) ;针刺治疗组血浆 NO水平 (BL 2 3:5 0 .3±12 .7μmol/ ml,ST 36:49.71± 8.49μm ol/ m l)显著升高 (P<0 .0 5 )。足三里组针刺后 L F/ HF比值与模型组无明显差异 ,而肾俞组 L F/ HF值 (0 .5 7± 0 .13)明显低于模型组及足三里组 (0 .86± 0 .2 5 )。结论　针刺能降低肾血管性高血压模型大鼠动脉血压 ,肾俞与足三里两穴无明显差异 ,其作用机制可能与自主神经系统、NO及 ET参与的神经内分泌调节作用相关。     

Peritoneal dialysis patient survival: a comparison between a Swedish and a Korean centre.

BACKGROUND: Dialysis patient mortality remains high, and this high mortality may be due to many factors. In peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients, old age, co-morbid diseases, malnutrition, low residual renal function (RRF) and a high peritoneal transport rate have been shown to influence survival, but the relative importance of these factors may differ between different patient populations. Besides, centre practice patterns may differ between centres and may influence patient survival. In addition, the literature suggests that dialysis patient survival may be better in Asian than in Caucasian patients. METHODS: The influence of centre and patient characteristics on patient survival was investigated in 132 Korean and 106 Swedish incident PD patients, who underwent initial biochemical measurements and assessment of adequacy of dialysis, nutritional status, RRF and peritoneal transport characteristics. RESULTS: At the start of PD, Korean patients had a higher prevalence of diabetes, peritoneal Kt/V(urea), peritoneal creatinine clearance and peritoneal fluid removal, and lower body mass index, RRF and dialysate to plasma creatinine concentration ratio (D/P Cr) compared with Swedish patients. Significantly more patients from Korea were placed on temporary haemodialysis before PD (100 out of 132) when compared with Swedish patients (21 out of 106). During the follow-up, there was a significantly higher rate of transfer to other units in Korea and a significantly higher rate of kidney transplantation in Sweden. On Kaplan-Meier analysis, overall patient survival did not differ and relative risk for death was also not different between the two centres even after adjustment for age, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, RRF and D/P Cr. On Cox proportional hazards multivariate analysis, age, diabetes, RRF and D/P Cr were found to be independent predictors of mortality in the combined cohort of patients. While age, diabetes and D/P Cr were independent predictors of mortality in Korean patients, age and RRF independently predicted mortality in Swedish patients. CONCLUSION: Although there were significant differences in centre and patient characteristics, we were unable to confirm a survival advantage for Korean over Swedish PD patients. The results of this study suggest that the reported difference in survival between Asian and Caucasian dialysis patients may have been due, in part, to differences in centre and patient characteristics rather than to race as such. The genetic influence on patient characteristics remains, however, to be elucidated.     

氟伐他汀对老年动脉粥样硬化所致肾动脉狭窄的临床疗效观察

目的观察氟伐他汀对老年肾动脉粥样硬化所致肾动脉狭窄(ARAS)的治疗作用及其抗炎机制。方法将在我院门诊及住院的54例老年ARAS患者,随机分为治疗组及对照组,对照组给予常规降压治疗,治疗组每晚加服氟伐他汀40 mg。比较两组治疗前及治疗后尿蛋白排泄率(UAER)、血肌酐(Scr)、C反应蛋白(CRP)及肾脏血管多普勒超声中肾动脉收缩期峰值速度(PSV)、肾动脉血流加速度时间(AT),肾动脉峰值流速与肾动脉开口处腹主动脉流速之比(RAR)等指标。结果观察期间,两组上述指标均呈下降趋势,治疗组UAER,PSV,AT,RAR下降较对照组明显(P<0.05,P<0.01),治疗组CRP下降明显(P<0.05,P<0.01),对照组CRP变化不明显(P>0.05)。而且在两组血脂正常的老年ARAS所致肾动脉狭窄的患者进行比较分析也得出类似结果。结论氟伐他汀因降低CRP的致炎效应而改善肾动脉狭窄,且不依赖氟伐他汀的降血脂作用。     

川芎嗪对肾缺血再灌注时c-fos bcl-2 ICAM-1蛋白表达的影响

目的　探讨大鼠肾缺血再灌注损伤不同时间c -fos、细胞淋巴瘤 /白血病 - 2、细胞间粘附分子- 1蛋白的表达及川芎嗪对其影响。方法　用免疫组化法检测大鼠急性肾缺血再灌注不同时间内及川芎嗪干预后c -fos、细胞淋巴瘤 /白血病 - 2、细胞间粘附分子 - 1蛋白表达的分布及强度变化。结果　c -fos蛋白分布于近曲小管、远曲小管、集合管上皮细胞的细胞核、细胞浆内 ,再灌注后 1h表达明显增强 ,3h达高峰 ,6h锐减。细胞淋巴瘤 /白血病 - 2蛋白主要分布于近曲小管上皮细胞的细胞浆 ,再灌注后 1h表达明显增强 ,6h达高峰 ,2 4h仍有较强表达。细胞间粘附分子 - 1蛋白分布在肾血管、肾小管等部位 ,其中以肾血管为著 ,其表达增强于再灌注后 1h ,直到 2 4h仍有增高趋势。川芎嗪干预后c -fos、细胞间粘附分子 - 1蛋白表达明显下降 (P <0 0 1 )。细胞淋巴瘤 /白血病 - 2表达明显增高 (P <0 .0 1 )。结论　川芎嗪对肾缺血再灌注损伤有较好的保护作用     

姜黄素抗肝纤维化的实验研究

目的:探讨姜黄素的抗肝纤维化作用。方法:将大鼠随机分为正常对照组、模型组、高、中、低3个剂量姜黄素组和阳性对照组,用皮下注射CC l4法诱导大鼠肝纤维化。测量并计算肝脏指数;测定各组大鼠ALT及AST活性以评价肝功能;同时观察各组大鼠肝脏形态学变化。结果:模型组大鼠肝脏指数均明显低于正常对照组(P<0.01),姜黄素治疗组大鼠肝脏指数明显高于模型组大鼠(P<0.05)。与正常组大鼠比较,模型组大鼠肝脏AST和ALT均显著升高(P<0.01),给予姜黄素治疗后,各治疗组大鼠肝脏AST和ALT活性均显著下降(P<0.05)。HE染色及M asson三色染色显示,秋水仙碱治疗组及各剂量姜黄素治疗组可见肝损伤病变明显减轻,纤维组织增生程度也明显轻于模型组。结论:姜黄素能明显减轻CC l4所致肝损伤,保护肝脏正常结构和功能,延缓肝纤维化。     

红背叶根对免疫性肝纤维化大鼠血流变及微循环的影响

目的观察红背叶根对免疫性肝纤维化大鼠血流变和微循环变化的影响,从＂络病学说＂探讨其抗肝纤维化的中医病机。方法制备猪血清致大鼠肝纤维化模型,观察红背叶根对该模型动物的全血黏度150/s切变率、30/s切变率、5/s切变率、1/s切变率、红细胞压积、舌下及耳廓的脉络变化的影响。结果红背叶根能显著降低肝纤维化大鼠的全血黏度150/s切变率、30/s切变率、5/s切变率、1/s切变率、红细胞压积、透明质酸酶（HA）、层黏连蛋白（LN）、Ⅲ型前胶原（PCⅢ）、Ⅳ型胶原（CIV）、谷丙转氨酶（ALT）、谷草转氨酶（AST）指数,改善纤维化大鼠舌下和耳廓脉络的循环状态。结论红背叶根对免疫性肝纤维化大鼠血流变和微循环变化的改善,提示＂活血通络＂可能是其抗肝纤维的主要病机之一。     

Tacrolimus Exposure and Evolution of Renal Allograft Histology in the First Year After Transplantation

Tacrolimus has a narrow therapeutic window and is characterized by a large inter-individual variability in bioavailability. The impact of tacrolimus exposure on subclinical evolution of graft histology has not been studied in renal recipients. This analysis included 239 protocol biopsies (obtained at implantation, 3 and 12 months) of 120 consecutive kidney recipients treated with tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and corticosteroids. Biopsies were scored according to the Banff 2001 criteria and a chronicity score was calculated. Prospective pharmacokinetic data were included in the analysis (5544 tacrolimus predose blood concentrations and tacrolimus AUC(0-12) at 3 and 12 months). Higher donor age and higher number of human leukocyte antigen-DR (HLA-DR) mismatches were independent predictors of subclinical acute rejection at 3 months, present in 8.7% of patients. The number of HLA-DR mismatches was independently associated with biopsy-proven clinical acute rejection. Biopsy-proven acute rejection episodes and low mean tacrolimus exposure were independently associated with higher increase in chronicity scores between 3 and 12 months after transplantation. This observational study suggests that rejection phenomena and immune-mediated mechanisms remain important in the early progression of chronic allograft pathology. Tacrolimus doses or systemic exposure were not associated with lesions of calcineurin inhibitor nephrotoxicity, suggesting that other factors determine susceptibility to tacrolimus nephrotoxicity.     

Body Mass Index and Glomerular Hyperfiltration in Renal Transplant Recipients: Cross-Sectional Analysis and Long-Term Impact

Obesity is a risk factor for renal graft loss. Higher body mass index (BMI) in native kidneys is associated with glomerular hyperfiltration. Whether higher BMI in renal transplants is associated with hyperfiltration is unknown. We investigated the impact of BMI on renal hemodynamics 1 year post-transplant. We analyzed glomerular filtration rate (GFR, (125)I-iothalamate) and effective renal plasma flow (ERPF, (131)I-hippurate) in 838 kidney transplants. Data were analyzed for all patients and for the subpopulation without diabetes. Long-term impact of BMI and renal hemodynamics were explored by Cox-regression. With higher BMI GFR and filtration fraction (FF) increased significantly. Multivariate analysis supported impact of BMI on GFR (adjusted r(2) of the model 0.275) and FF (adjusted r(2) of the model 0.158). This association was not explained by diabetes mellitus. On Cox-regression analysis, lower GFR and higher FF were independent determinants of overall graft loss and graft loss by patient mortality. Lower GFR and higher BMI were determinants of death-censored graft loss, with borderline contribution of higher FF. In renal transplants higher BMI is independently associated with higher GFR and FF one year posttransplant, suggesting glomerular hyperfiltration with altered afferent-efferent balance. Mechanisms underlying the long-term prognostic impact of hyperfiltration deserve further exploration.     

Urinary Albumin Excretion and the Risk of Graft Loss and Death in Proteinuric and Non-proteinuric Renal Transplant Recipients

BACKGROUND: Microalbuminuria and macroalbuminuria constitute risk factors for ESRD and death in non-transplanted populations. Whether microalbuminuria (especially in non-proteinuric patients) and macroalbuminuria constitute risk factors for graft loss and death is presently unknown in renal transplantation. METHODS: We retrospectively assessed the association between urinary albumin excretion (UAE) and ESRD and death in renal transplantation. RESULTS: UAE was measured in 616 (397 proteinuric; 219 non-proteinuric patients) renal transplant recipients. They were grafted for 62 months (range: 6-192). During the 40 months (3.7-99) thereafter, 31 patients underwent dialysis and 32 died. Microalbuminuria (vs. normoalbuminuria) and macroalbuminuria (vs. microalbuminuria) were powerful risk factors for graft loss [OR: 14.25 (2.88-52.3) and 16.41 (7.46-36.0), respectively, both p < 0.0001], even after adjustments on renal function and diabetes. Among the 219 non-proteinuric patients, microalbuminuria (vs. normoalbuminuria) was a significant risk factor for graft loss [OR: 23.09 (1.93-276.4), p = 0.0132]. Both microalbuminuria (vs. normoalbuminuria) [OR: 5.55 (2.43-12.66), p < 0.0001] and macroalbuminuria (vs. microalbuminuria) [OR: 4.12 (1.65-10.29), p = 0.0024] were predictive of death. CONCLUSIONS: Microalbuminuria and macroalbuminuria are powerful independent predictors of ESRD and death. Microalbuminuria is a risk factor for graft loss even in non-proteinuric patients. UAE provides additional information on renal and patient prognosis as compared to proteinuria and renal function.