Meta-analysis of basiliximab for immunoprophylaxis in renal transplantation

Background

Basiliximab is a high-affinity chimeric monoclonal antibody directed against the α-chain of the interleukin (IL)-2 receptor. Individual studies have shown that it is highly effective in preventing acute rejection and causes no measurable incremental toxicity. However, incorporation of basiliximab immunoprophylaxis into routine practice depends upon the demonstration of benefit across treatment regimens and quantitation of the treatment effect.

Methods

This study employed a meta-analysis to examine the clinical benefit of basiliximab. Parameter estimates were derived from four randomised prospective double-blind studies conducted in 93 renal transplant centres in 18 countries. A total of 1185 adult primary allograft recipients were randomised within the centres to receive either basiliximab 20mg intravenously on days 0 and 4 or placebo, in addition to double or triple immunosuppression consisting of cyclosporin-microemulsion (Neoral®¹), corticosteroids, and azathioprine or mycophenolate mofetil. Key clinical events included patient and graft survival, graft rejection and complications. Analysis was performed using a variable model; odds ratios and the numbers needed to treat (NNT) to benefit or to harm one patient were calculated for each principal outcome at 6 or 12 months post-transplant.

Results

Basiliximab reduced the relative risk (RR) and absolute risk (AR) of clinical and biopsy-proven acute graft rejection across all treatment regimens. The overall RR of clinical acute graft rejection was decreased by 35% in patients receiving basiliximab. AR was reduced by 15.6% (pooled incidence: 28.8% vs 44.4%, p < 0.0001), and the NNT for efficacy was six. The reduction in RR of biopsy-proven rejection was similar (32%) with an absolute risk reduction (ARR) of 11.7% (pooled incidence: 25.1% vs 36.8%, p < 0.0001) and NNT of nine over 6 months. There was a concomitant reduction in the risk of graft loss which did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.14). The RR of graft loss was reduced by 26% with an AR reduction of 2.3% (pooled incidence: 6.4% vs 8.7%) and an NNT of 42 over 6 months. The risk of death was unchanged.

Conclusions

Immunoprophylaxis with basiliximab produces a significant reduction in the RR and AR of clinical and biopsy-proven acute graft rejection with a trend towards a concomitant reduction in the risk of graft loss. The magnitude of protection provided by basiliximab, the fact that it is observed across treatment regimens and the safety of this therapy are arguments for its routine use in renal transplantation.     

Peritubular capillary C4d deposition in chronic allograft dysfunction

Peritubular capillary (PTC) C4d staining represents a marker for acute humoral rejection, however, the impact of positive staining on chronic allograft dysfunction has received little attention. Ninety-three renal allograft biopsies from 93 patients were selected from a total of 174 renal allograft biopsies, which were obtained 6 months or more after transplantation (median: 89 months). Fresh frozen renal tissue was stained with monoclonal antibody against C4d. Sixteen of 93 biopsies showed C4d staining in PTC. C4d staining was positive in 40% of acute rejection cases (n=15) and 21% of chronic rejection cases (n=24). When the samples were divided according to C4d positivity, the C4d (+) group had a higher proportion of acute rejection than the C4d (-) group. However, no significant difference was observed between the two groups in terms of the prevalence of chronic rejection. Degrees of histological injury including tubulitis, interstitial inflammation and interstitial fibrosis were not significantly different between C4d (+) and C4d (-) groups. However, the 2-year graft survival rate after biopsy was lower in the C4d (+) group than in the C4d (-) group (24.8% versus 59.0%, p=0.1255). C4d staining in PTC is associated with late acute rejection, but not with chronic rejection based on conventional morphologic criteria in patients with chronic allograft dysfunction.     

肾移植受者血清sFas和sFasL变化及在早期急性排异反应预测中的应用

背景：细胞凋亡在移植免疫和移植物功能丧失发生过程中起十分重要的作用,其中Fas/FasL系统被认为是细胞凋亡参与肾移植的急性排异反应过程的主要途径之一。 目的：分析肾移植受者术后血清sFas和sFasL水平变化及其在预测早期急性排异反应中的应用价值。 方法：肾移植受者80例分为肾功能稳定组(49例)、急性排斥反应组(23例)和环孢素A中毒组(8例)。另选择性别、年龄与肾移植受者相匹配的健康体检者50例为对照组。肾移植受者术后均常规使用环孢素A+硫唑嘌呤+泼尼松三联免疫抑制治疗。发生急性排斥反应时给予每日甲基强的松龙6~8 mg/kg冲击治疗,3 d为1个疗程。采用ELISA法检测患者手术前后的血清sFas和sFasL水平。 结果与结论：肾移植组患者手术前的血清sFas和sFasL水平均明显高于对照组(P  < 0.05)。急性排斥反应组血清sFas、sFasL水平高于相同时间段肾功能稳定组(P < 0.05)。环孢素A中毒的肾移植患者术后各时间点血清sFas、sFasL水平变化与肾功能稳定组基本相同,差异无显著性意义。提示动态监测血清sFas、sFasL水平可能对早期诊断及鉴别诊断肾移植急性排斥反应具有重要参考价值。     

B-cell complement dependent cytotoxic crossmatch positivity is an independent risk factor for long-term renal allograft survival

The clinical significance of positive B-cell complement-dependent cytotoxicity crossmatching (B-CDC) in renal transplant recipients remains unclear. We reviewed 20 recipients with isolated B-CDC positivity at the time of transplantation. We compared the clinical characteristics, acute rejection and long-term graft survival between positive and negative B-CDC patients (n = 602). The number of retransplant recipients and positivity for T- and B-flowcytometric crossmatch was greater in positive B-CDC patients than in negative B-CDC patients. The overall acute rejection rate of positive B-CDC patients was significantly higher (P < 0.001), and Banff grade II or III cellular rejection was more frequently observed in positive B-CDC patients (P = 0.037). Compared with negative B-CDC patients, acute cellular rejection as a cause of graft loss was more prevalent (P = 0.020) and rescue rejection therapy was more frequently needed in positive B-CDC patients (P = 0.007). The allograft survival rate of positive B-CDC patients was significantly lower than that of negative B-CDC patients (P < 0.001), and B-CDC positivity independently increased the risk of allograft failure 2.31-fold (95% CI 1.15-4.67; P = 0.019) according to multivariate analysis. In conclusion, isolated B-CDC positivity is an independent long-term prognostic factor for allograft survival.     

Outcome of renal transplantation in patients with chronic virus hepatitis

The objective is to present results of renal transplantation in patients with end-stage renal disease and chronic virus C/B hepatitis. We retrospectively reviewed outcome of transplantation in patients having received renal allograft from 1985 to 2009 at Zagreb University Hospital Center: graft function, graft and patient survival, hepatic function, and complications of transplantation, i.e. episodes of acute rejection, manifestation of diabetes mellitus, and proteinuria. There were 91 patients, 50 men and 41 women, mean age 40.9. Patients were previously treated with dialysis for 7.8 years, with the mean follow-up after transplantation of 7.3 years. The most frequent diagnoses of end-stage renal disease were chronic glomerulonephritis, reflux nephropathy, tubulointerstitial nephritis, renal hypoplasia/aplasia, and polycystic renal disease. Good graft function (creatinine 200 micromol/L) was recorded in 59.5% of patients. One-year, 5-year and 10-year graft survival was 93%, 64% and 39%, and 1-year, 5-year and 10-year patient survival after transplantation was 98%, 72% and 42%, respectively. Normal values of liver chemistry (AST, ALT) were found in 59.5% and elevated values in 40.5% of patients. Episodes of acute rejection occurred in 56% of patients. Proteinuria was recorded in 27%, diabetes mellitus in 18% and elevated blood pressure in 66% of patients. Patients with chronic C/B virus hepatitis having undergone renal transplantation had worse graft function and worse graft and patient survival than patients without chronic hepatitis. The most common causes of death were cardiovascular diseases, cerebrovascular diseases and cirrhosis hepatitis.     

The clinical and pathologic implications of plasmacytic infiltrates in percutaneous renal allograft biopsies

Plasmacytic infiltrates in renal allograft biopsies are uncommon and morphologically distinctive lesions that may represent variants of acute rejection. This study sought significant clinical and pathologic determinants that might have influenced development of these lesions and assessed their prognostic significance. Renal allograft biopsies (n = 19), from 19 patients, with tubulointerstitial inflammatory infiltrates containing abundant plasma cells, composing 32 +/- 8% of the infiltrating mononuclear cells, were classified using Banff '97 criteria. Clonality of the infiltrates was determined by immunoperoxidase staining for kappa and lambda light chains and polymerase chain reaction for immunoglobulin heavy-chain gene rearrangements, using V(H) gene framework 3 and JH consensus primers. In situ hybridization for Epstein-Barr virus encoded RNA (EBER) was performed in 17 cases. The clinical features, histology, and outcome of these cases were compared with kidney allograft biopsies (n = 17) matched for time posttransplantation and type of rejection by Banff '97 criteria, with few plasma cells (7 +/- 5%). Sixteen of 19 biopsies (84%) with plasmacytic infiltrates had EBER-negative (in 14 cases tested) polyclonal plasma cell infiltrates that were classifiable as acute rejection (types 1A [4], 1B [10], and 2A [2]). These biopsies were obtained between 10 and 112 months posttransplantation. Graft loss from acute and/or chronic rejection was 50% at 1 year and 63% at 3 years, and the median time to graft failure was 4.5 months after biopsy. There was no significant difference in overall survival or time to graft failure compared with the controls. Three of 19 biopsies (16%) had EBER-negative polyclonal plasmacytic hyperplasia, mixed monoclonal and polyclonal polymorphous B cell hyperplasia, and monoclonal plasmacytoma-like posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) and were obtained at 17 months, 12 weeks, and 7 years after transplantation, respectively. Graft nephrectomies were performed at 1, 19, and 5 months after biopsy, respectively. Plasmacytic infiltrates in renal allografts comprise a spectrum of lesions from acute rejection to PTLD, with a generally poor prognosis for long-term graft survival.     

Acute rejection and graft survival in renal transplanted patients with viral diseases.

Transplanted patients are susceptible to viral infections; thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the features of acute rejections and the outcome of the renal graft in transplanted patients with herpes virus diseases. Renal biopsies from 30 renal transplanted patients undergoing early acute rejection (type IA and IB according to the Banff 97 classification) were evaluated. In total, 15 of these patients experienced cytomegalovirus (CMV) or Epstein-Barr virus disease within the first year following transplantation (group I) and 15 patients showed no evidence of viral infection (group II). No significant differences between the groups in terms of age, male/female ratio, living/cadaveric donor ratio, cold ischemia time, HLA A-B matching, pretransplant panel reactive antibody test, occurrence of post-transplant tubular necrosis, plasma levels of cyclosporin A and mean percent increase of serum creatinine at the time of the biopsy were observed. In group I biopsies, the mean number of interstitial plasma cells, as well as the mean number of CD79a-positive cells (B lymphocytes and plasma cells) was significantly higher than in group II (P<0.01 and <0.01, respectively). There was a positive correlation between the number of infections and the number of plasma cells (P<0.05). In transplanted patients, CMV can trigger the formation of anti-endothelial cell antibodies, which have been proposed to play a role in antibody-mediated rejections. We investigated whether a deposition of C4d, a marker of antibody-mediated reactions, was present in renal peritubular capillaries. In group I C4d deposition was found in five cases, while in group II it was not observed (P<0.05). In group I, 7/15 patients developed chronic allograft nephropathy vs 1/15 patients in group II (P<0.05). The estimated 1-, 5- and 8-year cumulative graft survival rates were 80, 66 and 57%, respectively, in group I, while in group II the estimated 8-year cumulative survival rate was 100% (P<0.05). In conclusion, acute rejection biopsies of patients with viral infections displayed plasma cell infiltrates and, in several cases, C4d deposition. Our study suggests a role of B lymphocytes in the pathology of these rejections and confirms the association between viral infections and poor graft survival.     

Intravenous immunoglobulin and plasmapheresis in acute humoral rejection: experience in renal allograft transplantation

Acute humoral rejection (AHR) in kidney transplantation is associated with higher rates of allograft loss when compared with acute cellular rejection (ACR). Treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) combined with plasmapheresis (PP) has been used recently in many centers. We report the incidence, clinical characteristics, and outcome of patients with AHR treated with IVIG and PP. All patients (n=519) at our institution who underwent kidney transplantation between January 1999 and August 2003 were retrospectively analyzed and classified according to biopsy results into three groups: AHR, ACR, and no rejection. AHR was diagnosed in 23 patients (4.5%) and ACR in 75 patients (15%). Mean follow-up was 844+/-23 days. Female sex, black race, and high panel-reactive antibody were risk factors for AHR. Most AHR patients (22 of 23) were treated with IVIG and PP. Two-year graft survival was numerically worse in patients with AHR versus ACR (78% vs. 85%, p=0.5) but the difference was not statistically significant. Graft survival after AHR treated with IVIG and PP is much better than it has been historically. IVIG in combination with PP is an effective treatment for AHR. Graft survival in this setting is similar to graft survival in patients with ACR.     

Pre- and posttransplantation allosensitization in heart allograft recipients: major impact of de novo alloantibody production on allograft survival

The involvement of humoral response in allograft rejection has been suggested by both immunologic and histochemistry studies. In the present study, we explored the role of alloantibodies in a large cohort of heart allograft recipients followed for 15 years. Sequential samples of sera were obtained from 950 recipients of heart allografts before and after transplantation at the time when protocol endomyocardial biopsies were performed. The presence of anti-human leukocyte antigen (HLA) antibodies was investigated using complement mediated cytotoxicity and solid phase assay (SPA). Our data reveal an inverse correlation between the development of alloantibodies after transplantation and heart allograft survival. The 15-year graft survival was highest in patients who never developed alloantibodies (70%) or who displayed them only before transplantation (71%); graft survival in recipients who showed antibodies both before and after transplantation (56%), or only after transplantation (47%), was lower. The deleterious effect of antibodies on graft survival started 8 years after transplantation, suggesting that the production of de novo antibodies may have been triggered by some later event. We found that patients with de novo antibodies appearing more than 1 year after transplantation had the poorest survival. Furthermore, the development of de novo antibodies was preceded in 76% of these patients by cellular rejection grade 3 or higher, according to the International Society for Heart Transplantation (ISHT) grading criteria. Development of antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) had a significant negative impact on graft survival (16% in AMR(+) vs 63% in AMR(-) patients, p = 0.0008). Of the 23 patients with AMR, 21 displayed cytotoxic donor-specific antibodies (DSA) at the time of diagnosis, and in 18 of these cases SPA showed that they were directed against the donors' HLA. The data demonstrate that the detection of alloantibodies permits a better definition of AMR in heart allograft recipients. Identification of patients at risk for developing AMR is of great importance for early treatment of rejection episodes.     

CMV disease in CMV-mismatched renal transplant recipients with prophylactic low dose valaciclovir.

BACKGROUND: Valaciclovir (VACV) 2 g q.i.d. for 3 months after kidney transplantation has been shown, (Lowance et al., NEJM 1999; 340: 1462-70), to reduce CMV disease from 45 to 16% and rejection from 52 to 26% in CMV-negative (D+R-) recipients. Neurotoxic side effects, however, were frequent, and 5% of the patients experienced hallucinations. We hypothesised that a lower dosage of VACV would prevent CMV disease with fewer CNS side effects. METHODS: Since September 1998 all CMV-mismatched renal transplant recipients received VACV 1 g t.i.d. for 3 months posttransplantation (PT). The incidence of CMV disease, rejection and neurotoxic side effects during 6 months PT was studied retrospectively in, up to now, 25 patients. RESULTS: 24% (6/25) of the patients developed CMV disease. The mean time for onset of symptoms was 145 days (92-191). Five of the patients had mild-moderate symptoms and recovered after ganciclovir therapy for 3 weeks. One patient was diagnosed with a CMV-associated retinitis on day 191 PT. The rate of biopsy-confirmed acute graft rejection was 32% (8/25). 20% (5/25) of the patients had a serum creatinine of >200 micromol/l after 6 months, including one patient on hemodialysis. CNS adverse effects were not observed. None out of nine patients with basiliximab induction and VACV developed CMV disease. One patient with basiliximab that did not receive VACV, developed a symptomatic CMV-infection. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of CMV disease was lower than in historical controls at our centre, and the time to onset of symptoms was prolonged. Compared to the 8 g VACV/day study, CMV disease and graft rejection was more frequent, but no neurotoxic side effects were observed. A combination with basiliximab induction and VACV 3 g/day shows promising results, but randomised studies are needed for confirmation.     

PRURITUS AND HLA IN HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is known to increase morbidity and mortality in the dialysis population. Renal transplantation is an offered treatment option after a careful pretransplant evaluation. This study assessed the impact of HCV infection on patient and allograft survival rates in a selected group of dialysis patients and kidney transplant recipients.
The study included 252 end-stage renal disease patients who were receiving hemodialysis (HD) treatment or who received renal transplantation at our centre in 1995–96. Of the total, 116 [94 HCV (–) and 22 HCV (+)] underwent transplantation and 134 [106 HCV (–) and 30 HCV (+)] remained on HD. We retrospectively investigated 5 years of follow-up findings in the records of these patients. All 22 HCV (+) individuals underwent liver biopsy to ensure there was no advanced liver disease before transplantation. None of the recipients or HD patients showed decompensation related to liver disease during follow up.
The overall 5-year patient survival rates for the kidney recipient and HD groups were 85.2% and 74.5%, respectively. Comparison of outcomes for the HCV (+) recipients had a significantly higher 5-year survival rate than the HCV (+) HD patients ( P <0.04). The 3-year graft survival rates for the HCV (+) and HCV (–) transplant recipients were comparable, but the risks of chronic rejection and graft loss at 5 years were higher in the HCV (+) group ( P <0.02, P <0.006, respectively). In conclusion, renal transplantation should be the preferred therapy in HCV-infected dialysis patients because it improves the survival rates. HCV infection is associated with increased rates of chronic rejection and graft loss at 5 years post-transplantation.     

血浆置换与免疫球蛋白高敏受者脱敏治疗肾移植

背景：高敏受者肾移植前应用静脉注射免疫球蛋白尚无统一方案,而国内应用较少。 目的：探讨采用血浆置换联合静脉注射免疫球蛋白干预的方法,对肾移植高敏受者进行脱敏治疗的可行性及效果分析。 方法：28例肾移植患者进行人类白细胞抗原交叉配型,并进行脱敏及血浆置换联合静脉注射免疫球蛋白,观察排斥反应发生率和移植肾存活时间及功能。 结果与结论：28例脱敏患者均未发生超急性排斥反应,9例(32%)发生急性排斥反应,其中5例(18%)为急性体液性排斥,所有排斥反应均逆转。平均随访(50±24)个月,移植后1和2年平均血肌酐分别为(112.18±17.20)和(129.78±36.52) μmol/L。移植肾12和48个月年存活率分别为95.0%和78.0%。提示采用血浆置换联合静脉注射免疫球蛋白能有效地对高敏受者进行脱敏治疗,移植后急性体液性排斥发生率高是该方案的主要问题,随访表明近期效果可以,远期效果有待观察。     

肾移植后急性体液排斥反应：5年同一机构296例随访*

背景：肾移植后急性体液排斥反应虽然发生率不高,但对移植物功能恢复可造成严重影响,是移植物早期丢失的主要原因。 目的：分析肾移植后急性体液排斥反应早期诊断和防治的意义。 方法：选择接受肾移植后规律随访的受者296例,其中移植前群体反应性抗体阳性受者26例,阴性受者270例。酶联免疫吸附试验动态监测肾移植受后外周血中的群体反应性抗体和供者特异性抗体,免疫组织化学染色观察穿刺活检组织中C4d的沉积及浸润淋巴细胞表面分子标记,按Banff 2005标准结合临床相关指标诊断急性体液排斥反应。 结果与结论：26例移植前群体反应性抗体阳性受者中6例(23%)移植后发生了急性体液排斥反应,270例阴性受者中19例(7%)发生了急性体液排斥反应,差异有显著性意义(P < 0.01)。发生急性体液排斥反应的患者中22例(88%)外周血清中检测到供者特异性抗体,271例无急性体液排斥反应的患者中仅1例检出供者特异性抗体,差异具有显著性意义(P < 0.01)。急性体液排斥反应受者中C4d阳性率为80%,未发生急性体液排斥反应的患者C4d阳性率仅为6.7%,差异具有显著性意义(P < 0.001)。肾移植后早期监测群体反应性抗体和供者特异性抗体水平,通过穿刺活检观察移植肾组织中的C4d沉积情况,可及时诊断急性体液排斥反应,有效改善移植物功能并提高移植物存活率。关键词：肾移植;供者特异性抗体;急性体液排斥反应;C4d;利妥昔单抗  doi:10.3969/j.issn.1673-8225.2012.18.005 中图分类号: R617  文献标识码: A   文章编号: 1673-8225(2012)18-03249-06     

Emodin Prolongs Recipient Survival Time After Orthotopic Liver Transplantation in Rats by Polarizing the Th1/Th2 Paradigm to Th2

Advances in immunosuppressive drugs have improved the short‐term survival of liver transplantation. However, drug toxicities have been a serious problem in patients after long‐term administration. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a novel immunosuppressant with low‐toxicity. We investigated the immunosuppressive effects of Emodin on acute graft rejection following liver transplantation in rats. The recipient rats of orthotopic liver transplantation were divided into groups as follows: isograft+NS group, allograft+NS group, and allograft+emodin group. The survival time of the recipients in each group was recorded. Histopathological changes in the liver, as well as serum concentrations of IL‐2, TNF‐α, and IL‐10 and their expressions in liver tissue were determined. Our results showed that Emodin treatment prolonged liver allograft survival time and inhibited histopathologic changes of acute graft rejection. The rejection activity index in groups isograft+NS, allograft+NS, and allograft+emodin were 1.52 ± 0.37, 6.95 ± 0.75, and 4.23 ± 0.51, respectively (P < 0.01, isograft+NS group vs. allograft+emodin group and allograft+NS group vs. allograft+emodin group). The serum levels of IL‐2 and TNF‐α were down‐regulated but that of IL‐10 was up‐regulated by Emodin. Serum levels of IL‐2 and TNF‐α were higher in allograft+NS group than the allograft+emodin group, but that of IL‐10 showed opposite effects (P < 0.05 or 0.01). Changes in the expression of these cytokines in transplanted liver tissue were consistent with changes in serum concentrations. These results demonstrate that Emodin has therapeutic potentials for alleviating acute rejection following liver transplantation in rats and prolonging liver allograft survival. The mechanisms underlying this effect may be associated with polarizing the Th1/Th2 paradigm to Th2. Anat Rec, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

阿伦和达珠单抗与抗胸腺蛋白对肾移植的有效性及安全性比较

背景：免疫抑制剂是通过影响机体的体液免疫和细胞免疫抑制机体的免疫功能来完成抗急性排斥反应,提高人/肾存活率。 目的：比较3种免疫抑制诱导剂阿伦单抗、达珠单抗和抗胸腺蛋白在肾移植免疫诱导中的有效性与安全性。 方法：运用Cochrane系统评价法,检索1966年至2011年PUBMED,EMBASE等数据库。纳入阿伦单抗、达珠单抗和抗胸腺蛋白3种药物在肾移植中的随机对照试验(RCT)进行Meta分析。 结果与结论：9个RCT的777例患者纳入分析,3种药物24个月的人/肾存活率和急性排斥发生率差异无显著性意义(均P > 0.05)。随访36个月时,阿伦单抗感染率显著低于抗胸腺蛋白(P < 0.05)。分析结果表明,3种药物的免疫诱导效果相近;随访36个月时,阿伦单抗较抗胸腺蛋白的感染率低。 中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：组织构建;骨细胞;软骨细胞;细胞培养;成纤维细胞;血管内皮细胞;骨质疏松;组织工程全文链接：     

移植肾穿刺20例活组织病理检查的临床价值

背景：根据临床表现、无创性辅助检查及临床经验来判断肾移植后移植肾功能异常的原因常常会陷入困境,经皮肾穿刺活组织检查则可提供重要的循证学依据。 目的：探讨移植肾穿刺活组织检查的临床意义。 方法：回顾性分析20例移植肾穿刺活检病理资料及相应调整治疗后的临床结果资料。 结果与结论：20例患者病理诊断为急性排斥反应7例(35%),可疑性急性排斥反应2例(10%),可疑性急性排斥反应加免疫抑制剂中毒1例(5%),免疫抑制剂中毒3例(15%),慢性移植肾肾病3例(15%),未见明确异常3例(15%),肾小管坏死1例(5%)。相应调整治疗方案后,移植肾功能恢复正常9例(45%),移植肾功能好转7例(35%),肾功能无明显变化3例(15%),肾功能轻度恶化1例(5%)。结果可见肾穿刺活组织检查对肾移植后肾功能异常的病因诊断有重要的价值,有利于指导治疗方案的调整。     

Double kidney transplantation: initial experience of the Bologna Transplant Center

AIM: Double-kidney transplantation is performed using organs from marginal donors with a histological score not suitable for single kidney transplantation. The aim of the study is to verify the results obtained with double-kidney transplantation in terms of graft and patient survival and complications. METHODS: Between September 2001 and September 2004, 16 double-kidney transplantations were performed in our center. The kidneys were all perfused with Celsior solution and the mean cold ischemia time was 17.6+/-2.7 hours. In all cases a pre-transplant kidney biopsy was performed to evaluate the damage. Immunosuppression was tacrolimus based for all patients. RESULTS: Eight patients had good renal postoperative function while the other eight had acute tubular necrosis. Two of the patients who had severe acute tubular necrosis never recovered renal function. There was only one episode of acute rejection, while the incidence of urinary complications was 31.2%; there were two surgical revisions for intestinal perforation.The graft and recipient survival was 78.1% and 100% and 78.1% and 93.7% at 3 and 36 months. CONCLUSIONS: Double-kidney transplantation is a safe way to face the organ shortage. Moreover the score used in this study is useful to determine whether a kidney should be refused or suitable for single or dual-kidney transplantation. The results of our initial experience are encouraging, but this series is too small in number to consent a conclusive statement.     

Antibody Induction Therapy in Renal Transplant Patients Receiving Calcineurin-Inhibitor Immunosuppressive Regimens

Acute rejection during the first year post-transplant is a key predictor of graft survival after renal transplantation. Use of induction therapy with a lymphocyte-depleting agent or an interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) antagonist can provide effective protection against rejection in the first critical weeks and months post-transplant. Polyclonal lymphocyte-depleting antibodies are associated with a low incidence of rejection but evidence of their benefit in terms of graft survival is lacking. Thymoglobulin appears to offer superior graft outcomes compared with generic antithymocyte globulin (ATG). The most frequent adverse events are symptoms of cytokine release syndrome, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and tachycardia; data on whether polyclonal antibody use increases the risk of lymphoma are conflicting. Muromonab CD3 (OKT3), a monoclonal lymphocyte-depleting antibody, is efficacious but a high incidence of cytokine release syndrome and increased risk of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease have limited its use. Following their recent introduction, the IL-2R antagonists basiliximab and daclizumab are now used widely, after randomized trials demonstrated that addition to calcineurin inhibitor-based therapy significantly reduced acute rejection by approximately 30-40%. Meta-analyses and registry analysis suggest that addition of an IL-2R antagonist may improve graft survival. The safety profile of IL-2R antagonists is indistinguishable from placebo, with no apparent difference in incidence of infection or post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease. IL-2R antagonists and polyclonal lymphocyte-depleting antibodies (with delayed cyclosporine) offer equivalent efficacy in standard-risk populations; in a trial of high-risk patients, acute rejection rate and graft outcomes were improved with Thymoglobulin. Tolerability is superior with IL-2R antagonists: cytokine release syndrome and hematologic disturbances (notably leukopenia) are significantly more frequent with polyclonal antibodies. Cytomegalovirus infection may also be more common with lymphocyte-depleting antibodies. Thus, in patients at high risk of graft loss, Thymoglobulin may be the preferred choice for induction therapy, while for all other patients, IL-2R antagonists should be considered first-line choice for induction therapy.     

肾移植后吗替麦考酚酯联合低剂量他克莫司加皮质激素的应用

背景：足量吗替麦考酚酯联合低剂量他克莫司和皮质激素可能是目前针对肾移植受者的理想治疗方案,该方案因其具有低肾毒性以及较少的不良反应和较强的免疫抑制作用已在临床上开始逐渐普及。 目的：以吗替麦考酚酯联合标准剂量他克莫司加皮质激素为对照,评估吗替麦考酚酯联合低剂量他克莫司加皮质激素在肾移植患者中的疗效和安全性。 方法：210例首次接受单一器官同种异体移植的肾移植成人受者被随机分配到他克莫司标准剂量组(n=104)和他克莫司低剂量组(n=106),并接受12个月的治疗。主要疗效指标包括肾移植后第12个月慢性移植物损伤指数(CADI)以及肾小球滤过率;次要疗效指标主要包括急性排斥反应发生率、治疗失败率以及患者和移植肾的存活率等;同时对新发移植后糖尿病,新发高血压,新发高血脂等安全性指标进行评价。 结果与结论：两组绝大多数患者使用了足量的吗替麦考酚酯(1.5 g/d及以上)。在他克莫司剂量方面,他克莫司标准剂量组大多数受试者的实际血药浓度水平偏低,与低剂量组的实际血药浓度水平类似,由此反映了吗替麦考酚酯联合低剂量他克莫司和皮质激素方案已广泛为目前临床医师接受和使用。因此,两组也表现出类似的疗效和安全性：他克莫司标准剂量组和低剂量组肾移植后12个月肾脏病理改变的平均CADI评分分别为1.82分和2.13分(P=0.081 3),平均肾小球滤过率分别为77.08 mL/min和       80.12 mL/min(P=0.794 9),急性排斥反应发生率分别为2.6%和5.2%(P=0.681 2),患者和移植肾存活率分别高达100%和99.1%(P=1.000 0)。在安全性方面,他克莫司标准剂量组和低剂量组新发移植后糖尿病的比例分别为2.9%和1.9%,新发高血脂的比例分别为2.9%和3.8%。结果显示在吗替麦考酚酯联合他克莫司和皮质激素的肾移植免疫抑制治疗方案中,足量吗替麦考酚酯的使用,可以减少他克莫司的剂量,在保持较强的免疫抑制作用即成功地降低急性排斥反应发生率的同时,显著减少他克莫司所致的肾毒性、高血脂和新发糖尿病等不良反应,较好地达到了疗效和毒性间的平衡。