One-year posttransplant renal function is a strong predictor of long-term kidney function: results from the Neoral-MOST Observational Study

BACKGROUND: Peritransplant risk factors influence short-term and long-term graft survival, and 1-year serum creatinine is known to predict long-term graft survival. To examine interrelationships between risk factors, renal function at 1 year, and long-term graft function in patients maintained on cyclosporine, we analyzed data collected from 10,692 de novo or maintenance renal transplant recipients in an ongoing international, prospective, observational study--Neoral-MOST (Multinational Observational Study in renal Transplantation). The effect of donor age, delayed graft function, acute rejection, donor type, panel-reactive antibodies, and previous graft on 1- and 5-year renal function and their relationship to 1-year serum creatinine was assessed. RESULTS: Donor age, delayed graft function, acute rejection, and donor type significantly increased the risk for serum creatinine > 130 micromol/L at 1 year posttransplant, and 1-year serum creatinine was the strongest predictor of 5-year renal function. After adjustment for 1-year serum creatinine, an ongoing influence was observed for donor age, donor type, and previous graft. Delayed graft function and acute rejection had a significant effect on serum creatinine at year 1 but no additional impact on long-term graft function. CONCLUSIONS: Serum creatinine at 1 year is influenced by risk factors known to affect overall graft survival and is predictive of 5-year renal graft function. The effects of delayed graft function and acute rejection appear to be limited to their influence on serum creatinine at 1 year, whereas donor type and previous graft predominantly affect later stages of graft life.     

Morbid obesity is not a contraindication to kidney transplantation

BACKGROUND: Concern that morbidly obese (body mass index [BMI] 35) kidney transplant recipients have worse outcomes than non-morbidly obese recipients leads many transplant centers to deny them the benefit of kidney transplantation. These concerns are supported by guidelines recently published by the American Society of Transplantation. However, successfully transplanted morbidly obese persons have a survival advantage over those that remain on dialysis. It is our practice to evaluate morbidly obese transplant candidates for transplantation under the same criteria used for nonobese candidates. This report reviews our experience with morbidly obese kidney transplant recipients having a three year follow-up. METHODS: Outcomes for 23 morbidly obese (BMI 35, range 37 to 56) kidney transplant recipients transplanted between January 1995 and February 2000 were compared with 224 nonobese (BMI 25) kidney recipients transplanted during the same period. RESULTS: Patient and graft survivals were similar between both groups. Although 3-year graft survival for morbidly obese recipients of cadaver organs was 75% compared with 90% for the nonobese group, this finding was not statistically significant, and 3-year graft survival was 100% for morbidly obese recipients of living donor organs compared with 91% for nonobese recipients. Morbidly obese recipients had significantly longer hospital stays, higher readmission rates, and a higher wound infection rate than nonobese recipients. CONCLUSIONS: We found that morbidly obese persons have 3-year graft and patient survivals similar to nonobese persons. Although they also have greater complications and greater numbers of days in the hospital, we believe these reasons are not sufficient to deny morbidly obese persons the survival and quality-of-life advantages of kidney transplantation.     

Estimated and Measured Donor Creatinine Clearance are Poor Predictors of Long-Term Renal Graft Function and Survival

The objective of this study was to evaluate estimated and measured donor renal function in predicting graft function long-term and to identify donor criteria associated with nonacceptable graft prognosis. In 200 consecutive cadaver donors creatinine clearance was measured at explantation and estimated using the Cockcroft formula on admission serum creatinine. Graft function was evaluated in recipients (n = 387) by 24-h creatinine clearance regularly during 3 years after transplantation. Measured creatinine clearance correlated to some extent with long-term graft function, while Cockcroft estimation was slightly superior and similar to using donor age only. Kidneys from donors with intra-operative creatinine clearance < or = 55 mL/min (median 50 mL/min) produced acceptable recipient graft function of 48 mL/min at 3 years and 76% 3-year graft survival. Donor age > or =60 years resulted in clearance at 3 years of 29 mL/min and 78% 3-year graft survival; adding the criteria of admission Cockcroft < or =60 mL/min, graft function at 3 years (28 mL/min) and 3-year graft survival (76%) were similar. In conclusion, creatinine-based estimates of the functional capacity of the donor kidney, calculated or intra-operatively measured, do little to improve the ability of donor age alone to predict long-term allograft function after renal transplantation, and nonacceptable donors are not discriminated.     

Elderly donor kidney transplant: factors involved in graft survival

PURPOSE: To evaluate whether control of risk factors associated with worse results has improved graft survival, with respect of renal function quality and other factors influencing graft survival: recipient age, immunosuppressive therapy, cold ischemia time, acute tubular necrosis (ATN), acute rejection episodes (ARE) and 1-month creatinine levels. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective review of 147 patients who underwent kidney transplant between 1995 and 2001. Inclusion criteria were donor and recipient age older than 60 years, first renal transplant, follow-up period longer than 12 months, donor creatinine clearance higher than 75 mL/min, and less than 20% glomerulosclerosis observed in donor renal biopsy. RESULTS: Graft survivals were 87%, 83%, 78%, and 70% at first, second, third, and fifth year after transplantation, respectively. Mean serum creatinine levels were 2.3 mg/dL and mean follow-up time, 46 months. Multivariate analysis using a Cox regression model identified donor age, ARE, and serum creatinine levels 1 month after surgery as independent variables affecting graft survival. Recipient age, immunosuppressive therapy, and serum creatinine levels at 1 month after surgery were predictive variables of recipient survival. DISCUSSION: Renal transplantation is an accepted therapeutic option in elderly patients with chronic renal insufficiency, if both donor and recipient are carefully selected.     

Donor Kidney Glomerular Filtration Rate and Post-Transplant Graft Function

This study aimed to estimate the relationship between the single kidney glomerular filtration rate (SKGFR) of a planned kidney transplant and the subsequent graft function and survival of living related kidney recipients (LKRs). Of 180 LKRs with the graft functioning for more than a year, 70 patients without delayed graft function (DGF) or acute rejection (AR) were selected for the study. According to SKGFR, assessed by 99mTcDTPA, the patients were allocated into Group 1, receiving kidney with SKGFR < 50 mL/min (32 patients), and Group 2, with SKGFR > 50 mL/min (38 patients). The database included donor, recipient and transplant variables. No significant difference was found between the patient and graft survival rate, creatinine clearance (CCr) and the rate of CCr change between the groups. Additional evaluation revealed no significant influence of the ratio of SKGFR and the recipient's body weight/size on patient and graft outcome. The analysis of factors of influence on patient and graft survival and function revealed the major influence of nonimmunological factors but not of SKGFR of the transplanted kidney. Our study did not confirm the influence of SKGFR on graft function and survival in the LKRs without DGF and AR but the limited number of patients must not be disregarded.     

Preemptive kidney transplant from deceased donors: an advantage in relation to reduced waiting list

BACKGROUND: Preemptive living donor kidney transplantation is associated with better allograft and recipient survival. However, it remains unclear whether preemptive transplantation from deceased donors is beneficial too. An increased number of deceased donors has reduced the waiting list in our hospital in the last years allowing preemptive deceased donor kidney transplantation (PDDKT). AIM: We compared our experience with preemptive transplantation with patients who underwent dialysis before transplantation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-three PDDKT, including 77.5% male patients of overall mean age of 48 +/- 14 years, were performed in our hospital between January 1999 and December 2004 (8% of transplantations). We compared the outcomes of these patients with those of renal transplants in subjects who had undergone dialysis. The donors for both groups had similar characteristic; they were paired donor kidneys in most cases. RESULTS: The types of donors in both groups were: non-heart-beating (49%), heart-beating deceased (27%) or en bloc pediatric (24%). The serum creatinine of the recipients was 6.9 +/- 1.8 mg/dL prior to transplantation, and the creatinine clearance was 14.6 +/- 3.6 mL/min (estimated by the Cockroft-Gault formula). The Charlson comorbidity index adapted for patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (ACKD) was 0.8 +/- 0.2 in the preemptive group versus 1.7 +/- 0.4 in the dialysis group (P < .05). Delayed graft function rates were 0% versus 25% in preemptive vs dialysis groups, respectively. No differences in 1-month or 1-year renal function as determined by serum creatinine were observed between the groups. We did not observe differences in the incidence of acute rejection or 1- and 2-year graft and patient survivals. CONCLUSION: PDDKT is the treatment of choice for ACKD. It is associated with less delayed graft function and similar 2-year graft and patient survivals than kidney transplantation after dialysis. The Charlson index reflected less comorbidity among patients with PDDKT, a finding that must influence long-term outcomes.     

Outcomes of shipped live donor kidney transplants compared with traditional living donor kidney transplants

The disparity between kidney transplant candidates and donors necessitates innovations to increase organ availability. Transporting kidneys allows for living donors and recipients to undergo surgery with a familiar transplant team, city, friends, and family. The effect of shipping kidneys and prolonged cold ischemia time (CIT) with living donor transplantation outcomes is not clearly known. This retrospective matched (age, gender, race, and year of procedure) cohort study compared allograft outcomes for shipped live donor kidney transplants and nonshipped living donor kidney transplants. Fifty‐seven shipped live donor kidneys were transplanted from 31 institutions in 26 cities. The mean shipping distance was 1634 miles (range 123–2811) with mean CIT of 12.1 ± 2.8 h. The incidence of delayed graft function in the shipped cohort was 1.8% (1/57) compared to 0% (0/57) in the nonshipped cohort. The 1‐year allograft survival was 98% in both cohorts. There were no significant differences between the mean serum creatinine values or the rates of serum creatinine decline in the immediate postoperative period even after adjusted for gender and differences in recipient and donor BMI. Despite prolonged CITs, outcomes for shipped live donor kidney transplants were similar when compared to matched nonshipped living donor kidney transplants.     

Dual-kidney transplants: long-term results

BACKGROUND: Dual-kidney transplantation, where two usually aged adult kidneys are placed into an adult recipient, is one way to help alleviate the continuing disparity between the number of patients on the kidney transplant waiting list and those who receive kidney transplants each year. The Dual Kidney Registry was developed to analyze donor and recipient data and outcomes at several centers. METHODS: Two hundred eighty-seven patients who have undergone transplantation since 1994 have been entered into the relational database. The patients were followed yearly after initial entry into the database. RESULTS: The mean donor age was 58+/-13 years and the mean terminal creatinine clearance was 77+/-40 mL/min. The mean glomerular sclerosis on procurement biopsy was 16+/-13%. Delayed graft function (DGF), defined as dialysis in the first 7 days after transplantation, was a predictor of poor outcome, and increased cold storage time was a predictor of DGF. The overall incidence of DGF was 27%. In recipients with prompt graft function (PGF), the mean cold storage time was 22+/-9 hr versus 29+/-10 hr in recipients with DGF (P<0.001). The overall 1- and 5-year graft survival was 86% and 69%, respectively. The 1- and 5-year graft survival rates were significantly better in recipients with PGF (90% and 74%) versus DGF (79% and 54%) (P<0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Cold storage time and DGF have a significant impact on the 1- and 5-year graft survival in recipients of dual-kidney transplants. The 5-year graft survival in recipients of dual-kidney transplants is excellent.     

Intermediate outcomes of dual renal allografts: the University of Washington experience

PURPOSE: The increased survival advantage of renal transplantation with end stage renal disease combined with an increasing incidence of renal disease fuel an increasing disparity between supply and demand for transplantable kidneys. Despite efforts to increase cadaveric organ donation through education and publicity, the number of cadaveric kidneys transplanted has not increased and in the last year was surpassed by kidneys transplanted from living donors. In an effort to maximize cadaver organ donors use of kidneys from expanded criteria donors has been investigated. In select cases both donor kidneys have been transplanted into a single recipient, which is called dual renal transplant. We report on the 4-year dual renal transplant graft and patient outcomes and compare these to age matched single cadaver kidney transplants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of 10 dual renal transplant recipients and 10 age matched single cadaver kidney recipients was performed. All patients underwent transplantation at our university between January 1996 and February 1998. Mean followup was 4.1 years (range 2.5 to 5.1) for the dual kidney recipients and 3.6 (0.0 to 5.5) years for the control group. RESULTS: Of the 10 dual renal transplant recipients 7 remain alive and 3 died of nontransplant related causes. Of the 10 single recipients 8 are alive, 1 died of postoperative complications and 1 died of nontransplant related causes. When censored for death with a functioning graft, 7 of 10 dual grafts are functioning at followup with a mean creatinine clearance of 39.4 ml. per minute (range 16.1 to 65.9) and mean serum creatinine of 2.0 mg./dl. (1.1 to 3.9). If not censored for death with a functioning graft, 50% of dual grafts are functioning. Of the 3 graft losses 2 were due to recurrent disease and 1 was attributed to chronic rejection. In the control group 8 of 10 grafts are functioning at current followup (regardless of censoring for death with a functioning graft) with a mean creatinine clearance of 48.7 ml. per minute (range 23.4 to 66.5) and mean serum creatinine of 1.6 mg./dl. (1.2 to 2.4). Of the 2 graft losses 1 resulted from postoperative complications and 1 was due to chronic rejection. CONCLUSIONS At the 4-year followup patients undergoing dual renal transplant have comparable graft function, incidence of graft loss and survival compared to the control group. However, because of our small sample size, differences in the 2 groups may be significant in a larger study. Additional studies need to be conducted to determine if this practice represents an acceptable use of kidneys from expanded criteria donors.     

Post-transplant renal function in the first year predicts long-term kidney transplant survival

BACKGROUND: Improvements in long-term kidney graft survival have been recently noted. However, the reasons for this were unclear. This study examined post-transplant renal function within the first year as an independent variable influencing long-term survival. METHODS: The influence of demographic characteristics (age, sex, race); transplant variables (cadaver versus living donor, cold ischemia time, HLA mismatching, delayed graft function and transplant year), and post-transplant variables (immunosuppressive agents for the prevention of acute rejection, clinical acute rejection and post-transplant renal function in the first year) on graft survival were analyzed for 105,742 adult renal transplants between 1988 and 1998. Renal function in the first year was expressed as serum creatinine at six months and one year and delta creatinine (change in serum creatinine between 6 months and 1 year). Graft half-life was used to measure long-term survival. RESULTS: During this 11-year period, the one-year serum creatinine values for cadaver recipients steadily improved, from 1.82 +/- 0.82 mg/dL in 1988 to 1.67 +/- 0.82 mg/dL in 1998 (P < 0.001), as did the graft half-life. There was a progressive decline in graft half-life for each incremental increase of six month, one year and Delta creatinine for living and cadaver donor transplants as well for cadaver transplants with donor age > and < or =50 years. The Relative Hazard (RH) for graft failure was 1.63 (1.61, 1.65; P < 0.0001) with each increment of 1.0 mg/dL of serum creatinine at one year post-transplant and it increased to 2.26 (2.2, 2.31; P < 0.0001) when the Delta creatinine was 0.5 mg/dL. The RH reduction for graft failure was substantially lower for the years 1993, 1996, 1997 and 1998 when post-transplant renal function was not included in the model (P < 0.05). However, the RH reduction per year was not different when post-transplant creatinine was included in the model, 1.01 (0.94 to 1.05; P = 0.89). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, one-year creatinine and Delta creatinine values predict long-term renal graft survival. Recent improvements in graft half-life are related to conservation of renal function within the first year post-transplantation.     

Sequential quadruple immunosuppression including sirolimus in extended criteria and nonheartbeating donor kidney transplantation

The aim was to evaluate feasibility and safety of calcineurin inhibitor-free immunosuppression in high-risk donor kidney transplantation with sequential sirolimus introduction. Kidney transplant patients (n=76) with a donor aged >60 years, donor with acute renal failure, or a nonheartbeating donor were included. Immunosuppression consisted of antithymocyte globulin or basiliximab, mycophenolate mofetil, prednisone, and sequential introduction of sirolimus. One-year patient survival was 96.2% and 95.8%; graft survival was 94.2% and 91.7%; acute rejection rates were 21.2% and 12.4%; delayed graft function was 21.2% and 66.7%; and creatinine clearance was 58+/-20 mL/min and 56+/-21 mL/min for the brain-dead donor group and the nonheartbeating donor group, respectively. Most adverse events were infections, but also three lymphoceles, three urinary fistulas, three wound seromas. Sequential sirolimus introduction in high-risk donor kidney transplantation was found to lead to good patient and graft survival and incidence of acute rejection and delayed graft function.     

Hand-Assisted Nephrectomy Predisposes Incisional Herniation in Obese Living Donors

BackgroundLiving kidney donation from donors with a body mass index (BMI) over 30 can bring risks for the donor and the recipients. In this retrospective study, we evaluated the effect of a donor’s obesity on a donor’s long-term surveillance and the recipient outcomes.MethodWe performed hand-assisted retroperitoneoscopic donor nephrectomy in 565 living kidney transplantations between February 2009 and December 2015. One hundred fifty-two donors (26.9%) had a BMI > 30 and were described as the obese group. Four hundred thirteen donors (73.1%) were described as the nonobese group and had a BMI < 30. Incision to kidney removal time, mean follow-up period, postoperative complications, weight gained after surgery, and serum creatinine level (postop day 1-end of follow-up) were recorded for the donors. Serum creatinine level (postop day 5-end of follow-up) and immediate function of transplanted kidney were recorded for the recipients.ResultsThe obese donors were older, and the female sex was dominant. Mean incision to kidney removal period was longer in the obese patients (P = .012). The mean follow-up period was 49.97 ± 28.40 months for the donors. There was no significant difference in donor kidney function between the groups. The incidence of herniation was significantly higher in the obese group (P = .021). There was no significant difference between the recipient early and late serum creatinine levels and slow and delayed graft functions after the transplantation.ConclusionPostoperative kidney functions concerning the outcomes of the obese and nonobese living donors were similar in our series. Donor BMI had no influence on early and late kidney functions of the recipients. There was no difference in postoperative complications, except incisional hernia, that was statistically more significant in the obese donors.     

Living Donor Kidney Transplant Recipients and Clinical Trials: Participation Profiles and Impact on Post-Transplant Care

Many transplant physicians believe that transplant candidates who enroll in clinical trials may have better outcomes than those who do not enroll. We examined a 7-year cohort (1997-2003) of adult primary, non-HLA identical, living donor kidney transplant (LDKT) recipients to determine whether demographic characteristics predisposed to enrollment and whether participation affected posttransplant care intensity and/or allograft function. Overall, 146 of 512 (28.5%) LDKT recipients enrolled in clinical trials. LDKT recipients who were male and those who lived <100 miles from our transplant center were significantly more likely to participate. During the first post-transplant year, study patients (SPs) had more clinic visits (p < 0.0001) and more allograft biopsies (p = 0.024) compared to nonstudy patients (NSPs), but comparable numbers of hospital readmissions and allograft ultrasounds. SPs and NSPs did not differ in 1-year creatinine clearance, delta creatinine or rejection incidence. Overall graft and patient survival were comparable. We conclude that clinical trial participants were disproportionately male, had increased intensity of post-transplant care but comparable outcomes to nonparticipants.     

A prospective, randomized trial of tacrolimus in combination with sirolimus or mycophenolate mofetil in kidney transplantation: results at 1 year

BACKGROUND: This is the 1-year report of a randomized, multicenter, clinical trial comparing the combination of sirolimus or mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) with tacrolimus-based immunosuppression in kidney transplantation. METHODS: Prior to transplantation, recipients were randomized to receive tacrolimus plus corticosteroids with either sirolimus (n=185) or MMF (n=176). The incidence of biopsy-confirmed acute rejection at 6 months was the primary endpoint of the study. Patient and graft survival, renal function, study drug dosing and discontinuations were evaluated at 1 year. RESULTS: At 1 year, there was no difference in patient survival (95.7% sirolimus vs. 97.2% MMF; P=0.45) or graft survival (90.8% sirolimus vs. 94.3% MMF; P=0.22). Patients without delayed graft function (DGF) receiving MMF had significantly better graft survival (99% vs. 93%; P=0.01). Patients receiving a transplant from a live donor had a trend towards better graft survival with MMF as compared to sirolimus (98% vs. 91%; P=0.07). Patients receiving sirolimus had a significantly higher incidence of study drug discontinuation (26.5% vs. 14.8% MMF; P=0.006). Patients receiving MMF had significantly better renal function as shown by median serum creatinine levels (1.3 mg/dL vs. 1.5 mg/dL; P=0.03) and a trend towards higher calculated creatinine clearance (CrCl), (58.4 ml/min vs. 54.3 ml/min; P=0.06). More patients in the sirolimus group had a serum creatinine >2.0 mg/dL, (20.4% vs. 11.0%; P=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Tacrolimus is safe and effective in live and deceased donor kidney transplantation when given in combination with sirolimus or MMF. Patient and graft survival were excellent in both arms. Renal function is superior for patients treated with tacrolimus + MMF combination.     

Creatinine reduction ratio and 24-hour creatinine excretion on posttransplant day two: simple and objective tools to define graft function

To devise objective criteria for early diagnosis of delayed graft function (DGF), 59 adult living donor kidney transplants with immediate graft function (IGF) and 51 cadaveric kidney transplants were investigated for creatinine reduction ratio (CRR2) from posttransplant day 1 to day 2 and 24-h urine creatinine excretion (UC2) on day 2. The mean CRR2 in living donor transplants was 53% (SD +/- 11); the distribution of CRR2 was gaussian, and all of them had UC2 >1000 mg. Criteria for DGF were developed on the basis of living donor transplant: CRR2 < or =30% (2SD below 53%) +/- UC2 < or =1000 mg. Overall, 24 cadaver transplant recipients (47%) developed DGF (CRR2 < or =30%); 13 patients (25%) had mild DGF (UC2 >1000 mg), and the remaining 11 (22%) had severe DGF (UC2 < or =1000 mg). All the patients with severe DGF had a measured creatinine clearance <25 ml/min on day 7, and 8 of 11 were dialyzed within the first week of transplantation. Patients with IGF and mild DGF had a creatinine clearance of > or =25 ml/min on or before day 7, and none of them were dialyzed. Calcineurin inhibitors were avoided or delayed in five patients with mild DGF and all patients with severe DGF. In conclusion, diagnosing DGF within 48-h after transplantation is simple and may be valuable in the management of these patients.     

Stable kidney function in the second decade after kidney transplantation while on cyclosporine-based immunosuppression

BACKGROUND: Calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) have been the mainstay of immunosuppressive protocols in kidney transplantation over the past 20 years. However, in some recipients, the adverse effects of CNIs contribute to chronic allograft nephropathy and death with function--the two leading causes of late graft loss. Other recipients maintain stable graft function. METHODS: We studied the impact of continuing CNI-based immunosuppression in the second decade after kidney transplantation. From 1984 through 1996, a total of 1,263 patients underwent a primary kidney transplant at the University of Minnesota and received cyclosporine-based immunosuppression. Antibody induction was used only in deceased donor recipients. RESULTS: The actuarial 20-year patient survival rate was 38%; graft survival, 30%; and death-censored graft survival, 60%. The annual mean serum creatinine level for recipients whose grafts survived > or =1 year remained stable, although recipients with a history of > or =1 acute rejection episode had a higher serum creatinine level vs. recipients who were rejection-free. The annual mean calculated creatinine clearance was also stable over time. In addition, for recipients who were acute rejection-free, chronic allograft nephropathy/chronic rejection was only responsible for 9% of graft losses. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that some kidney transplant recipients tolerate long-term CNI-based immunosuppression with stable creatinine levels. Identifying certain recipients' predisposition to CNI toxicity and individualizing immunosuppressive therapy may be important in order to improve long-term kidney function, while simultaneously preserving low short-term acute rejection rates.     

Reasons for non-use of recovered kidneys: the effect of donor glomerulosclerosis and creatinine clearance on graft survival

BACKGROUND: In 2000, the United Network for Organ Sharing/Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network Registry reported 540 recovered kidneys were discarded because of biopsy results, and 210 were discarded because of poor organ function. We compared the percentage of glomerulosclerosis (GS) and creatinine clearance (CrCl) of both discarded and transplanted cadaveric kidneys and examined their effect on graft survival and function. METHODS: The cohort consisted of all cadaveric kidneys (n= 3,444) with reported biopsy results between October 25, 1999 and December 31, 2001. Graft survival was calculated by univariate and multivariate models. RESULTS: Fifty-one percent of discarded kidneys had GS of less than 20%, 27% had a CrCl greater than 80 mL/min, and 15% (129 kidneys) had both GS less than 20% and a CrCl of greater than 80 mL/min. Univariate analyses of kidneys with less than or equal to 20% GS revealed no difference in 1-year graft survival when the CrCl was greater than or less than or equal to 80 mL/min. When GS was greater than 20%, 1-year graft survival of kidneys with a CrCl of greater than 80 mL/min was significantly greater than that of kidneys with a CrCl of less than or equal to 80 mL/min. Multivariate results showed no significant difference in relative risk of graft loss with GS greater than 20% versus less than or equal to 20% when the CrCl was either 50 or 80 mL/min. With both GS less than or equal to 20% and greater than 20%, serum creatinine at 1 year was significantly lower in kidneys with CrCl greater 80 mL/min. CONCLUSIONS: Calculated donor CrCl does, and percentage GS on donor kidney biopsies does not, correlate well with 1-year graft survival and function, and percentage GS should not be used as the sole criterion for discarding recovered cadaveric kidneys.     

Obesity in renal transplantation: the role of induction therapy on long-term outcomes

Obesity is a burgeoning problem among renal transplant recipients given its association with increased morbidity, graft loss, and mortality. The long-term influence of different induction therapies in obese compared to nonobese patients is uncertain. We examined the long-term effect of low-dose rabbit antithymocyte globulin (rATG; 3-5 mg/kg) induction therapy compared to two doses of 20 mg basiliximab (BSX) in nonobese and obese renal transplant patients. The medical records of all adult (>18 years) recipients of kidney transplants between June 2001 and June 2009 in our center were reviewed. Patients whose body mass index (BMI) was greater than 30 were considered to be obese. The average dose of rATG was 3.2 ± 1.6 mg/kg. A total of 475 patients were included. In the nonobese group with a BMI less than 30, 68 received BSX and 247, rATG. In the obese group, 27 patients were given BSX and 133 were given rATG. Mean follow-up was 1523 days. These four groups were similar in baseline characteristics including: donor and recipient age, percent diabetes, living donors, panel-reactive antibodies > 35, HLA mismatch, race, gender, and maintenance immunosuppression. Serum creatinine levels at 3 months and 1, 5, and 7 years were not statistically different between groups. Compared to BSX induction therapy, rATG was associated with better graft survival at 47.4 ± 10 months in obese (63.6% vs 90.3%, P < .05, respectively) as well as nonobese patients (68.2% vs 88.7%, P < .05, respectively). Rejections were numerically lower in rATG-treated obese patients, which reached statistical significance in nonobese patients. Wound and viral infections were not statistically different between rATG and BSX groups. Therefore, low-dose rATG is associated with a better long-term graft survival rate in obese patients without incurring an increased risk of infectious complications. When rATG was used in obese and nonobese patients, there was no difference in graft and patient survival.     

Pediatric renal transplants--results with sequential immunosuppression.

Cyclosporine has improved the results of renal transplantation. In 1984, we began using it as part of a sequential immunosuppression protocol (MALG, AZA, P, and delayed administration of CsA) in our pediatric renal transplant recipients. We studied the outcome of the 131 pediatric renal transplants (less than or equal to 18 years of age at transplant) performed at our institution between June 1984 and March 1991. We compared these results with the 144 similar transplants performed since January 1980 that did not involve CsA immunosuppression. In the sequential immunosuppression group, there were 97 primary (74%) (26 [27%] cadaver, 71 [73%] living donor [LD]) and 34 (26%) retransplant (23 [68%] CAD, 11 [32%]) recipients. Age at transplant (mean +/- SD) was 7.4 +/- 5.5. Overall, 1-year actuarial graft survival was 93%; 1-year patient survival was 100%. The mean number of hospital readmissions was 3.0 +/- 3.5; 26 (20%) were readmission-free. The mean number of rejection episodes was .87 +/- 1.3 per patient; 73 (56%) were rejection-free. Importantly, LD (vs. CAD) recipients had fewer rejection episodes (P = 0.06). In the first post-transplant year, the serum creatinine level was significantly lower in primary (vs. retransplant) recipients and in LD (vs. CAD) recipients (P less than 0.05). In the 144 patients not receiving CsA, there were 129 (90%) primary (27 CAD, 102 LD) and 15 (10%) retransplant (7 CAD, 8 LD) recipients. Age at transplant was 6.9 +/- 5.3 years. The 1-year actuarial graft survival rate was 82%; the 1-year patient survival rate was 94%. The mean number of hospital readmissions was 3.3 +/- 2.3; 5 (8%) were readmission-free. The mean number of rejection episodes was 1.2 +/- 1.5; 27 (45%) were rejection-free. There was no difference in the serum creatinine level based on donor source or transplant number. Sequential immunosuppression has significantly improved patient (P = 0.003) and graft survival (P = 0.004) rates. Comparing sequential vs. non-CsA immunosuppression, there was no difference in the number of readmissions (P = 0.47), number of rejection episodes (P = 0.17), or serum creatinine level. The number of rejection-free patients was significantly lower in LD (vs. CAD) recipients (P less than 0.05). There was no evidence of progressive deterioration in renal function in the sequential (vs. non-CsA) recipients.     

Selective, concurrent bilateral nephrectomies at renal transplantation for autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease

PURPOSE: An algorithm was developed for performing bilateral nephrectomies for specific indications before or at renal transplantation in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. Outcomes for the living donor arm of the algorithm are reported. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease and end stage renal disease were evaluated for transplantation. Patients with recurrent pyelonephritis, hemorrhage, pain, early satiety or kidneys that extended into the true pelvis underwent bilateral nephrectomies. Bilateral nephrectomies with concurrent renal transplantation were performed if a living renal donor was identified. If no living donor was identified, pre-transplantation bilateral nephrectomies were done and the patients were listed for cadaveric donor renal transplantation. The living renal donor arm of the algorithm was evaluated by comparing certain parameters for 15 and 17 patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease who underwent pre-transplantation and concurrent bilateral nephrectomies, respectively, including patient and graft survival, delayed graft function, graft function, length of stay for each surgery, transfusions and complications. RESULTS: No deaths, graft failures or delayed graft function occurred. In the delayed renal transplant group median time from nephrectomy to living donor transplantation was 124 days. Serum creatinine at discharge home and 1 year after transplantation for the pre-transplantation nephrectomy cohort was 2.0 and 1.3 mg/dl, respectively. Seven of the 17 patients with concurrent nephrectomy underwent transplantation before starting renal replacement therapy. A longer mean total hospital stay in the pre-transplantation nephrectomy cohort was the only statistically significance outcome variable. CONCLUSIONS: Selective bilateral nephrectomies at living donor renal transplantation results in decreased total length of stay without compromising patient or graft outcomes and it allows preemptive renal transplantation. Concurrent nephrectomy is safe and it further validates the algorithm for selective, concurrent bilateral nephrectomies for patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease who undergo living donor renal transplantation.