个体化免疫抑制方案在心脏移植高危患者中的应用

目的 探讨个体化免疫抑制方案在心脏移植高危患者中的应用.方法 回顾分析2001年9月至2006年12月51例在围手术期合并HBV感染、糖尿病、肾功能不全或肺部感染的心脏移植病例,全组患者术前均采用达利珠单抗进行免疫诱导治疗,基础免疫抑制方案为环孢霉素A(CsA)、硫唑嘌呤(Aza)或吗替麦考酚酯(MMF)和泼尼松的三联方案.其中术前合并HBV感染10例,术后强调使用MMF,术后1个月停用泼尼松;术前合并糖尿病9例,术后并发移植后糖尿病4例,术后强调使用CsA,不用FK506,减量使用或停用泼尼松,配合胰岛素治疗;术前肾功能不全16例,术后常规使用MMF,术后第5～19天开始使用CsA;术后并发肺部感染12例,减量或暂停使用CsA、MMF和泼尼松.结果 术前合并HBV感染10例,随访1年肝功能稳定,1例于术后第13个月发生急性排斥反应.糖代谢异常13例,术后血糖控制满意,随访6个月无急性排斥反应发生.术前肾功能不全16例,随访1个月无急性排斥反应发生,肾功能恢复正常.术后并发肺部感染12例,2例死于严重的肺部感染,其他患者均存活;随访1个月,1例患者于术后第17天发生急性排斥反应.结论 免疫抑制方案的个体化能使心脏移植的高危患者平稳渡过围手术期,不会增加急性排斥反应的发生率.     

小肠移植中应用单克隆抗体免疫诱导治疗的临床疗效观察

目的 研究人源化抗CD52单克隆抗体(阿来佐单抗)与抗CD25单克隆抗体(达利珠单抗)在小肠移植诱导治疗中的临床疗效.方法 回顾性分析2007年至2012年间1 1例小肠移植受者的临床资料,其中6例在小肠移植时使用了阿来佐单抗(阿来佐单抗组),5例应用了达利珠单抗(达利珠单抗组).观察术前和术后12周内受者外周血淋巴细胞及单核细胞的变化情况,术后3个月内排斥反应、感染的发生情况,以及受者肝、肾功能的变化情况.结果 阿来佐单抗组受者中,1例因发生急性心功能衰竭于术后13 d死亡,余5例术后8周内外周血淋巴细胞、单核细胞显著下降,8周后开始缓慢上升,外周血CD3+、CD4+及CD8+T淋巴细胞的百分比下降至给药前的5％,并在给药后8周内维持在稳定的低水平.达利珠单抗组受者中,1例因曲霉感染于术后25 d死亡,余4例受者淋巴细胞、单核细胞计数在给药后1d明显增加,1周后持续稳定在正常水平.术后3个月内,阿来佐单抗组检出轻度排斥反应1例,达利珠单抗组检出轻、中、重度排斥反应各1例,经及时抗排斥反应治疗后成功好转.11例受者术后3个月时血肌酐、尿素氮、丙氨酸转氨酶、胆红素总量与术前相比,无明显差异.结论 应用阿来佐单抗或达利珠单抗均可成功进行小肠移植免疫诱导,但阿来佐单抗诱导后的感染发生率更低.     

肾移植术后应用达利珠单抗62例报告

目的评估达利珠单抗(抗CD25单克隆抗体)诱导治疗后的抗排斥反应疗效。方法对1999年9月～2004年4月间使用达利珠单抗的62例患者进行随访和统计。所有患者均在术中血管开放前1h应用达利珠单抗50mg，术后常规应用激素、环孢素A和霉酚酸酯。根据达利珠单抗的用量分为1剂组、2剂组和大于2剂组。结果随访时间最长达4年9个月，最短3个月。随访期间共发生急性排斥7例(11．3％)，最早1例发生在术后2个月，最晚为术后14个月，平均10．3个月；4例经过激素冲击治疗，完全逆转，2例部分逆转，仅1例发生于术后10个月的排斥，激素冲击治疗无效，术后第13个月移植肾失功而切除。结论应用达利珠单抗诱导治疗，肾移植术后急性排斥发生率降低，并使急性排斥发生时间推迟，程度减轻；可以安全、有效的减少环孢素的剂量。     

再次肝移植五例报告

目的　总结再次肝移植的临床经验。方法　对 5例男性患者施行再次肝移植 ,再次肝移植的原因分别为原发性移植肝无功能 (1例 )、急性排斥反应 (1例 )、慢性排斥反应并胆道感染 (1例 )以及胆道缺血并感染 (2例 )。供肝植入均采用改良背驮式原位肝移植术。术后免疫抑制治疗采用达利珠单抗、甲泼尼龙及他克莫司联合用药 ,必要时加用霉酚酸酯。结果　 3例治愈 ,已分别存活11个月、5个月和 1个月 ,2例分别于术后第 8d、第 10d死亡 ,1例死于多器官感染及功能衰竭 ,1例死于心力衰竭。术后并发症有腹腔出血、多器官感染、胆道感染及切口感染等。结论　再次肝移植是移植肝功能衰竭的有效治疗方法 ,适应证及手术时机的正确把握、围手术期的严密监测和正确处理是提高再次肝移植患者存活率的关键。     

达利珠单抗预防致敏受者肾移植后排斥反应的临床研究

目的　探讨用达利珠单抗诱导治疗预防致敏受者肾移植后急性排斥反应的有效性与安全性。方法　将 36例群体反应性抗体为 30 %～ 5 0 %的致敏受者随机分为舒莱组和对照组 ,各 18例 ,舒莱组患者于移植术前 2h和术后第 4d接受达利珠单抗 (2 0mg/次 )诱导治疗 ,两个组术后均以环孢素A、霉酚酸酯和皮质激素预防排斥反应。结果　舒莱组术后 3个月内的急性排斥反应发生率明显低于对照组 (P <0 .0 1) ;术后 2～ 4周内对照组平均每日皮质激素用量明显高于舒莱组 ;两个组人 /肾 1年存活率的差异无显著性 ;舒莱组术后肾功能的恢复较对照组快 ,但差异无显著性 ;舒莱组术后1周内CD2 5 淋巴细胞数明显降低 (P <0 .0 1) ;未观察到达利珠单抗的相关不良反应。结论　在合理筛选供受者的基础上 ,致敏受者肾移植前接受达利珠单抗诱导治疗可降低术后急性排斥反应的发生率 ,且较为安全。     

心脏移植治疗终末期冠心病五例

目的总结心脏移植治疗终末期冠心病的体会。方法共有5例患者,1例为2次急性心肌梗死后行左心辅助泵植入术后25个月的患者,3例为急性心肌梗死后大面积无存活心肌、出现心力衰竭的患者,1例为经皮冠状动脉支架置入术和冠状动脉旁路移植术后仍反复发生心力衰竭的患者。均施行标准式原位心脏移植术。术前使用达利珠单抗诱导治疗1次,术后采用环孢素A、霉酚酸酯和泼尼松预防急性排斥反应。结果5例患者均痊愈出院,恢复正常的生活和工作,心功能均恢复至Ⅰ级;术后未发生严重的感染和急性排斥反应。结论心脏移植可作为治疗不适宜施行冠状动脉旁路移植术,或冠状动脉旁路移植术后效果较差的终末期冠心病患者的有效手段;选择合适的供心、良好的心肌保护、合理的抗排斥治疗方案,以及围手术期血压、血糖、血清胆固醇、尿酸的有效控制,是手术成功的关键。     

他克莫司和霉酚酸酯在肾移植术后早期肝功能不良者的应用

目的 分析和评价肾移植术后早期肝功能不良患者使用他克莫司（FK506）和霉酚酸酯（MMF）的有效性和安全性。方法 20例肾移植患者术后早期发生肝功能不良，17例（85.0%）丙氨酸转氨酸（ALT）升高，9例（45.0%）胆红素升高。发生肝功能不良时，停用环孢素A（CsA）和硫唑嘌呤（Aza），采用FK506、MMF和泼尼松三联用药，常规使用保肝及利胆治疗。结果 20例肾移植术后肾功能全部恢复正常，未性急性排斥反应；治疗2周后，82.4%患者（14／17)ALT恢复正常，4周后全部患者的ALT恢复正常。结论 FK506和MMF用于肾移植术后早期肝功能不良患者是安全的，不加重肝功能损害。     

达利珠单抗和OKT3预防肾移植术后急性排斥反应的比较

目的　比较达利珠单抗和OKT3预防肾移植术后早期急性排斥反应的效果。方法　肾移植受者在使用环孢素A(或他克莫司 )、霉酚酸酯及激素预防急性排斥反应的基础上加用达利珠单抗 (42例 )或OKT3(12 8例 ) ,观察 2个组肾移植术后 3个月内急性排斥反应发生率。结果　肾移植术后 3个月内 ,使用达利珠单抗者急性排斥反应发生率为 2 .4 % ,明显低于使用OKT3者的13.3% (P <0 .0 5 ) ,且前者无耐激素者 ,急性排斥反应的发生时间推迟 ,血肌酐恢复正常的时间也早于使用OKT3者。结论　达利珠单抗预防肾移植术后急性排斥反应的效果优于OKT3。     

乙型肝炎病毒感染患者肾移植术后的治疗和预后分析

目的总结乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)感染患者肾移植术后的治疗和预后,以探讨合理的治疗措施。方法HBV感染肾移植患者21例,术前乙型肝炎病毒表面抗原(HBsAg)阳性和(或)HBV-DNA阳性。术后18例应用拉米夫定、3例应用恩替卡韦抗病毒治疗。随访3个月以上。3例肝肾联合移植的患者术后均使用乙型肝炎人免疫球蛋白。术后定期检测患者的肝功能,肝功能出现异常者及时应用护肝药物,必要时停用钙调磷酸酶抑制剂并对症处理,观察肾功能以及移植肾排斥反应、感染、预后等情况。结果术后随访3～75个月,中位时间17个月。21例中死亡5例,余均存活。12例(57%)术后出现不同程度的肝功能异常;经治疗恢复正常6例,好转3例,死亡3例。移植肾功能正常者13例,肾功能异常但未达到移植肾功能衰竭者6例,2例出现移植肾衰竭,重新恢复血液透析或腹膜透析。术后4例共发生5例次移植肾急性排斥反应,经应用甲泼尼龙冲击治疗或抗胸腺细胞球蛋白治疗后逆转。术后出现感染6例,均伴有肝功能明显异常,经治疗后4例治愈,2例死亡。结论HBV感染患者肾移植术后预防性应用抗HBV药物是必要的和有效的;合理使用免疫抑制剂、应用护肝药物可改善患者的预后。     

丙型肝炎病毒阳性患者肾移植术后临床分析(附9例报告)

目的:探讨丙型肝炎病毒(HCV)阳性肾移植受者肾移植术后的疗效和安全性。方法:回顾性分析9例HCV阳性肾移植患者2.5~11.8年的临床随访资料,观察HCV阳性受者肾移植术后肾功能、肝功能和移植术后并发症。结果:9例患者随访至今,7例人/肾存活,其中4例已超过10年;移植肾失功恢复血液透析2例,其中1例术后15个月发生急性排斥反应,合并移植后新发糖尿病,另1例术后46个月发生急性排斥反应,此2例排斥反应经治疗未逆转。2例出现血清肌酐上升,将环孢素切换成他克莫司后,移植肾功能恢复正常。1例患者服用索菲布韦后,血清肌酐上升,减少索菲布韦剂量后,血清肌酐逐渐恢复正常。3例患者术后2周内出现肝功能异常,4例术后长期随访过程中多次出现肝功能异常,以还原性谷胱甘肽等保肝药物治疗后,肝功能均恢复正常。结论:HCV阳性终末期肾病患者接受肾移植安全可行,术前肝脏病变的评估,移植后密切随访,早期诊断和治疗移植后相关并发症是提高HCV阳性肾移植受者人/肾长期存活的关键。     

6例心脏移植围手术期的处理

目的总结6例心脏移植围手术期处理经验。方法6例晚期心肌病患者接受同种体原位心脏移植术。围术期免疫抑制剂采用赛尼哌诱导方案。维持治疗为环孢素A＋吗替麦考酚酯（或硫唑嘌呤）＋泼尼松三联方案,术后保持低水平的中心静脉压。随访23～30个月,平均（25．6＋4．2）个月。结果6例受者均存活。1例因牙髓感染并发败血症致胸部伤口延期愈合．1例出现硬膜外血肿、脑疝形成行开颅手术。所有患者围术期及随访期间受者均无急性排斥反应、移植物功能不全、肝肾功能不全等并发症。结论围术期适当强度的免疫抑制治疗,合理应用强心利尿,密切监测血流动力学和重视受者的个体化治疗是防治心脏移植术后并发症的有效方法。     

Heart transplantation in patients with previous Fontan operations

OBJECTIVE: The clinical features and outcomes of patients undergoing heart transplantation after a failed Fontan operation are still debated. The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate our experience in 14 patients undergoing heart transplantation after previous Fontan-type operations. METHODS: From 1990 to 2002, 14 patients underwent heart transplantation in our institution after a previous Fontan procedure. The mean age at the time of the Fontan operation and at transplantation was 7.3 +/- 2.8 and 17.2 +/- 6.3 years, respectively. The indication for transplantation was protein-losing enteropathy in 7 patients, arrhythmia with ventricular dysfunction in 5 patients, and heart failure in 2 patients. All patients received basic immunosuppressive therapy with cyclosporine (INN: ciclosporin) and azathioprine without induction therapy or maintenance steroids. RESULTS: Two hospital deaths occurred: one patient died on the fifth postoperative day of graft failure, and the second died on the 17th postoperative day after an acute neurologic event. Two patients died later, one 23 months after transplantation of acute rejection and the other after 90 months of chronic rejection and endocarditis. One patient underwent successful reintervention 2 years after heart transplantation for pulmonary vein obstruction. The 10 surviving patients are in New York Heart Association class I, with a mean follow-up of 64.5 +/- 42 months. One of them was delivered of a healthy baby 5 years after transplantation. Patients with protein-losing enteropathy reached a normal protein level within a mean of 10 months (range, 6-18 months) after transplantation. Four patients required a temporary administration (3-6 months) of oral steroid therapy for recurrent rejection episodes. Currently, 7 patients are taking cyclosporine, and 3 are taking cyclosporine and azathioprine. The actuarial survival at 1, 5, and 10 years was 86% +/- 9%, 77% +/- 12%, and 62% +/- 17%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Heart transplantation is a good option for patients with a failing Fontan operation. We documented the reversibility of protein-losing enteropathy in all patients. No mortality caused by surgical complications was observed.     

心脏移植后存活时间超过10年者的临床分析

目的 总结单中心13例心脏移植后存活超过10年受者的治疗及随访情况.方法 13例受者在1995年8月至2001年6月期间接受心脏移植,前8例受者采用环孢素A+硫唑嘌呤+皮质激素的经典免疫抑制方案,后5例在该方案基础上进行了免疫诱导,有6例在吗替麦考酚酯(MMF)上市后将硫唑嘌呤替换为MMF.围手术期对主要并发症及时进行防治,术后对受者进行定期随访,建立个人长期随访档案,监测急性排斥反应(AR)和移植物血管病(CAV)发生情况,采用生存质量调查表分析生活状况.结果 13例存活超过10年的受者占同期心脏移植总例数的48.1%(13/27),术后受者心理状态较好,生存质量良好,均能够正常的学习、生活及工作.术后近期(1年内)发生的并发症包括AR 3例、感染4例、肾功能不全3例、移植物右心功能不全5例、移植后新发糖尿病2例及肝功能不全5例,经对症治疗后均好转;术后远期(1年后)发生的并发症包括CAV 2例、AR 4例、高胆固醇血症5例、高血压病4例、高尿酸血症10例及慢性肾功能损害3例等.1例受者于移植后13年因并发肝癌死亡.结论 心脏移植受者长期存活与其心理状态、经济条件、依从性及良好的随访制度等密切相关,并受社会因素的影响.

Abstract：

Objective To retrospectively analyze the clinical management and follow-up of 13 recipients with survival of over ten years after cardiac transplantation. Methods Thirteen male recipients underwent orthotopic heart transplantation between August 1995 and June 2001 in our center and received standard immunosuppressive therapy protocols (8 cases) or induction therapy protocols (5 cases). Cyclosporine, azathioprine or mycophenolate mofetil, and prednisolone were applied as maintenance immunosuppressive regimens. Six recipients switched from azathioprine to mycophenolate mofetil when mycophenolate mofetil was available. Perioperative complications were prevented and treated. After operation, the recipients were followed up regularly to set up personnel long-term follow-up files. The incidence of acute rejection (AR) and (cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) was monitored. Results The 13 survived recipients accounted for 48. 1 % of the total number in the corresponding period (13/27). All survivals recovered well and had a good quality of life. The recent (1 year) complications included acute allograft rejection (3 cases), infection (4 cases), renal insufficiency (3 cases), allograft right ventricular dysfunction (5 cases), post-transplant diabetes (2 cases) and liver dysfunction (5 cases). The long-term (1 year later) complications included acute allograft rejection (2 cases), CAV (2 cases), hypercholesterolemia (5 cases), hypertension (4 cases), hyperuricemia (10 cases) and chronic renal impairment (3 cases). One hepatitis B virus carrier died of liver cancer 13 years after transplantation. Conclusion The long-term survival of cardiac allograft recipients is closely associated with psychological state, financial condition, compliance and follow-up medical system, while the sociological and environmental factors may play important roles.     

原位肝移植治疗终末期自身免疫性肝病

目的 评价肝移植治疗终末期自身免疫性肝病的疗效并总结临床经验.方法 回顾性分析2003年9月至2009年7月间因终末期自身免疫性肝病接受肝移植手术的11例患者的临床资料,其中8例为原发性胆汁性肝硬化,2例为自身免疫性肝炎,1例为原发性硬化性胆管炎.平均年龄为(44.2±8.7)岁.手术方式均采用附加腔静脉整形的改良背驮式肝移植术.术后免疫抑制治疗采用他克莫司或环孢素A联合激素的二联免疫抑制方案,部分患者使用骁悉和熊去氧胆酸.结果 本组11例患者中2例原发性胆汁性肝硬化患者死亡,其中1例于术后第5天死于肺部感染和多器官功能衰竭,另1例于术后964 d死于脓毒症和移植肝失功.5例患者术后1个月内出现急性排斥反应,加强免疫抑制治疗后痊愈.9例患者生存良好并存活至今,随访期7～62个月,中位随访时间为38个月.受体1年存活率为91%,3年存活率为82%,最长存活期5年.随访期间未发现复发病例.结论 肝移植是治疗终末期自身免疫性肝病的惟一有效手段,手术时机的正确把握和有效的免疫抑制治疗是减少肝移植术后并发症的关键.

Abstract：

Objective To evaluate the effect of liver transplantation for end-stage autoimmune liver disease (ESALD) and summarize the clinical experience of liver transplantation in the treatment of ESALD.Methods The clinical data of 11 ESALD cases who underwent liver transplantation from September 2003 to July 2009 were analyzed retrospectively. There were 2 males and 9 females ( median age, 44. 2 ± 8. 7years). The indication of liver transplantation was end stage of primary biliary cirrhrosis (8 cases),autoimmune hepatitis (2 cases), and primary sclerosing cholangitis ( 1 case). In all cases, modified piggyback liver transplantation with venacavaplasty was carried out. Postoperatively all patients were treated with immunosuppressive agents including tacrolimus (or cyclosporine A) and prednisone, some patients were treated additionally with mycophenolate mofetil and ursodeoxycholic acid. Results Postoperatively 2patients of primary biliary cirrhosis died, one of lung infection and multiple organ failure on the 5th postoperative day, the other dying of sepsis and graft dysfunction on the 964th postoperative day. Five cases suffered from episodes of acute cellular rejection within 1 month after transplantation and was successfully reversed by strengthened immunosuppressive therapy. Nine patients recovered satisfactorily and with excellent life quality until now. Patients were followed up from 7 months to 62 months with the median follow-up time of 38 months. The recipient survival rate at 1 year and 3 years was 91% and 82% ,respectively. One patient has now survived for 5 years. No recurrent ALD case was found during follow up.Conclusions Orthotopic liver transplantation is an exclusive treatment for ESALD. Optimum operation timing and effective immunosuppressive treatment are very important for decreasing occurrence of complications.     

Acutely exaggerated hepatitis B induced by the withdrawal of immunosuppressants in a seroconverted renal transplant recipient: report of a case

The long-term reciprocal impact of renal transplantation on infection by hepatitis B virus (HBV) is still a matter of intense debate, and the topic remains controversial. We herein report the case of a 50-year-old male asymptomatic HBV carrier who had seroconverted to positive anti-HBe antibody (Ab) and received a kidney transplantation from a cadaver donor (HB surface(s) antigen (Ag)-negative). Nine months later, his kidney function deteriorated due to chronic rejection, and hemodialysis was temporarily required. Triple drug therapy (cyclosporine, prednisolone, azathioprine) for immunosuppression was changed to two-drug therapy (cyclosporine and prednisolone) at a reduced dosage because of this episode. After that episode, severe hepatitis with HBV antigenemia developed without any change in the serological state. The levels of DNA polymerase in a potential recipient from a cadaveric donor should be checked before transplantation to predict the occurrence of hepatitis when the recipient is an asymptomatic carrier of HBV, especially in cases of serologically HBeAg-negative, and anti-HBeAb-positive carriers. Received: April 3, 2000 / Accepted: November 20, 2001     

Heart transplantation in females.

To confirm reports of a higher rate of rejection in female recipients of cardiac allografts and to determine whether infection rates and actuarial survival differ from that in males, we reviewed the results of 150 consecutive heart transplant procedures. Of these, 27 were in females and 123 were in males. Three different regimens were used over a 5-year period: group 1 (n = 37), cyclosporine and prednisolone; group 2 (n = 61), cyclosporine, azathioprine, and prednisolone; group 3 (n = 52), cyclosporine and azathioprine. All groups received a 7- to 10-day induction course with antithymocyte globulin. Female recipients had significantly more rejection episodes than male recipients to 3 months after transplantation (females 2.3 vs males 1.5 episodes/patient, p less than 0.01) and to 12 months (females 2.4 vs males 1.5 episodes/patient, p less than 0.02). These differences were largely caused by higher rates of rejection in females in both "double" therapy groups (groups 1 and 3). All surviving females in group 3 required the addition of maintenance steroids to control rejection. Gender mismatching of donors (male donor, female recipient) was identified as a factor associated with this requirement for conversion. Augmented treatment for rejection resulted in a higher rate of infection at 12 months in female recipients (females 1.5 vs males 0.7 episodes/patient, p less than 0.02), yet no female died of infection, and actuarial survival was comparable to that in male recipients. In view of the propensity of females to reject more frequently and earlier than males, triple therapy is currently the regimen of choice for female patients in the first 3 to 6 months after heart transplantation. Steroid withdrawal may be possible at a later time in those in whom this is indicated.     

Modulation of hepatitis B viral antigen expression by immunosuppressive drugs in primary hepatocyte culture.

In one pattern of hepatitis B virus (HBV) recurrence following orthotopic liver transplantation--namely, fibrosing cholestatic hepatitis (FCH), the intrahepatic expression of HBV antigens was found to be markedly increased, suggesting that HBV may be directly cytopathic to the liver cells. Understanding how immunosuppressive drugs influence HBV may be of considerable clinical relevance in the treatment of patients with chronic HBV infection after liver transplantation. To determine how these drugs influence intrahepatic HBV antigen expression, hepatocytes isolated from patients with chronic HBV infection were incubated in the absence or presence of prednisolone (10(-6)-10(-10) M), methylprednisolone (10(-6)-10(-10) M), azathioprine (0.1-10 micrograms/ml), or cyclosporine (50-1000 ng/ml) and the amount of intracellular/secreted antigen was measured by radioimmunoassay. Intracellular HBsAg increased by 25.0-51.1% with prednisolone 10(-8)-10(-6) M (n = 14, P less than 0.05) and methylprednisolone 10(-9)-10(-6) M (n = 8, P less than 0.05). Immunocytochemistry of cytospins showed that the proportion of cells containing HBsAg increased by 20-38% with stronger staining, but the distribution of HBsAg remained diffusely cytoplasmic; the changes in intracellular pre-S1 and pre-S2 paralleled those of HBsAg. Secreted HBsAg was, however, not affected. There was also an increase in intracellular nucleocapsid antigens by 24.1-32.5% with an increase in hepatocytes containing nucleocapsid antigens by 8-18%. Methylprednisolone exerted similar effects to prednisolone. On the other hand, neither azathioprine (n = 11) nor cyclosporine (n = 12) had any effect on intracellular or secreted HBsAg or nucleocapsid antigens. These data indicate that corticosteroids, but not azathioprine or cyclosporine, enhance intracellular HBV antigen expression in this short-term culture system. This may be an important factor in the evolution of FCH and careful attention to the use of corticosteroids may be beneficial in patients with chronic HBV infection undergoing liver transplantation.     

Mycophenolate mofetil in pediatric renal transplantation

INTRODUCTION: Since kidney transplantation is the therapy of choice for children with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), we investigated the effects of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in pediatric renal transplantation. METHODS AND SUBJECTS: Two hundred sixteen children received renal transplants between 1985 and 2003: 100 patients received MMF with cyclosporine and prednisolone (cases), and 116 patients, azathioprine with cyclosporine and prednisolone (controls). RESULTS: The MMF group (100 patients) showed better graft survival and function than the AZA group (116 patients). Patients who received MMF immediately after transplantation experienced less graft loss and acute rejection episodes in the first 3 months after transplantation (P < .05). Patients who received MMF at the time of diagnosis of chronic rejection had stable renal function and remarkably better graft survival than those with chronic rejection who received AZA instead of MMF (P < .05). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that MMF may stop persistent graft dysfunction in chronic rejection, improving graft survival in the short and long terms posttransplantation.     

Hepatic dysfunction in kidney transplant recipients: prevalence and impact on graft and patient survival

Background Liver disease has emerged as an important cause of morbidity and mortality in renal transplant recipients. Liver insufficiency is the cause of death in up to 28% of long-term survivors after renal transplantation. The aim of this work was to evaluate the prevalence and causes of hepatic dysfunction in renal transplant recipients in Egypt, and its impact on both renal graft function and patient survival. Methods This study comprised 447 kidney transplant recipients who received their grafts between January 1999 and December 2003 at Mansoura Urology and Nephrology Center. Among these recipients, 104 patients showed persistent hepatic dysfunction, while the remaining 343 had normal liver function or transient hepatic dysfunction of less than 6 months’ duration. Results We found that the prevalence of persistent hepatic dysfunction in our recipients was 23.3%. Infections such as hepatitis C virus (HCV;, with longer dialysis duration and blood transfusion as risk factors), HBV, and cytomegalovirus (CMV), were the main causes of persistent hepatic dysfunction. Drugs (e.g., the sirolimus and tacrolimus; cyclosporine; and azathioprine) were also associated with hepatic dysfunction. We did not find a significant impact of hepatic dysfunction on either patient or graft survival. Conclusions Viral infections–especially HCV and CMV–were more prevalent in the group of patients with persistent hepatic dysfunction, with duration of dialysis as an important risk factor for HCV infection. Dose-dependent cyclosporine-induced hepatic dysfunction was observed early post-transplant. Neither tacrolimus- nor sirolimus-associated hepatic dysfunction was dose-dependent. Hepatic dysfunction had no significant impact on either patient or graft survival; however, this finding may be due to the relatively short duration of follow up.