Long-term survival in renal transplant recipients with graft function

Long-term survival in renal transplant recipients with graft function. BACKGROUND: Death with graft function (DWGF) is a common cause of graft loss. The risks and determinants of DWGF have not been studied in a recent cohort of renal transplant recipients. We performed a population-based survival analysis of U.S. patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) transplanted between 1988 and 1997. METHODS: Registry data were used to evaluate long-term patient survival and cause-specific risks of DWGF in 86,502 adult (>/=18 years) renal transplant recipients. RESULTS: Out of 18,482 deaths, 38% (N = 7040) were deaths with graft function. This accounts for 42. 5% of all graft loss. Patient survival with graft function was 97, 91, and 86% at 1, 5, and 10 years, respectively. The risk of DWGF decreased by 67% (RR = 0.33, P < 0.001) between 1988 and 1997. The adjusted rate of DWGF was 4.6, 0.8, 2.2, and 1.4 deaths per 1000 person-years for cardiovascular disease, stroke, infections, and malignancy, respectively. The suicide rate was 15.7 versus 9.0 deaths per 100,000 person-years in the general population (P < 0. 001). In multivariate analysis, the following factors were independently and significantly predictive of DWGF: white recipient, age at transplantation, ESRD caused by hypertension or diabetes mellitus, length of pretransplant dialysis, delayed graft function, acute rejection, panel reactive antibody> 30%, African American donor race, age> 45 years, and donor death caused by cerebrovascular disease. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with graft function have a high long-term survival. Although DWGF is a major cause of graft loss, the risk has declined substantially since 1990. Cardiovascular disease was the predominant reported cause of DWGF. Other causes vary by post-transplant time period. Attention to atherosclerotic risk factors may be the most important challenge to further improve the longevity of patients with successful renal transplants.     

Long-term graft and patient survival following renal transplantation in diabetic patients

OBJECTIVE: To study long-term graft and patient survival following renal transplantation in diabetic and non-diabetic patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Over the time period 1985-99, 498 transplantations in 399 non-diabetic patients and 68 transplantations in 62 diabetic patients were performed. The groups were similar with respect to age and sex. RESULTS: The patient survival rates (diabetic versus non-diabetic patients) were 88% vs 91% (p=NS) at 1 year, 68% vs 73% (p=NS) at 5 years and 31% vs 52% (p<0.05) at 10 years. The graft survival rates (diabetic versus non-diabetic patients) were 72% vs 72% at 1 year, 52% vs 52% at 5 years and 27% vs 33% (p=NS) at 10 years. In the diabetic patients, mean haemoglobin (Hb)A1c 2 years before and 2 years after the transplantation was 7.5+/-1.4 vs 8.2+/-1.6 mmol/l (p<0.05) and the mean blood pressure was 112+/-12 vs 107+/-9 mmHg (p<0.05). Of the diabetic patients, 55% were smokers. Among the diabetic patients, graft and patient survival were independent of smoking habits, blood pressure, HbA1c and total cholesterol. CONCLUSIONS: Graft survival was similar in diabetic and non-diabetic patients. For the first 5 years following renal transplantation, the patient survival rates in the two groups were similar. Thereafter, survival among diabetic patients was poor. Mean HbA1c was relatively high, especially after the transplantation, and this may have contributed to the more rapid progression of cardiovascular disease seen in diabetic patients with nephropathy.     

Acute renal failure due to obstruction in Burkitt lymphoma

 Acute renal failure in Burkitt lymphoma is commonly the result of tumor lysis syndrome. We present a 15-year-old boy who developed hypertension, seizures, and acute renal failure due to extrinsic compression of the bladder and ureters by a large retrovesical Burkitt lymphoma. The causes of acute renal failure in Burkitt lymphoma and the incidence of acute urinary obstruction in this disease are reviewed. Received: 18 May 1998 / Revised: 30 June 1998 / Accepted: 1 July 1998     

Long-term effect of hepatitis C virus chronic infection on patient and renal graft survival

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection increases morbimortality in renal transplantation. The immune response against the HVC is not predictable in a great proportion of patients developing into chronic liver disease, glomerulonephritis, or both. PATIENTS: We analyzed the impact of posttransplant chronic hepatitis development on patient and graft survival in 200 HCV-positive/HBsAg-negative renal allograft recipients transplanted between 1981 and 2003. RESULTS: Ninety-eight patients developed chronic ALT elevation (ALT+), while 102 did not (ALT-). There was no difference in acute rejection episodes (ARE), acute tubular necrosis, donor and recipient age, gender, HLA mismatches, and number of previous renal transplants. Development of ALT+ was associated with a worse patient survival (90% vs 65% at 15 years of follow-up, P = .007; RR = 3.8, CI = 1.4-10.1), an effect that was independent of other variables as time on dialysis and age. The main causes of death among ALT+ were chronic liver disease (52%), cardiovascular (26%), and infection (13%), whereas in ALT- they were cardiovascular (33%), cancer (33%), and chronic liver disease (16%). Conversely, graft survival (censoring for patient death with a functioning graft) was higher among ALT+ (50% vs 35% at 15 years of follow-up, P = .04; RR = 1.5, CI = 1.19-2.22). Causes of graft loss in ALT- patients were chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN, 53%), glomerulonephritis (GN, 18%), acute rejection episode (AR, 22%), and death (5%), whereas among ALT+ they were CAN (36%), GN (31%), ARE (10%), and death (21%; P = .01). By multivariate analysis, ALT- (RR = 1.6, CI = 1.07-2.55, P = .02) and de novo GN (RR = 2, CI = 1.29-3.09, P = .002) were associated with worse renal allograft survival. CONCLUSION: Our results suggested that a better immune response against the HCV lead to greater patient survival but poorer graft survival.     

Basiliximab improves graft survival in renal transplant recipients with delayed graft function

The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of basiliximab in first renal transplant recipients with delayed graft function, defined by the need for dialysis in the first week posttransplantation. Among 148 patients in the study, 90 received basiliximab (60.8%) with 58 comprising the control group. There were no significant differences between the 2 groups related to the evaluated variables, except that the control group received more blood transfusions pretransplantation. There was a lower incidence of steroid-resistant rejection (6% vs 20.9%; P = .017) and humoral rejections (0% vs 7%; P = .038) in the basiliximab group. Also, graft survival was significantly higher in basiliximab group compared with the control one (92.8% vs 80.4%; P = .028). There were no significant differences in the other outcomes. In conclusion, this study confirmed the beneficial effects of addition of basiliximab to the immunosuppressive schema of patients with delayed graft function.     

血浆置换治疗移植肾复发性FSGS合并大量蛋白尿的远期观察

目的 探讨血浆置换治疗移植肾复发性局灶性节段性肾小球硬化（FSGS）效果及其对远期预后的影响。方法 6例患者首次肾移植后出现大量蛋白尿或／和血肌酐（Cr）升高、并经移植肾活检确诊为FSGS，在不改变免疫抑制方案的情况下，采用血浆置换治疗，观察血浆置换后1年移植肾的病理改变情况，测定血肌酐和24h尿蛋白定量。结果 6例患者中，2例在血浆置换后1年接近完全缓解，4例部分缓解。患者血浆置换后1年，移植肾的肾小球、肾间质、血管及免疫球蛋白病变的等级与血浆置换前相比，差异均无统计学意义。血浆置换后1年及5年的Cr水平与血浆置换前相比，差异均无统计学意义；24h尿蛋白定量与血浆置换前相比，差异均有统计学意义（P〈0．01，P〈0．05）。结论 血浆置换能快速、有效地缓解移植肾复发性FSGS的病变程度和进程，其效果取决于FSGS诊断的及时性，如果已发展到肾小球硬化的程度，血浆置换亦无法将其逆转。     

Long-term renal outcomes after delayed graft function

Delayed graft function (DGF) describes dysfunction of the kidney allograft immediately after transplantation and is the most common complication in the immediate posttransplantation period. Although a standardized definition for DGF is lacking, it is most commonly defined as the need for dialysis within the first week after transplant. DGF is caused by a variety of factors related to the donor and recipient as well as organ procurement techniques. The occurrence of DGF affects both allograft and patient outcomes. In addition to prolonging hospital stay and increasing the costs associated with transplantation, DGF is associated with an increased incidence of acute rejection after transplantation and is associated with poorer long-term graft outcomes. Both immunologic and nonimmunologic mechanisms contribute to DGF. The risk factors for DGF that have been identified are reviewed as well as the impact of DGF on long-term outcomes.     

Chronic renal failure due to kidney infiltration by Burkitt type lymphoma

Chronic renal failure due to lymphomatous infiltration is rare. We report a case of endstage renal failure due to bilateral massive lymphomatous infiltration confined to the kidneys and pancreas. Renal insufficiency was due to interstitial fibrosis and striking tubular atrophy.     

Long-term graft survival after transplantation with kidneys from uncontrolled nonheartbeating donors

BACKGROUND: Notwithstanding the widely acknowledged organ-donor shortage coupled with the expanded waiting list for organs, many transplant programs have been reluctant to use kidneys from nonheartbeating donors. Some reasons expressed by those programs include a higher rate of delayed graft function, additional dialysis requirements, more medication usage, and inferior graft survival rates. To refute the common misperceptions, we reviewed our 4-year experience with 31 nonheartbeating donor kidneys recovered from uncontrolled donors (Maashticht classification) at our institution. METHODS: After cardiac arrest and declaration of death, all donors underwent intravascular and intraperitoneal cooling. Immediately after bilateral en bloc nephrectomy, kidneys were placed on the Waters MOX pulsatile preservation machine. Preservation parameters were monitored hourly, using pharmacologic agents (Stelazine, dexamethasone, Humulin R) as indicated by those parameters. RESULTS: The nonheartbeating donors ranged in age from 15 to 53 years, 83% were males, and 60% of deaths were caused by trauma. For the 21 recovered and transplanted at our center, delayed graft function occurred with 16 kidneys; there was no primary nonfunction. There was no obvious correlation between functional status and donor age. It was noted that the immediate-function kidneys had shorter warm ischemia and total preservation times compared with the delayed graft function group. Nineteen of the 21 grafts continue to function. All patients are surviving. CONCLUSIONS: This series suggests that to obtain excellent results with nonheartbeating donor kidneys certain principles should be followed: use machine preservation to resuscitate and evaluate viability, choose immunologically low-risk recipients, avoid immediate exposure to immunophilin antagonists, and perform biopsy frequently for allograft dysfunction to exclude low-grade rejection.     

Impact of therapeutic changes on renal graft survival with posttransplant glomerulonephritis

INTRODUCTION: Posttransplant glomerulonephritis (GN) is the third cause of graft loss after 1 year of transplant follow-up; few approaches have been efficient in reversing this outcome. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the modification of the immunosuppressive therapy for treating posttransplant GN had an impact on allograft survival. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-nine patients who underwent renal transplantation and developed posttransplant GN were divided into two groups: group 1, 22 patients with modified immunosuppressive treatment (72.3%, pulse of methylprednisolone; 13.6%, high-dose oral corticosteroid), and group 2, where it was maintained. Additionally, the impact of the concomitant use of drugs that promote the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system blockade (RAASB) was analyzed in terms of graft survival. RESULTS: We established the diagnosis of GN at 17.9 months (range, 0.57 to 153.4) after transplantation, when serum creatinine (Cr) was 2.2 mg/dL (range, 0.8 to 12.5) and proteinuria 3.2 g/L (range, 0.2 to 24.2). Graft survivals at 1 and 3 years after diagnosis were 69.2% and 52.9%, respectively. The patients of group 1 showed a lower prevalence of graft loss (27.2% versus 48.1%, P = .40) and better survival at the end of 1 year (73.2% versus 60.4%) and 3 years (62.5% versus 38.0%, P = .26), but the differences were not significant. RAASB showed a positive impact on survival at the end of 3 years in both groups: for group 1, 83.8% with RAASB, 41.4% without RAASB; and for group 2, 75% with RAASB and 14.8% without RAASB (P < .001). CONCLUSION: Although treatment of posttransplant GN with modification of immunosuppression seemed to improve graft survival in the first 3 years after diagnosis, RAASB improved this effect.     

Impact of recurrent glomerulonephritis on renal graft survival

Background

Glomerular disease causes graft loss in the intermediate and long term, especially recurrent primary renal disease, negatively impacting graft survival. Thus, it must be considered a differential diagnosis in the evaluation of chronic graft dysfunction.

Methods

The objectives of our study were to compare the impacts of primary glomerular disease on graft survival and association with interstitial fibrosis/tubular atrophy (IFTA) or transplant glomerulopathy. We examined the influence of the relapse of glomerulonephritis (GN) on renal graft survival in a retrospective study of 1057 patients undergoing renal transplantations between March 1981 and October 2009. Among this group, 128 patients were diagnosed with pretransplant GN by renal biopsy. We examined graft survival on recurrence compared with IFTA and transplant glomerulopathy using Kaplan-Meier analysis.

Results

We analyzed a cohort of 128 patients who were diagnosed with pretransplant GN by renal biopsy, including 28.9% (37) of whom were males. The mean age was 42.04 ± 13.82 years. The most frequent type was immunoglobulin A GN (IgAGN; 31.3%), followed by membranoproliferative GN (MPGN; 28.9%), rapidly progressive GN (RPGN; 16.4%), focal-segmental GN (FSGN; 13.3%), membranous GN (9.4%), and minimal change GN; (0.8%). Among the 16 cases (12.5%) of GN recurrence; MPGN was associated most frequently (n = 10, 28.9%), followed by FSGN (n = 4, 23.5%), RPGN (n = 1, 4.8%), and IgAGN (n = 1, 2.5%). We noted that 11.8% of subjects to be positive for hepatitis C virus; while 3.9% were hepatitis B virus(HBV)-positive. We observed no differences in hepatic serology between patients who experienced recurrence (HBV 6.3% vs hepatitis C virus [HCV] 18.8%) compared with IFTA (HBV 3.1% vs HCV 9.4%). Fifty-one patients (39.8%) were biopsied after transplantation due to impaired renal function: there were recurrences of GN in 12.5% (n = 16), IFTA in 25% (n = 32), and transplant glomerulopathy in 2.3% (n = 3) cases. The average graft survival in our cohort was 8.36 ± 0.59 years. The median patient survival among those who experienced a recurrence was 8.36 ± 1.79 years; 7.19 ± 1.01 years in IFTA patients; and 3.31 ± 0.91 years in patients with transplant glomerulopathy (log-rank P = .06). Upon multivariate analysis, recurrence of GN was not an independent predictor of renal loss.

Conclusions

MPGN was the type of GN that recurred most frequently followed by FSGN. No differences in graft survival were noted between long-term recurrence of GN and other causes of chronic graft dysfunction. The recurrence of primary disease did not worsen the renal graft prognosis versus other causes of chronic graft dysfunction.     

Long-term graft survival with neoral and tacrolimus: a paired kidney analysis

Calcineurin inhibitors (CNI) are an important component of most immunosuppressive protocols utilized in renal transplantation. Both CNI available (cyclosporine and tacrolimus) have been used for many years. Studies comparing the efficacy of these two agents in terms of long-term graft or patient survival have thus far failed to show an advantage for either agent. This failure to show a difference could possibly be due to underpowering of clinical trials. The authors used the SRTR database to analyze 5-yr graft survival of the microemulsion formulation of cyclosporine (Neoral) as compared with tacrolimus. To minimize the donor variability and bias, a paired kidney analysis was used. Deceased donors from the years 1995-2002 were analyzed from the SRTR database. All paired kidneys during this period, where one kidney was allocated to a patient receiving initial Neoral therapy and its mate allocated to a patient receiving initial tacrolimus therapy were evaluated. Multivariate and univariate analysis were performed. Univariate analysis demonstrated equivalent graft survival for Neoral compared with tacrolimus (66.9% versus 65.9%, respectively). Multivariate analysis could not demonstrate a difference in risk for 5-yr patient survival or graft loss. Renal function was superior for tacrolimus at all time points, whereas the slope of 1/Cr over time did not differ for the two agents. In this paired kidney analysis, no difference in 5-yr renal allograft survival could be found between the two agents. Renal function was superior in the patients receiving initial tacrolimus therapy; however, slope of 1/Cr did not differ between the agents.     

Long-term renal survival in HIV-associated nephropathy with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition

BACKGROUND: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated nephropathy (HIVAN) is the most common cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in HIV-infected patients. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition has previously shown a short-term benefit in HIVAN. This study examines the long-term effects of ACE inhibition on renal survival in HIVAN. METHODS: In this single-center prospective cohort study, 44 patients with biopsy-proven HIVAN were enrolled prior to the onset of severe renal insufficiency (serum creatinine or=two antiviral drugs for >or=30 consecutive days, CD4 lymphocyte count, initial median serum creatinine concentration, or proteinuria. Risk of renal failure was reduced with ACE inhibitors (RR = 0.003, P < 0.0001). Exposure to antiretroviral therapy did not have a significant impact on the risk of renal failure. Of the ACE inhibitor-treated group, 87.5% survived compared with 21.4% of the control group (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: ACE inhibition initiated prior to severe renal insufficiency may offer long-term renal survival benefits in HIVAN. Diagnosis should be sought early in patients with clinical signs suggestive of HIVAN.     

Burkitt lymphoma metastatic to penis

The first known case of metastatic Burkitt lymphoma to the penis is presented. The penis is a rare site of metastatic neoplasm in spite of its rich blood supply. Less than 200 cases have been reported in the last one hundred years. Local control was achieved with radiation therapy.     

Favorable graft survival in renal transplant recipients with polycystic kidney disease

Graft survival in the autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) transplant population at our center was compared to other end stage renal disease (ESRD) transplant recipients (excluding diabetics). There were 1512 adult cadaveric renal transplants carried out at our center between 1989 and 2002. After exclusions, 1372 renal grafts were included in the study. Using Kaplan-Meier methods, patient and graft survival were determined and compared between the two groups. Mean age at transplant was significantly older for the ADPKD group of patients. The age adjusted graft survival at 5 years was 79% for ADPKD patients compared to 68% in the controls. Patient survival for ADPKD patients improved from 89% at 5 years to 95% when age adjusted. Using the Cox proportional hazards models to compare ADPKD with other causes of ESRD (including recipient age and other variables) in a multifactorial model, ADPKD was significant at the 5% level (p=0.036). This study demonstrates a graft and patient survival advantage in ADPKD patients when age-matched compared to other ESRD patients.     

Decreased short-term renal graft survival in Maghrebian recipients

The influence of race on renal allograft survival is disputed. We studied 16 cadaveric renal transplants in 14 Maghrebian patients, each matched with two controls of local origin. Patient survival at 12 months was 93% in the Maghreb group and 97% in the control group (NS). Graft survivals at 3 months for these two groups were 73% and 97%, respectively (P<0.01). At 6 months, graft survival in the control group remained unchanged at 97%, whereas in the case group it declined further to 59% (P<0.01). Overall graft failure in the Maghreb group amounted to 44% (seven of 16 transplants). In each case, failure was due to biopsy-proven acute rejection. Overall graft failure amongst the controls was only 6% (two of 32 transplants) (P=0.004) (only one case of acute rejection, or 3%) (P=0.01). This study provides evidence for significantly lower short-term renal graft survival in Maghrebian recipients of a Caucasian graft. Acute rejection seems to play a major causative role in graft loss in this group.     

T-cell flow-cytometry crossmatch and long-term renal graft survival

Flow cytometry crossmatch (FCXM) is a more sensitive technique than classical complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) for the detection of donor-directed antibody before renal transplantation. Nevertheless, the role of FCXM in predicting long-term survival of kidney grafts is still unclear. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the impact of a positive T-cell FCXM (T-FCXM) on long-term kidney allografts outcome. Of the 184 consecutive kidney transplantations performed in our center between 1 January1991 and 15 November 1996 a FCXM, performed concurrently to the pre-transplant CDCXM, was available for 170 patients. The CDCXM was negative in all recipients. Among these recipients, 12 (7.1%) had a positive T-FCXM. These patients were not different from patients with a negative T-FCXM for donor and recipient age, sex, frequency of second transplantation, number of human leukocyte antigen matches or mismatches. Frequency of immunized patients was higher in kidney recipients with a positive FCXM (58.3% vs. 24.7%; p=0.02, chi-square test). Survival analysis revealed that kidney graft outcome was better in negative T-FCXM recipients (p=0.03), while patient survival was not statistically different. Our results suggest that a positive pre-transplant T-FCXM despite a negative CDCXM is associated with an impaired long-term graft survival in renal allotransplantation.