Long-term analysis of combined liver and kidney transplantation at a single center

OBJECTIVE: To analyze use of combined liver and kidney transplantation (CLKT) for patients with chronic primary diseases of both organs and for patients with hepatorenal syndrome. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. SETTING: Multiorgan transplantation service in a large university medical center. PATIENTS: A total of 98 patients underwent 99 CLKTs during a 16-year period; 76 had primary renal diseases, and 22 had hepatorenal syndrome. Patients receiving isolated liver and kidney transplants were analyzed for comparison. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patient and graft survival, rejection rates, and need for hemodialysis before and after transplantation. RESULTS: Overall patient survival was 76%, 72%, and 70% at 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively; liver graft survival was 70%, 65%, and 65%; and kidney graft survival was 76%, 72%, and 70%. No risk factors analyzed for recipients or donors were associated significantly with early posttransplantation mortality or graft loss. In 28 patients who received monoclonal antibody induction therapy with interleukin 2 blockers, there were significantly fewer episodes of acute liver rejection. For patients with hepatorenal syndrome, CLKT did not confer a survival advantage over liver-only transplantation (1-year patient survival was 72% vs 66%; P = .88). The 1-year acute kidney rejection rate in the adult CLKT group was 14% vs 23% in a 5-year cadaveric renal transplantation cohort (P<.01). CONCLUSIONS: First, CLKT is indicated in patients with dual organ disease and achieves excellent results. Second, CLKT for hepatorenal syndrome is indicated in patients receiving hemodialysis for longer than 8 weeks and confers advantages in patient survival and use of hospital resources. Third, the liver is immunoprotective for the kidney.     

Analysis of the United Network for Organ Sharing database comparing renal allografts and patient survival in combined liver-kidney transplantation with the contralateral allografts in kidney alone or kidney-pancreas transplantation

BACKGROUND: Combined liver-kidney transplantation (LKT) is the accepted treatment for patients with liver failure and irreversible renal insufficiency. Controversy exists as to whether simultaneous LKT with organs from the same donor confers immunologic and graft survival benefit to the kidney allograft. This study compares the outcomes of simultaneous LKT with the contralateral kidneys used for kidney alone transplantation (KAT) or combined pancreas-kidney transplantation (PKT) to understand the factors that account for the differences in survival. METHODS: From October 1987 to October 2001, LKTs with organs from 899 cadaver donors were reported to the United Network for Organ Sharing; 800 contralateral kidneys from these donors were used in 628 KAT and 172 PKT recipients. These 800 paired control patients were the basis of this analysis. RESULTS: Graft and patient survival rates were lower among LKT recipients compared with KAT (P<0.001) and PKT recipients (P<0.001), because of a higher patient mortality rate during the first 3 months posttransplant. Among human leukocyte antigen-mismatched transplants, LKT recipients demonstrated the highest 1-year rejection-free survival rate (LKT 70%, KAT 61%, and PKT 57% ) (P=0.005 vs. KAT, P=0.005 vs. PKT). There was a lower incidence of renal graft loss resulting from chronic rejection among LKT recipients (LKT 2% vs. KAT 8% vs. PKT 6%, P<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing LKT exhibit a higher rate of mortality during the first year posttransplant compared with patients undergoing KAT and KPT. Analysis of the data indicates an allograft-enhancing effect of liver transplantation on the renal allograft.     

Combined liver and kidney transplantation: analysis of Padova experience

BACKGROUND/AIM: The main indications for combined liver and kidney transplantation (CLKT) are as follows: (1) cirrhosis with renal damage dependent or not upon liver disease, (2) renal failure with dialysis and concomitant liver end-stage disease, (3) congenital diseases, and (4) enzymatic liver deficiency with concomitant renal failure. The aim of this study was to evaluate our results with CLKT both in adult and pediatric patients. METHODS: From September 1995 to September 2006, 15 CLKT (2.8%) among 541 liver transplantations included 4 pediatric patients (27%). The main indications for CLKT were hepatitis C virus (HCV) and polycystic diseases in adult patients, and primary hyperoxaluria in pediatric patients. RESULTS: The double transplantation was performed from the same donor in all cases. All adult patients received whole liver grafts, whereas 3 split transplants and 1 whole liver graft were transplanted in the pediatric patients. Median liver and kidney cold ischemia times were 468 and 675 minutes, respectively. After a median follow-up of 36 months (range, 1-125), the overall survival rate was 80%. Five-year patient and graft survival rates were 100% for adult CLKT, whereas they were 50% for pediatric patients. We observed only 2 cases (18%) of delayed renal function, requiring temporary hemodialysis with progressive graft improvement. There was only 1 case of kidney retransplantation due to early graft nonfunction in a pediatric patient. CONCLUSION: Although CLKT is related to major surgical risks, results after transplantation are satisfactory with an evident immunological advantage.     

Age-matching in renal transplantation.

BACKGROUND: So far, the combined influence of donor age and recipient age on renal allograft survival has not been investigated sufficiently. In this retrospective single-centre study we analysed whether the influence of donor age and recipient age on renal allograft survival are dependent on each other. METHODS: Data from 1269 cadaveric renal allograft transplantations were evaluated. Paediatric donors (<15 years) and paediatric recipients (<15 years) were excluded. Donors and recipients were divided by age: young donors (yd, 55 years, n=176), young recipients (yr, 55 years, n=211). Functional and actual long-term graft survival (8 years) within the four resulting groups was determined: yd/yr (n=926), yd/or (n=167), od/yr (n=132), and od/or (n=44). RESULTS: Univariate analysis showed that long-term graft survival of both, kidneys from young donors (functional, 66.1 vs 52.2%, P=0.004; actual, 53.3 vs 46.2%, P=0.065) and kidneys from old donors (functional, 68.7 vs 22.5%, P=0.07; actual, 57.1 vs 20.8%, P=0.15) was better in old recipients as compared to young recipients. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that actual graft survival of kidneys from old donors was significantly reduced in young recipients (od/yr) as compared to all other groups (P=0.001; RR, 1. 97; 95% CI, 1.32-2.94). In this group of patients, graft loss was mainly due to acute (33.7%) and chronic (24.0%) rejection. CONCLUSION: Transplantation of kidneys from 'old' donors into 'young' recipients should be avoided, and these kidneys should be given to age-matched recipients.     

Combined liver and kidney transplantation in children: analysis of renal graft outcome

Background

Combined liver–kidney transplantation (CLKT) is the accepted treatment for patients with both liver failure and progressive renal insufficiency. Long-term outcome data for CLKT in children is sparse and controversy exists as to whether simultaneous CLKT with organs from the same donor confers immunologic and survival benefit to the kidney allograft. We report the long-term renal graft outcomes of 40 patients who had simultaneous CLKT.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of kidney graft survival (time from transplantation to death, return to dialysis or last follow-up event) in all pediatric patients (age?<?18 years old) who underwent CLKT from March 1994 to January 2015. A 1:1 ratio of controls (deceased donor kidney recipients from our centre matched for age (±2 years) at transplant, time from transplant (±1 year) and treated with the same immunosuppressive regime) to cases was used to compare outcome. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (e-GFR) was calculated using the Schwartz formula. Survival curves were determined using Kaplan–Meier analysis.

Results

The kidney graft survival for CLKT patients was 87.4, 82, and 82 % at 1, 5, and 10 years; kidney graft survival for isolated KT patients were 97.2, 93, and 93 % at 1, 5, and 10 years (p?=?NS). There were two acute rejection episodes (5 %) in the CLKT group compared to five (12.5 %) episodes in the isolated KT group. There was no statistically significant difference in e-GFR at 1, 5, and 10 years in the two groups but there was a statistically significantly greater decline in e-GFR in the KT group compared to CLKT group from 5–10 years following transplant.

Conclusions

There are fewer acute rejection episodes following CLKT compared to isolated KT, and we noted a higher mean e-GFR at 1, 5, and 10 years with significantly lesser decline in e-GFR from 5 to 10 years in the CLKT group.

     

Renal transplantation in end-stage sickle cell nephropathy

BACKGROUND: The role of renal transplantation as treatment for end-stage sickle cell nephropathy (SCN) has not been well established. METHODS: We performed a comparative investigation of patient and allograft outcomes among age-matched African-American kidney transplant recipients with ESRD as a result of SCN (n=82) and all other causes (Other-ESRD, n=22,565). RESULTS: The incidence of delayed graft function and predischarge acute rejection in SCN group (24% and 26%) was similar to that observed in the Other-ESRD group (29% and 27%). The mean discharge serum creatinine (SCr) was 2.7 (+/-2.5) mg/dl in the SCN recipients compared to 3.0 (+/-2.5) mg/dl in the Other-ESRD recipients (P=0.42). There was no difference in the 1-year cadaveric graft survival (SCN: 78% vs. Other-ESRD: 77%), and the multivariable adjusted 1-year risk of graft loss indicated no significant effect of SCN (relative risk [RR]=1.39, P=0.149). However, the 3-year cadaveric graft survival tended to be lower in the SCN group (48% vs. 60%, P=0.055) and their adjusted 3-year risk of graft loss was significantly greater (RR= 1.60, P=0.003). There was a trend toward improved survival in the SCN transplant recipients compared to their dialysis-treated, wait-listed counterparts (RR=0.14, P=0.056). In comparison to the Other-ESRD (RR=1.00), the adjusted mortality risk in the SCN group was higher both at 1 year (RR=2.95, P=0.001) and at 3 years (RR=2.82, P=0.0001) after renal transplantation. CONCLUSIONS: The short-term renal allograft result in recipients with end-stage SCN was similar to that obtained in other causes of ESRD, but the long-term outcome was comparatively diminished. There was a trend toward better patient survival with renal transplantation relative to dialysis in end-stage SCN.     

肝肾联合移植 22 例报告

目的 对临床肝肾联合移植(CLKT)进行总结. 方法 为22例肝功能衰竭合并尿毒症患者实施CLKT,每例受者所移植的肝脏和肾脏来自同一供者,采取原位灌注、多器官联合快速切取.10例行经典式原位肝移植术,12例行背驮式肝移植术,均未行静脉转流,肾移植采用常规术式,均为一期移植.术后采用抗胸腺细胞球蛋白或(和)抗CD25单克隆抗体诱导治疗,采用他克莫司、吗替麦考酚酯和泼尼松预防排斥反应. 结果 22例手术全部成功,移植肝和移植肾功能恢复良好.术后发生移植肝急性排斥反应1例,移植肾急性排斥反应2例,他克莫司中毒1例,上消化道出血1例,腹腔继发性出血1例.胸腔积液6例,肺部感染2例,腹腔感染1例.本组随访6个月至7年11个月,死亡3例,其中2例患者分别在术后第7个月和第10个月死于肺部巨细胞病毒感染,1例患者在术后第9个月死于急性心肌梗死.受者术后1、3、5年存活率分别为86.4%、81.3%和72.7%. 结论 CLKT是治疗终末期肝病合并肾功能衰竭的有效方法.     

Renal transplantation in patients with primary immunoglobulin A nephropathy.

BACKGROUND: Opinions on the clinical course and outcome of renal transplantation in patients with primary immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) have been controversial. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective single-centre study on 542 kidney transplant recipients over the period 1984-2001. Long-term outcome and factors affecting recurrence in recipients with primary IgAN were analysed. RESULTS: Seventy-five patients (13.8%) had biopsy-proven IgAN as the cause of renal failure, and their mean duration of follow-up after transplantation was 100 +/- 5.8 months. Fourteen (18.7%) of the 75 patients had biopsy-proven recurrent IgAN, diagnosed at 67.7 +/- 11 months after transplantation. The risk of recurrence was not associated with HLA DR4 or B35. Graft failure occurred in five (35.7%) of the 14 patients: three due to IgAN and two due to chronic rejection. Three (4.9%) of the 61 patients without recurrent IgAN had graft failure, all due to chronic rejection. Graft survival was similar between living-related and cadaveric/living-unrelated patients (12-year graft survival, 88 and 72%, respectively, P = 0.616). Renal allograft survival within the first 12 years was better in patients with primary IgAN compared with those with other primary diseases (80 vs 51%, P = 0.001). Thereafter, IgAN patients showed an inferior graft survival (74 vs 97% in non-IgAN patients, P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggested that around one-fifth of patients with primary IgAN developed recurrence by 5 years after transplantation. Recurrent IgA nephropathy in allografts runs an indolent course with favourable outcome in the first 12 years. However, the contribution of recurrent disease to graft loss becomes more significant on long-term follow up.     

Combined liver–kidney and liver transplantation in patients with renal failure outcomes in the MELD era

With the implementation of the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) scoring system, the number of combined liver–kidney transplants (CLKT) has increased dramatically. The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) dataset was analysed for adult recipients with renal failure for the period between February 2002 and April 2006. This group was subdivided into patients on hemodialysis (HD) and to those not on HD prior to transplantation. All recipients in renal failure (serum creatinine ≥2.5 mg/dl) at the time of transplantation were included. A total of 1397 subjects were in renal failure but not on HD (18% received a CLKT, 82% underwent LT alone). Another 1740 subjects were on HD prior to transplantation (41% received a CLKT while 59% received a LT). In dialysis-dependent recipients, Cox regression analysis demonstrated CLKT had an independent protective effect. In subjects on HD, CLKT had improved survival at 1 year (79.4 vs. 73.7%, P  = 0.004). In patients in renal failure without HD, CLKT was not protective.  CLKT subjects had a nonsignificant difference in survival as compared with patients who had undergone liver transplantation alone, at 1 year (81.0% vs. 78.8%, P  > 0.10). In subjects undergoing CLKT, there was improved survival at 1 year as compared with LT-alone patients on hemodialysis; however, in patients with renal failure, but not on hemodialysis, there was no difference in survival when comparing CLKT to LT-alone.     

无透析肾移植与透析后肾移植临床效果的对比研究

目的　比较透析后肾移植与无透析肾移植的临床效果 ,探讨无透析肾移植的安全性与优越性。　方法　回顾分析 1999年 1月到 2 0 0 3年 1月接受无透析肾移植并定期随访的病例 5 0例 ,选择透析后行肾移植病例 5 0例作为对照 ,2组病例年龄、性别、血型、冷 (热 )缺血时间、人类白细胞抗原 (HLA)配型、原发病、免疫抑制治疗方案等条件相匹配 ,比较 2组病例肾移植术后急、慢性排斥反应和移植肾功能延迟恢复的发生率以及人 /肾存活率。　结果　无透析组中术前曾接受输血者 14例( 2 8% ) ,透析组术前接受输血者 32例 ( 6 4 % ) ,2组比较差异有显著性意义 (P <0 .0 0 1)。无透析组 1年、3年人 /肾存活率均为 10 0 % ,透析组术后 1年、3年人 /肾存活率分别为 10 0 % / 98% ( 5 0 / 4 9)、96 % / 94 % ( 4 8/ 4 7) ,2组比较差异无显著性意义 (P >0 .0 5 )。无透析组术后发生急性排斥反应 3例 ,透析组 5例 ,2组比较差异有显著性意义 (P <0 .0 2 5 ) ;术后发生移植肾功能延迟恢复无透析组为 6例 ,透析组为 12例 ,2组比较差异有显著性意义 (P <0 .0 1)。　结论　无透析肾移植可以减少患者术前透析及输血带来的潜在危险 ,同时能降低术后排斥反应发生率 ,有助于术后移植肾功能的恢复 ,提高移植肾长期存活     

Kidney transplantation in children with augmentation cystoplasty

PURPOSE: Treatment of children with end stage renal disease, especially those with significant bladder dysfunction, is difficult. A high pressure and low capacity bladder is a major risk factor for a transplanted kidney. Cystoplasty can protect the kidney allograft by reducing the intravesical pressure and creating an appropriate capacity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome of kidney transplantation in children with and without prior cystoplasty. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 43 children with bladder dysfunction in urgent need of cystoplasty were enrolled in the study and were compared to a control group with regard to acute and chronic rejection rates, survival of the transplanted kidney, surgical complications and febrile urinary tract infection. RESULTS: The rates of febrile urinary tract infection and chronic rejection were significantly higher in patients with prior cystoplasty (p<0.001 and p=0.004, respectively). Also, graft loss was much more frequent in these patients (34.9% vs 20.9%), although this difference was not statistically significant. In patients with prior cystoplasty graft survival rates were 92%, 73%, 58% and 45% at postoperative years 1, 3, 5 and 7, respectively. In the control group these rates were 94%, 87%, 81% and 75%, respectively (p=0.007). CONCLUSIONS: Based on our findings, the survival rate of the kidney is significantly lower in children with prior cystoplasty, possibly due to the higher prevalence of chronic rejection and febrile urinary tract infection in this group.     

Beneficial effect of concomitant induction with antilymphoblast globulin, cyclosporine, and steroids on long-term renal allograft outcome

BACKGROUND: The addition of induction therapy with antilymphocytic antibodies to cyclosporine (CsA) based immunosuppression, has reduced acute rejection incidence and improved short-term survivals, but has not had well-established effects on long-term renal transplant survival. PATIENTS: We analyzed the long-term allograft outcome of patients included in a prospective randomized clinical study conducted in our center 15 years ago by comparing two strategies: (A) horse antilymphoblast globulin (ALG) given at 10 mg/kg on alternate days to a maximum of 6 doses with low-dose CsA started at 8 mg/kg per day and prednisone at 0.25 mg/kg per day, versus (B) CsA started at 15 mg/kg per day and prednisone at 0.5 mg/kg per day. Diabetic and highly sensitized patients (PRA > 70%) were excluded from the study. RESULTS: The characteristics of the 50 patients enrolled in each group were not different. Although patient survival was not different (88% in group A vs 77% in group B), recipients treated with ALG showed a lower incidence of acute rejection episodes (20% vs 44%, P = .01) and better death-censored renal allograft survival (57% vs 41%, P = .03). Among rejection-free patients, graft survival was 15% higher in group A (60% vs 45%, P = .12). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that an acute rejection episode (relative risk [RR]: 2.44, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.36-4.39; P = .0029) rather than ALG immunosuppression (RR 0.74, 95% CI 0.41-1.33; P = NS) was an independent predictor of death-censored graft survival. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, we confirmed that concomitant induction therapy with ALG, CsA, and steroids improves long-term renal allograft survival.     

Combined liver and kidney transplantation in a multicenter transplantation program in Chile

INTRODUCTION: Combined liver and kidney transplantation (CLKT) is an exceptional therapeutic procedure limited to a few diseases with advanced compromise of these organs. Hyperoxaluria type I and polycystic disease are the most frequent indications. The aim of this article was to report our indications and results of CLKT in a multicenter transplantation program in Chile. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Our Excel database was reviewed to select patients who were treated with CLKT between 1993 and July 2004. RESULTS: Among 242 liver transplantations (LT) and 48 kidney transplantations (KT), 7 were CLKT, representing 2.8% of LT and 14.5% of KT. Four patients were women and 3 were male of average age 46.8 years. One patient was a child. Most frequent indications were chronic renal failure associated with terminal liver disease and polycystic disease. One patient needed liver retransplantation due to hepatic vein thrombosis. One patient had a biliary fistula and another had a urinary fistula, treated conservatively. Acute liver rejection took place in 3 cases, 1 of which required antibodies. Two patients died, 1 due to aspergillosis and the other due to vascular complications in the transplanted liver. Actuarial survival rates were 71.4% at 1 and 5 years. Chronic renal failure is not a contraindication to LT. CONCLUSION: CLKT is an acceptable option for these patients.     

Impact of surgical and immunological parameters in pediatric liver transplantation: a multivariate analysis in 500 consecutive recipients of primary grafts

OBJECTIVE: To assess the respective impact of surgical and immunologic factors on patient/graft outcome and rejection after pediatric liver transplantation. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) constitutes a validated therapeutic modality for acute liver failure and end-stage liver disease in children. Only a few large studies of factors influencing outcome of pediatric OLT are available in the literature. Studies considering the impact of rejection on graft outcome are scarce in adult OLT and are not even available for pediatric recipients. METHODS: Five hundred consecutive pediatric recipients (<15 years) of a primary OLT performed between March 1984 and July 2000 were retrospectively reviewed. The main indication was biliary atresia (n = 328). A living related donor graft was used from July 1993 onwards in 82 children (16%). Survival was calculated and multivariate analysis was performed. RESULTS: Actuarial survival rates at 1, 5, and 10 years were 85%, 81%, and 79% for patients, and 76%, 71%, and 70% for grafts, respectively. At the multivariate analysis, only 3 factors were found to be independently correlated with better patient survival: year of transplantation (P = 0.001), pretransplant diagnosis (P < 0.001, worst results for liver tumors), and ABO matching (P < 0.001, worst results for ABO incompatibility). Similarly, 3 factors were independently correlated with better rejection-free graft survival: tacrolimus as primary immunosuppressant (P < 0.001), a negative T-cell crossmatch (P = 0.016), and younger age of the donor (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric OLT constitutes a complex undertaking with multifactorial impact on results: (1). a strong learning curve effect was shown to impact on overall results; (2). pediatric liver tumors still represent a challenging indication for OLT; (3). primary immunoprophylaxis with tacrolimus provided a lower rejection incidence; (4). the younger donor age effect deserves further immunologic investigations.     

Risk factors for chronic rejection after pediatric liver transplantation

BACKGROUND: Chronic rejection is a major cause of graft failure and a frequent reason for retransplantation after pediatric liver transplantation. Identification of risk factors for chronic rejection in pediatric transplant recipients is vital to understanding the pathogenesis of chronic rejection and may help prevent further graft loss. METHODS: The study population consisted of 285 children with 385 liver transplants performed at University of Chicago between 1991 and 1999. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate risk factors for chronic rejection, including age, sex, race, type of graft (living related vs. cadaveric), native liver disease, acute rejection episodes, cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, and posttransplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD). RESULTS: The chronic rejection rate was significantly lower in recipients of living-related grafts than in recipients of cadaveric grafts (4% vs. 16%, P=0.001). African-American recipients had a significantly higher rate of chronic rejection than did Caucasian recipients (26% vs. 8%, P<0.001). Numbers of acute rejection episodes, transplantation for autoimmune disease, occurrence of PTLD, and CMV infection were also significant risk factors for chronic rejection. However, recipient age, gender, donor-recipient gender mismatch, and donor-recipient ethnicity mismatch were not associated with higher incidence of chronic rejection CONCLUSION: We have identified a number of risk factors for chronic rejection in a large group of pediatric liver allograft recipients. We believe that donor-recipient matching for gender or race is not likely to reduce the incidence of chronic rejection. The elucidation of the mechanisms by which living-related liver transplantation affords protection against chronic rejection may provide insight into the immunogenetics of chronic rejection and help prevent further graft loss.     

Surgical aspects and outcome of combined liver and kidney transplantation in children

In children with renal insufficiency and accompanying or underlying liver disease, combined liver and kidney transplantations (CLKT) are indicated. However, because of the rare indications, the number of paediatric CLKT is low. Our aim was to analyse CLKT in children with special regard to surgical aspects and outcome. All paediatric CLKT performed at our institution between 1998 and 2009 were retrospectively analysed. Between 1998 and 2009, 15 CLKT were performed in 14 paediatric patients (median age 8 years, range 1–16 years). The indications for CLKT were autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (n = 7), primary hyperoxaluria type 1 (n = 7) and retransplantation because of primary liver nonfunction (n = 1). In the postoperative course, six patients showed bleeding complications, thereof three patients needed operative revision for intra‐abdominal bleeding. Eight of 15 patients (53%) needed dialysis. The 1‐ and 5‐year patient survival was 100%; and 1‐ and 5‐year graft survival was 80% for the liver and 93% for the kidney allograft. A number of different complications, especially secondary haemorrhage have to be anticipated after CLKT, requiring a timely and interdisciplinary treatment approach. With this management, our patients showed an excellent graft and patient survival.     

Simultaneous combined liver and kidney transplantation: a single center experience

Chava SP, Singh B, Stangou A, Battula N, Bowles M, O’Grady J, Rela M, Heaton ND. Simultaneous combined liver and kidney transplantation: a single center experience.
Clin Transplant 2010: 24: E62–E68. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Abstract Renal dysfunction is common in patients awaiting liver transplantation (LT) and affects outcome following LT. Combined liver and kidney transplantation (CLKT) has been proposed as effective treatment for patients with chronic diseases of both organs, some with hepatorenal syndrome and for liver‐based metabolic diseases affecting kidney. This study is undertaken to analyze results of CLKT at a single center. Of 2690 LTs performed between 1992 and 2007, there were 39 CLKTs; most common indications were metabolic, cirrhosis and polycystic disease. With follow‐up of up to 170 months, 11 died (overall survival 71.8%); one‐, five‐, and 10‐yr patient and liver graft survival is 77%, 73.7%, and 73.7%, respectively, and kidney graft survival is 77%, 70%, and 70%, respectively. Survival among metabolic group (78.6%) appeared to be better than non‐metabolic group (68%); however, this difference was not significant (p = 0.39). Fifteen surviving patients (53.6%) have mild/moderate renal impairment (creatinine ≥125 μmol/L). None has severe renal failure (serum creatinine ≥250 μmol/L) or end‐stage renal disease requiring hemodialysis. CLKT has good results in selected groups of patients. It provides protection to kidney allograft in liver‐based metabolic diseases affecting kidney. The rate of acute rejection episodes of kidney is low. Significant proportion develops long‐term mild/moderate renal dysfunction. Careful attention to immunosuppression to minimize nephrotoxicity may help.     

他克莫司与环孢素A在尸肾移植中应用的长期疗效和安全性比较

目的　比较他克莫司 (FK5 0 6 )和环孢素A(CsA)在尸肾移植中应用的长期疗效和安全性。方法　 2 10例尸肾移植患者分为FK5 0 6组和CsA组 ,随访 12～ 32个月 ,观察两个组血药浓度变化、急性排斥和慢性排斥反应发生率、人 /肾 1年存活率、血肌酐、肝功能、血糖及血脂水平、药物不良反应、感染发生率以及FK5 0 6逆转顽固性急性排斥反应的效果。结果　血中FK5 0 6和CsA浓度谷值的变化趋势基本相同。FK5 0 6组与CsA组相比 ,急、慢性排斥反应发生率明显降低 (P <0 .0 5 ) ;肝功能异常发生率、高脂血症和牙龈增生发生率以及术后 3个月血肌酐水平均明显降低 (P <0 .0 5 ) ;高血糖和震颤发生率明显升高 (P <0 .0 5 ) ;感染发生率及人 /肾 1年存活率的差异无显著性。结论　与CsA相比 ,FK5 0 6是一种更高效的免疫抑制剂 ,长期使用可以有效降低肾移植后急、慢性排斥反应的发生率 ,有利于移植肾功能的恢复。     

Recipient survival and graft survival are not diminished by simultaneous liver-kidney transplantation: an analysis of the united network for organ sharing database

Recipients of solitary liver and kidney transplants are living longer, and this increases their risk of long-term complications such as recurrent hepatitis C virus (HCV) and drug-induced nephrotoxicity. These complications may require retransplantation. Since the adoption of the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease, the number of simultaneous liver-kidney transplantation (SLK) procedures has increased. However, there are no standardized criteria for organ allocation to SLK candidates. The aims of this study were to retrospectively compare recipient and graft survival with liver transplantation alone (LTA), SLK, kidney after liver transplantation (KALT), and liver after kidney transplantation (LAKT) and to identify independent risk factors affecting recipient and graft survival. The United Network for Organ Sharing/Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network database (1988-2007) was queried for adult LTA (66,026), SLK (2327), KALT (1738), and LAKT procedures (242). After adjustments for potential confounding demographic and clinical variables, there was no difference in recipient mortality rates with LTA and SLK (P = 0.02). However, there was a 15% decreased risk of graft loss with SLK versus LTA (hazard ratio = 0.85, P < 0.001). The recipient and graft survival rates with SLK were higher than the rates with both KALT (P <0.001 and P <0.001) and LAKT (P = 0.003 and P < 0.001). The following were all identified as independent negative predictors of recipient mortality and graft loss: recipient age ≥ 65 years, male sex, black race, HCV/diabetes mellitus status, donor age ≥ 60 years, serum creatinine level ≥2.0 mg/dL, cold ischemia time > 12 hours, and warm ischemia time > 60 minutes. Although the recent increase in the number of SLK procedures performed each year has effectively decreased the number of potential donor kidneys available to patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) awaiting kidney transplantation, SLK in patients with end-stage liver disease and ESRD is justified because of the lower risk of graft loss with SLK versus LTA as well as the superior recipient and graft survival with SLK versus serial liver-kidney transplantation.     

Renal Allograft Outcome in Recipients of Positive-Crossmatch Combined Liver-Kidney Transplantation

Background

Successful kidney transplantation despite positive crossmatch (+CXM) before transplantation is well recognized in combined liver-kidney transplant (CLKT) recipients. This is probably due to immunologic protection of the renal allograft (RA) conferred by the liver allograft. However, occurrences of antibody-mediated rejection and poor long-term RA outcome is also documented with +CXM CLKT recipients, suggesting that such immunologic protection may not be universal.

Methods

A total of 1,401 CLKT recipients with known status of pre-transplantation CXM were identified from the United Network for Organ Sharing registry from January 1, 1986, to December 31, 2006. Univariate analysis for significant differences in clinical variables and Kaplan-Meier estimate for patient and graft survivals were performed. The results were compared between positive and negative CXM groups.

Results

Pre-transplantation +CXM was seen in 17.3% (242/1401) of CLKT recipients studied. The demographic and clinical characteristics were similar between the groups, except for higher panel reactive antibody level and CXM positivity in female recipients. Outcome analysis showed higher RA rejection (19.3% vs 10.8%; P = .026) and increased hospital length of stay (37.3 ± 46.0 vs 28.8 ± 33.2 days; P = .028) in the +CXM group. RA survivals at 1, 3, and 5 years were 8%, 7%, and 6% lower in the +CXM group. The patient and liver allograft survivals were not different between the groups.

Conclusions

In CLKT recipients with pre-transplantation +CXM, the immunologic protection of RA conferred by the liver allograft is less robust than previously perceived and may lead to higher rejection rate and poor RA outcome. This can be mitigated with routine pre-transplantation CXM.