肝脏再移植原因及效果分析

目的探讨再次肝移植的原因及效果,并比较不同供肝来源与再移植的关系。 方法回顾性分析2000年1月至2018年5月四川大学华西医院1 429例肝移植受者临床资料。首次肝移植供肝来源分别为尸体供肝686例、心脏死亡器官捐献(DCD)供肝346例和活体供肝397例。其中31例受者接受再次肝移植(32例次,其中1例受者接受2次再移植),再移植率为2.24%(32/1 429),供肝来源分别为尸体供肝23例、DCD供肝6例、活体供3例。再移植间隔时间中位数为311 d(88～845 d),间隔1～7 d 3例,8～30 d 1例,31～365 d 15例,>1年13例。采用Kaplan-Meier法计算肝脏再移植术后受者生存时间并绘制生存曲线,采用Breslow法比较再移植间隔时间>1年及≤1年的受者1、5和10年生存率,采用Fisher确切概率法比较不同供肝来源的受者再移植率。P<0.05为差异有统计学意义。 结果截至2018年5月,31例肝脏再移植受者术后12例存活(38.7%)、19例死亡(61.3%),中位生存时间为17个月(2～102个月)。尸体供肝、DCD供肝和活体供肝再移植率分别为3.4%(23/686)、1.7%(6/346)和0.8%(3/367)。尸体供肝再移植率高于活体肝移植,差异有统计学意义(P＝0.007),DCD供肝再移植率与尸体供肝、活体供肝再移植率相比,差别均无统计学意义(P＝0.137和0.222)。其中18例再移植间隔时间<1年的受者,6例存活、12例死亡;13例再移植间隔时间≥1年的受者,6例存活、7例死亡。31例肝脏再移植受者术后1、5和10年生存率分别为64.2%、51.2%和46.6%。再移植间隔时间<1年的受者1、3和5年生存率分别为49.4%、41.2%和30.9%,间隔时间≥1年的受者1、3和5年生存率分别为84.6%、65.8%和65.8%,二者差异无统计学意义(χ²＝2.946,P>0.05)。 结论再移植是肝移植术后移植物失功的唯一有效治疗方法,再移植术后受者往往病情危重,围手术期死亡率高,胆道并发症及排斥反应是再次肝移植的主要原因。应该慎重把握再移植手术时机,目前亟待更多的研究对再移植做进一步探讨。     

Experimental kidney transplantation: a comparison between different models

AIM: Two different models of kidney transplantation have been compared using 3 different techniques. The kidney grafts were procured from living donors (laparoscopic or laparotomic technique) and from cadaveric donors. METHODS: Twenty-four outbred piglets (Large White, weight range 24-27 kg) underwent kidney transplantation. We divided the recipients into 2 groups with the following characteristics: group 1 (n=12) was represented by orthopic kidney recipients whose grafts were retrieved by laparoscopic or lapartomic technique from living unrelated donors; group 2 (n=12) was constituted by heterotopic kidney recipients whose grafts were retrieved by laparotomic technique from unrelated cadaveric donors. In both groups, Grogoire-Lich technique and Politano-Laedbetter technique were used in order to perform ureteral-vescical anastomosis together with a new technique developed from our experience called Politano-Laedbetter modified. All transplanted pigs underwent double immunosoppressive steroid therapy (tacrolimus and micofenolate mofetil). The pigs were observed for 60 days. RESULTS: The survival rates in group 1 and in group 2 were 75% (n=9) and 66% (n=8), respectively. No significative differences were noted in length of operative time, creatinemia and ureamia levels in both study groups. The Gregoire-Lich technique was associated with a higher rate of complications. CONCLUSION: Two different experimental models of kidney transplantation are feasible in pigs. The classic technique could be combined with the orthopic one based on the type of study needed.     

Liver transplantation using donors older than 80 years: a single-center experience

AIM: The shortage of organs for orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) has forced transplantation centers to expand the donor pool by using donors traditionally labeled as "extended criteria donors." One such example is OLT using a donor with advanced age. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 10 patients who received a liver graft from cadaveric donors older than 80 years. We analyzed pretransplantation donor and recipient characteristics, as well as the evolution of the recipients. RESULTS: All 10 donors were older than 80 years (median age, 83.5; range, 80-93). No steatosis (>30%) was accepted in the older donor group. Medium follow-up was 19.5 months. The most frequent cause for OLT was hepatitis C virus (HCV) cirrhosis (8/10 patients). We had 1 case of primary nonfunction, 1 patient died immediately after surgery because of extrahepatic complications (cardiac arrest), and 2 other patients had a severe HCV recurrence and died after 1 and 2 years from OLT, respectively. Five patients had HCV recurrence and biliary complications were present in 60% of the patients. No cases of acute or chronic rejection were described. Overall survival rates after 1 and 3 years were 80% and 40%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Old donor age is not an absolute contraindication to OLT. Liver grafts from donors older than 80 years can be used knowing that there is a high risk of postoperative complications. Furthermore, the increased risk of developing severe HCV recurrence, related to older donor age, suggests that such livers should be used in HCV-negative recipients.     

Results of en bloc renal transplants of pediatric deceased donors into adult recipients

Various strategies have evolved to expand the donor pool due to the extreme shortage of organs. Herein we reviewed our experience with en bloc pediatric kidney transplantation since 1998. METHODS: From January 1998 to December 2004, nine adult patients underwent kidney transplantation using en bloc kidneys from donors <5 years old (range, 1 to 4). The mean age of the recipients was 45.1 years (range, 34 to 57). RESULTS: In recipients of en bloc pediatric transplantation, cold ischemia time ranged from 14 to 26.2 hours (mean, 21.3 hours). Mean serum creatinine at 3, 6, and 12 months after transplantation was 1.53 +/- 0.57, 1.27 +/- 0.27, and 1.15 +/- 0.26 mg/dL compared with 1.93 +/- 1.35, 1.81 +/- 1.17, and 1.73 +/- 0.85 (P = .08) in recipients of single kidneys from ideal cadaveric donors (UNOS criteria, n = 368). Patient and graft survival at 1 year were 88.8% compared with 91.2% and 85% with ideal donors (P = NS), respectively. Three cases required additional surgery. There was one death due to a cerebral vascular accident. CONCLUSION: The present study confirmed the excellent results achieved with transplantation using en bloc kidneys from young donors.     

Superior Long-Term Results of Simultaneous Pancreas–Kidney Transplantation from Pediatric Donors

The shortage of cadaveric donors for simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation has prompted the use of cadaveric organs from pediatric donors. The long-term outcome and its impact on overall long-term survival are unknown. A total of 680 recipients receiving cadaver Simultaneous pancreas-kidney (SPK) transplantation from pediatric and adult donors between July 1986 and September 2001 were analyzed and compared. Ten-year kidney and pancreas graft survival for SPK transplantation from donors aged <18 years (n = 142) were 80% and 72%, respectively, compared to 61% pancreas and kidney graft survival from donors > or =18 years of age (n = 538; p = 0.03 and 0.05, respectively). Five years post-transplant, blood glucose, HbA1c and creatinine clearance were significantly better in recipients from pediatric donors (85.3 +/- 13 mg/dL, 5.5 +/- 3.5% and 65.6 +/- 16 mL/min, respectively), compared to recipients from adult donors (95.1 +/- 29 mg/dL, 5.9 +/- 3.5% and 58.3 +/- 17 mL/min; p = 0.001, 0.01 and 0.002, respectively). Causes of graft failure for kidney and pancreas transplants were similar between the two groups. No statistically significant difference was observed in patient survival between recipients from pediatric donors compared to adult donors (85% vs. 76%, p = 0.29). When recipients of SPK from pediatric donors were stratified according to age (3-11 years and 12-17 years) and compared, no difference in kidney or pancreas graft survival was observed (kidney 76.4% vs. 81.3%, p = 0.15; pancreas 75% vs. 76%, p = 0.10, respectively). Pediatric donors represent a valuable source of organs, providing excellent short- and long-term outcomes. Wide utilization of pediatric organs will substantially increase the donor pool.     

Analysis of infectious complications occurring after solid-organ transplantation.

To improve our understanding of posttransplant infections, we analyzed bacterial, viral, fungal, parasitic, and other infections in 604 consecutive recipients of kidney (n = 518), kidney-pancreas (n = 82), kidney-liver (n = 3), or kidney-islet (n = 1) allografts (355 cadaveric, 14 living-unrelated, 235 living-related donors) who also received cyclosporine, azathioprine, and prednisone immunosuppression. Recipients of cadaveric grafts received additional induction immunosuppression (antilymphocyte globulin or murine monoclonal antibody OKT3). Rejection episodes were treated with high-dose steroids, and either antilymphocyte globulin or OKT3 was administered when clinically indicated. Perioperative antibiotics and posttransplant prophylactic acyclovir sodium or ganciclovir sodium, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and clotrimazole or nystatin (Mycostatin) were administered to all recipients. Two hundred thirteen patients (35.3%) were found to have had no identifiable infections, while 391 (64.7%) had either isolated bacterial (97 [16.1%]), viral (53 [8.8%]), or fungal (34 [5.6%]) infections or combination (concurrent or sequential) infections with bacterial plus viral (46 [7.6%]), bacterial plus fungal (66 [10.9%]), viral plus fungal (20 [3.3%]), bacterial plus viral plus fungal (64 [10.6%]), or bacterial plus viral plus fungal plus parasitic (11 [1.8%]) pathogens in the posttransplantation period. Renal allograft survival (percentage, actuarial method) was diminished in patients with infections at both 1 year (91% vs 83%) and 3 years (81% vs 76%) after transplantation, as was actuarial patient survival (1 year, 97% vs 92%; 3 years, 93% vs 88%). We conclude that infection remains a major cause of both patient demise and allograft loss following successful solid-organ transplantation.     

Cost-effectiveness of cadaveric and living-donor liver transplantation

BACKGROUND: Cadaveric liver transplantation (5-year survival >80%) represents the standard of care for end-stage liver disease (ESLD). Because the demand for cadaveric organs exceeds their availability, living-donor liver transplantation has gained increasing acceptance. Our aim was to assess the marginal cost-effectiveness of cadaveric and living-donor orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) in adults with ESLD. METHODS: Using a Markov model, outcomes and costs of ESLD treated (1) conservatively, (2) with cadaveric OLT alone, and (3) with cadaveric OLT or living-donor OLT were computed. The model was validated with published data. The case-based scenario consisted of data on all 15 ESLD patients currently on our waiting list (3 women, 12 men; median age, 48 years [range, 33-59 years]) and on the outcome of all OLT performed for ESLD at our institution since 1995 (n=51; actuarial 5-year survival 93%). Living-donor OLT was allowed in 15% during the first year of listing; fulminant hepatic failure and hepatocellular carcinoma were excluded. RESULTS: Cadaveric OLT gained on average 6.2 quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) per patient compared with conservative treatment, living-donor OLT, an additional 1.3 QALYs compared with cadaveric OLT alone. Marginal cost-effectiveness of a program with cadaveric OLT alone and a program with cadaveric and living-donor OLT combined were similar (E 22,451 and E 23,530 per QALY gained). Results were sensitive to recipient age and postoperative survival rate. CONCLUSIONS: Offering living-donor OLT in addition to cadaveric OLT improves survival at costs comparable to accepted therapies in medicine. Cadaveric OLT and living-donor OLT are cost-effective.     

Etiological agents of bacteremia in the early period after liver transplantation

Bacteremia is one of the major infections in orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). The study of 83 adults who underwent OLT from 2001 to 2004, included patients followed prospectively from the day of transplantation to 4 weeks after the procedure by bacteriological cultures. The microorganisms were investigated according to standard National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS) procedures. Blood samples were examined in 59 recipients (71.1%) before and in 76 patients (91.6%) during the month after transplantation. Among 249 investigated samples, 96 were positive, as cultured from 19 recipients before OLT and 48 patients afterward. The most common were Gram-positive cocci (n = 71) and coagulase-negative staphylococci (n = 52), including methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci (MRCNS). Enterococcus spp. occurred in 9 isolates (high-level aminoglycoside-resistant enterococci [HLAR] strains were cultured). We cultured the Enterobacteriaceae family (n = 16 isolates) and (n = 15 isolates), Gram-negative nonfermenting rods some of which were extended spectrum beta-lactamase producing [ESBL(+)] strains. The predominance of Gram-positive cocci was caused by CNS, and the use of prophylaxis to reduce Gram-negative bacteria. The increased rate of isolation of bacteria with multidrug resistance (MDR) to antimicrobial agents may be due to their frequent use for prophylaxis of bacterial infections in OLT. These MDR bacterial strains caused severe BSI after OLT.     

Experience of a successful pediatric liver transplant program in Mexico

Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) has been very difficult to develop in Mexico and for many years its occurrence was anecdotal. This report presents the results of a pediatric liver transplant program, analyzing the variables that affect outcomes. Between June 1998 and March 2004, 35 OLT were performed in 34 recipients including 80% cadaveric whole-organ grafts and 20% segmental grafts, with 11% from cadaveric and 9% from living donors. Most of the recipients were infants or toddlers weighing less than 15 kg. There was only 1 case of arterial thrombosis (2.8%); the graft was saved with a Kasai procedure. Biliary complications were present in 22% of cases, all resolved with reoperations. Posttransplant cytomegalovirus infection or reactivation (28%), acute rejection (25%), or posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorders (5.7%) were not a cause of graft or patient loss. Overall, 1- and 5-year patient survival rates are 77.1% and 74.2%, respectively; however, when the 1998-2000 cohort was compared with the 2001-2004 cohort, there was a significant difference in survival (P = .004). The 1-year patient survival for the later group is 91.6%. We performed the first successful living donor liver transplantation and the first simultaneous liver-kidney transplantation in a child in our country. Our results demonstrate that pediatric liver transplantation is a feasible undertaking in Mexico, with survival rates comparable to those of foreign centers.     

小鼠原位脂肪肝移植模型的建立

目的　建立了ob/ob小鼠脂肪肝移植模型 ,探讨保证建模成功的关键因素。方法　采用小鼠非动脉化肝移植技术 ,5～ 7周肥胖小鼠为供体 ,正常小鼠为受体 ,双袖套法行原位肝移植。受体肝组织行HE染色和油红O染色 ,血清ALT、AST水平检测采用常规生化分析法。结果非脂肪肝移植组 (lean to lean)受体长期存活率 (n =10 )为 70 % ,脂肪肝移植组 (ob/obtoagematchedlean)受体存活率为 0 (n =10 ) ,差异有显著性 (P <0 .0 5 )。脂肪肝移植给体积相当的正常小鼠 ,其短期存活率为 3 0 % (n =10 ) ,所有小鼠术后存活并苏醒 ,但均未超过 2 4h。脂肪肝移植受体ALT水平为 (62 85± 2 93 7)U /L ,AST为 (5 812± 2 942 )U /L ;而正常小鼠移植组ALT与AST水平分别为 (5 96± 114 )U /L ,(1796± 870 )U/L ,差异有显著性 (P <0 .0 5 ) ,组织学检测显示大量胆管中央凝固性坏死伴出血。结论　该模型的成功建立为我们提供了一种新的肝原发性肝无功能移植模型 ,为脂肪肝移植后脂肪肝细胞受损的机制研究奠定了基础。     

Adult ABO-incompatible liver transplantation, using A and B donors

BACKGROUND: The longer waiting time for a liver graft in patients with blood group O makes it necessary to expand the donor pool for these patients. This applies in both urgent situations and for elective patients. We report on our experience with ABO-incompatible liver transplantation using A2 and B non-secretor donors here. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 1996 and 2005, 12 adult blood group O recipients (seven male/five female) received ABO-incompatible cadaveric liver grafts (10 A2 donors, two B non-secretor donors). The indications were either rapid deterioration of liver function or hepatocellular cancer, in blood group O recipients, where an ABO-identical/compatible graft was not available. Mean recipient age was 54+/-8 (mean+/-SD) yr. All pre-operative CDC crossmatches were negative. The initial immunosuppression was induction therapy with antithymocyte globulin (n = 3), interleukin 2 receptor antagonists (n = 3) or anti-CD20 antibody (rituximab) (n = 1), followed by a tacrolimus-based protocol. Three patients underwent plasmapheresis post-transplantation. Baseline biopsies were taken before or immediately after reperfusion of the graft and after grafting when clinically indicated. No pre-operative plasmapheresis, immunoadsorption or splenectomies were performed. RESULTS: Patient and graft survival was 10/12 (83%) and 8/12 (67%), respectively, with a 6.5-month median follow-up (range 10 days to 109 months). Two patients (B non-secretor grafts) died of multiorgan failure probably because of a poor condition before transplantation. Three patients were retransplanted. Causes of graft loss were bacterial arteritis (n = 1), death with a functioning graft (n = 1) and portal vein thrombosis (n = 2). In one of the patients with portal vein thrombosis, an anti-A titer increase occurred concomitantly, and ABO incompatibility as the cause of the thrombosis cannot be excluded. Seven acute rejections occurred in five patients and all were reversed by steroids or increased tacrolimus dosage. The pre-transplant anti-A titers tested against A1 red blood cells were 1 to 128 (NaCl technique) and 4 to 1024 (indirect antiglobulin technique, IAT); the maximum postoperative titers were 16 to 2048 (NaCl) and 256 to 32,000 (IAT). CONCLUSION: The favorable outcome of A2 to O grafting, with a patient survival of 10/10 and a graft survival of 8/10, makes it possible to also consider this blood group combination in non-urgent situations. The use of non-secretor donor grafts is interesting but has to be further documented. There was no hyperacute rejection or increased rate of rejection. Anti-A/B titer changes seem not to play a significant role in the monitoring of ABO-incompatible liver transplantation.     

Steatotic liver transplantation in the mouse: a model of primary nonfunction

BACKGROUND: The number of potential donor organs deemed suboptimal for transplantation because of hepatic steatosis is rising as the obesity rate increases. However, no mouse transplant model has been described within the framework of hepatic steatosis. We describe the development of and our initial experience with a steatotic mouse orthotopic liver transplant model using the ob/ob mouse. This model is technically achievable and functionally mimics primary nonfunction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Adapting techniques of a nonarterialized murine transplant model, C57BL6 ob/ob mice aged 5-7 weeks (26-35 g) and lean controls served as liver donors and recipients. Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) was performed using a two-cuff technique at the infrahepatic cava and portal vein. The suprahepatic cava was anastomosed end to end, and the bile duct was stented. The hepatic artery was not reconstructed. RESULTS: Lean-to-lean OLT was performed with 70% (n = 10) long-term survival. ob/ob-to-age-matched lean recipients had 0% (n = 10) survival because of size discrepancy. ob/ob livers were transplanted to size-matched lean recipients (>3 months old) with short-term survival of 30% (n = 10). These mice survived the operation, awakened, but expired within 24 h. Serum transaminases revealed a significantly higher injury profile in the recipients of the steatotic livers, and histology showed massive centrilobular coagulative necrosis with hemorrhage, the overall picture being that of primary nonfunction. CONCLUSIONS: This novel use of the ob/ob mouse for OLT provides us with a model for steatotic transplantation with primary nonfunction as the end point and may help to better understand the response of the steatotic liver to the insult of transplantation.     

Living kidney transplantation: a starting experience

INTRODUCTION: We present our initial experience with living kidney transplantation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From January 2001 to December 2002, we performed 27 living kidney transplants using immunosuppression with induction basiliximab, cyclosporine (n = 10 patients), or tacrolimus (n = 17), mycophenolate mofetil, and steroids. RESULTS: Nineteen (70.3%) donors were women and 8 (29.7%) were men of mean age 50.6 years. Four donors were over 65 years of age at the time of living donation. Donor morbidity was 5.5%: namely, one wound infection and one asymptomatic acute pancreatitis. There were no differences between the preoperative and the postoperative mean serum creatinines and systolic blood pressure values. All living donors are in good health with a mean serum creatinine of 0.80 mg/dL at a mean follow-up of 15.2 months. Nineteen (70.3%) recipients were men and 8 (29.7%) were women of mean age 36 years. Acute rejection occurred in 6 (22.2%) recipients. It was more common among spousal donors and among cyclosporine-treated recipients. Patient and graft survivals at a mean follow-up of 15.2 months was 100%. CONCLUSIONS: Our early results showed that accurate selection and preoperative management of potential living donors lead to excellent results in kidney transplantation. The health of the living donors was not impaired by the donation. The rate of early postoperative complications was low. Living donor kidney transplantation, in our geographical area with a low-rate of cadaveric donor transplants, is an alternative to expand the donor pool, which offers better results in term of patient and graft survival.     

Risk factors in cadaveric donors of livers procured for elective and urgent recipients

Use of livers from cadaveric nonstandard donors has become justified, especially for recipients awaiting urgent transplantations. However, it is known that results are superior when organs are obtained from ideal rather than expanded-criteria donors. We designed a study to compare the characteristics of 582 liver donors whose organs were used for elective versus urgent transplantations in 2006-2008 and the recipients' outcomes. Donors and recipients were classified into 2 groups: 1) elective (n = 387); and 2) urgent transplantations (n = 195). We evaluated 12 donor risk factors: age >55 years, alcohol ingestion, intensive care unit stay >4 days, hypotensive episodes (<70 mm Hg >10 min), noradrenaline dose >0.1 μg/kg/min, anti-hepatitis B of core (+), Na level >155 mmol/L, international normalized ratio >1.5, aspartate transaminase >140 U/L, alanine transaminase >170 U/L, bilirubin >2.0 mg/dL, and changes in liver sonography. There were no significant differences in the frequency of incidence of 11 donor risk factors in both groups. Only sodium level >155 mEq/L significantly (P = .04) differed. Donors for elective recipients showed this factor more frequently than the urgent cohort. The mean number of risk factors per donor among the elective cases was 2.28 and for the urgent cases 2.3, a difference that was not significant. In almost all cases of liver transplantations (94%), donor-related risk factors were acceptable. The criteria for cadaveric liver donors were not different for elective versus urgent recipients; biologic characteristics of the transplanted organs were similar in both groups. A tendency was not observed to expand donor criteria for urgent recipients.     

Parental donors in live-donor kidney transplantation associated with increased rejection rates and reduced glomerular filtration rates

BACKGROUND: Living unrelated and related kidney transplantation has been shown to have similar allograft survival. However, the effect of donor-recipient relatedness in living-related and unrelated kidney transplantation on graft and patient survival remains uncertain. METHODS: Using Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant Registry, primary living renal transplant recipients in Australia between 1995 and 2004 were studied (n=1989). Donors were categorized according to their relationship with recipients: parent (n=606), child (n=103), spouse (n=358), sibling (n=656), other living-related donors (n=81), and other living-unrelated donors (n=185). Outcomes analyzed included the presence of rejection at 6 months, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at 1 and 3 years, graft survival, and patient survival. RESULTS: A greater proportion of renal transplant recipients from parental and spousal donors were transplanted preemptively. Donor groups had no relationship with graft or patient survival. Parental donors were associated with an increased relative odds of acute rejection (odds ratio 1.69, 95% confidence interval 1.13-2.53, P=0.009) and a lower eGFR at both 1 and 3 years (coefficient -2.99 and -5.68, respectively; P<0.0001) compared to other donor groups (reference sibling donor group). CONCLUSIONS: This study has established that donor-recipient relatedness in both related and unrelated living kidney transplantation had no significant effect on graft and patient survival. Parental donors were associated with a higher relative risk of rejection and lower eGFR in the transplant recipients, although these findings did not translate to a worse graft outcome.     

Renal transplantation in children

OBJECTIVE: Renal transplantation is the preferred method for the treatment of children in end-stage renal disease (ESRD). In this retrospective study, we analyzed the results at our center. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between November 1993 and June 2006, 86 children (50 boys and 36 girls) received organs from 50 living donors (LDTx) and 36 cadaveric donors (CDTx). Twenty children were <10 years. In addition to ESRD, some patients had one or more other high-risk factors, eg, abnormal lower urinary tract in 36 recipients (42%). The procedure was a preemptive transplantation in 28, and a retransplantation in 9 recipients. Induction immunosuppression used either antithymocyte globulin (43 cases) or anti-interleukin-2 receptor antibodies (20 cases). RESULTS: Patients were followed for 6 to 150 months. There were 24 surgical complications (28%), 26 acute rejection episodes (33%), and 17 of systemic bacterial or viral infections. Two recipients died at 1 and 21 months. The 14 grafts were lost at 1 day to 87 months. The 1- and 10-year actuarial survival rates were 99% and 98%, respectively, for the recipients, and 88% and 84%, respectively, for the grafts. The 10-year actuarial graft survival rates were 98% in LDTx and 64% in CDTx; 86% in recipients >10 years old and 75% in recipients <10 years old. Abnormal urinary tract, pretransplantation dialysis, and transplant number showed no effect on graft survival. All pediatric recipients with functioning grafts are fully rehabilitated. CONCLUSION: Renal transplantation is the preferred method of treatment for children in ESRD. Higher graft survival rates were achieved in older children and following LDTx.     

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.     

Successful transplantation of 50 single unit pediatric kidneys ages 11 to 48 months into adult recipients

There is currently an imbalance between the need for cadaveric kidneys for transplantation and the supply. The medical criteria for accepting cadaveric donors are changing and organs that were originally thought to be unacceptable have functioned well. Previous reports have discussed the problems with transplanting pediatric allografts less than 4 years old into adult recipients, and the results have not been encouraging. From 1986 to 1991 a total of 50 kidneys ages 11 to 48 months were transplanted as single units into adult recipients (Group A). Ninety-one adult donor cadaveric transplants were used as controls (Group B). The cadaveric transplants were 2nd or 3rd transplants in 7 of the Group A and 12 of the Group B patients. Renal preservation, storage times, and demographics were the same. Prednisone, cyclosporine, and either Minnesota ALG or OKT3 were used for immunosuppression in both groups. Imuran was added in immunologically high-risk patients. The 1-year actuarial patient and allograft survivals for Group A versus Group B were 89.5% versus 94.2% (p=0.49) and 71.3% versus 87.8% (p=0.01), respectively. There was no difference in allograft or patient survival in kidneys from donors 11-24 months of age or 25-48 months (p=0.56). Renal growth, as measured by sonography, occurred while on cyclosporine A. Excretory and hormonal function as measured by creatinine and hematocrit both improved. Seventy percent of the Group A patients and 76% of the Group B patients were free from rejection in the first 2 months post transplantation (p=0.45).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Successful Liver and Kidney Transplantation From Cadaveric Donors With Left-Sided Bacterial Endocarditis

Bacterial infections are frequent in cadaveric organ donors and can be transmitted to the transplantation recipient, which could have devastating consequences for the recipients if adequate preventive measures are not adopted.
From the 355 consecutive brain dead cadaveric organ donors procured at our center in the last four years, 2000–2003, four of them (1.1%) had bacterial endocarditis as cause of death. The bacteria responsible for the endocarditis were Staphylococcus epidermidis, coagulase-negative Staphylococcus , Staphylococcus hominis and Streptococcus viridans , respectively. We performed five kidney and two liver transplantations on seven recipients. All donors and recipients received antibiotic treatment against the germ causing the respective endocarditis.
Infection by the bacteria responsible for the endocarditis in the respective donors was not transmitted to any of the recipients. Six of the seven recipients were alive with normal-functioning grafts after between 13 and 24 months' follow-up. Transplantectomy was performed on one kidney recipient due to thrombosis of the renal vein of the graft not related to the endocarditis.
Liver and kidney transplantation from donors dying from bacterial endocarditis can be performed without causing the transmission of infection to the recipient or the dysfunction of the graft.     

The influence of donor age on graft survival in renal transplantation

The current supply of kidneys from cadaver and living related donor sources is not sufficient to meet the demand. As a result, alternative sources of renal allografts are being explored, including very young donors and anencephalic newborns. However, data on the success of transplanting kidneys from very young donors are limited and conflicting. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the function and survival of renal grafts obtained from newborns and very young donors is different from that for grafts obtained from older donors. Thirty-six cadaveric donors under the age of 3 years, including seven anencephalic newborns, were evaluated. Allograft recipients ranged in age from 12 months to 57 years. The clinical outcome for these donor organs was compared with the graft survival for 136 kidneys transplanted from cadaver donors over age 3 years at our institution. There was a 65% 6-month and 64% 1-year graft survival in recipients of kidneys from donors greater than or equal to 3 years. Survival of grafts from donors under 12 months of age (n = 16) was significantly decreased compared with donors age 3 years and older, with a 31% 6-month (P less than .01) and 19% 12-month survival (P less than .001). Grafts obtained from anencephalic donors did not differ in survival or function from kidneys obtained from other donors less than 12 months of age. Survival for renal allografts from donors age 13 months to 3 years was also decreased relative to older donors: 55% at 6 months (P greater than .1) and 40% at 1 year (P less than .05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)