Long-term results of pediatric renal transplantation at one center in Turkey

Kidney transplantation is more frequently indicated in children than in adults because growth retardation is an additional problem associated with chronic kidney disease in the pediatric age group. This study retrospectively analyzed the data from 75 kidney transplantations performed on 73 children (38 male and 35 female) at a center in Turkey from late 1975 through 2003. The aim of the study was to investigate the case characteristics and the long-term outcomes in this patient group. Patient ages ranged from 8 to 16 years (mean, 14.9 +/- 2.2 years). Sixty (82.1%) children were on hemodialysis, and 12 (16.4%) on peritoneal dialysis prior to transplantation. Pre-emptive transplantation was performed for one (1.4%) patient. Fifty-nine transplantations used organs from live donors (78.7%) and 16 cadaver transplants (21.3%). The mean cold ischemia time for the cadaveric transplantations was 38.6 hours (range, 23-56 hours). All recipients were placed on a low-dose immunosuppressive regimen. One graft was lost due to hyperacute rejection. Twenty-one patients (28.8%) experienced a total of 24 acute rejection episodes. The follow-up period ranged from 1 to 190 months (mean, 44.1 +/- 31.8 months). Concerning postoperative complications, four patients (5.5%) developed a lymphocele; there were two cases each (2.7% each) of distal ureteral stricture, perirenal hematoma, or renovascular stenosis; and one patient (1.4%) developed a urine leakage. Two patients (2.7%) developed Kaposi's sarcoma at 17 and 3 months after transplantation. Six recipients died (mortality 8%), four of whom had a functioning graft. Two patients (2.7%) underwent retransplantation at 4 and 2 years after the initial operation. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year graft survival rates for living-related transplantations were 92%, 81%, and 70%, and the corresponding patient survival rates were 98%, 93%, and 92%, respectively. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year graft survival rates for cadaveric transplantations were 90%, 78%, and 68%, and patient survival rates 98%, 91%, and 90%, respectively. These results indicate that kidney transplantation is successful in pediatric end-stage renal disease patients particularly from living-related donors.     

儿童肾移植46例报道

目的探讨儿童肾移植的手术特点、术后并发症及免疫抑制治疗方案。方法回顾性研究1998年2月至2004年12月46例儿童肾移植患者的临床资料。观察受者及移植肾存活情况,受者生长发育情况及术后并发症。结果46例儿童肾移植后发生急性排斥反应10例,肾功能延迟恢复4例,尿漏1例,肝功能损害8例,肺部感染8例,全骨髓抑制3例,粒细胞减少2例,输尿管坏死1例,移植肾动脉狭窄1例。术后4周所有患者肾功能均恢复正常。术后1年人和移植肾存活率均为100%,3年人和移植肾存活率分别为100%和97.4%。结论肾移植是治疗儿童终末期肾病的有效手段。儿童肾移植术后急性排斥发生率高,免疫抑制治疗应根据不同个体的特点制定不同的方案。     

Improved Outcomes of Renal Transplantation from Cardiac Death Donors: A 30-Year Single Center Experience

Outcomes of renal transplantation from donation after cardiac death (DCD) donors over 30 years were analyzed. Between 1975 and 2004, 256 renal transplantations from DCD donors were performed. The recipients were divided into four groups according to a time period as follows: 1975-1979 (Group 1; n = 18), 1980-1989 (Group 2; n = 81), 1990-1999 (Group 3; n = 84) and 2000-2004 (Group 4; n = 73). Of the 256 transplanted kidneys from DCD donors, 38 (15%) functioned immediately after transplantation. The incidence of delayed graft function (DGF) was 72%. Warm ischemic time and total ischemic time were 7.4 +/- 9.4 min and 11.9 +/- 5.6 h, respectively. The overall graft survival rates at 1, 5 and 10 years were 80%, 72% and 53%, respectively. Graft survival rates in each group have continually improved over time (5-year graft survival; 23% vs. 64% vs. 74% vs. 91%, respectively). However, there was no significant difference in graft survival rates between the groups of patients who survived with a functioning graft for more than 1 year. A multivariate Cox regression analysis showed acute rejection and donor age to be independently associated with graft outcome. DCD donors are a valuable source of kidneys for transplantation with promising long-term outcomes.     

Ureteral complications in the renal transplant recipient after laparoscopic living donor nephrectomy

OBJECTIVES: We report on ureteral and surgical complications in our first 110 consecutive recipients of kidneys procured with laparoscopic living donor nephrectomy (LLDN). METHODS: The records of all living donor transplants with LLDN performed between February 1999 and December 2004, including 10 pediatric transplants, were reviewed retrospectively. Three urologists performed LLDN using a pure laparoscopic non-hand-assisted transperitoneal technique. Kidney transplantation was performed in a standard fashion. For ureteroneocystostomy, the intravesical Politano-Leadbetter (P-L) technique was used. RESULTS: Two-year patient and graft survival was 99% and 98%, respectively. Serum creatinine at 12 months was 1.36+/-0.1mg/dl in adult and 0.99+/-0.23 mg/dl in pediatric recipients. Nineteen right donor kidneys were transplanted into adult recipients. Surgical complications included three symptomatic lymphoceles, one peritransplant haematoma and one kinking of a lower pole artery. All five (4.5%) ureteral complications occurred in adult recipients with a mean age of 33.2+/-2.8 years. The incidence of ureteral complications was not clustered around the early phase of our LLDN experience. Of the three (2.7%) patients diagnosed with ureteral obstruction, two required ureteral reimplantation, and one was managed conservatively. Another two patients (1.8%) with a urinary leak received a double J stent and a cystostomy catheter for 3 and 5 months, respectively. Of the five patients with a ureteral complication, three had received a donor kidney with more than one renal artery. CONCLUSIONS: LLDN combined with the intravesical (P-L) ureteral implantation technique provides excellent graft outcomes with low recipient morbidity. Renal artery multiplicity may increase the risk of ureteral complications.     

Late Ureteral Stenosis Following Renal Transplantation: Risk Factors and Impact on Patient and Graft Survival

The aim of this retrospective study of a cohort of 1787 consecutive kidney transplantations was to analyze the risk factors associated with the occurrence of ureteral stenosis and the impact of ureteral stenosis on graft and patient survival. Between January 1990 and December 2002, 1787 renal transplantations were performed at our center. Only stenosis observed after the first month, were considered. Among the parameters studied were: donor age and serum creatinine before procurement; recipient age, cold ischemia time, delayed graft function (DGF), number of arteries and the presence of a double J stent. The follow-up parameters were the number and timing of acute rejection episodes, cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, acute pyelonephritis, renal function and death. Ureteral stenosis occurred in 4.1% of patients and was correlated with donor age > 65 years (p = 0.001), kidneys with more than 2 arteries (p = 0.009) and DGF (p = 0.016). Ureteral stenosis did not affect 10-year patient and graft survival rates, which were respectively 90% and 64% for the stenosis group, 86% and 63% for the no-stenosis group (p = NS). These data suggest an important role for donor age, number of renal arteries and DGF for the occurrence of ureteral stenosis following renal transplantation.     

Renal transplantation in children with emphasis on young patients

We report the results of 41 consecutive renal transplantations performed on 39 children (median age 2.7 years). Twenty-six recipients were less than 5 years old. Twenty-one recipients (13 under the age of 5 years) received cadaver (CAD) grafts. All grafts except 2 were from adult donors and were placed extraperitoneally. Patients were on triple immunosuppression (cyclosporine plus azathioprine plus methylprednisolone). Mean followup time was 2.3 years. No vascular and only one ureteral complication was seen. Acute tubular necrosis occurred in 3 patients (7.3%). No grafts were lost due to acute rejection. Three-year patient survival and 1-year graft survival were 100%. The overall 3-year actuarial graft survival was 86%. Three-year survival of grafts from living-related donors (LRD) was 92% and that of CAD grafts 75%. In recipients younger than 5 years, 3-year LRD graft survival was 89% and CAD graft survival 73%. No significant differences in graft survival between recipients of different age groups or between LRD and CAD grafts were found. We conclude that results of renal transplantation in children under 5 years of age are comparable to those of older children, even using CAD grafts, when adult donors and triple immunosuppression are used.     

Endourological management is better in early-onset ureteral stenosis in kidney transplantation

INTRODUCTION: The incidence of ureteral stenosis in kidney transplant recipients is 3%-8%. The treatment of ureteral stenosis has been traditionally operative reconstruction, although such intervention is associated with high rates of serious complications, including graft loss and even perioperative mortality. More recently, endourological treatment has been proposed due to its low morbidity. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the usefulness of balloon percutaneous dilatation as a treatment technique for ureteral stenosis in kidney transplant recipients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Among 1000 kidney transplantations performed between 1980 and 2004, the coexistence of high creatinine values and urinary tract dilatation in the postoperative period, after discarding concomitant causes, was managed with a percutaneous nephrostomy. Once renal function recovered, antegrade pyelography was performed to confirm the presence and determine the location of ureteral stenosis. Ureteral dilatation was performed using a 5-French balloon-fitted angioplasty catheter. RESULTS: Fifty-six patients were diagnosed with ureteral stenosis during follow-up, an incidence of 5.6%. Transluminal balloon dilatation was the first therapeutic option in 45 cases, whereas surgery was performed directly on 11 patients. Disappearance of the stenosis as well as maintenance of an improved creatinine level was verified in 45% of cases (20 patients). Two patients experienced graft loss. Both a short time to diagnosis after transplantation (P = .06) and the presence of a previous acute rejection episode (P < .05) were good prognosis factors for the endourologic solution of a ureteral stricture. CONCLUSIONS: Balloon dilatation may be considered the definitive procedure for treatment of ureteral stenosis in selected cases. Percutaneous nephrostomy should be used for initial diagnosis and improvement in the renal function before attempting an open procedure.     

Clinical study of 18 pediatric cadaveric renal transplantations: organ sharing in pediatric renal transplantation after enforcement of the organ transplant law in Japan

Renal transplantation is considered to be the optimal replacement therapy for children with end-stage renal disease. However, the number of pediatric renal transplants in Japan is much lower than in the USA and/or Europe. Since October 1997, pediatric(< 15 years) recipients are given priority over adult recipients for organ sharing, only if one or two HLA-DR antigen(s) are matched between the recipient and pediatric(< 15 years) donor. However, the number of pediatric transplants is not increasing. One hundred and twenty-four pediatric renal transplantations were performed in Tokyo Women's Medical University between 1983 and 1999, of which 18(14.5%) were cadaveric transplants and the others (106, 85.5%) were living-related transplants. We examined 18 pediatric cadaveric renal transplantations. Seven patients received their graft from pediatric donors less than 15 years of age and 11 from adult donors. The mean age at transplantation was 13.2 years (range 4.5-18.7 years). Major etiologies of renal disease are hereditary renal disease(38.8%), chronic glomerulonephritis(33.3%), and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis[FSGS] (16.7%). Zero matches in HLA-DR locus were observed in 72.2%. Patient survival rate was 100%. Graft survival rates at 1 and 5 years after transplantation were 83% and 64% successively. There was no significant difference between the graft survival of cadaveric and living-related transplantation at 1 and 5 years. All 5 patients who received their graft between 1994 and 1998 have maintained normal graft function. Causes of their graft loss were chronic rejection in 3, recurrence of FSGS in 2, primary non-function in 1, and graft thrombosis in 1. Donor age and HLA-DR mismatching did not affect the outcome. We propose that pediatric renal grafts should be provided to children with priority, regardless of their HLA-A, B and HLA-DR matching.     

Urological complications after renal transplantation using ureteroureteral anastomosis in children

PURPOSE: Ureterovesical reimplantation is most often performed for renal transplantation in children. We reviewed our experience to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ureteroureteral reimplantation in pediatric renal transplantation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated the charts of 92 boys and 72 girls who underwent a total of 166 ureteroureteral anastomoses for renal transplantation from January 1990 to December 1999. Spatulated end-to-end anastomosis was performed between recipient and graft ureters without stenting and with a bladder catheter for at least 10 days. RESULTS: Mean patient age at transplantation was 11.2 years (range 1 to 21.5). There were 22 living related donor and 144 cadaveric grafts. Urological anomalies and nephropathy were the cause of end stage renal disease in 146 and 20 patients, respectively. Urological complications were noted in 14 of the 166 transplantations (8.4%) in 10 boys and 4 girls, including 12 initial and 2 repeat grafts from 2 living related and 12 cadaveric donors. Five of these patients had undergone previous urological surgery. The 2 children (1.2%) with acute ureteral obstruction underwent repeat intervention after stent failure. Anastomotic leakage in 7 cases (4.2%) was treated conservatively in 1 and with a Double-J stent (Medical Engineering Corp., New York, New York) only required in 3. Reoperation was required in 3 cases. One patient (0.6%) with late ureteral stenosis underwent repeat anastomosis, 1 (0.6%) required reimplantation for recurrent pyelonephritis due to vesicoureteral reflux in the graft, 1 (0.6%) with a valve bladder required bladder augmentation and ureteral reimplantation, and 1 (0.6%) with lymphocele and 1 (0.6%) with lithiasis were successfully treated conservatively. Complications were associated with acute rejection in 6 cases. Mean followup without graft loss in patients who presented with versus without complications was 58.3 months (range 1 to 112) versus 75 (range 1 to 118). In the former patients with a mean age of 16 years 9 months versus those without urological complications mean serum creatinine was 116 and 108 mol./l., respectively. Two grafts were lost in patients with urological complications, including 1 who died of pulmonary embolism and 1 with refractory chronic rejection. Seven patients were lost to followup after 54 months (range 12 to 113) of adequate graft function. CONCLUSIONS: Ureteroureteral anastomosis is a safe and effective technique for pediatric renal transplantation with a low complication rate, which may be due to better vascularization of the shorter ureteral end of the graft. Our results should encourage the use of this technique in pediatric renal transplantation. Efforts to preserve the recipient ureters should be made at nephrectomy.     

Kidney Transplantation Outcomes in Temporarily Protected Syrian Patients With End-Stage Renal Failure in Turkey

BackgroundApproximately 6.3 million Syrian people migrated to other countries due to war since 2011. There are more than 3.5 million Syrian people living in Turkey under temporary protection. Syrian people receive free health care in Turkey, including kidney transplantation. Our institution started a kidney transplantation program about 3 years ago. It is the first institution performing living, related kidney transplantation for Syrian patients with end-stage renal failure.MethodsAll living, related kidney transplantations to Turkish and Syrian patients from the beginning of our transplantation program until September 2018 were enrolled in this study. Donor and recipient characteristics, induction and maintenance immunosuppression, length of hospital stay, creatinine values at first week and first month, treatment incompatibility, and graft survival were evaluated.ResultsOf the 25 living, related kidney transplantations 20% were Syrian. Three of 5 Syrian recipients were in the pediatric age group. None of the Syrian transplantations were preemptive, while half of the Turkish transplantations were preemptive (P = .005). Immunosuppression protocols, creatinine values, length of hospital stay, and graft survival rates were similar between groups. None of the Syrian recipients had treatment incompatibility (0%), unlike the Turkish recipients (15%).ConclusionOutcomes of kidney transplantation for Syrian recipients are similar to those of Turkish recipients. Having this no-cost facility is great for Syrian kidney failure patients. The number of transplantations for Syrian patients under temporary protection in Turkey is expected to increase in the future, with these favorable results and easy to access, free health care facilities.     

Results of pancreas transplantation after steroid withdrawal under tacrolimus immunosuppression

PURPOSE: The results of steroid withdrawal in pancreas transplant recipients under tacrolimus immunosuppression were analyzed. METHODS: From July 4, 1994 until April 30, 1998, 147 pancreas transplantations were performed in 141 patients, including 126 simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantations, 13 pancreas after kidney transplantation, and 8 pancreas transplantations alone. Baseline immunosuppression consisted of tacrolimus and steroids without antilymphocyte induction. Twenty-three patients were excluded from analysis because of early graft loss in 17 cases, retransplantation in 5 cases, and simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation after heart transplantation in 1 patient. RESULTS: With a mean follow-up of 2.8+/-1.1 years (range 1.0 to 4.8 years), complete steroid withdrawal was achieved in 58 (47%) patients with a mean time to steroid withdrawal of 15.2+/-8 months (range 4 to 40 months after transplantation). Of the entire cohort of 141 patients, overall 1-, 2-, and 4-year patient survival rates were 98%, 95.5%, and 86%, respectively. Overall 1-, 2-, and 4-year graft survival rates were 83%, 80%, and 71% (pancreas) and 95%, 91%, and 84% (kidney), respectively. Of the 124 patients analyzed for steroid withdrawal, 1-, 2-, and 4-year patient survival rates were 98%, 97%, and 92%, respectively. Overall 1-, 2-, and 4-year graft survival rates were 98%, 91.5%, 83% (pancreas) and 97%, 95%, and 91% (kidney). Patient, pancreas, and kidney survival rates at 1 year were 100%, 100%, and 98% (off steroids) versus 97%, 91%, and 96% (on steroids, all NS) and at 4 years were 100%, 94%, and 95% (off steroids) versus 78%, 68%, and 85% (on steroids, P = 0.01, 0.002, and NS, respectively). The cumulative risk of rejection at the time of follow-up was 76% for patients on steroids versus 74% for patients off steroids (P = NS). Seven patients originally tapered off steroids were treated for subsequent rejection episodes, which were all steroid sensitive, and two of these seven patients are currently off steroids. Thirteen patients received antilymphocyte therapy for steroid-resistant rejection, five of whom are now off steroids. Tacrolimus trough levels were 9.3+/-2.4 ng/ml (off steroids) and 9.7+/-4.3 (on steroids, P = NS). Mean fasting glucose levels were 98+/-34 mg/dl (off steroids) and 110+/-41 mg/dl (on steroids, P = NS). Mean glycosylated hemoglobin levels were 5.2+/-0.9% (off steroids) and 6.2+/-2.1% (on steroids, P = 0.02), and mean serum creatinine levels were 1.4+/-0.8 mg/dl (off steroids) and 1.7+/-1.0 mg/dl (on steroids, P = 0.02). CONCLUSION: These data show for the first time that steroid withdrawal can be safely accomplished in pancreas transplant recipients maintained on tacrolimus-based immunosuppression. Steroid withdrawal is associated with excellent patient and graft survival with no increase in the cumulative risk of rejection.     

Urolithiasis in renal and combined pancreas/renal transplant recipients

PURPOSE: Urological complications in renal transplant recipients will become more common with increasing numbers of transplantations as well as increased graft survival secondary to improvements in immunosuppression. Urinary stone disease may be one of those complications. We determine the current incidence of urinary stone disease in renal transplant patients based on contemporary immunosuppressive regimens. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the records of 1,730 renal and 83 pancreas/renal transplantations performed during the cyclosporine era and identified 8 recipients (0.4%) with urinary stone disease, including 3 with renal pelvic stones, 1 with multiple ureteral stones and 4 with bladder calculi. RESULTS: Treatment ranged from conservative observation to open pyelolithotomy, and included percutaneous nephrolithotomy and extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy. The ureteral stones were removed with antegrade and retrograde ureteroscopy. The 4 bladder stones were treated with cystolithalopaxy. No case had significant permanent graft damage. Mean followup was 68.6 months. Mean serum creatinine was 1.5 mg./dl. (normal 0.5 to 1.3) at baseline and 2.38 after followup. CONCLUSIONS: While the incidence of upper tract urinary stone disease in renal (0.23%) and pancreas/renal (1.2%) transplant recipients is not statistically significant (p <0.45), the latter have significantly higher rates of bladder stones (4.8 versus 0%, p <0.001). The diagnosis of urinary stone disease in transplant recipients can be challenging because of the lack of symptoms but the treatment approach is the same as in the normal population.     

儿童肾移植(附26例报告)

目的：探讨儿童肾移植手术技巧及术后免疫抑制剂的应用特点，提高人／肾存活率。方法：分析26例儿童肾移植患者的手术、免疫抑制剂使用和长期存活情况等临床资料。结果：移植肾功能延迟恢复2例，急性排斥反应（AR）11例，慢性排斥反应10例，1例肾移植2周后发生复发性肾炎，病理显示为局灶性节段性肾小球硬化，治疗后肾功能尚可维持；1、3、5年人／肾存活率分别为96％／88％，92％／73％和88％／62％，总死亡率12％。结论：良好的组织配型、适宜的手术方法、AR早诊断和恰当的血药浓度是保证儿童肾移植成功的关键。     

Comparable renal graft survival in African-American and Caucasian recipients

In past years, many pediatric transplant centers found African-American renal transplant recipients to have poor graft survival. Since 1991 anti-lymphocyte induction therapy has been routinely used for pediatric cadaveric (CAD) and living-related donor (LRD) renal allograft recipients at the University of Tennessee, Memphis. Sixteen African-American first renal allograft recipients received induction therapy: 11 CAD allografts (10 OKT3, 1 ATGAM) and five LRD (all ATGAM). Sixteen Caucasian recipients received induction therapy; 3 CAD (all OKT3), 1 living-unrelated donor (OKT3), and 12 LRD (9 ATGAM, 3 OKT3). Mean age at renal transplantation was 11.8 and 10.5 years for African-American and Caucasian recipients, respectively. Predicted graft survival (PGS) estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method for the African-American patients was 94% at both 1 and 3 years, and for Caucasian patients was 94% and 85% at 1 and 3 years, respectively. Eleven African-American CAD recipients had a PGS of 91% at 1 and 3 years. Renal allograft survival for African-American and Caucasian pediatric recipients at our center appears to be comparable. This could be due, in part, to the use of anti-lymphocyte induction therapy. However, other factors, such as improved compliance or better immunological and pharmacological monitoring, may also have contributed. Received April 18, 1997; received in revised form January 14, 1998; accepted January 19, 1998     

Pediatric renal transplantation under tacrolimus-based immunosuppression

BACKGROUND: Tacrolimus has been used as a primary immunosuppressive agent in adult and pediatric renal transplant recipients, with reasonable outcomes. Methods. Between December 14, 1989 and December 31, 1996, 82 pediatric renal transplantations alone were performed under tacrolimus-based immunosuppression without induction anti-lymphocyte antibody therapy. Patients undergoing concomitant or prior liver and/or intestinal transplantation were not included in the analysis. The mean recipient age was 10.6+/-5.2 years (range: 0.7-17.9). Eighteen (22%) cases were repeat transplantations, and 6 (7%) were in patients with panel-reactive antibody levels over 40%. Thirty-four (41%) cases were with living donors, and 48 (59%) were with cadaveric donors. The mean donor age was 27.3+/-14.6 years (range: 0.7-50), and the mean cold ischemia time in the cadaveric cases was 26.5+/-8.8 hr. The mean number of HLA matches and mismatches was 2.8+/-1.2 and 2.9+/-1.3; there were five (6%) O-Ag mismatches. The mean follow-up was 4.0+/-0.2 years. RESULTS: The 1- and 4-year actuarial patient survival was 99% and 94%. The 1- and 4-year actuarial graft survival was 98% and 84%. The mean serum creatinine was 1.1+/-0.5 mg/dl, and the corresponding calculated creatinine clearance was 88+/-25 ml/min/1.73 m2. A total of 66% of successfully transplanted patients were withdrawn from prednisone. In children who were withdrawn from steroids, the mean standard deviation height scores (Z-score) at the time of transplantation and at 1 and 4 years were -2.3+/-2.0, -1.7+/-1.0, and +0.36+/-1.5. Eighty-six percent of successfully transplanted patients were not taking anti-hypertensive medications. The incidence of acute rejection was 44%; between December 1989 and December 1993, it was 63%, and between January 1994 and December 1996, it was 23% (P=0.0003). The incidence of steroid-resistant rejection was 5%. The incidence of delayed graft function was 5%, and 2% of patients required dialysis within 1 week of transplantation. The incidence of cytomegalovirus was 13%; between December 1989 and December 1992, it was 17%, and between January 1993 and December 1996, it was 12%. The incidence of early Epstein-Barr virus-related posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) was 9%; between December 1989 and December 1992, it was 17%, and between January 1993 and December 1996, it was 4%. All of the early PTLD cases were treated successfully with temporary cessation of immunosuppression and institution of antiviral therapy, without patient or graft loss. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate the short- and medium-term efficacy of tacrolimus-based immunosuppression in pediatric renal transplant recipients, with reasonable patient and graft survival, routine achievement of steroid and anti-hypertensive medication withdrawal, gratifying increases in growth, and, with further experience, a decreasing incidence of both rejection and PTLD.     

High-risk constellation in living renal transplantation

There is only limited information about recipient risk factors for graft survival in living- donor kidney transplantation. This study aimed to investigate prognostic factors and their impact on living-related and unrelated renal transplant recipients. From October 2000 until October 2004, 81 adult living-related renal transplantations were performed at our institution. Using multivariate analysis, the association of the following variables with kidney graft outcome was studied: ages of donors and recipients, gender and body mass index, cold and warm ischemia, HLA mismatches, identity and compatibility of blood group, duration of dialysis, cytomegalovirus (CMV) status, recipient original disease, surgical and general complications, and status of retransplantation. Multivariate analysis revealed significant reduction of graft function and graft survival in recipients with retransplantation, more than 4 mismatches, and a high body mass index. Thus, living-donor kidney transplantation can be regarded as a safe and standardized operation relating to surgical technique, but further consideration of the recipient body mass index and the number of mismatches are recommended during the preparation for transplantation.     

Outcomes of Pediatric Kidney Transplantation in Recipients of a Previous Non‐Renal Solid Organ Transplant

Children who receive a non‐renal solid organ transplant may develop secondary renal failure requiring kidney transplantation. We investigated outcomes of 165 pediatric kidney transplant recipients who previously received a heart, lung, or liver transplant using data from 1988 to 2012 reported to the United Network for Organ Sharing. Patient and allograft survival were compared with 330 matched primary kidney transplant (PKT) recipients. Kidney transplantation after solid organ transplant (KASOT) recipients experienced similar allograft survival: 5‐ and 10‐year graft survival was 78% and 60% in KASOT recipients, compared to 80% and 61% in PKT recipients (p = 0.69). However, KASOT recipients demonstrated worse 10‐year patient survival (75% KASOT vs. 97% PKT, p < 0.001). Competing risks analysis indicated that KASOT recipients more often experienced graft loss due to patient death (p < 0.001), whereas allograft failure per se was more common in PKT recipients (p = 0.01). To study more recent outcomes, kidney transplants performed from 2006 to 2012 were separately investigated. Since 2006, KASOT and PKT recipients had similar 5‐year graft survival (82% KASOT vs. 83% PKT, p = 0.48), although 5‐year patient survival of KASOT recipients remained inferior (90% KASOT vs. 98% PKT, p < 0.001). We conclude that despite decreased patient survival, kidney allograft outcomes in pediatric KASOT recipients are comparable to those of PKT recipients.     

Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency: outcomes after liver transplantation

Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency (AAT) is the most common inherited metabolic disease leading to liver transplantation (LT) in children and adults. The aim of the study was to determine transplantation trends and survival of LT recipients with AAT. Using the UNOS (United Network for Organ Sharing) database, we identified 567 patients who underwent LT and 3 who received lung and LT from 1995 to 2004. AAT accounted for 1.06% of all adult LTs and 3.51% for pediatric LT. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year patient survival was 89%, 85%, and 83%, respectively, for adults versus 92%, 90%, and 90% for pediatric patients (P = .04), and graft survival was 83%, 79%, and 77% for adults versus 84%, 81%, and 78% for pediatric patients (P = .51). By regression analysis, age was the only predictor for patient survival (P = .04). In conclusion, adult and pediatric LT recipients with AAT are predominantly of Caucasian ethnicity and have an excellent post-LT survival.     

Urologic complications in 1523 renal transplantations: The Baskent University experience

Urologic complications, observed since the beginning of renal transplantation, cause significant morbidity and mortality. In the first few years the procedure was performed, incidence of urologic complications was reported to be 10% to 25%. Recently, the incidence of urologic complications after renal transplantation has decreased to 2.5% to 12.5%; unfortunately, a higher incidence exists in pediatric recipients, reaching approximately 20% with an associated 58% and 74% graft survival rates for cadaveric and living-related transplantation, respectively. We retrospectively analyzed the postoperative urologic complications reported in the medical charts of 1523 consecutive kidney transplantations (1130 men, 74.2%; 393 women, 25.8%; mean age, 31.9 +/- 10.9 years; range, 7 to 64 years; 354 cadaveric, 23.2%; 1169 living, 76.8%) performed by our team since 1975. The first 321 procedures took place at Hacettepe University Hospital in Ankara, Turkey, and the remaining 1202 were performed at Baskent University Hospital in Ankara. Urologic complications occurred in 46 (3%) recipients. Twenty-three (1.5%) of these patients had urine leakage, 15 (1%) had urinary obstruction due to ureteral stricture, 6 (0.4%) had distal ureter necrosis, and 2 (0.1%) developed renal calculi in the late postoperative period. Twenty-four out of 46 required reoperation for urologic complications. The remaining 22 patients were treated conservatively in our interventional radiology department with excellent results. In conclusion, urologic complications will always occur in the posttransplant period. Early diagnosis by experienced personnel and use of interventional radiology can greatly reduce the need for surgical treatment.     

儿童心脏死亡器官捐献供者双肾整块移植早期临床疗效观察

目的：观察儿童心脏死亡器官捐献（ DCD ）供者双肾整块移植的早期临床疗效。方法回顾性分析中山大学附属第一医院器官移植中心2010年2月至2013年9月儿童DCD供者双肾整块移植供、受者临床资料。6例儿童DCD供者中位年龄3岁（10个月～6岁）,均捐献给相同血型受者。6例受者中位年龄39．5岁（17～48岁）,成年人5例,17岁男性1例,原发病均为慢性肾小球肾炎;均为首次肾移植,群体反应性抗体均阴性, HLA错配数1～4个。均采用右侧髂窝整块移植法。结果6例受者手术均获成功。移植肾热缺血时间中位数为17．5 min （0～23 min）,冷缺血时间中位数为6．6 h （4．8～7．4 h）。术后肾功能恢复均较顺利,未发生急性排斥反应、移植肾原发性无功能和移植肾功能延迟。其中4例为移植肾功能立即恢复（即术后第5天血清肌酐≤265μmol/L ）,2例为移植肾功能缓慢恢复（即术后第5天血清肌酐＞265μmol/L）。1例受者术后7 d右侧移植肾动脉血栓形成;1例受者术后15 d诊断为肺结核行正规抗结核治疗;1例受者术后1年出现移植肾动脉吻合口狭窄,介入治疗后恢复。术后随访1～36个月,受者和移植肾全部存活,所有受者肾功能均正常。结论儿童DCD供者双肾整块移植早期临床疗效良好,是一种扩大供者来源的良好途径。