Early Ultrastructural Changes in Renal Allografts: Correlation With Antibody‐Mediated Rejection and Transplant Glomerulopathy

Transplant glomerulopathy (TG) is associated with antibody‐mediated renal allograft rejection (AMR) and reduced graft survival. Histologically, TG is typically seen >1 year posttransplantation. However, ultrastructural changes including glomerular endothelial swelling, subendothelial widening and early glomerular basement membrane duplication are associated with development of TG but appear much earlier. We examined the specificity of these changes for AMR, and whether these are inevitably associated with development of TG. Of 98 for cause renal allograft biopsies carried out within 3 months of transplantation with available serologic data, 17 showed C4d‐positive AMR and 16 had histologic changes of AMR and donor‐specific antibodies (DSA), but no C4d. All three ultrastructural changes were seen in 11 of 17 biopsies with C4d‐positive AMR, 8 of 16 with histologic changes of AMR and DSA but no C4d, and 0 of 65 without histologic changes of AMR and/or DSA (p < 0.0001 for both of the former groups vs. the latter). Twenty patients with positive DSA (18 with histologic changes of AMR and 11 C4d‐positive) had ≥1 follow‐up biopsy; eight developed overt TG 3.5–30 months posttransplantation. Among the 18 patients with DSA and histologic changes of AMR, 11 C4d‐positive and 7 C4d‐negative, treatment for AMR after the early biopsy significantly reduced subsequent development of overt TG.     

活体肝移植小肝综合征的研究进展

目的 探讨在活体肝移植中小肝综合征发生的原因、预防及治疗方法.方法 复习国内、外近几年活体肝移植术后有关小肝综合征的相关报道.结果 供体年龄、脂肪肝程度、受体术前疾病状态(MELD评分)、术后高门静脉灌注、流出道不畅及移植物大小和质量对活体肝移植术后小肝综合征的发生起着重要作用,术前选择最佳的供体,术中的脾脏切除或脾动脉结扎或对门静脉限流,保证流出道的绝对通畅,术后及早发现并积极治疗能显著减少小肝综合征的发生.结论 小肝综合征的危险因素是可以预测的,积极的应对措施可以用于小肝综合征的预防与治疗.     

The challenge of informed consent for increased risk living donation and transplantation

The Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) mandates that organ recipients provide "specific informed consent" before accepting organs that the OPTN defines as "increased risk". However, the OPTN does not provide specific guidelines for what information should be disclosed to potential recipients. Such vagueness opens the door to inadequate informed consent. This paper examines the ethical dimensions of informed consent when the prospective living donor has self-reported behaviors associated with increased risk for infection transmission. Donor privacy is a primary ethical concern that conflicts with recipients' informed consent for use of increased risk organs. We propose that both the increased risk status and the specific behavior be disclosed to the recipient. Because the actual risk posed is linked to the type of risk behavior, disclosure is therefore needed to make an informed decision. The donor's risk behavior is material to recipients' decision making because it may impact the donor-recipient relationship. This relationship is the foundation of the donation and acceptance transaction, and thus comprises a critical feature of the recipient's informed consent. Optimizing a recipient's informed consent is essential to protecting patient safety and autonomy.     

切取肝中静脉对活体肝移植供者早期残肝淤血和再生的影响

目的 探讨肝中静脉的切取对活体右半肝移植供者残肝淤血和再生的影响.方法 本中心2008年8月至2009年8月实施的活体右半肝移植供者28例,其中不带肝中静脉右半肝切取的供体11例(A组),带肝中静脉右半肝切取的供体17例(B组).术后2周行CT检查测量残肝的体积.比较两组供者Ⅳ段肝静脉与不同分型的术后早期残肝淤血和再生情况.结果 本组供体有10例发现Ⅳ段淤血,均为残肝不含肝中静脉者(B组),其中7例为完全或大部分淤血,A组供者无1例出现肝脏淤血;两组相比差异有统计学意义(P =0.006).B组供者中Ⅳ段肝静脉分型为Ⅰ型者共有6例,Ⅳ段全部出现淤血且为完全淤血;而Ⅱ型中共有4例患者发生淤血,其中完全淤血1例,两型相比差异有统计学意义(P=0.035).术后两周B组Ⅳ段体积为(186±72) ml,A组Ⅳ段体积为(302±85) ml,B组显著小于A组(P =0.005).B组Ⅳ段再生比例显著小于A组(P =0.007);Ⅰ～Ⅲ段的再生比例B组显著大于A组(P =0.008);而A、B组残肝再生差异无统计学意义(P=0.63).结论 带肝中静脉右半肝切除没有明显损害供体早期肝功能.残肝Ⅳ段有淤血发生,导致再生受到不利影响,但可通过Ⅱ、Ⅲ段再生代偿,整体残肝再生不受影响.     

生理盐水替代HTK保存液保存活体供肾的临床研究

目的 探讨生理盐水替代组氨酸-色氨酸-酮戊二酸(histidine-tryptophan-ketoglurate,HTK)保存液对活体移植肾功能恢复的作用及可行性.方法 亲属活体供肾肾移植的患者82例,按患者意愿分为生理盐水组(29例)和HTK组(53例).生理盐水组用生理盐水作为移植肾灌注液,HTK组用HTK保存液作...     

The strength of donor-specific antibody is a more reliable predictor of antibody-mediated rejection than flow cytometry crossmatch analysis in desensitized kidney recipients

The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of donor-specific antibodies (DSA) and flow cytometry crossmatch (FCCM) as tools for predicting antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) in desensitized kidney recipients. Sera from 44 patients with DSA at the time of transplant were reviewed. Strength of DSA was determined by single antigen Luminex bead assay and expressed as mean fluorescence intensity (MFI). T- and B-cell FCCM results were expressed as mean channel shift (MCS). AMR was diagnosed by C4d deposition on biopsy. Incidence of early AMR was 31%. Significant differences in the number of DSAs (p = 0.0002), cumulative median MFI in DSA class I (p = 0.0004), and total (class I + class II) DSA (p < 0.0001) were found in patients with and without AMR. No significant difference was seen in MCS of T and B FCCM (p = 0.095 and p = 0.307, respectively). The three-yr graft survival in desensitized patients with DSA having total MFI < 9500 was 100% compared to 76% with those having total MFI > 9500 (p = 0.022). Desensitized kidney transplant recipients having higher levels of class I and total DSA MFI are at high risk for AMR and poor graft survival. Recipient DSA MFI appears to be a more reliable predictor of AMR than MCS of FCCM.     

Transplantation of solid organs procured from influenza A H1N1 infected donors

Following the influenza A H1N1 (swine flu) pandemic, there remains little evidence informing the safety of transplanting organs from donors suspected or diagnosed with H1N1. Limited guidelines from the major transplant societies leave the use of such organs at the discretion of individual transplant centres, and practice varies considerably both nationally and internationally. We present the largest published series of outcome following transplantation of organs from H1N1 positive donors and demonstrate that these organs can be transplanted safely and with good short-term outcome. We discuss our local policy for treatment of recipients with Oseltamivir.     

Evolution of minimally invasive surgery for donor nephrectomy and outcomes

Background:

Laparoscopic donor nephrectomy was introduced into Australia in 1997 by this unit. However, some donors may be considered unsuitable, and few modifications to the existing technique can tailor this procedure for an individual donor. Recently, further changes including clustering of ports and single-port methods have been investigated.

Methods:

The laparoscopic method was offered to all but 3 donors from May 1997 to October 2009. Data were collected on all 289 donors who underwent laparoscopic procedures.

Results:

All but 5 donor procedures were completed laparoscopically, and in 4 of them conversion to open was necessary due to hemorrhage. The fifth was a planned conversion in our first right LDN. Delayed graft function was seen in 7 recipients and 5 required dialysis postoperatively. Two kidneys were lost due to arterial thrombosis, and 5 patients underwent segmental infarction with decreased renal function. Mean hospital stay was 2.35±1.67 days. There were no donor deaths or serious morbidity.

Conclusions:

Although the benefits to the donor of the laparoscopic method are well recognized, our modifications will benefit those who may be precluded from this method.     

Do multiple renal arteries in the remnant kidney have a negative influence on kidney donors after kidney donation?

Aim: To investigate whether the presence of multiple renal arteries in the remnant kidney has implications for lower renal function or increased incidence of hypertension. Methods: We reviewed the intraoperative and follow‐up data of 101 live kidney donors who underwent nephrectomies at our institution. Sixty‐nine donors (68.3%) had single artery in the remnant kidney (Group A), while 32 donors (31.7%) had multiple renal arteries in the remnant kidney (Group B). We compared the demographic and intraoperative data between the two groups. The follow‐up data of donors in each group were divided into three subgroups based on the length of the follow‐up period (12–24 months, 24–48 months and ≥48 months). Subgroups were created based on blood pressure and serum creatinine level. The δblood pressure (follow‐up blood pressure minus preoperative blood pressure) and δserum creatinine (follow‐up serum creatinine minus preoperative serum creatinine) in each subgroup in Group A were compared with the counterparts in Group B. Results: Renal arterial stenosis and calcification of renal arterial wall were not observed in all donors. There were no significant differences in the intraoperative characteristics (e.g. age, body mass index, operative duration and estimated blood loss) between the two groups. In addition, the blood pressure and serum creatinine level among subgroups within each group were similar. Furthermore, significant differences in δblood pressure and δserum creatinine were not observed between subgroups within the same follow‐up period. Recipient survival rate and serum creatinine level were similar and acceptable in both groups. Conclusions: The presence of multiple renal arteries in the remnant kidney does not have additional negative influence on kidney donors after kidney donation.     

活体供肝切除术的麻醉管理

目的 回顾性分析45例活体供肝切除术的麻醉管理和手术经过.方法 回顾45例活体肝移植供肝切除术的麻醉处理过程和手术经过,术中持续监测BP、HR、SpO2、CVP、PETCO2等重要的生理指标.在手术开始、供肝切除前、后30 min三个时点分别采血检测血常规、血生化、肝肾功能、凝血功能和动脉血气.结果 术中血流动力学稳定,所有供体均未发生术中并发症和死亡.肝功能的各项指标在供肝切除过程中发生了剧烈的变化,凝血功能随着手术的进行也有一定程度的恶化,肾功能则未受到明显影响.结论 尽管术中多项生理指标发生明显异常,但活体供肝切除术能够在保持血流动力学稳定、术后无手术并发症的情况下顺利完成.