Urinary Albumin Excretion and the Risk of Graft Loss and Death in Proteinuric and Non-proteinuric Renal Transplant Recipients

BACKGROUND: Microalbuminuria and macroalbuminuria constitute risk factors for ESRD and death in non-transplanted populations. Whether microalbuminuria (especially in non-proteinuric patients) and macroalbuminuria constitute risk factors for graft loss and death is presently unknown in renal transplantation. METHODS: We retrospectively assessed the association between urinary albumin excretion (UAE) and ESRD and death in renal transplantation. RESULTS: UAE was measured in 616 (397 proteinuric; 219 non-proteinuric patients) renal transplant recipients. They were grafted for 62 months (range: 6-192). During the 40 months (3.7-99) thereafter, 31 patients underwent dialysis and 32 died. Microalbuminuria (vs. normoalbuminuria) and macroalbuminuria (vs. microalbuminuria) were powerful risk factors for graft loss [OR: 14.25 (2.88-52.3) and 16.41 (7.46-36.0), respectively, both p < 0.0001], even after adjustments on renal function and diabetes. Among the 219 non-proteinuric patients, microalbuminuria (vs. normoalbuminuria) was a significant risk factor for graft loss [OR: 23.09 (1.93-276.4), p = 0.0132]. Both microalbuminuria (vs. normoalbuminuria) [OR: 5.55 (2.43-12.66), p < 0.0001] and macroalbuminuria (vs. microalbuminuria) [OR: 4.12 (1.65-10.29), p = 0.0024] were predictive of death. CONCLUSIONS: Microalbuminuria and macroalbuminuria are powerful independent predictors of ESRD and death. Microalbuminuria is a risk factor for graft loss even in non-proteinuric patients. UAE provides additional information on renal and patient prognosis as compared to proteinuria and renal function.     

Switching from Tacrolimus to Sirolimus Halts the Appearance of New Sebaceous Neoplasms in Muir-Torre Syndrome

Little is known about the effects of immunosuppression on patients with hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC). We describe a kidney transplant recipient with unrecognized Muir-Torre syndrome in whom the administration of a tacrolimus-based regimen led to the eruption of multiple sebaceous tumors. The patient was later found to harbor an MSH2 mutation. Switching to a sirolimus-based regimen resulted in arrest of the disease. When the patient was switched back to tacrolimus, new facial lesions rapidly appeared. Switching again to sirolimus resulted again in halting the appearance of new lesions. This finding is in line with the known antiangiogenic activity of sirolimus and reports on the regression of cutaneous Kaposi's sarcoma in kidney transplant recipients switched from another immunosuppressive regimen to sirolimus. Further studies on the potential use of sirolimus for the treatment of de novo tumors in immunosuppressed kidney transplant recipients with HNPCC are warranted.     

Intravenous Iloprost: A New Therapeutic Option for Patients with Post-Transplant Distal Limb Syndrome (PTDLS)

The purpose of this study was to investigate the application of intravenous iloprost as a novel therapy for the treatment of post-transplant distal limb syndrome (PTDLS). PTDLS is a benign but disabling complication in the first year after renal transplantation. It is characterized by bilateral, often incapacitating pain in the feet and or knees on motion and a significant rise in alkaline phosphatase levels on laboratory evaluation. On MRI, bone marrow edema of the affected bone regions can be demonstrated. PTDLS differs from steroid induced osteonecrosis of the hip in terms of localization, an average cumulative steroid dosage within expected limits, and a benign outcome, as PTDLS does not progress to overt cell necrosis. From August 2003 to April 2005 we treated 10 patients with MRI-proven diagnosis of PTDLS following a standardized regimen of intravenous iloprost over 5 days. Iloprost led to prompt pain relief measured on a visual analogous scale (VAS) ranging from 1 to 10 (5.6 +/- 1.5 before vs. 2.1 +/- 1.3 after treatment, p = 0.0004). PTDLS represents a benign but disabling complication following renal transplantation. Intravenous iloprost might be a promising therapeutic concept leading to a quick relief of symptoms without relevant side effects.     

Lung Transplant Metalloproteinase Levels Are Elevated Prior to Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome

Parenchymal disease in the allograft lung is associated with interstitial remodeling believed to be mediated by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Recent studies suggest high levels of MMP-9 are associated with bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) in lung transplant recipients. Since BOS occurs late in the posttransplant period and may be preceded by episodes of acute rejection or infection, which are associated with interstitial remodeling, we examined MMP profiles in allograft bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid in the early posttransplant period (preceding BOS). Gelatin zymography, protein array analysis and specific ELISA on BAL fluids from transplanted lungs indicated that MMP-8, MMP-9 and TIMP-1 were strongly expressed in allograft BAL fluid from stable patients, or those with infection or rejection compared to BAL fluid from normal volunteers. Elevated expression of MMP-8, MMP-9 and TIMP-1 occurred early, and was sustained for the 3.2 years covered in this study. Elevations of MMP-8, MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in the first 2 years posttransplant appear to be associated with lung transplantation itself, and not infection or rejection. These data suggest that ongoing and clinically silent MMP activity could perpetuate progressive disease in the allograft lung.     

IL-4与IL-10联合诱导异种骨移植免疫耐受的体外研究

目的　探讨 IL - 4和 IL - 10在诱导异种骨移植免疫耐受中的作用。方法　反应细胞为 BAL B/c小鼠脾淋巴细胞 ,刺激细胞为新西兰白兔血淋巴细胞 ,刺激抗原为兔骨上清液。采用经典的混合淋巴细胞培养法及骨上清液与淋巴细胞混合培养法作为异种骨移植的体外实验模型。在各培养液中分别加入 IL - 4、IL - 10及两者联合应用 ,通过测定其 3H- Td R掺入率 ,观察不同细胞因子对刺激淋巴细胞增殖的影响。结果　无论在细胞刺激组还是骨上清液刺激组 ,IL- 4对淋巴细胞增殖均有显著抑制作用 (P<0 .0 0 1和 P<0 .0 5 ) ,IL- 10未表现出抑制作用 (P>0 .0 5 )。在两组 IL- 4和 IL - 10联合应用均产生比 IL - 4单独应用更为明显的细胞增殖抑制作用 (P<0 .0 0 1和 P<0 .0 5 )。结论　 IL - 4对由细胞或骨上清液刺激产生的淋巴细胞增殖均有很好的抑制作用 ,IL- 10没有表现出抑制作用 ;IL- 4与 IL- 10联合应用有协同抑制作用。     

后腹腔镜下肾肿瘤剜除术的临床疗效观察(附5例报告)

目的：探讨后腹腔镜下肾肿瘤剜除术的操作要点及临床价值。方法：采用后腹腔镜下肾肿瘤剜除术治疗肾肿瘤5例，其中肾癌3例，肾错钩瘤2例，瘤体直径1．5～4．0cm。具体方法是：①暴露瘤体和肾动脉；②采用硅胶管牵拉肾动脉，必要时可暂时阻断肾动脉；③于瘤体1cm正常肾组织处用电钩切除瘤体；④采用生物蛋白胶、止血纱布缝合加压处理创面出血。结果：手术均获成功。手术时间150～210min，术中出血80～350ml。术后1～2天肠道功能恢复并可床上活动，1～4天可下床活动。术后住院5～9天，平均7天。结论：后腹腔镜下肾肿瘤剜除术具有创伤小、康复快、安全、住院时间短等优点；对外生性生长、直径小于4cm瘤体，该法可作为首选手术方法。     

大鼠移植胰腺冷缺血再灌注后细胞凋亡的变化

目的　探讨移植胰腺冷缺血再灌注后胰腺细胞凋亡的变化过程。方法　 6 5只SD大鼠随机分成 7组 :假手术组 ,冷缺血 2h组 ,冷缺血 2h再灌注 1、3、6、9、12h组。通过HE染色后光镜及电镜观察各组的胰腺组织的病理变化 ;采用脱氧核糖核苷酸末端转移酶介导的缺口末端标记法(TUNEL)检测凋亡细胞的分布及计数。结果　胰腺移植后早期即可观察到细胞凋亡的典型改变 ,胰腺冷缺血再灌注后发生凋亡的高峰期为再灌注后 3h[AI为 (9.4 6± 2 .91) % ,P <0 .0 1) ,再灌注 6h较 3小时细胞凋亡有所减少 [AI为 (5 .74± 1.6 6 ) % ,P <0 .0 1],再灌注 9h及 12h细胞凋亡进一步减少 [AI分别为 (3.6 0± 1.6 4 ) %及 (3.2 6± 1.35 ) % ,P <0 .0 5 ]。结论　细胞凋亡是胰腺移植后的早期事件 ,移植胰腺冷缺血再灌注后早期主要的死亡方式是凋亡 ;移植胰腺冷缺血再灌注后的凋亡高峰发生在再灌注后 3h。     

肾移植术后发生高尿酸血症的机制

目的：探讨肾移植术后发生高尿酸血症的机制及防治策略。方法：分析480例肾移植术后患者的临床资料。结果：肾移植术后移植肾功能正常而血尿酸增高者43例(9％)，其中痛风7例，移植肾肾盂或输尿管结石3例。随访1～5年，1例痛风患者血尿酸及症状控制不理想，余血尿酸均控制在正常水平，未见并发症的发生。结论：高尿酸血症是肾移植术后较常见的问题，发生原因较多，但主要与环孢素A的作用有关；长期降尿酸及碱化尿液治疗安全、有效。     

肾移植术后肺部真菌感染的诊治

目的　探讨肾移植术后肺部真菌感染的诊断与治疗。　方法　回顾性分析 4 3例肾移植术后肺部真菌感染患者的临床资料。男 35例 ,女 8例 ,平均年龄 32岁。发病时间平均为术后 5 9d。　结果　 4 3例患者中 ,白色念珠菌 16例 ,克柔念珠菌 4例 ,近平滑念珠菌 2例 ,曲霉菌 4例 ,毛霉菌 3例 ,新型隐球菌 1例 ,奴卡菌 2例 ,其中 14例有细菌、巨细胞病毒混合感染。 11例培养阴性。氟康唑10 0mg/次 ,3次 /d ,连续 10d ,治愈 2 3例 ;两性霉素B脂质体 5 0mg/d ,连续 10d ,治愈 17例 ;死亡 3例。　结论　肺部真菌感染是肾移植术后的严重并发症 ,死亡率高。早期诊断与治疗效果良好。