Kidney Retransplantation: Removal or Persistence of the Previous Failed Allograft?

A significant percentage of patients with failed renal graft are candidates for retransplantation. The outcomes of retransplantation are poorer than those of primary transplantation and sensitization is documented to be a major reason. The management of a failed allograft that is not immediately symptomatic is still very controversial. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of the failed allograft nephrectomy on a subsequent transplantation and its importance in the sensitization. We performed a retrospective analysis of the local prospective transplantation registry of the outcome of 126 second kidney transplantations among 2438 transplantations performed in our unit between June 1980 and March 2013, comparing those who underwent allograft nephrectomy prior to retransplantation with those who retained the failed graft. Primary endpoints were graft and patient survival. The levels of panel-reactive antibodies (PRA) and rate of acute rejections on retransplantation outcomes were also studied. Among the 126 patients who underwent a second renal transplantation, 76 (60.3%) had a prior graft nephrectomy (Group A), whereas 50 (39.7%) kept their failed graft (Group B). Group A showed significantly more positive PRA levels when compared with the other group (38% vs 10%; P < .001), as measured before the most recent transplantation, and a higher rate of acute rejection (19% vs 5.6%; P = .016). There were 28 (36%) renal allograft losses for Group A and 18 (36%) for those who had not had transplantectomy (P = not significant [NS]). One-, 3-, and 5-year graft survival rates were 96.6%, 90.7%, and 83.4%, respectively, in Group A and 95%, 82%, and 68.4%, respectively, in Group B, with no statistical differences (P = .19). Five-year actuarial patient survival rates in the 2 groups was 89.3% and 82.8%, respectively (P = .55). Multivariate analysis showed that PRA level and delayed graft function (DGF) had a statistically significant influence on graft survival (P = .028; odds ratio [OR] = 1.029; and P = .024; OR = 8.6), irrespective of whether the patient had graft nephrectomy or not. The allosensitization indicated by PRA increases after transplantectomy and leads to a higher incidence of acute rejection after retransplantation. Nephrectomy of failed allograft does not seem to significantly influence the survival of a subsequent graft. The decision to remove or retain a failed graft in the context of retransplantation should thus be based on known clinical indications for the procedure.     

Cyclic fatigue resistance of three rotary file systems in a dynamic model after immersion in sodium hypochlorite

Odontology - To evaluate the effect of immersion in 3% sodium hypochlorite solution in the resistance to cyclic fatigue of three nickel–titanium (NiTi) rotary file systems, ProTaper Next...     

Structural effects on the bioactivity of dehydroabietic acid derivatives

The synthesis and the evaluation of the antimicrobial activity against a filamentous fungus, yeasts and bacteria of 15 hydrophenanthrene compounds derived from dehydroabietic acid, bearing different functional groups and different stereochemistry of the A/B ring junction are disclosed. The results obtained showed how their activity is dependent of the functionality at C-18, which can be increased by deisopropylation or introduction of other groups into the molecule. While the filamentous fungus tested is sensitive to almost all of the compounds under study, the aldehyde function showed to be of major importance to the inhibition of yeast. Alcohols and aldehyde C-18 derivatives also inhibit the growth of a Gram-positive bacteria, whereas Gram-negative are not sensitive.     

Cadaveric donor factor variations during a 12-year period: influence on kidney transplant outcomes

Our purpose was to evaluate changes in cadaveric donor factors between 1993 and 2004 and their impact on the short- and long-term outcomes of renal transplants in a single center. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Cadaveric renal transplants performed in our unit between 1993 and 2004 were divided in two groups of identical length: A (n = 455; 1993-1998) and B (n = 465; 1999-2004). Major differences related to donor, graft, and recipient factors were analyzed between groups and correlated with main outcome parameters. Recipient age, gender, weight, etiology of end-stage renal disease, average length of dialysis, and cold ischemia were not different in the two periods. RESULTS: Grafts harvested in our hospital were more frequent in group A (92.3 vs 78.2%; P < .005). Traumatic causes of death were more frequent before 1999: 90.9 vs 70.9% (P < .001). Mean donor age was higher after 1999: 31.37 vs 35.94 years (P < .005). Female donors were more frequent in the second period: 20.5 vs 26.6% (P < .05). Mean donor weight was also higher: 52.36 vs 67.86 kg (P < .05). All of these differences were unfavourable characteristics regarding graft outcomes. Delayed graft function (A = 13%, B = 24.2%), acute rejection episodes (A = 41.2%, B = 28%), and chronic allograft dysfunction (A = 23.5%, B = 14.4%) were also significantly different between the two cohorts (P < .005). Graft function (serum creatinine at 1 and 2 years), patient and graft survivals, causes of graft loss, and of patient death were similar across time. CONCLUSION: The unfavorable tendency in the quality of cadaveric donors during the last 12 years had no negative impact on graft function and patient outcome.     

Surgical Complications in Early Post-transplant Kidney Recipients

Background

The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of early surgical complications of kidney transplantation in our institution and its association with donor and recipient factors, as well as patient and transplant outcome.

Renal Transplantation With Expanded Criteria Donors: The Experience of One Portuguese Center

Background

The shortage of kidneys available for transplantation has led to enlarged criteria donors (ECD): namely, donors older than 60 years or aged between 50 and 59 years with 2 of the following characteristics-hypertension, predonation serum creatinine level higher than 1.5 mg/dL or cerebrovascular disease as the cause of death. The aim of this study was to analyze renal transplants using ECD compared with standard criteria donors (SCD) concerning the incidences of delayed graft function (DGF), acute rejection episodes (ARE), and patient and graft survivals.

Materials and Methods

This retrospective study of 409 cadaveric renal transplants over the last 4 years identified ECD in contrast with SCD.

Results

Of the transplants, 24.4% used ECD. The baseline characteristics of recipients of ECD versus SCD kidneys were similar, except for age and cold ischemia time. Comparing ECD and SCD, we observed an higher incidence of DGF (35% vs 18%), occurrence of ARE (34.4% vs 16.6%), average serum creatinine levels at 6 (1.87 vs 1.4 mg/dL), and 12 months (1.88 vs 1.43 mg/dL) as well as lower graft survival at 1 (82% vs 91%) and 3 years (75% vs 84%) after transplantation. Recipient survival at 1 year was not different. Multivariate analysis identified recipient age, cold ischemia time, ARE, and DGF as risk factors for graft failure.

Conclusions

Renal transplantation with grafts from ECD shows significantly worse outcomes with higher rates of DGF and ARE, worse graft function, and lower graft survival.