Pretransplant Dialysis Research Articles

Expression profile of mammalian target of rapamycin-related proteins in graft biopsy specimens: Significance for predicting interstitial fibrosis after kidney transplantation.

To investigate the influence of the expression profile of mammalian target of rapamycin-related proteins on the development of interstitial fibrosis after kidney transplantation. Immunohistochemical staining was carried out to evaluate the expression of five mammalian target of rapamycin-related proteins (phosphorylated-Akt, Ras homolog enriched in brain, phosphorylated-mammalian target of rapamycin, phosphorylated-p70 ribosomalS6 kinase and phosphorylated-4E binding protein1) in graft biopsy specimens obtained from 77 patients at 3months after kidney transplantation. The change of the estimated glomerular filtration rate and the change of the fibrosis index (defined as the change in the percent area of fibrosis on Masson's trichrome-stained sections of biopsy specimens) from 3months to 3years after kidney transplantation were determined. There was a significant correlation between change of the estimated glomerular filtration and change of the fibrosis index in the 77 patients. Univariate analysis identified expression of phosphorylated-Akt, phosphorylated-mammalian target of rapamycin and phosphorylated-p70 ribosomalS6 kinase, as well as donor type and pre-transplant dialysis duration, as significant predictors of a change of the fibrosis index >10%. However, only phosphorylated-mammalian target of rapamycin expression, phosphorylated-p70 ribosomalS6 kinase expression and donor type were independently associated with a change of the fibrosis index >10% according to multivariate analysis. These findings suggest that mammalian target of rapamycin-related proteins are involved in the development of interstitial fibrosis after kidney transplantation.

Long-term pulse wave velocity outcomes with aerobic and resistance training in kidney transplant recipients - A pilot randomised controlled trial.

BackgroundThis pilot study examined long-term pulse wave velocity (PWV) and peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) outcomes following a 12-week moderate-intensity aerobic or resistance training programme in kidney transplant recipients.MethodSingle-blind, bi-centre randomised controlled parallel trial. 42 out of 60 participants completed a 9-month follow-up assessment (Aerobic training = 12, Resistance training = 10 and usual care = 20). Participants completed 12 weeks of twice-weekly supervised aerobic or resistance training. Following the 12-week exercise intervention, participants were transitioned to self-managed community exercise activity using motivational interviewing techniques. Usual care participants received usual encouragement for physical activity during routine clinical appointments in the transplant clinic. PWV, VO2peak, blood pressure and body weight were assessed at 12 weeks and 12 months, and compared to baseline.ResultsANCOVA analysis, covarying for baseline values, age, and length of time on dialysis pre-transplantation, revealed a significant mean between-group difference in PWV of -1.30 m/sec (95%CI -2.44 to -0.17, p = 0.03) between resistance training and usual care groups. When comparing the aerobic training and usual care groups at 9-month follow-up, there was a mean difference of -1.05 m/sec (95%CI -2.11 to 0.017, p = 0.05). A significant mean between-group difference in relative VO2peak values of 2.2 ml/kg/min (95% CI 0.37 to 4.03, p = 0.02) when comparing aerobic training with usual care was revealed. There was no significant between group differences in body weight or blood pressure. There were no significant adverse effects associated with the interventions.ConclusionsSignificant between-group differences in 9-month follow-up PWV existed when comparing resistance exercise intervention with usual care. A long-term between-group difference in VO2peak was only evident when comparing aerobic intervention with usual care. This pilot study, with a small sample size, did not aim to elucidate mechanistic mediators related to the exercise interventions. It is however suggested that a motivational interviewing approach, combined with appropriate transition to community training programmes, could maintain the improvements gained from the 12-week exercise interventions and further research in this area is therefore warranted.Trial registrationstudy number: ISRCTN43892586.

Avoiding Futility in Simultaneous Liver-kidney Transplantation

We sought to evaluate outcomes and predictors of renal allograft futility (RAF-patient death or need for renal replacement therapy at 3 months) after simultaneous liver-kidney transplantation (SLKT). Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) prioritization of liver recipients with renal dysfunction has significantly increased utilization of SLKT. Data on renal outcomes after SLKT in the highest MELD recipients are scarce, as are accurate predictors of recovery of native kidney function. Without well-established listing guidelines, SLKT potentially wastes renal allografts in both high-acuity liver recipients at risk for early mortality and recipients who may regain native kidney function. A retrospective single-center multivariate regression analysis was performed for adult patients undergoing SLKT (January 2004 to August 2014) to identify predictors of RAF. Of 331 patients dual-listed for SLKT, 171 (52%) expired awaiting transplant, 145 (44%) underwent SLKT, and 15 (5%) underwent liver transplantation alone. After SLKT, 39% experienced delayed graft function and 20.7% had RAF. Compared with patients without RAF, RAF recipients had greater MELD scores, length of hospitalization, intraoperative base deficit, incidence of female donors, kidney and liver donor risk indices, kidney cold ischemia, and inferior overall survival. Multivariate predictors of RAF included pretransplant dialysis duration, kidney cold ischemia, kidney donor risk index, and recipient hyperlipidemia. With 20% short-term loss of transplanted kidneys after SLKT, our data strongly suggest that renal transplantation should be deferred in liver recipients at high risk for RAF. Consideration for a kidney allocation variance to allow for delayed renal transplantation after liver transplantation may prevent loss of scarce renal allografts.

Does the Age of Donor Kidneys Affect Nocturnal Polyuria in Patients With Successful Real Transplantation?

BackgroundWe investigated whether the age of donor kidneys influences the incidence of nocturnal polyuria in patients with successful renal transplantation (RTX). MethodsEighty-five patients (45 men and 40 women) undergoing RTX (median age, 47 years) were included in this study. Twenty-four-hour bladder diaries were kept for 3 days, and nocturnal polyuria was defined as a nocturnal polyuria index (nocturnal urine volume/24-hour urine volume) of >0.33. Risk factors for nocturnal polyuria were analyzed in patients with RTX by means of the Mann-Whitney U test, χ2 test, and a logistic regression analysis. ResultsEnd-stage renal disease (ESRD) developed from diabetes mellitus in 16 patients (19%). Sixty-five patients (76%) received pre-transplant dialysis, with a median duration of 5 years. The median serum creatinine level and body mass index at the most recent visit were 1.2 mg/dL and 21.2 kg/m2, respectively. On the basis of the 24-hour bladder diaries, nocturnal polyuria was identified in 48 patients (56%). A logistic regression analysis revealed that diabetes mellitus as the original disease for ESRD was the only risk factor for nocturnal polyuria (odds ratio, 8.95; 95% confidence interval, 2.01–65.3; P = .0028). The age of donor kidneys at examination did not affect the incidence of nocturnal polyuria (P = .9402). ConclusionsNocturnal polyuria was not uncommon in patients with successful RTX. Diabetes mellitus as the original disease for ESRD was the only risk factor for nocturnal polyuria, whereas the age of donor kidneys at examination did not affect the incidence of nocturnal polyuria. Thus, nocturnal polyuria is caused by recipient factors but not donor factors.

Past, present and future of kidney paired donation transplantation in India.

One third of healthy willing living kidney donors are rejected due to ABO blood group incompatibility and donor specific antibody. This increases pre-transplant dialysis duration leading to increased morbidity and mortality on the kidney transplantation waiting list. Over the last decade kidney paired donation is most rapidly increased source of living kidney donors. In a kidney transplantation program dominated by living donor kidney transplantation, kidney paired donation is a legal and valid alternative strategy to increase living donor kidney transplantation. This is more useful in countries with limited resources where ABO incompatible kidney transplantation or desensitization protocol is not feasible because of costs/infectious complications and deceased donor kidney transplantation is in initial stages. The matching allocation, ABO blood type imbalance, reciprocity, simultaneity, geography were the limitation for the expansion of kidney paired donation. Here we describe different successful ways to increase living donor kidney transplantation through kidney paired donation. Compatible pairs, domino chain, combination of kidney paired donation with desensitization or ABO incompatible transplantation, international kidney paired donation, non-simultaneous, extended, altruistic donor chain and list exchange are different ways to expand the donor pool. In absence of national kidney paired donation program, a dedicated kidney paired donation team will increase access to living donor kidney transplantation in individual centres with team work. Use of social networking sites to expand donor pool, HLA based national kidney paired donation program will increase quality and quantity of kidney paired donation transplantation. Transplant centres should remove the barriers to a broader implementation of multicentre, national kidney paired donation program to further optimize potential of kidney paired donation to increase transplantation of O group and sensitized patients. This review assists in the development of similar programs in other developing countries.

OPTN/SRTR 2015 Annual Data Report: Early effects of the new kidney allocation system

In December 2014, a new kidney allocation system (KAS) was implemented in the United States in an attempt to improve access to transplant for historically underrepresented groups, and to incorporate longevity matching such that donor kidneys with the longest projected graft survival are given to recipients with the longest projected patient survival. The development of organ allocation policies is often guided by simulated allocation models, computer programs that simulate the arrival of donated organs and new candidates on the waiting list over a 1-year period to project outcomes under a new allocation method. We examined the early outcomes under the new KAS using quarterly data beginning in 2013, revealing whether trends were already underway before implementation. Quarterly data also serve to reveal any bolus effect, or a rapid rise or fall in the proportion of transplants in a given group due to reordering of the list, followed by tapering toward a new steady state. Post-KAS changes were notable for an increase in the proportion of transplants among younger candidates, black and Hispanic candidates, highly sensitized candidates, and those on dialysis for at least 5 years. Transplants among blood type B candidates increased slightly but these candidates remain underrepresented relative to their prevalence on the waiting list. Regional and national sharing increased under the new KAS, but transplants of kidneys with a kidney donor profile index above 85% decreased. Early graft survival appears unchanged, but given the increases in regional sharing, cold ischemia time, and transplants among highly sensitized candidates and candidates with long pretransplant dialysis time, long-term graft survival will need to monitored.

Dialysis Vintage and Outcomes after Kidney Transplantation: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Historically, length of pretransplant dialysis was associated with premature graft loss and mortality after kidney transplantation, but with recent advancements in RRT it is unclear whether this negative association still exists. This is a retrospective cohort study evaluating 6979 first kidney allograft recipients from the Austrian Registry transplanted between 1990 and 2013. Duration of pretransplant dialysis treatment was used as categoric predictor classified by tertiles of the distribution of time on dialysis. A separate category for pre-emptive transplantation was added and defined as kidney transplantation without any dialysis preceding the transplant. Outcomes were death-censored graft loss, all-cause mortality, and the composite of both. Median duration of follow-up was 8.2 years, and 1866 graft losses and 2407 deaths occurred during the study period. Pre-emptive transplantation was associated with a lower risk of graft loss (hazard ratio, 0.76; 95% confidence interval, 0.59 to 0.98), but not in subgroup analyses excluding living transplants and transplants performed since 2000. The association between dialysis duration and graft loss did not depend on the year of transplantation (P=0.40) or donor source (P=0.92). Longer waiting time on dialysis was not associated with a higher rate of graft loss, but the rate of death was higher in patients on pretransplant dialysis for >1.5 years (hazard ratio, 1.62; 95% confidence interval, 1.43 to 1.83) compared with pretransplant dialysis for <1.5 years. Our findings support the evidence that pre-emptive transplantation is associated with superior graft survival compared with pretransplant dialysis, although this association was weaker in transplants performed since 2000. However, our analysis shows that length of dialysis was no longer associated with a higher rate of graft loss, although longer waiting times on dialysis were still associated with a higher rate of death.

Outcomes of Kidney Recipients According to Mode of Pretransplantation Renal Replacement Therapy.

The effects of pretransplantation dialysis modality on graft function are key issues in end-stage renal disease patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate post-transplantation outcomes according to pretransplantation renal replacement therapy modality in deceased-donor kidney transplantation. Among 444 deceased-donor kidney transplant recipients in Severance Hospital between April 1993 and Dec 2014, 275 who maintained a unique dialysis modality (hemodialysis [HD; n= 178] or peritoneal dialysis [PD; n= 97]) until transplantation were enrolled. There were no significant differences in sex, age, human leukocyte antigen mismatch, cold ischemic time, or duration of dialysis between groups. There was also no difference in 5-year graft survival between HD and PD groups (87.7% vs. 82.3%, respectively; P= .148). On multivariate Cox regression for risk factors affecting graft survival, renal replacement therapy modality was not found to be a risk factor. However, the rate of delayed graft function was higher in the HD group than in the PD group (32.0% vs. 19.6%, respectively; P= .028). In addition, graft function at 1 week after transplantation in the PD group was superior to that in the HD group. The pretransplantation dialysis modality was found to affect both delayed graft function and early graft function, although not graft survival.

Simultaneous Liver-Kidney Transplantation in Liver Transplant Candidates With Renal Dysfunction: Importance of Creatinine Levels, Dialysis, and Organ Quality in Survival

IntroductionThe survival benefit from simultaneous liver-kidney transplantation (SLK) over liver transplant alone (LTA) in recipients with moderate renal dysfunction is not well understood. Moreover, the impact of deceased donor organ quality in SLK survival has not been well described in the literature.MethodsThe Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients was studied for adult recipients receiving LTA (N = 2700) or SLK (N = 1361) with moderate renal insufficiency between 2003 and 2013. The study cohort was stratified into 4 groups based on serum creatinine (<2 mg/dl versus ≥2 mg/dl) and dialysis status at listing and transplant. The patients with end-stage renal disease and requiring acute dialysis more than 3 months before transplantation were excluded. A propensity score matching was performed in each stratified group to factor out imbalances between the SLK and LTA regarding covariate distribution and to reduce measured confounding. Donor quality was assessed with liver donor risk index. The primary outcome of interest was posttransplant mortality.ResultsIn multivariable propensity score-matched Cox proportional hazard models, SLK led to decrease in posttransplant mortality compared with LTA across all 4 groups, but only reached statistical significance (hazard ratio 0.77; 95% confidence interval, 0.62–0.96) in the recipients not exposed to dialysis and serum creatinine ≥ 2 mg/dl at transplant (mortality incidence rate per patient-year 5.7% in SLK vs. 7.6% in LTA, P = 0.005). The decrease in mortality was observed among SLK recipients with better quality donors (liver donor risk index < 1.5).DiscussionExposure to pretransplantation dialysis and donor quality affected overall survival among SLK recipients.

Creatinine-Based and Cystatin C-Based GFR Estimating Equations and Their Non-GFR Determinants in Kidney Transplant Recipients.

eGFR equations have been evaluated in kidney transplant recipients with variable performance. We assessed the performance of the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease equation and the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equations on the basis of creatinine, cystatin C, and both (eGFR creatinine-cystatin C) compared with measured GFR by iothalamate clearance and evaluated their non-GFR determinants and associations across 15 cardiovascular risk factors. A cross-sectional cohort of 1139 kidney transplant recipients >1 year after transplant was analyzed. eGFR bias, precision, and accuracy (percentage of estimates within 30% of measured GFR) were assessed. Interaction of each cardiovascular risk factor with eGFR relative to measured GFR was determined. Median measured GFR was 55.0 ml/min per 1.73 m(2). eGFR creatinine overestimated measured GFR by 3.1% (percentage of estimates within 30% of measured GFR of 80.4%), and eGFR Modification of Diet in Renal Disease underestimated measured GFR by 2.2% (percentage of estimates within 30% of measured GFR of 80.4%). eGFR cystatin C underestimated measured GFR by -13.7% (percentage of estimates within 30% of measured GFR of 77.1%), and eGFR creatinine-cystatin C underestimated measured GFR by -8.1% (percentage of estimates within 30% of measured GFR of 86.5%). Lower measured GFR associated with older age, women, obesity, longer time after transplant, lower HDL, lower hemoglobin, lower albumin, higher triglycerides, higher proteinuria, and an elevated cardiac troponin T level but did not associate with diabetes, smoking, cardiovascular events, pretransplant dialysis, or hemoglobin A1c. These risk factor associations differed for five risk factors with eGFR creatinine, six risk factors for eGFR Modification of Diet in Renal Disease, ten risk factors for eGFR cystatin C, and four risk factors for eGFR creatinine-cystatin C. Thus, eGFR creatinine and eGFR creatinine-cystatin C are preferred over eGFR cystatin C in kidney transplant recipients because they are less biased, more accurate, and more consistently reflect the same risk factor associations seen with measured GFR.

Cerebral Edema in a Child after Preemptive Kidney Transplantation

Dialysis disequilibrium syndrome (DDS) is characterized by acute neurological manifestations in patients undergoing first dialysis treatment. The mechanisms for the development of DDS include the reverse urea effect, transient intracranial acidosis, and idiogenic osmoles which can increase intracellular osmolality and promote water movement into the brain. We present a case of a 4-year-old child with chronic kidney disease who underwent a preemptive living unrelated donor kidney transplant. He had a 24 mEq/L drop in his sodium concentration, 92% reduction in blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentration, and a 67 mOsm/kg drop in serum osmolality within 18 hours after transplant, with concurrent development of symptomatic and radiologic cerebral edema, similar to that described in DDS. Mental status rapidly returned to baseline after administration of 3% hypertonic saline. This case highlights the risk of cerebral edema in patients who have a high pretransplant BUN. It emphasizes the need for close monitoring of vital signs, mental status, and electrolytes in children undergoing renal transplant. Hypertonic solutions can be used to prevent or manage cerebral edema in these patients when serum osmolality decreases rapidly. Pretransplant dialysis is another consideration to proactively reduce serum hyperosmolality.

A Comparison of Transplant Outcomes in Peritoneal and Hemodialysis Patients: A Meta-Analysis

Background: Peritoneal dialysis (PD) and hemodialysis (HD) have been considered the 2 standard pre-transplant dialysis modalities in patients awaiting kidney transplantation. However, the impact of pretransplant dialysis on the short- and long-term post-transplant outcomes remains controversial. Methods: We searched PubMed, EMBASE and the Cochrane central register of controlled trials for this review. Twelve studies were identified by strict screening for the meta-analysis. Results: We found that pretransplant PD patients had a significantly lower incidence of delayed graft function than HD patients, with an OR 0.67 (95% CI 0.62-0.72, p < 0.05). In contrast, there was no significant difference in the incidence of acute rejection, OR 0.96 (95% CI 0.75-1.16). Pretransplant PD had a better 5-year patient survival rate than HD, with a hazard ratio 0.86 (95% CI 0.79-0.95, p < 0.05); however, there were no significant differences in the graft survival rate (p = 0.08). Conclusions: We found that PD was a better choice of pretransplant dialysis modality than HD. Video Journal Club ‘Cappuccino with Claudio Ronco' at http://www.karger.com/?doi=446272.

Simultaneous Native Nephrectomy and Kidney Transplantation in Patients With Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease.

IntroductionTo evaluate the feasibility of simultaneous unilateral nephrectomy with kidney transplantation and to determine the effect of this procedure on perioperative morbidity and mortality and graft and patient survival.MethodsBetween January 2000 and May 2015, 145 patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) underwent kidney transplantation. Of those, 40 (27.5%) underwent concurrent ipsilateral native nephrectomy (group NT). Patients in group NT were compared with patients with ADPKD not undergoing concurrent nephrectomy (group NT-) and asymptomatic patients undergoing pretransplant nephrectomy (group PNT).ResultsThe average follow-up was 66 months. The graft survival rate at 1 and 5 years was 95% and 87.5% versus 93% and 76.2% in the NT and NT- groups, respectively (P = .903 and P = .544, respectively); 1-year patient survival was 100% for NT and 97% for NT- patients (P = .288), whereas 5-year patient survival was 100% and 92% for NT and NT- groups, respectively (P = .128). After propensity score matching (34 patients per group) no significant differences were observed in 1-year (97.1% in NT and 94.1%; P = 1) and 5-year (88.2% in NT and 91.2% in NT-; P = 1) graft survival, and in 1-year (100% for both groups; P = 1) and 5-year (100% in NT and 94.1% in NT-; P = 1) patient survival. Perioperative mortality was 0% among NT and 1.2% among NT- patients, whereas perioperative surgical complications were similar in both groups. One- and 5-year graft and patient survival were similar between the NT and PNT groups, but patients in the PNT group had significantly lower levels of hemoglobin and residual diuresis volumes at the time of transplant. Moreover, PNT patients had a longer pretransplant dialysis and a longer time on the waiting list.ConclusionsSimultaneous unilateral nephrectomy does not have a negative effect on patient and graft survival in patients with ADPKD and is associated with low morbidity. Pretransplant nephrectomy should be restricted only to highly symptomatic patients, whereas unilateral nephrectomy in asymptomatic patients should be performed during kidney transplantation only if massive kidney size precludes graft positioning.

Cardiovascular Risk Evaluated With the Use of Heartscore in Kidney Transplant Recipients—Three Years of Follow-up

BackgroundCardiovascular (CV) complications are the major cause of death in kidney transplant (KT) patients. MethodsDuring a 3-year follow-up, 112 KT recipients, from living (LD KTRs; n = 54), and deceased (DD KTRs; n = 58) donors, were assessed for 10-year risk of fatal CV events with the use of the Heartscore tool (www.heartscore.org). In post-KT months 6, 12, and 36, current and optimum (target) CV risks (CVRs) were estimated. ResultsCurrent risk was lower in the LD KTRs and remained stable. In DD KTRs, the risk was at the highest level in months 6 and 12 of follow-up and decreased in month 36. Change in CVR, ie, the difference between the current and target risk, was the highest in DD KTRs in month 36 of follow-up (P = .014). In the increased-CVR group, recipients were older (P < .01), primarily male (P = .08), and more frequently smokers (P < .01) and had a higher systolic blood pressure (P < .05) despite taking more hypotensive medicines (P < .01), and had higher total cholesterol (P < .01) and low-density lipoprotein (P < .01) levels. In this group, body mass index (BMI) was higher (P < .01) and metabolic syndrome was diagnosed significantly more often (P < .01). The high-risk group (estimated CVR, ≥5) was different also in longer durations of pre-transplantation dialysis (P < .05) and higher rates of CV episodes before transplantation (P < .05). In logistic regression, higher BMI and lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were the parameters strongly correlated with higher CVR. ConclusionsMean CVR applicable to all kidney transplant recipients was stable throughout the follow-up. Changes in the risk affected mainly DD KTRs. In months 6 and 12, CVR was the highest in this group and was substantially reduced in the 3rd year of follow-up, probably owing to medical interventions. In the high-CVR group, impaired function of the transplanted kidney was recorded. CVR scores in patients with renal conditions and after kidney transplantation should additionally account for eGFR.

Renal Tumor in Allogeneic Kidney Transplant Recipient

BackgroundMalignancies will be a leading cause of mortality in renal transplant recipients in the next 20 years. Renal cell cancer (RCC) is the most common urologic cancer in kidney transplant recipients. The risk of RCC development in kidney transplant recipients is 15–100 times higher than in the general population. The purpose of the current retrospective study was to assess the frequency of nephrectomies performed because of renal tumors in the native kidneys in kidney transplant recipients in the Department of General and Transplantation Surgery at the Medical University of Warsaw between 2010 and 2014 year; the identification of kidney recipients diagnosed with RCC; and epidemiologic, clinical, and histopathological aspects associated with RCC. Patients and MethodsA total of 319 nephrectomies were performed in the Department of General and Transplantation Surgery at the Medical University of Warsaw between 2010 and 2014 year. Renal tumors were diagnosed in 25 renal transplant recipients. ResultsAmong malignant tumors, 13 cases of RCC and 1 case of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) were observed. There was no significant difference between age and duration of pretransplantation dialysis in patients with RCC and patients with benign tumors (P = .14 and P = .91, respectively). Body mass index was significantly higher in patients with RCC than in patients with benign tumors (P = .04). ConclusionsRenal cell cancer is more common among male kidney recipients. There is a good Polish screening system allowing detection of kidney cancer in native kidney. We recommend performing periodic screening for kidney cancers to obtain an early diagnosis.

Cystometric evaluation of recovery in hypocompliant defunctionalized bladder as a result of long-term dialysis after kidney transplantation.

To evaluate the functional recovery of a pretransplant hypocompliant bladder in patients without neurological disorders, and to determine its relationship with ureteral complications, including vesicoureteral reflux. A total of 61 patients without neurogenic disorders, who underwent video water cystometry pre- and 1 year post-transplantation, were enrolled. Cystometric bladder capacity and maximum intravesical pressure were measured, and compliance was calculated by the elevation in intravesical pressure as a result of an increase in volume. The frequencies of urinary complications, including urinary leakage, pyelonephritis and vesicoureteral reflux, were also evaluated. Pretransplant dialysis duration correlated with pretransplant bladder capacity and compliance (R(2) = 0.421, P < 0.001 and R(2) = 0.418, P < 0.001, respectively). A total of 16 (26.2%) patients had hypocompliant bladders <10 mL/cmH2 O, whereas 10 of the 12 patients (83.3%) with pretransplant dialysis duration of more than 5 years had a pretransplant hypocompliant bladder. Bladder compliance significantly recovered to >20 mL/cmH2 O (21.1-286.0) at 1 year post-transplantation in all 16 patients with a pretransplant hypocompliant bladder. No significant differences were observed for urinary leakage, pyelonephritis or vesicoureteral reflux between patients with and without a pretransplant hypocompliant bladder. Bladder compliance decreases logarithmically pretransplantation according to dialysis duration. Although the ability of the patients to recover varies, dysfunctions associated with a pretransplant hypocompliant bladder recover to normal ranges after renal transplantation. A pretransplant hypocompliant bladder seems not to be associated with the post-transplant prevalence of urinary complications or vesicoureteral reflux.

Results of Simultaneous Liver and Kidney Transplantation: A Single-Center Review

The decision for a simultaneous liver and kidney transplantation (SLKT) is fraught with controversy. The aim of this study was to compare SLKT with liver transplantation alone (LTA) in patients with pretransplantation renal failure. A retrospective review comparing patients undergoing SLKT and LTA (with renal failure) between January 2000 and December 2014 was performed. Of 1,129 liver transplantations, 132 had renal failure pretransplantation; 52 had SLKT and 80 recipients had LTA. Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score and BMI were lower in the SLKT group (p= 0.001). Simultaneous liver and kidney transplantation patients had better overall survival rates at 1 and 5 years compared with LTA (92.3% and 81.6% vs 73.3% and 64.3% respectively; p < 0.01). Graft survival was also superior in patients undergoing SLKT vs LTA. Six of 52 (11.5%) SLKT patients had final positive cross match, but only 1 of 52 (1.9%) kidney grafts was lost to rejection. In the SLKT group, 9 of 52 (17.3%) patients required dialysis post transplantation, but only 2 remained on dialysis beyond 30 days. All patients in the LTA group were on dialysis pretransplantation and significantly more patients (52 of 80 [65%]) required dialysis post LTA (p ≤ 0.0001); 31 of 80 (38.8%) were dialysis dependent for more than 30 days or died on dialysis within 30 days. Two LTA recipients were subsequently listed for kidney transplant. Patients with end-stage liver disease on dialysis who undergo liver transplantation have significantly better survival when SLKT is performed. In selected patients, SLKT is an appropriate use of a scarce resource, but better prognostic indicators for selection of patients are still needed.

Timing of Pregnancy After Kidney Transplantation and Risk of Allograft Failure.

The optimal timing of pregnancy after kidney transplantation remains uncertain. We determined the risk of allograft failure among women who became pregnant within the first 3 posttransplant years. Among 21 814 women aged 15-45 years who received a first kidney-only transplant between 1990 and 2010 captured in the United States Renal Data System, n = 729 pregnancies were identified using Medicare claims. The probability of allograft failure from any cause including death (ACGL) at 1, 3, and 5 years after pregnancy was 9.6%, 25.9%, and 36.6%. In multivariate analyses, pregnancy in the first posttransplant year was associated with an increased risk of ACGL (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.18; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.00, 1.40) and death censored graft loss (DCGL) (HR:1.25; 95% CI 1.04, 1.50), while pregnancy in the second posttransplant year was associated with an increased risk of DCGL (HR: 1.26; 95% CI 1.06, 1.50). Pregnancy in the third posttransplant year was not associated with an increased risk of ACGL or DCGL. These findings demonstrate a higher incidence of allograft failure after pregnancy than previously reported and that the increased risk of allograft failure extends to pregnancies in the second posttransplant year.

Clinical relevance of peak serum transaminases after an elective liver transplantation

Introduction: Serum transaminases are routinely monitored after liver transplantation (LT) to detect graft dysfunction. However, the role of peak-serum-transaminases (PST) on postoperative outcome is controversial. The aim of the present study was to determine whether PST was correlated early graft failure. Method: Between 2006 and 2014, 302 consecutive patients receiving a first elective liver transplant from brain-dead donor were enrolled in a single-center prospective database. Donor and recipient demographic data as well as perioperative data were recorded and retrospectively analyzed. PST was defined as the highest value of either aspartate (AST) or alanine (ALT) aminotransferase within the postoperative two days. Early graft failure was defined as death or need for retransplantation within 90-days. Multivariable analysis was performed using logistic regression models. Results: Twenty-six (8.6%) patients had graft failure, of whom 6 (23.1%) had PST >2000 UI/L. Only pre-transplant dialysis (IC 95% [1.797–24.447]; p = 0.005) and PST >2000 UI/L (IC 95% [1.484–19.130]; p = 0.010) were shown to be independent predictor of early graft failure. However the specificity and sensitivity of PST >2000 UI/L to predict early graft failure were respectively 23% and 92% and the area under the ROC curve was 0.577, indicating a low discrimination of this surrogate. Conclusion: PST is an independent predictor of early graft failure but failed to accurately detect patients who will need an early retransplantation.

Reassessing Preemptive Kidney Transplantation in the United States: Are We Making Progress?

Preemptive kidney transplantation (preKT) is associated with higher patient survival, improved quality of life, and lower costs. However, only a minority of patients receives preKT. The aim of this study was to examine changes over the past decade in rates of preKT, focusing on living donor kidney transplantation (LDKT) and specifically recipients who underwent kidney transplantation within 1 year of initiating dialysis. Using United Network of Organ Sharing data, we examined retrospectively all kidney transplant candidates (n = 369 103) and recipients (n = 141 254) from 2003 to 2012 in the United States focusing on LDKT (n = 47 108). Predictors of preKT were examined, and patient and graft survival were compared for preKT, pretransplant dialysis less than 1 year, and pretransplant dialysis recipients of 1 year or longer. PreKT occurred in only 17% of recipients overall and 31% of LDKT recipients. Medicare patients (odds ratio [OR], 0.29; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.28-0.31), diabetics (OR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.69-0.80), and minorities (Hispanics OR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.57-0.68 and African Americans OR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.53-0.63) were less likely to receive preKT. Dialysis recipients for less than 1 year comprised 30% of nonpreemptive LDKT. Dialysis recipients of less than 1 year had similar patient survival to preKT (5 years: preKT, 94%; dialysis < 1 year, 94%; dialysis ≥ 1 year, 89%; P < 0.01), but decreased death-censored graft survival (5 years: preKT, 93%; dialysis < 1 year, 89%; and dialysis ≥ 1 year, 89%; P < 0.01). PreKT remains an unrealized goal for the majority of recipients. Medicare patients, diabetics, and minorities are less likely to receive preKT. Almost one third of nonpreemptive LDKT recipients were dialyzed for less than 1 year, highlighting an important target for improvement.