En-bloc transplantation: an eligible technique for unilateral dual kidney transplantation

Kidney transplantation is the best available treatment for patients with end-stage renal disease. To evaluate the en bloc anastomosis technique for unilateral dual kidney transplantation [DKT]. From May to October 2011, 5 patients [4 women and 1 man] with mean age of 31.8 years underwent unilateral DKT with this technique in which distal end of the aorta and proximal end of inferior vena cava [IVC] were closed with running sutures. Then, proximal end of the aorta and distal end of the IVC were anastomosed to internal [or external] iliac artery and external iliac vein, respectively. Post-operative course was uneventful. No vascular and urologic complications developed; all patient had acceptable serum creatinine at discharge time and up of 2-6 months of post-operation follow up. Unilateral DKT is a safe method for performing DKT. The proposed en bloc anastomosis can improve the outcome of the graft by reducing the cold ischemia and the operation time

Two-year experience of orthotopic liver transplantation in Afzalipoor Hospital, Kerman, Southeastern Iran

End-stage liver diseases are common in Iran. The only therapeutic option for these patients is liver transplantation. To present our 2-year experience of liver transplantations in Afzalipoor Hospital, Kerman, southeastern Iran. From November 2009 to September 2011, 12 patients underwent orthotopic liver transplantation in our center. Their data including demographics, indications for transplantation, MELD scores, post-operative complications and their management were collected. Patients [7 women and 5 men] aged between 14 and 55 years. Indications for the transplantation included HBV infection [n=5], cryptogenic cirrhosis [n=2], Wilson's disease, alcoholism [n=1], HCV infection [n=1], Budd-Chiari syndrome [n=1], and autoimmune hepatitis [n=1]. MELD score of patients ranged from 16 to 30. All patients received tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetile and corticosteroid, post-operatively. 2 patients died of pulmonary and intra-abdominal infections with resultant to multiple organ failure. Nonfunctioning of transplanted liver and ongoing bleeding resulted in death in another patients. 9 patients are well doing and have excellent liver functions. We had relatively successful results in our experience of orthotopic liver transplantation. Vicinity of our center to Shiraz Transplant Center would be an important factor in this success

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene t-786c polymorphism in renal transplant recipients

Nitric oxide [NO] is a major mediator in vascular biology, regulating regional blood flow. NO and the enzymes required for its production contribute to ischemia-reperfusion injury. The T-786C functional polymorphism in the promoter region substantially reduces promoter activity of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase [eNOS] gene and compromises endothelial NO synthesis. To examine the association between T-786C [rs 2070744] single nucleotide polymorphism [SNP] in eNOS gene and the development of acute rejection in renal transplant patients. 60 renal transplant recipients [30 with episodes of acute rejection [ARs] and 30 without rejection [non-ARs]], between June 2008 and March 2010, were included in this study. The polymorphism was determined by PCR-restriction fragment-length polymorphism analysis. The distribution of the genotypes were TT/TC/CC 60%, 33.4%, 6.6%, and 43%, 46.7%, 13.3% in ARs and non-ARs, respectively [p=0.28]. The frequency of T-allele was 76.7% and 66.3%; and for C-allele was 66.6% and 33.3% in ARs and non-ARs, respectively [p=0.09]. There were no significant associations between these polymorphisms and acute and chronic kidney allograft rejection. We could not detect any significant association between polymorphism in T-786C of eNOS gene and the development of acute rejection

Graft survival rate of renal transplantation: a single center experience, [1999- 2009]

Renal transplantation is the best option for treatment of the end-stage renal diseases and has more advantages than dialysis. The objective of this study is to determine the ten-year graft survival rate of renal transplantation and its associated factors in patients who have been transplanted from March 1999 to March 2009 in Nemazee Hospital Transplantation Center. This is a historical cohort study of 1356 renal transplantation carried out during 1999 to 2009. Kaplan-Meier method was used to determine the survival rate, log rank test to compare survival curves, and Cox regression model to determine hazard ratios and for modeling of variables affecting survival. The 1, 3, 5, 7 and 10 years graft survival rates were 96.6, 93.7, 88.9, 87.1 and 85.5 percent, respectively. Cox regression model revealed that the donor source and creatinine level at discharge were effective factors in graft survival rate in renal transplantation. Our study showed that 10 year graft survival rate for renal transplantation in Nemazee Hospital Transplantation Center was 85.5% and graft survival rate was significantly related to recipients and donor's age, donor source and creatinine level at discharge. Our experience in renal transplantation survival rate indicates a success rate comparable to those noted in other reports

Evaluation of cytomegalovirus infection after six months of liver transplantation in children in Shiraz, Southern Iran

Liver transplantation [LT] is a life-saving treatment for end-stage liver diseases [ESLD]. Cytomegalovirus [CMV] infection is one of the important causes of morbidity after LT. To evaluate the incidence of late-onset [after 6 months of LT] CMV infection in pediatric recipients. A retrospective analysis was conducted to evaluate 50 pediatric patients who underwent LT for 8 years at the LT Unit of Nemazee Hospital affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. We retrospectively investigated episodes of CMV infection after 6 months of LT proven by CMV antigenemia test. Three recipients [6%] developed late-onset CMV infection. These patients finally responded to ganciclovir. CMV infection is one of the most common post-LT viral infections that usually occurs in the first six months of LT. Our study shows that the incidence of late-onset CMV infection is relatively low, but it still remains a significant problem. Therefore, monitoring and management is crucial for improving the survival of children

Liver transplantation and aortic valve replacement

Surgical procedures involving heart and liver are rare and have been limited to either combined heart and liver transplantation or coronary artery bypass graft surgery [CABG] or aortic valve surgery and orthotopic liver transplantation [OLT]. Aortic valve replacement [AVR] and pulmonary valve vegetectomy for bacterial endocarditis after OLT have also been reported. There are only five cases with aortic stenosis and cirrhosis reported to have combined AVR and liver transplantation. In the presence of cirrhosis, AVR has a significant risk for mortality because of bleeding from coagulopathy, renal failure, infection, and poor post-operative wound healing. Herein, we report on a case and management analysis of combined sequential AVR, and OLT in a 40-year-old cirrhotic man with Child and MELD score of C and 29, respectively. Echocardiography detected severe aortic insufficiency [AI] with enlarged left ventricle. Due to severe AI, the cardiologist recommended AVR prior to transplantation. The patient underwent metallic AVR. 4 months later, he received OLT. Both operations were successful and uneventful. Prioritizing AVR before OLT was successful in this patient. However, each patient must be evaluated individually and multiple factors should be assessed in pre-operation evaluation

Evaluation of candida infection after six months of transplantation in pediatric liver recipients in Iran

Liver transplantation [LT] is the standard treatment of end-stage liver diseases [ESLD]. Invasive fungal infection is one of the important causes of morbidity and mortality after transplantation. To determine the incidence of late-onset [after 6 months of LT] Candida infection in recipients. A retrospective study was conducted to evaluate 50 pediatric patients after LT for 8 years at the LT Unit of Nemazee Hospital affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. We followed the patients until 6 months post-LT for episodes of Candida infection proven by culture. One recipient [2%] developed late-onset esophageal candidiasis with improvement after intravenous amphotricin therapy but finally expired with a diagnosis of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder [PTLD]. The incidence of late-onset Candida infection is not significant in pediatric liver recipient, but it still remains a significant problem. Control of Candida colonization would reduce the risk of invasive fungal infections and possibly more fatal complications

molecular and antigenic tissue impact of viral infections on liver transplant patients with neonatal hepatitis

Pathogenesis of neonatal hepatitis relates to various underlying causes including viral infections. Both hepatotropic and non-hepatotropic viruses may induce liver failures in infants before birth, during delivery, or shortly after birth. The tissue impact of HCMV, HSV, HBV, HCV, and rotavirus and adenovirus infections was evaluated in studied infants with neonatal hepatitis. The history of viral infections was analyzed in paraffin-embedded biopsy and autopsy tissues of 22 infants with neonatal hepatitis between years 1996 and 2007, retrospectively. The tissue molecular presentation of HBV, HCV, HCMV, HSV, adenovirus, and rotavirus was evaluated by different qualitative simple and nested PCR and RT-PCR protocols. Immunohistochemistry [IHC] method was used for studying the antigenic prevalence of HSV-1, 2; HBV, HCMV and adenovirus infections. Also the laboratory liver indices of all patients with neonatal hepatitis were analyzed. The HBV and HSV genomes were detected in 3 [14%] of 22 infants. The rotavirus and HCV-RNA and also the HCMV-DNA were detected separately in 1 [4%] of 26 paraffin-embedded autopsy and biopsy tissues. The HBV and HSV-1 specific antigens were separately diagnosed in 1 [4%] of 26 neonatal samples by IHC protocols. Also the HSV-2 antigen was seen in 5 [23%] of 22 liver autopsy and biopsy specimens. Co-infections with HCMV, HSV, HBV, HCV, and rotavirus were detected in these infants with hepatitis. Diagnosis of single and mixed molecular and antigenic traces of HCMV, HSV, HBV, HCV and rotavirus underlines the etiologic role of these viruses in clinical pathogenesis of neonatal hepatitis

effect of simvastatin on lowering panel reactive antibody titer in sensitized dialysis patients: a randomized placebo controlled clinical trial

Patients with panel reactive antibodies [PRA] have many difficulties to find a crossmatch-nega- tive kidney for transplantation and are at a higher risk of post-transplantation rejection. To evaluate the effect of simvastatin on PRA and post-transplant outcome of these sensitized pa- tients. 82 patients with end-stage renal disease [ESRD] with a PRA >/= 25% were evaluated. In a one-year follow-up, the patients were treated with simvastatin. These patients were compared with 82 matched con- trols receiving placebo tablets. At the end of the second and 12th month, PRA was rechecked in all patients. Those patients who underwent transplantation continued to take simvastatin six months after transplanta- tion. Serum creatinine levels were checked at monthly intervals post-operation. The mean +/- SD PRA level at the end of the second month was 36.63% +/- 31.14% and 45.34% +/- 24.36% in cases and controls, respectively [P=0.012]. Seven patients in the case group and 10 in the control group were lost to follow-up. The remaining patients continued to take simvastatin for 12 month. The mean +/- SD PRA level at the end of the 12[th] month was 24.02% +/- 31.04% in cases and 43.15% +/- 26.56% in controls [P=0.001]. 25 patients underwent renal transplantation and continued to receive simvastatin 6 months after transplantation. These patients were matched with 25 controls treating with placebo. The mean +/- SD creatinine level 6 months after kidney transplantation was 2.05 +/- 1.14 mg/dL and 3.15 +/- 1.09 mg/ dL in cases and controls consecutively [P=0.02]. Simvastatin can be safely used to lower PRA and improve post-transplantation outcomes

Congenital hepatic fibrosis and need for liver transplantation

Herein, we describe two patients who underwent liver transplantation with the clinical diagnosis of hepatic failure and cryptogenic cirrhosis; histopathology of the explanted hepatectomy specimen revealed congeni- tal hepatic fibrosis. To the best of our knowledge, coexistence of hepatic failure and cirrhosis in congenital hepatic fibrosis, have not yet been reported in the English literature

Liver transplantation in the presence of old portal vein thrombosis

Portal vein thrombosis [PVT] has been mentioned as a potential obstacle to liver transplantation [LTx]. To review the impact of PVT on orthotopic liver transplant [OLT] outcome. Between January 2006 and April 2009, 440 OLT were performed in Shiraz Transplant Unit of whom, 35 [7.9%] cases had old PVT with recanalization. Data were retrospectively collected regarding the demograph- ics, indication for OLT, Child-Turgot-Pugh classification, pre-transplant diagnosis of PVT, perioperative course and managements, relapse of PVT, early post-operative mortality and morbidity. All patients received liver from deceased donors, underwent thrombendvenectomy with end-to-end anastomosis without interposition graft and evaluated daily for 5 days and thereafter, biweekly by duplex sonography during the follow-up period for 2 months. They were treated by therapeutic doses of heparin followed by warfarin to maintain an INR of 2-2.5. The causes of end-stage liver disease were hepatitis B in 11, cryptogenic cirrhosis in 11, primary scle- rosing cholangitis in 5 and other causes in 8 recipients. Extension of thrombosis was through confluence of superior mesenteric and splenic vein in 32 and to superior mesenteric vein in 3 patients. The mean +/- SD op- eration time was 7.2 +/- 1.5 hrs. The mean +/- SD transfusion requirement was 5.4 +/- 2.8 units of packed cells. The mean +/- SD duration of hospital stay in these patients was 17.7 +/- 10.9 days. Eight patients died; 1 developed early in-hospital PVT, 1 had hepatic vein thrombosis, and 1 died of in-hospital ischemic cerebrovascular ac- cident, despite a full anticoagulant therapy. The mean +/- SD follow-up period for those 28 patients discharged from hospital was 16.6 +/- 7.9 months; none of them developed relapse of PVT. The overall mortality and mor- bidity was 28% and 32%, respectively. There was no relapse of PVT in the other patients. The presence of PVT at the time of OLT is not a contraindication for the operation but those with PVT have a more difficult surgery, develop more postoperative complications, and experience a higher in-hospital mortality

Emphysematous pyelonephritis in a transplant kidney

Emphysematous pyelonephritis [EPN] is a severe necrotizing infection of the kidney and its surrounding tis- sues. It is characterized by the production of gas within the kidney and perinephric structures. EPN often affects diabetic women but can also occur in nondiabetic patients who have ureteral obstruction and in im- munocompromised patients. Herein, we report EPN in a 23-year-old woman who had a renal transplantation

Urine cytology: useful screening method for polyoma virus nephropathy in renal transplant patients

Polyoma virus nephropathy occurs in 3% to 4% of renal transplant recipients, causing graft loss in 50% of cases. The objective of the present study was to explore the effects of age, sex, post-transplantation period and plasma creatinine levels on the polyoma virus infection in kidney transplanted patients. Urine samples were collected from 362 patients, centrifuged and microscopic slides prepared using Papaniclaou staining method. The slides then examined and decoy cells were identified in 96 [27%] patients. The prevalence of the infection increased with increased post-transplantation period and the age of the patients. Moreover, patients with positive decoy cells had more abnormal plasma creatinine levels than those with negative for such cells. In conclusion identification of decoy cells might be of value for the diagnosis of nephropathy, especially if the presence of such cells is accompanied with the elevated plasma levels of creatinine

[Cavernous hemangioma of liver presenting with high fever and severe abdominal pain; a case report]

Intra-tumoral bleeding, rupture and thrombosis are common complications of hemangioma but spontaneous and self limited rupture and fever is a very rare presentation of hemangioma. This report is about a 38-year-old woman with sever abdominal pain and high fever came for evaluation. In US she had a liver mass of about 15 cm in left lobe with possibility of being hemangioma and, CT scan and MRI confirmed diagnosis of hemangioma. She had persistently abdominal discomfort and fullness in upper abdomen and referred for surgery. Left lobectomy and resection of hemangioma was done successfully

Living-related liver trasplantation in children: the Shiraz experience

The liver transplantation program was established at Shiraz Nemazee Hospital in 1993. Shortage of cadaver organ supply due to various social and legal issues urged us to develop a living-related liver transplantation [LRLT] program. So far 7 [6 males, 1 female] living-related liver transplantations have been performed at this center. The mean age of patients was 8.21 years [ +/- 4.16], with a range of 4.5 to 14 years. Live donors [3 mothers, 2 fathers, and 1 brother] with a mean age of 30.83 years [ +/- 4.11] underwent procurement of the left lateral segment without mortality or any serious morbidity. The native liver disease was idiopathic cirrhosis [1 case], biliary atresia [3 cases], Budd-Chiari syndrome [1 case], neonatal cirrhosis [1 case], and cryptogenic cirrhosis [1 case]. Allografts were implanted using piggy-back surgical technique. Baseline immunosuppression consisted of a triple drug regimen including cyclosporine, mycophenolate mofetil and steroids. Acute graft rejection was treated with intra-venous bolus of methyl-prednisolone. Early death occurred in 2 patients due to vascular thrombosis. Biliary complication was observed in 1 patient. Five patients are alive with a normal functioning liver. In conclusion, LRLT program is promising in Iran. It can help to overcome the shortage of organs and minimize the mortality of patients in the waiting list