Case of ABO-Incompatible Living Donor Kidney Transplantation without Blood Products in a Jehovah's Witness / 대한이식학회지

ABO-incompatible kidney transplantations have been performed successfully in Korea without splenectomy using plasmapheresis, anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody infusions and other immunosuppressants. However, there is no report of a case of ABO-incompatible kidney transplantation in a Jehovah's Witness. Hence, we report our experience of successful ABO-incompatible kidney transplantation without blood products in a Jehovah's Witness. The recipient was treated with six sessions of plasmapheresis and he received intravenous rituximab before transplantation. Immunosuppressive regimen consisted of tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil and steroid. The replacement fluid for plasmapheresis was 5%% albumin solution instead of fresh frozen plasma. We measured the clotting factors before and after plasmapheresis and used cryoprecipitate to prevent bleeding.

Intraperitoneal Paricalcitol Treatment for Secondary Hyperparathyroidism in CAPD patient: A Case Report / 대한신장학회지

Secondary hyperparathyroidism is a major complication in ESRD patients undergoing dialysis. In hemodialysis patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism, intravenous administration of paricalcitol became widely utilized. In CAPD patients, however, the intravenous administration of paricalcitol which requires frequent visits to the clinic is not practical. The subject of this study was one CAPD patient with secondary hyperparathyroidism. He had already received oral calcitriol pulse therapy for 6 months and thereafter refused parathyroidectomy and intravenous paricalcitol which required frequent visits to the hospital. Furthermore, paricalcitol capsule is not yet introduced in Korea. Consequently, intraperitoneal paricalcitol therapy was tried whereby the patient was taught how to inject the paricalcitol (5 ug) directly into the dialysate for three times per week before bedtime. Blood samples for measurement of intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), serum ionized calcium, serum phosphate, serum total alkaline phosphatase levels were obtained at baseline and after 1, 2, 3 and 4 months of treatment. After usage of intraperitoneal paricalcitol for 2 months, there was a significant decrease in iPTH level. In conclusion, intraperitoneal paricalcitol therapy might be effective for suppressing iPTH in CAPD patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism. A large-scale and long-term study must be conducted for safety and clinical effect.

Peritonitis by Achromobacter xylosoxidans in a Patient Undergoing Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis(CAPD): A Case Report / 대한신장학회지

Peritonitis is a major cause of morbidity in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients. Achromobacter xylosoxidans is a rarely reported cause of peritonitis in CAPD patients. In this report, a peritonitis case due to Achromobacter xylosoxidans in a 60-year-old male patient with end-stage renal failure receiving CAPD for 7 years, has been reported. White blood cell (WBC) count in peritoneal fluid was 3,160/mm3 with 95% neutrophil. Gram staining of the peritoneal fluid yielded gram negative rod. Empirical antibiotic therapy with ceftriaxone was initiated intraperitoneally. But drug sensitivity test revealed these regimens were resistant. On fourth hospital day, Achromobacter xylosoxidans was cultured from peritoneal effluent, the antibiotic regimen was switched to piperacillin/tazobactam intraperitoneally. The patient rapidly recovered and the WBC count of the peritoneal effluent decreased. The therapy was continued for 14 days and then the patient was discharged. The peritoneal catheter was not removed.

Rituximab and Plasmapheresis for Post-transplant Recurrence of FSGS / 대한신장학회지

Focal segmental glomerular sclerosis (FSGS) is known to recur in 20-40% of the renal allografts with graft loss in about half of these cases. We report a successful treatment of a recurrent FSGS after kidney transplantation with rituximab and plasmapheresis. An 16-year-old patient whose primary kidney disease was FSGS developed recurrence of proteinuria after living donor kidney transplantation despite preemptive plasmapheresis and one dose of rituximab (375 mg/m2). After kidney transplantation, nephrotic range proteinuria was detected. Kidney biopsy was done and showed recurrent FSGS. She undergone 11 times of plasmapheresis in the first 4 week post transplantation. In addition, she received additional one dose of rituximab (375 mg/m2) on day 14. Proteinuria was decreased below nephrotic range at 37 day. Ten months later, proteinuria was at 30 mg/day with excellent graft function. No significant adverse events related to rituximab or plasmapheresis were observed. Rituximab with plasmapheresis may be another option for recurrent FSGS after kidney transplantation.

A Case of Asymptomatic Disseminated Cryptococcosis in a Renal Transplant Patient / 대한신장학회지

Cryptococcosis is recognized as one of the most important complications in an organ transplant recipient. Cryptococcosis occurs in 2.5-39% of renal transplant recipients. This infection generally presents as symptomatic disseminated disease with an accelerated clinical course, involves multiple sites including the central nervous system, lungs, and skin. And if diagnosis or treatment is delayed, the prognosis is generally poor. The asymptomatic infection is rare and there are no case reports of asymptomatic disseminated cryptococcosis after renal transplantation in Korea. We experienced a case of asymptomatic cryptococcal multi-organ infection detected incidentally in a 51-year-old male received a living related renal transplant 35 months earlier for end-stage renal disease due to diabetic nephropathy. We treated successfully with amphotericin B and fluconazole and hereby report this case with a review of the relevant literature.

Combination Treatment of Rituximab and Plasmapheresis in Acute Cellular Rejection with Focal Segmental Glomerular Sclerosis after Renal Transplantation / 대한이식학회지

Focal segmental glomerular sclerosis (FSGS) accounts for recurrence in 20% to 40% of the renal allografts after transplantation, and it causes graft loss in 13% to 20% of the cases. We report here on successfully treating acute cellular rejection (ACR) combined with FSGS after a kidney transplantation with a combination treatment of plasmapheresis, rituximab and steroid pulse therapy. A 53-year-old female patient whose primary kidney disease was unknown developed massive proteinuria after living donor kidney transplantation. A urine protein/creatinine ratio of 13.42 and an elevated serum creatinine level was detected on postoperative days (POD) 10 and a renal biopsy showed acute cellular rejection (Banff IIb) combined with FSGS. We started steroid pulse therapy on POD 11. She underwent 5 plasmapheresis sessions in the first 3 week after transplantation and she received one dose of rituximab (375 mg/m2) on POD 12. The proteinuria decreased below the nephrotic range at POD 20 and the serum creatinine level was normalized. Three months later, the proteinuria was at 35 mg/day with stable graft function. Rituximab and plasmapheresis is a possible option to treat FSGS combined with a relapse of proteinuria after renal transplantation.