The role of proteinuria, paricalcitol and vitamin D in the development of post-transplant diabetes mellitus.

INTRODUCTION: Post-transplant diabetes mellitus (PTDM) occurs most frequently during the first year after transplantation. We focused on parameters of calcium-phosphate metabolism and proteinuria as possible new risk factors for PTDM after kidney transplantation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We have prospectively identified risk factors for post-transplant diabetes mellitus with follow-up of 12 months in a set of 167 patients after kidney transplantation. Patients with diabetes mellitus type 1 and type 2 as well as patients using ciclosporin A or mTOR inhibitor have been excluded from the monitoring. From the perspective of immunosuppression it was a homogeneous set of patients. RESULTS: We identified the following independent risk factors for PTDM in our set: average proteinuria > 0.300 g/24 h (HR 3.0785, (95 % CI 1.6946-5.5927), p=0.0002), level of vitamin D<20 ng/ml (HR 5.4517, (95 % CI 2.3167-11.8209), p1.45 mmol/l (HR0.0821, (95 % CI0.0042-1.5920), p=0.0439). The lowest occurrence of PTDM and proteinuria was recorded in patients whose treatment included paricalcitol (p<0.0001) and these patients had at the same time the highest level of vitamin D (p<0.0001). CONCLUSION: Deficit of vitamin D, proteinuria and hyperphosphatemia have been independent risk factors for the development of PTDM in our set. We identified the usage of paricalcitol as protective factor with regard to the PTDM development (Tab. 6, Fig. 4, Ref. 29).

Results of Kidney Transplantation from Expanded Criteria Donors: A Single-Center Experience.

BACKGROUND: Collection of kidneys from extended criteria donors (ECD) with diagnosed brain-death forms a part of the collection program that increases the number of transplantations. OBJECTIVE: To compare the results of ECD with those of standard criteria donors (SCD). METHODS: In a retrospective analysis in a group of 156 kidney donors, we identified ECD donors. We detected the basic parameters of the donors before kidney collection, and then evaluated the function of the graft, the survival of the graft, and the survival of the patients after 1, 3, and 5 years of transplantation. The results were then compared with the function of the graft from those of SCD donors. RESULTS: The ECD donors were significantly (p<0.001) older than the SCD donors. They had a higher body mass index (p=0.006) and prevalence of hypertension (p<0.001) and diabetes mellitus (p=0.004) compared to SCD donors. The graft function within the first 6 months and the survival of recipients in the first year of transplantation were significantly worse in ECD than in SCD groups (p=0.01, and 0.023, respectively). No difference in the graft survival was observed between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The long-term function of the graft and survival of patients and grafts in recipients of kidneys from ECD donors are comparable to SCD donors. Exploitation of the given organs for transplantation is important due to the constantly increasing demand versus limited offer of organs.

Flow Cytometry Panel-Reactive Antibody Screening of Anti-HLA Antibodies in the Waiting List Significantly Reduces the Occurrence of Acute Rejection After Kidney Transplantation.

INTRODUCTION: The presence of preformed HLA-reactive antibodies in recipient serum before transplantation has long been recognized as a prominent risk factor for a generally worse graft outcome. Screening and identification of HLA antibodies can be used to stratify patients into high- and low-risk categories. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We determined patients' anti-HLA antibodies using flow cytometry panel-reactive antibody (flowPRA) screening, specifying more than 5% after positive screening. According to the results of the screening test, patients were allocated to the induction immunosuppressive protocol according to the actual immunologic risk. RESULTS: In the group of 78 patients, screening with flowPRA of anti-HLA antibodies was done twice a year. Patients were divided into 2 groups of immunologic risk (low or medium), and we chose the induction immunosuppressive protocol according to the risk. Stratification of the risk was correct, because the only predictor for development of acute rejection in the monitored period of 12 months was delayed graft function (odds ratio 33.2501; 95% confidence interval 10.0095-110.4508; P < .0001). The occurrence of acute rejection upon implementing the screening was reduced in our transplant center from 44% to 19% (P < .0001). No difference was recorded in the 12-month survival of grafts and patients according to the applied induction immunosuppressive protocol. CONCLUSION: We confirmed significantly reduced occurrence of acute rejection in the follow-up period of 12 months by using individualized induction according to flowPRA screening of anti-HLA antibodies. FlowPRA screening represents a suitable alternative for screening and specification of anti-HLA antibodies in case the Luminex methodology is unavailable.

Metabolic syndrome and new onset diabetes after kidney transplantation.

AIMS: The metabolic syndrome developed after kidney transplantation is the result of several factors which are identical with the risk factors in normal population, however, also some factors typical for the transplanted patients-especially the effects of immunosuppressive therapy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In the groupof 268 patients after kidney transplantation, which had no type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus before transplantation, we identified patients with metabolic syndrome(based on IDF criteria), 12 months from the kidney transplantation. In all patients, we recorded the following parameters: age at the time of transplantation, type of immunosuppression, waist measure, the value of triacylglycerols, the value of HDL cholesterol, presence of arterial hypertension, andthe value of glycaemia in fasting state (or presence of diabetes mellitus). The groupof patients was divided into the control group and the group of patients with metabolic syndrome. RESULTS: The average age of patients was 46.1±11.6years. The control group included 149 patients (55.6%),and we identified the metabolicsyndromein 119patients (44.4%). The patients with metabolicsyndrome were significantly older (P<0.0001), had significantly larger waist (both the entiregroup and the males andfemales) P<0.0001.The femaleswith metabolic syndrome had significantly lower value of HDL-cholesterol (P=0.0013), and significantly higher number of patients with metabolic syndrome had hyperglycaemia in fasting state or diabetes mellitus (P=0.0006). CONCLUSION: By controlling the weight and waist, we may identify the risk patients for development of metabolic syndrome after kidney transplantation.

Surgical treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Europe and throughout the world is currently increasing. This is caused by an increase in the number of patients with alcoholic liver damage, metabolic syndrome, and by increasing incidence of hepatitis B and C.From January 1, 2004 to December 31, 2013, resection or radiofrequency ablation of the liver was done in 360 patients with benign lesions or malignant tumors of the liver. In 28 patients HCC was diagnosed and histologically confirmed (7.8 %). Seven patients had HCC associated with liver cirrhosis (25 %), and 21 patients were without histologically confirmed cirrhosis (75 %). R0 resection was done in 18 (64 %) patients.Surgical complications occurred in 6 (21 %) patients and reoperation due to tumor relapse or progression was done eight times in 6 (21 %) patients. One-year and five-year patients' survivals were 64 % and 10 %, repectively, and did not statistically differ from the survival of the whole set of patients with tumor diseases in the given time period. In the future it will be possible to improve the long-term survival of patients with HCC by using screening methods for presymptomatic diagnosis of HCC, precise preoperative diagnosis and efforts for R0 resection (Tab. 1, Fig. 4, Ref. 11).