Broader Geographic Sharing of Pediatric Donor Lungs Improves Pediatric Access to Transplant.

US pediatric transplant candidates have limited access to lung transplant due to the small number of donors within current geographic boundaries, leading to assertions that the current lung allocation system does not adequately serve pediatric patients. We hypothesized that broader geographic sharing of pediatric (adolescent, 12-17 years; child, <12 years) donor lungs would increase pediatric candidate access to transplant. We used the thoracic simulated allocation model to simulate broader geographic sharing. Simulation 1 used current allocation rules. Simulation 2 offered adolescent donor lungs across a wider geographic area to adolescents. Simulation 3 offered child donor lungs across a wider geographic area to adolescents. Simulation 4 combined simulations 2 and 3. Simulation 5 prioritized adolescent donor lungs to children across a wider geographic area. Simulation 4 resulted in 461 adolescent transplants per 100 patient-years on the waiting list (range 417-542), compared with 206 (range 180-228) under current rules. Simulation 5 resulted in 388 adolescent transplants per 100 patient-years on the waiting list (range 348-418) and likely increased transplant rates for children. Adult transplant rates, waitlist mortality, and 1-year posttransplant mortality were not adversely affected. Broader geographic sharing of pediatric donor lungs may increase pediatric candidate access to lung transplant.

Early prediction of cardiac allograft vasculopathy and heart transplant failure.

Early risk-prediction is essential to prevent cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) and graft failure in heart transplant patients. We developed multivariate models to identify patients likely to experience CAV, severe CAV, and failure due to CAV, at 1, 5 and 10 years. A cohort of 172 patients was followed prospectively for 6.7 ± 3.9 years. Logistic regression models were developed and cross-validated using bootstrap resampling. Predictive markers of atherothrombosis (myocardial fibrin deposition, and loss of vascular antithrombin and tissue plasminogen activator) and arterial endothelial activation (intercellular adhesion molecule-1 expression) were measured in serial biopsies obtained within 3 months posttransplant. Most markers were univariately associated with outcome. Multivariate models showed that loss of tissue plasminogen activator was the dominant and, in most cases, only predictor of long-term CAV (p < 0.001), severe CAV (p < 0.001), and graft failure due to CAV (p < 0.001). The models discriminated patients having adverse outcomes, had particularly high negative predictive values (graft failure due to CAV: 99%, 99% and 95% at 1, 5 and 10 years) and predicted event incidence and time to event. Early absence of atherothrombotic risk identifies a patient subgroup that rarely develops CAV or graft failure, implying that this low-risk subgroup could possibly be followed with fewer invasive procedures.

Effect of desensitization in solid organ transplant recipients depends on some cytokines genes polymorphism.

Desensitization (DS) is widely used to decrease PRA in solid organs transplant candidates (TC). Various numbers of cycles of DS are required to reduce or eliminate donor specific antibodies (DSA). The goal of this study was to investigate if there was a correlation between polymorphism (PM) of some cytokine genes and intensity of DS required to make the recipient/donor cross match compatible. Thirty-one TCs were included in the study. Antibody specificity, percent of reactive antibodies (PRA) and serum concentration of cytokines were analyzed using the LUMINEX platform. PCR-SSP method was used for IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, IL-1R, IL-1Ralpha, IL-4Ralpha, IL-12, IFNgamma, TGFbeta1, TNFalpha, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6 and IL-10 gene PM analysis. Significant relationship between PM of genes encoding IL-4Ralpha, IFNgamma and IL-12 (p70) and susceptibility to DS was demonstrated (p=0.04, p=0.01 and p=0.05 respectively). Correlation between elevated serum level of IL-12 (p70) and A/A or C/A genotype at -1188 position was found in resistant to DS TCs (p=0.015). These results indicate that analysis PM of genes encoding IL-4R, IFNgamma and IL-12 enables to define the DS strategy in TCs more accurately regarding the number of plasmapheresis (PP) cycles and dose of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG).

Simultaneous bilateral lung and pancreas transplantation in recipient with cystic fibrosis.

INTRODUCTION: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an inherited disorder that presents in childhood as a multisystem disease. Pulmonary failure and pancreatic insufficiency, including CF-related diabetes (CFRD) and exocrine insufficiency, are significant causes of morbidity and mortality in these patients. In this report we have reviewed our experience with a simultaneous lung and pancreas transplantation in a patient with CF. METHODS: The recipient was a 25-year-old man with CF complicated by bronchiectasis with recurrent episodes of pneumonia, pancreatic exocrine insufficiency, and CFRD. He had normal hepatic and renal function. SURGICAL TECHNIQUE: The lung and pancreas allografts were procured from a single cadaveric donor. The double lung transplantation was performed through separate thoracic incisions. The pancreas transplantation was performed through a midline incision with systemic venous drainage and proximal enteric exocrine drainage. RESULTS: The recipient recovered well from his transplantation with early extubation. The pancreas allograft functioned well with normal blood glucose independent of insulin. As a result of the enteric drainage of the pancreas allograft, the patient no longer required supplemental pancreatic enzymes. His postoperative course was complicated by distal intestinal obstruction, a complex wound infection, and reversible leukoencephalopathy. At 1-year posttransplantation he remains free of supplemental oxygen, insulin, and pancreatic enzyme replacement. CONCLUSION: Simultaneous lung and pancreas transplantation in a patient with CF was performed safely, providing the advantages of normalization of glucose and improved nutrition for a patient requiring lung transplantation.

Bronchial carcinoid tumor metastatic to the breast.

We report a case of bronchial carcinoid that initially manifested as metastatic tumor in the breast. An exhaustive search for the primary tumor yielded the finding of a large right lung mass. Subsequent histopathologic examination of the resected lung and breast tissues confirmed the lung cancer as a primary tumor and the breast tumor as metastatic disease.