[PREGNANCIES IN KIDNEY TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS, AN ANALYSIS OF 9 CASES].

(Objective) Pregnancy in kidney transplant recipient continues to remain challenging due to a high rate of cesarean section along with preterm delivery, and concern for worsening renal function. This study examined the prognosis and perinatal management of post-transplant pregnancies. (Patients and methods) A total of nine post-transplant recipients at Niigata University Medical and Dental Hospital between 2007 and 2021 were retrospectively examined. (Results) All pregnancies were planned. Calcineurin inhibitors and steroids were continued, and antimetabolites were changed to azathioprine. The mean age at delivery was 33±3.8 years, and the mean time from renal transplantation to delivery was 6.5±3.5 years. Five patients (55.5%) had cesarean sections, while four (44.5%) patients had normal vaginal deliveries. The mean gestational age was 35±3.0 weeks, and the mean birth weight was 2,336±565.4 g. No congenital malformation was observed. The most common reason for early delivery was worsening renal function, seen in six (66.7%) patients. The mean serum creatinine level before pregnancy was 1.11±0.23 mg/dL and then worsened to 1.59±0.37 mg/dL during pregnancy. However, it recovered to 1.14±0.40 mg/dL after delivery. One patient had antibody-mediated rejection with donor specific antibody (DSA) prior to pregnancy, and her renal graft function worsened slightly after delivery. Another patient had a de novo DSA after delivery, which was not detected before pregnancy. (Conclusions) In our hospital, pregnancy in kidney transplant recipients were safe and renal graft function after delivery was relatively stable. Patients may require adjustment of calcineurin inhibitors during pregnancy, and the appearance of DSA after delivery should be noted.

Metabolic outcomes and renal function after simultaneous kidney/pancreas transplantation compared with kidney transplantation alone for type 2 diabetes mellitus patients.

In this study, we aimed to compare the metabolic outcomes, renal function, and survival outcomes of simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplantation (SPK) and kidney transplantation alone (KTA) among end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) patients with type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Patients with ESKD and T2DM who underwent KTA (n = 85) or SPK (n = 71) in a transplant center were retrospectively reviewed. Metabolic profiles, renal function, and survival outcomes were assessed repeatedly at different follow-up time points. Propensity score procedures were applied to enhance between-group comparability. The levels of renal and metabolic outcomes between SPK and KTA over time were examined and analyzed using mixed-model repeated-measures approaches. The median follow-up period was 1.8 years. Compared with KTA, SPK resulted in superior metabolic outcomes and renal function, with lower levels of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c; P = 0.0055), fasting blood glucose (P < 0.001), triglyceride (P = 0.015), cholesterol (P = 0.0134), low-density lipoprotein (P = 0.0161), and higher estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR; P < 0.001). SPK provided better metabolic outcomes and renal function. The survival outcomes of the recipients and grafts were comparable between the two groups.

Klotho: a potential protective protein for renal graft / 器官移植

Klotho gene is an anti-aging gene that is highly expressed in the kidney. Its encoding product Klotho protein can inhibit inflammation, oxidative stress injury, and apoptosis in renal tissue. It is regarded as a renal protective protein and expected to be a new target for the treatment of renal diseases. This article reviewed the biological characteristics of Klotho and the protective effect of Klotho on renal graft function.

Preliminary clinical experience of ipsilateral simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplantation / 中华器官移植杂志

Objective To preliminarily explore the clinical efficacy of ipsilateral simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplantation (SPK) .Methods Ipsilateral SPK was performed in 40 patients from September 2016 to August 2018 .During a follow-up period of 6 to 29 months ,we summarized the efficacy and complications of the technique .Results Up to now ,38 patients achieved an exceelent clinical efficacy with no major surgical complications .However ,two patients died of severe pneumonia .The postoperative serum levels of creatinine at 3 ,6 ,12 ,24 months were 107 ,102 ,107 ,110 umol/L ;creatinine clearance rate 64 ,67 ,64 ,63 ml/min;fasting glucose 4 .6 ,5 .1 ,4 .6 ,5 .2 mmol/L ;glycated hemoglobin 4 .8％ , 5 .4％ ,4 .9％ ,5 .2％ respectively .And 1/2-year pancrea and kidney graft survival rates both were 92％ . Complications included kidney graft rejection (n= 11) ,pancreas graft rejection (n= 12) ,simultaneous renal & pancreas graft rejection (n=6) ,renal graft DGF (n=1) ,pulmonary infection (n=14) ,urinary tract infections (n=18) ,gastrointestinal bleeding (n=10) diarrhea (n=6) ,splenic venous thrombosis (n=2) ,incomplete ureteric obstruction of renal allograft (n=3) ,urine leakage (n=1) and pancreas allograft dysfunction (n= 2) .There were no severe surgical complications .After aggressive interventions ,all postoperative complications were cured and none required excision of kidney or pancreas .Conclusions Ipsilateral SPK has definite therapeutic efficacy and it is worth wider popularization .

Relationship between pre-transplantation kidney biopsy andshort-term renal function after transplantation / 中华器官移植杂志

Objective To explore the correlation between pre-transplantation donor kidney biopsy and short-term renal function after transplantation.Methods This study include 240 kidney transplantation of donation after cardiac death (DCD) from July 2016 to April 2018.Banff's score of donor kidney biopsy was employed for estimating kidney status.Results No significant correlation existed between rate of glomerulosclerosis and delayed graft function (DGF) (P =0.815).The rate of glomerulosclerosis was significantly correlated with 1-week estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and discharge eGFR (P＜0.05).Based upon the glomerulosclerosis rate,the patients were divided into two groups ＜ 20％ (n =220) and ≥20％ (n =20),there was no significant inter-group difference in DGF,1-week eGFR or discharge eGFR (P＞0.05).Arterial fibrosis was significantly positively correlated with DGF and negatively with 1-week eGFR and discharge eGFR (P＜0.05).Statistically significant inter-group differences existed in 1-week eGFR and discharge eGFR that arterial fibrosis scores ＜ 2 (n =19) and ≥2 (n =41) (P＜0.05).Arteriolar hyalinosis score was negatively correlated with 1-week eGFR and discharge eGFR (P＜0.05).Based upon arteriolar hyalinosis scores,they were divided into two groups ＜ 2 (n =193) and ≥2 (n =47).There were significant inter-group differences in DGF,1-week eGFR and discharge eGFR (P＜0.05).Remuzzi scores were negatively correlated with 1-week eGFR and discharge eGFR (P＜0.05).Interstitial fibrosis was significantly positively correlated with DGF (P＜0.05) and negatively with 1-week eGFR and discharge eGFR (P＜0.05).Conclusions Donor kidney glomerulosclerosis rate affects short-term renal function of recipients after transplantation.However,using 20％ as a threshold value is limited in clinical practice.Arterial intimal fibrosis and arteriolar hyalinosis are important factors affecting short-term eGFR.Recipient kidneys with Remuzzi score ＞ 4 had poor renal function after transplantation.Interstitial fibrosis score may be used as a predictor of postoperative DGF and shortterm renal function recovery.It is expected to be discussed more extensively in literature.

Clinical study of value of serum Klotho level of elderly donors in predicting postoperative renal graft function in recipients / 器官移植

Objective To explore the feasibility of serum Klotho level in the elderly donors to predict the renal graft function in the recipients. Methods Clinical data of 16 elderly donors and 27 recipients undergoing renal transplantation were collected. The general status of the recipients was observed. The levels of serum Klotho and serum creatinine (Scr) in the elderly donors were measured on the day of renal transplantation. The Scr levels in the recipients were measured at postoperative 1, 3 and 12 months respectively. The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated. The correlation between the serum Klotho level of the donors and postoperative graft function of the recipients was analyzed. Results The cold ischemia time during renal transplantation was (649±245) min. The incidence rate of delayed graft function (DGF) was 26%. The incidence rate of acute rejection was 7%. In the elderly donors, the serum Klotho level was 537 (245-793) pg/mL and the Scr level was (164±62) μmol/L. At postoperative 1, 3 and 12 months, the Scr levels in the recipients were (136±47), (132±43) and (133±46) μmol/L, respectively. The corresponding eGFR was (52±20), (52±19) and (53±21) mL/(min?1.73m2), respectively. The serum Klotho level in the elderly donors was negatively correlated with the renal graft function at postoperative 1 month in the recipients (P < 0.05). The sensitivity and specificity of serum Klotho level in predicting the renal graft insufficiency at postoperative 1 month were 0.909 and 0.769. Conclusions The preoperative serum Klotho level in the elderly donors have predictive value for renal graft function in the recipients at postoperative 1 month.

Laparoscopic vs open donor nephrectomy: Lessons learnt from single academic center experience.

AIM: To compare laparoscopic and open living donor nephrectomy, based on the results from a single center during a decade. METHODS: This is a retrospective review of all living donor nephrectomies performed at the Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, between 1/1998 - 12/2009. Overall there were 490 living donors, with 279 undergoing laparoscopic living donor nephrectomy (LLDN) and 211 undergoing open donor nephrectomy (OLDN). Demographic data, operating room time, the effect of the learning curve, the number of conversions from laparoscopic to open surgery, donor preoperative glomerular filtration rate and creatinine (Cr), donor and recipient postoperative Cr, delayed graft function and donor complications were analyzed. Statistical analysis was performed. RESULTS: Overall there was no statistically significant difference between the LLDN and the OLDN groups regarding operating time, donor preoperative renal function, donor and recipient postoperative kidney function, delayed graft function or the incidence of major complications. When the last 100 laparoscopic cases were analyzed, there was a statistically significant difference regarding operating time in favor of the LLDN, pointing out the importance of the learning curve. Furthermore, another significant difference between the two groups was the decreased length of stay for the LLDN (2.87 d for LLDN vs 3.6 d for OLDN). CONCLUSION: Recognizing the importance of the learning curve, this paper provides evidence that LLDN has a safety profile comparable to OLDN and decreased length of stay for the donor.

Experience of clinical efficacy of renal transplantation from donors of donation after brain death complicated with acute kidney injury / 器官移植

Objective To summarize the clinical efficacy of renal transplantation from donors of donation after brain death (DBD) complicated with acute kidney injury (AKI). Methods Fifty-nine DBD donors successfully undergoing renal transplantation were recruited in this investigation. According to the Scr level upon admission of intensive care unit (ICU), DBD donors were divided into the AKI group (n=14) and control group (n=45). A total of 101 recipients were assigned into the AKI group (n=23) and control group (n=78) correspondingly. The organ donation conditions of 59 donors were summarized. Main parameters of the donors before organ procurement were statistically compared between two groups. Postoperative kidney function, hospitalization condition and clinical outcomes of the recipients were statistically compared between two groups. Results Among 59 donors, 14 cases (24%) suffered from AKI. Two donors received continuous renal replacement therapy during organ maintenance. Compared with the donors in the control group, the APACHE Ⅱ score of the donors was significantly higher (P<0.05), the incidence of central diabetes insipidus was considerably higher (P<0.01), the Scr levels at admission of ICU and before organ procurement were significantly higher (both P<0.01) and the amount of urine at 24 h before organ procurement was dramatically less in the AKI group (P<0.01).Compared with the recipients in the control group, the Scr levels at postoperative 2 and 3 d were significantly higher (both P<0.05), the length of hospital stay was considerably longer (P<0.01) and the hospitalization expanse was significantly higher in the AKI group (P<0.05). No statistical significance was observed in the postoperative delayed recovery of renal graft function, incidence of acute rejection, infection and rehabilitation dialysis in the recipients between two groups (all P>0.05). At 3 months after transplantation, the recipients in two groups were discharged and the graft survival rate was 100%. Conclusions For renal transplantation from DBD donors complicated with AKI, active measures should be taken to maintain the organ and relieve the AKI, which yields similar clinical efficacy to renal transplantation from non-AKI donors and widens the origin of kidney graft.

Urinary tract infections during the first year after renal transplantation: one center's experience and a review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to evaluate the incidence, clinical manifestations, microbiology, risk factors, and the influence of UTIs on renal graft function. METHODS: We analyzed clinical data, urine cultures performed within the first 12 months after RTx, and renal function within 24 months in consecutive patients undergoing RTx at Gdansk Transplantation Centre between January 2007 and December 2009. RESULTS: We studied data from 209 RTx recipients, 59.3% men, with a mean age of 46.4 ± 14 yr. We observed 322 UTI episodes in 111 patients, including asymptomatic bacteriuria (53%, n = 170), lower UTIs (25%, n = 82), upper UTIs (22%, n = 57), and 13 cases of urosepsis. Thirty-eight percent of UTIs were diagnosed during the first post-transplant month. The most frequently isolated uropathogen was Enterococcus faecium (36%, n = 44) and from the second month E. coli (58%, n = 114). Risk factors were female gender, induction use, history of recurrent UTIs before RTx, acute rejection (AR), CMV infection, vesico-ureteral reflux or strictures at uretero-vesical junction, and high comorbidity. Renal graft function measured by eGFR was significantly worse in patients suffering from UTIs from the baseline. However, the evolution of renal graft function did not differ significantly between patients with and without UTIs. CONCLUSIONS: Lower renal graft function may promote UTIs or UTIs may not allow a complete recovery of graft function after transplantation.

Time-dependent Effect of Non-immunologic Factors on the Graft Survival and Graft Function in Haplotype Matched Living Donor Renal Transplant Recipients / 대한이식학회지

PURPOSE: In the analysis of risk factors affecting the renal graft survival and graft function, time-dependent effect of each risk factor should be differentiated from net effect of risk factor. We attempted to analyze the impact of immunologic and/or non-immunologic risk factors on the graft function and survival after renal transplantation among the recipients having same immunologic risks at the time of transplantation. METHODS: Three hundred ninety recipients who underwent haplotype matched living related donor kidney transplantation and have been regularly followed-up were retrospectively evaluated in a single center. All recipients were treated with cyclosporine-based double or triple regimens. The graft function was evaluated by serum creatinine (Scr) level and 24 hours urinary excretion of protein every year until 5 years after transplantation. The donor kidney weight/ recipient body weight ratio (KW/BW), donor age/ recipient age ratio (DA/RA), donor-recipient sex (D-R sex) relationship, and episodes of acute rejection (AR) within 1 year were regarded as the potential risk factors affecting the graft survival and function in this study. Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional-hazard model were used for survival analysis. ANOVA to evaluate time-point difference of graft function, and repeated measures ANOVA to evaluate the yearly difference of graft function were used. RESULTS: Only the episode of AR was a significant risk factor affecting the graft survival. However, each non-immunologic risk factors (KW/BW, DA/RA, D-R sex) and AR episode persistently showed statistically significant impact on Scr level until 5 years after transplantation. Recipients having lowest KW/BW (1st Q KW/BW) and highest DA/RA (4th Q DA/RA) had experienced accelerated increment of Scr level from 4th year after transplantation. From 3rd year after transplantation, there is a significant correlation between the numbers of non-immunologic risk factor the recipients having had and yearly increment of Scr level. However, episode of AR didn't influence the annual slope of Scr level even 4th year after transplantation. CONCLUSIONS: Non-immunologic risk factors had an detrimental effect on renal graft function, especially from 3rd year after transplantation. To have a better long-term graft function, non-immunologic risk factors should be considered from the time of live donor evaluation for transplantation. From the early period of transplantation, the recipients should be aware of the negative impact of overweight in terms of graft function and other metabolic derangement.