Characterization of patient antibodies after kidney transplantation.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to characterize patient antibodies before and after cadaver and/or living-donor kidney transplantation and to correlate these data with the clinical course after transplantation. METHODS: Sera from 69 cadaver, 9 living-related and 2 patients waiting for living-donor kidney transplantation were analyzed by the complement dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) test, flow cytometry (FCXM) and ELISA. RESULTS: FCXM revealed that 15.0% of patients before transplantation and 16.7% after transplantation had antibodies to donor cells. 10.3% patients were positive before and after transplantation (+/+), while 6.8% developed antibodies early after transplantation (-/+). Analysis of the specificity of those antibodies by ELISA showed that it was directed to: 1) mismatched donor HLA antigens 2) antigens belonging to the same cross-reacting group (CREG) as the mismatched donor antigens 3) HLA antigens not expressed by donor cells or, probably, to non-HLA antigens. CONCLUSION: Anti-HLA antibodies were detected in patients before and after transplantation and in most cases their anti-HLA specificity could be determined. Fast and precise characterization of antibodies in patients before and after transplantation can be performed by both sensitive methods--FCXM and ELISA--which may help predict the onset of immunological complications and, consequently, improve the prognosis after organ transplantation.

[Pregnancy after kidney transplantation]. / Tehotenství po transplantaci ledviny.

In the period 1966-1997 renal allografting was performed in 1746 recipients, 244 of whom were women in fertile age. In 32 of them 45 pregnancies were registered. 29 of them (64%) resulted in abortion, which was spontaneous in 4 and medically advised in 25. There were 16 labours, 4 of them free of any complications; of the latter, hypertension was the most frequent one (8). Of the former, 13 were solved by caesarean section and 3 were vaginal deliveries. Of 15 live babies 7 were immature (one died 1.5 year later of renal failure due to microcystic kidneys). No unfavourable effect of pregnancy on prognosis and on long-term graft function was found.

[Conversion from Consupren sol. to Consupren S capsules in kidney transplant patients]. / Prevod z Consuprenu sol. na Consupren S kapsle u nemocných po transplantaci ledviny.

In a group of patients after transplantation of the kidney with stabilized graft function treated by Consupren sol. combined with prednisone and azathioprin in 20 patients (group A) Consupren sol. was replaced by Consupren S capsules, in 17 patients (group B) Consupren sol. therapy proceeded without any change. To maintain the cyclosporin blood concentration within the therapeutic range it was necessary after the change of drug form in group A to adjust the dosage of the drug in 12 patients of group A while in group B only in one patient (p<0.01). The mean doses and levels of Cy-A however did not change significantly during the three-month investigation period in the two groups and and the bioequivalence of the two preparations was evident. Conversion from Consupren sol. to Consupren S capsules is not associated with the risk of rejection or undesirable effects. It can be implemented at a ratio of 1:1 or 1: the closest dose divisible by 25 (the smallest capsules are 25 mg) and after conversion a check-up or possible modification of the dose is necessary.

[A single-center controlled clinical study with Sandimmune Neoral after kidney transplantation]. / Monocentrická kontrolovaná klinická studie se Sandimmunem Neoral u nemocných po transplantaci ledviny.

The authors compared in a controlled clinical study two groups of patients after a first renal transplantation treated by triple drug immunosuppressive therapy. In a group of 31 patients the triple combination comprised Sandimmune Neoral. In the control group there were 30 patients who received Sandimmune. No differences were found between the two groups as regards the effectiveness of this treatment and the authors did not confirm a lower incidence of rejections described in patients treated with Sandimmune Neoral. They confirmed, however, a lower interindividual variability of Cy-A levels assessed specifically in patients treated with Sandimmune Neoral.

[Trimethoprim VUFB in the therapy of urinary infections]. / Trimethoprim VUFB pri terapii mocových infekcí.

Twenty women with asymptomatic significant bacteriuria took Trimethoprim (TMP) VUFB, 2 X 200 mg, for eight days. Twelve had morphological changes of the urinary pathways confirmed by intravenous pyelography. The test for the presence of bacteria with an antibody film in the urinary sediment suggested that the infection was in the upper urinary pathways in eight of the women. Immediately after termination of treatment the urine was negative in 16 women (80%), after another three weeks the negative finding persisted in the urine of nine women (45%). In one patient treatment was discontinued after five days on account of dyspeptic complaints, the remaining patients tolerated the drug well.

[Long-term effect of the administration of repeated single doses of netilmicin in urinary tract infections]. / Déletrvajcí úcinek opakovaného jednorázového podání netilmicinu pri infekcích mocových cest.

In 26 patients with different clinical forms of infections of the urinary pathways a 300 mg single dose of netilmicin was administered by the i.m. route and the bacteriological urinary finding was checked for as long as 10 weeks after administration of netilmicin. During this period the urine was bacteriologically negative in 42% of the subjects. In 8 subjects with relapses of the infection a second dose of 300 mg netilmicin was administered and the urine was bacteriologically negative for 10 weeks in four of the patients. On the whole it proved possible to eliminate the urinary infection for 42-112 days in 17 subjects (65%), even in so-called complicated infections. It may be stated that single dose treatment with netilmicin used once or repeatedly leads to prolonged elimination of the infection without affecting the sensitivity of the organisms, without side-effects and with a substantial reduction of the cost of treatment.

Comparison of three dosage regimens of ciprofloxacin in urinary tract infections.

Fifty-four patients with complicated UTI were administered ciprofloxacin in doses of 500 mg (30 subjects) and 250 mg (24 subjects) at 12-hour intervals. While a positive effect was noted in 96-100% upon termination of therapy, the effect was still present 3 weeks later in 90% of the high-dose, but only in 71% of the low-dose group. In 23 patients with uncomplicated UTI, a positive effect of the three-day therapy with 100 mg of ciprofloxacin at 12-hour intervals was observed in 91% of subjects. Intolerance to the agent was found in one case only. Development of resistance to ciprofloxacin was not observed.

[Prevention of recurrent urinary infections using Solco Urovac, a polymicrobial vaccine]. / Profylaxe recidivujících mocových infekcí polymikrobiální vakcínou Solco Urovac.

The administration of Solco Urovac polymicrobial vaccine to 26 patients with recurrent episodes of urinary tract infection significantly reduced the number of episodes, in one third of the persons even prevented them for a period of one year. In case of persistent bacteriuria, accompanying, for example, nephrolithiasis, the vaccine had no effect. A better effect can be achieved in cases of uncomplicated infections of the lower urinary tract than in infections associated with structural abnormalities of the kidneys and urinary tract. In some patients, the administration of the vaccine is accompanied by mild side effects which, but only exceptionally, can lead to the discontinuation of the therapy.