Do kidney histology lesions predict long-term kidney function after liver transplantation?

Histological renal lesions observed after liver transplantation are complex, multifactorial, and interrelated. The aims of this study were to determine whether kidney lesions observed at five yr after liver transplantation can predict long-term kidney function. Ninety-nine liver transplant patients receiving calcineurin inhibitor (CNI)-based immunosuppression, who had undergone a kidney biopsy at 60±48 months post-transplant, were included in this follow-up study. Kidney biopsies were scored according to the Banff classification. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was assessed at last follow-up, that is, 109±48 months after liver transplantation. eGFR decreased from 92±33 mL/min at transplantation to 63±19 mL/min after six months, to 57±17 mL/min at the kidney biopsy, to 54±24 mL/min at last follow-up (p<0.0001). At last follow-up, only three patients required renal replacement therapy. After the kidney biopsy, 13 patients were converted from CNIs to mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors, but no significant improvement in eGFR was observed after conversion. Elevated eGFR at six months post-transplant and a lower fibrous intimal thickening score (cv) observed at five yr post-transplant were the two independent predictive factors for eGFR≥60 mL/min at nine yr post-transplant. Long-term kidney function seems to be predicted by the kidney vascular lesions.

Rheumatic complications of long term treatment with hemodialysis.

Patients undergoing hemodialysis therapy develop serious osteoarticular diseases. The treatment is based on prevention. The aim of our study is to determine the frequency and the associated factors to the rheumatic manifestations in hemodialysis patients. A cross-sectional study was conducted, including all hemodialysed patients in our dialysis unit. Information was obtained from patients' symptoms, examination findings, and biological and radiological signs. The frequency of symptoms was 70% in our patients. It was proportional to the duration of hemodialysis and number of hemodialysis sessions per week. Early transplantation is of course a plausible solution, but other therapies such as improved dialysis must be considered.

Diffuse uremic tumoral calcinosis in a patient on long-term hemodialysis.

Tumoral calcinosis is an uncommon and severe complication of hemodialysis therapy. The most important pathogenic factor involved in uremic tumoral calcinosis is an increase in calcium-phosphorus product, not necessarily related to hyperparathyroidism. We report here a patient on hemodialysis who presented with increasing multifocal and uncommon sites of massive calcifications. The patient was examined, and a diagnosis of uremic tumor calcinosis was made. The patient was treated with the noncalcemic phosphate binder sevelamer, a strict diet, multiple hemodialysis sessions per week, and a low calcium dialysate, with improvement on biological findings a decrease in the volume of some tumors on his fingers and a global stable disease. Some nodes in hands and feet disappeared; in other sites, their diameter was reduced, and the largest nodule decreased from 5- to 2-cm diameter.