The transcultural diabetes nutrition algorithm: a canadian perspective.

The Transcultural Diabetes Nutrition Algorithm (tDNA) is a clinical tool designed to facilitate implementation of therapeutic lifestyle recommendations for people with or at risk for type 2 diabetes. Cultural adaptation of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines (CPG) recommendations is essential to address varied patient populations within and among diverse regions worldwide. The Canadian version of tDNA supports and targets behavioural changes to improve nutritional quality and to promote regular daily physical activity consistent with Canadian Diabetes Association CPG, as well as channelling the concomitant management of obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and dysglycaemia in primary care. Assessing glycaemic index (GI) (the ranking of foods by effects on postprandial blood glucose levels) and glycaemic load (GL) (the product of mean GI and the total carbohydrate content of a meal) will be a central part of the Canadian tDNA and complement nutrition therapy by facilitating glycaemic control using specific food selections. This component can also enhance other metabolic interventions, such as reducing the need for antihyperglycaemic medication and improving the effectiveness of weight loss programs. This tDNA strategy will be adapted to the cultural specificities of the Canadian population and incorporated into the tDNA validation methodology.

Impact of admission serum glucose level on in-hospital outcomes following coronary artery bypass grafting surgery.

OBJECTIVE: The impact of admission serum glucose (SG) level on outcomes in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery is unknown. The present study sought to determine whether elevated admission SG level is associated with adverse outcomes following CABG surgery. METHODS: Patients undergoing CABG surgery between January 2000 and December 2005 at a single centre were identified (n=2856). Admission SG levels of less than 9.2 mmol/L and 9.2 mmol/L or greater were chosen to divide patients into two groups based on the 75th percentile of SG distribution. A logistic regression model was generated to determine the impact of admission SG level on a composite outcome of any one or more of in-hospital mortality, stroke, perioperative myocardial infarction, sepsis, deep sternal wound infection, renal failure, requirement for postoperative inotropes and prolonged ventilation. RESULTS: In total, 76.3% of patients had an admission SG level of less than 9.2 mmol/L (group A) and 23.7% had an admission SG level of 9.2 mmol/L or greater (group B). Group B patients were more likely to be female, have diabetes, have preoperative renal failure, have an ejection fraction of less than 40%, experience myocardial infarction within 21 days before surgery, and have triple vessel or left main disease (P<0.05). Univariate analysis revealed no difference in in-hospital mortality between group A (2.2%) and group B (3.2%) (P=0.12); however, the composite outcome was more likely to occur in group B (40.8%) versus group A (27.9%) (P=0.0001). After multivariable adjustment, admission SG level of 9.2 mmol/L or greater remained an independent predictor of composite outcome (OR=1.3, 95% CI 1.0 to 1.7, P=0.02, receiver operating characteristic = 78%). CONCLUSION: Admission SG level of 9.2 mmol/L or greater is associated with significant morbidity in patients undergoing CABG surgery.

Anemia is an independent risk for mortality after acute myocardial infarction in patients with and without diabetes.

INTRODUCTION: Anemia and diabetes are risk factors for short-term mortality following an acute myocardial infarction(AMI). Anemia is more prevalent in patients with diabetes. We performed a retrospective study to assess the impact of the combination of diabetes and anemia on post-myocardial infarction outcomes. METHODS: Data relating to all consecutive patients hospitalized with AMI was obtained from a population-based disease-specific registry. Patients were divided into 4 groups: diabetes and anemia (group A, n = 716), diabetes and no anemia (group B, n = 1894), no diabetes and anemia (group C, n = 869), and no diabetes and no anemia (group D, n = 3987). Mortality at 30 days and 31 days to 36 months were the main outcome measures. RESULTS: 30-day mortality was 32.3% in group A, 16.1% in group B, 21.5% in group C, 6.6% in group D (all p < 0.001). 31-day to 36-month mortality was 47.6% in group A, 20.8% in group B, 34.3% in group C, and 10.4% in group D (all p < 0.001). Diabetes and anemia remained independent risk factors for mortality with odds ratios of 1.61 (1.41-1.85, p < 0.001) and 1.59 (1.38-1.85, p < 0.001) respectively at 36 months. Cardiovascular death from 31-days to 36-months was 43.7% of deaths in group A, 54.1% in group B, 47.0% in group C, 50.8% group D (A vs B, p < 0.05). INTERPRETATION: Patients with both diabetes and anemia have a significantly higher mortality than those with either diabetes or anemia alone. Cardiovascular death remained the most likely cause of mortality in all groups.

Diagnosis, misdiagnosis and management of hyperprolactinemia.

Hyperprolactinemia is a commonly encountered disorder that suppresses both male and female gonadal function. The etiology includes pituitary tumors, hypothalamic or pituitary stalk lesions, drugs and hypothyroidism. In women, the hyperprolactinemic syndrome is characterized by menstrual disorders with or without galactorrhea, while men present with hypogonadism and related symptoms. Occasionally, a pituitary macroadenoma may be associated with pressure symptoms and/or hypopituitarism. Clinically, the most important cause of hyperprolactinemia is a prolactin-secreting pituitary adenoma. The majority of patients with prolactinomas are successfully managed medically with dopamine agonists such as cabergoline or bromocriptine. Misdiagnosis of hyperprolactinemia owing to immunoassay interference by a biologically minimally active form of prolactin termed macroprolactin is common in laboratory medicine . Alhough the etiology of macroprolactinemia is unclear, the condition is commonly associated with the presence of circulating antiprolactin antibodies. In the absence of specific testing, macroprolactin represents a diagnostic pitfall resulting in misdiagnosis and mismanagement of patients. This review examines the investigation and treatment of hyperprolactinemia in the broadened context of screening for macroprolactin and the consequences of failure to identify its presence.

Testing switchability of a new microemulsion formulation of cyclosporine.

We assessed the bioavailability of cyclosporine (CyA) in the test formulation (Cap Arpimune ME) relative to the reference formulation (Cap Sandimmune Neoral) to ascertain the switchability between the two formulations in patients. The study population included 30 patients on maintenance hemodialysis awaiting renal transplantation. The study adopted a randomized open-label, two-way, two-period, two-sequence crossover design. The dose administered was 8 mg/kg/d in two divided doses for 5 days in each study period with a washout period of 1 week between the two periods. A five-point blood sampling (at 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 hours postdose) was done on the last day of each study period for CyA level monitoring. The study measures included C(max) (maximum blood concentration), AUC (area under the blood CyA concentration versus time curve, 0 to 4 hours) and actual time concentrations at individual sampling times. The differences in mean values for all parameters and the least significant differences were less than 20% of reference mean. Assessment of bioequivalence using log-transformed data showed that the point estimate (ratio test: reference) for C(max) was 0.9717 with a 90% confidence interval (CI) of 0.88 to 1.06 and that for AUC was 1.0053 with a 90% CI of 0.90 to 1.12. The bioequivalence obtained suggests that the test formulation can replace the reference formulation in patients who require CyA therapy.

Bioremediation of textile azo dyes by an aerobic bacterial consortium using a rotating biological contactor.

The degradation of an azo dye mixture by an aerobic bacterial consortium was studied in a rotating biological reactor. Laterite pebbles of particle size 850 microm to 1.44 mm were fixed on gramophone records using an epoxy resin on which the developed consortium was immobilized. Rate of degradation, BOD, biomass determination, enzymes involved, and fish bioassay were studied. The RBC has a high efficiency for dye degradation even at high dye concentrations (100 microg/mL) and high flow rate (36 L/h) at alkaline pH and salinity conditions normally encountered in the textile effluents. Bioassays (LD-50) using Thilapia fish in treated effluent showed that the percentage mortality was zero over a period of 96 h, whereas the mortality was 100% in untreated dye water within 26 h. Fish bioassay confirms that the effluent from RBC can be discharged safely to the environment.

Pre- and postrenal transplantation pharmacokinetics of cyclosporine microemulsion.

UNLABELLED: The availability of a microemulsion formulation (ME) of cyclosporin (CyA) displays improved bioavailability and reduced inter and intra-patient variability, resulting in improved long-term outcomes. Recent developments in therapeutic drug monitoring stress the need to optimize peak drug levels during the early posttransplant period to obtain long-term benefit. METHODS: We studied early CyA-ME pharmacokinetics, comparing pre- versus immediate posttransplant values, to assess predictability of pre-transplant profiles in 22 patients including 3 diabetics. An 8 mg/kg per day amount in two divided doses was administered, for 5 days pretransplant and 10-14 days posttransplant before performing the pharmacokinetic studies. Drugs interacting with CyA metabolism/absorption were withdrawn and patients with liver disease were excluded the CyA level monitoring used a 5-point blood sampling (at 0 hours, 1 hours, 2 hours, 3 hours, and 4 hours post-dose). The study compared actual concentrations at each individual time and the limited 0-4 hour AUC. RESULTS: The paired values at each point pre- and posttransplant were: C0 = 171 +/- 63 and 215 +/- 112, C1 = 723.86 +/- 345 and 1239.95 +/- 415, C2 = 972 +/- 185 and 1249.95 +/- 336, C3 = 822 +/- 242 and 942.7 +/- 286, and C4 = 601.54 +/- 190 and 670.5 +/- 208 ng/mL respectively. The C1 and C2 values were significantly higher posttransplant (P =.008 and 0.0045 respectively), suggesting a steeper absorption phase, a conclusion consistent with the higher 0-4 hour AUC posttransplant (P =.0089). However, linear regression analysis of pre- versus posttransplant values showed poor correlations. CONCLUSIONS: CyA absorption is significantly lower among patients on maintenance hemodialysis and showed no predictive correlation with posttransplant levels. The possible role of uremia in retarding absorption which may have clinical significance for primary graft dysfunction, needs further evaluation.

Problems of classification of Henoch Schonlein purpura: an Indian perspective.

A 2-year prospective study was carried out in which 71 patients with primary cutaneous vasculitis were classified using the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) classification and the Chapel Hill Consensus Conference (CHCC) recommendations for Henoch Schonlein purpura (HSP). The sensitivity of the ACR criteria was 64.8% and that of the CHCC definition 31%. When the ACR criteria were combined with results of direct immunofluorescence (DIF) the sensitivity was 78.9%. The concordance between the two systems was low as only 12 patients fulfilled criteria for both classifications. Although the ACR criteria were found to be more useful in the classification of HSP our data suggest that they need to be modified to include adults with disease. The age at onset of disease was higher than that in the west. Seventy per cent of patients identified by either classification were > 20 years of age. The prevalence of gut involvement, microhaematuria and proteinuria was < 25% in both groups. The sensitivity of histopathology on the other hand was 80.4% and was not influenced by the duration of the lesion. The DIF test was a useful adjunct to histopathology if it was done within 48 h as the yield of a positive test was significantly higher in this group as compared to the patients who had the test done later.

Risk factors for post-transplant tuberculosis.

BACKGROUND: Post-transplant tuberculosis (post-TxTB) occurs in 12 to 20% of patients in India and results in the death of 20 to 25% of those patients. Prospective studies on post-TxTB are few. METHODS: Renal allograft recipients were studied prospectively for 3.1 (0 to 13.9) median (range) years for incidence, manifestations, risk factors, and prognosis for post-TxTB. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to study the survival rates. The extended Cox proportional model for time-dependent covariates was used to measure the risk factors when the hazard was nonuniform. RESULTS: Of the 1414 patients considered for inclusion, multiple-transplant subjects (N = 37) and patients who developed pre-transplant TB (pre-TxTB; N = 126) were excluded from the study. The prevalence of post-TxTB was 13.3% (N = 166). The risk of post-TxTB when on cyclosporine (CsA) therapy was 2.5 (P = 0.0311) and 1.9 (P = 0.0430) times at < or =6 and < or =12 months, respectively, compared with patients on prednisolone plus azathioprine (PRED + AZA). The risk of post-TxTB in the presence of diabetes mellitus, chronic liver disease, and other co-existing infections [including deep mycoses, cytomegalovirus (CMV), Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP), nocardia] was 2.2 (P = 0.0011), 1.7 (P = 0.0010) and 2.4 (P < 0.0001) times, respectively. Of the 166 patients with post-TxTB, 53 patients died, and of those deaths, 17 (32%) were due to post-TxTB; 11 (65%) of the 17 had co-existing infections. The factors associated with death were HLA mismatches, PRED + AZA immunosuppression, pre- and post-TxTB, diabetes mellitus, post-transplant diabetes (PTDM), and other co-existing infections. The extended Cox model for death as the outcome variable showed the following to be significant risk factors: post-TxTB> 2 years (P = 0.0036), chronic liver disease> 6 years (P = 0.0457), PTDM> 5 years (P = 0.0729), diabetes mellitus (P = 0.0091), human lymphocyte antigen match < or =1 antigen (P = 0.0134), two to three antigens (P = 0.0448), and the presence of other co-existing infections (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Cyclosporine therapy is associated with early post-TxTB. Diabetes mellitus and chronic liver disease are risk factors for post-TxTB. The occurrence of both pre-TxTB and post-TxTB (>2 years) along with hyperglycemia, liver disease, and other co-existing infections are important risk factors for death.

Toxic megacolon in a renal allograft recipient with cytomegalovirus colitis.

We report a 35-year-old man, a renal allograft recipient, who presented with toxic megacolon. Segmental biopsies from the colon were consistent with cytomegalovirus colitis. Serum polymerase chain reaction for cytomegalovirus DNA confirmed the diagnosis. He was treated with ganciclovir but, though his abdominal condition improved initially, he worsened later and succumbed to his illness.

Pre-transplant risk factors for renal allograft dysfunction at one year in Indian patients.

BACKGROUND: Only a few patients with end-stage renal disease in the Indian subcontinent receive optimal treatment. Of these only a minority can afford a second renal transplant. Awareness of modifiable pre-transplant risk factors that influence allograft function is crucial before embarking on the first transplant. There are no reports from the Asian subcontinent describing the pre-transplant risk factors. METHODS: We studied the effect of donor age, gender, and relation with the recipient, patient age, gender, HLA matching, native kidney disease and immunosuppression on one-year allograft function using data from 1177 consecutive primary living related donor renal transplants at the Christian Medical College Hospital, Vellore. We performed a univariate followed by a multivariate analysis using a logistic regression model to calculate the odds ratio for the effect of the above factors on two levels of graft function (serum creatinine > 1.4 mg/dl and > 2 mg/dl) at one year. RESULTS: On univariate analysis, older donors, women donors, mother being the donor, men recipients, < 1 HLA antigen match, cyclosporine-based immunosuppression and patient age between 16 and 40 years were associated with serum creatinine levels > 1.4 mg/dl at one year. Multivariate analysis showed that donor-related factors, namely mother as donor, older donors, and a < or = 1 HLA antigen match, were risk factors for graft dysfunction (serum creatinine level > 1.4 mg/dl) at one year. Recipient-related risk factors were male patients and those between the age of 16 and 40 years. CONCLUSION: In patients undergoing living related donor renal transplants from large extended families, a younger haplomatched donor, for instance, a brother, is a better choice than an older haplomatched donor, for instance, the mother, particularly in young male recipients at a higher risk of renal dysfunction.

Characterization of antibody response to human cytomegalovirus in Indian renal transplant patients.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease in seroendemic transplant populations is due to reactivation of the virus, or reinfection. In this context, the antibody response is likely to influence presentation, clinical severity and outcome of the disease, and may provide a diagnostic and prognostic marker. This study was carried out in Indian renal transplant patients and healthy adults to characterize the antibody response to cytomegalovirus. METHODS: Thirty three transplant recipients with CMV illness (symptomatology with IgM and/or nPCR positive status), 20 recipients who were asymptomatic in the 6 months of follow up after transplantation and 62 healthy controls were investigated for markers of CMV infection. These individuals were tested for IgG avidity and neutralizing antibody by ELISA techniques. RESULTS: All 53 transplant recipients were found to have an IgG avidity index of > 50 per cent. Antibody to a CMV envelope glycoprotein gB/AD-1 (putative neutralizing antibody) was expressed as S/N ratio and was > or = 5 in asymptomatic (65%) and symptomatic (27%) immunosuppressed renal transplant recipients. However, none of the 53 CMV IgG positive healthy controls were positive for neutralizing antibodies S/N ratio > or = 5 (S/N ratio = sample mean OD/mean OD of 3 negative controls in each run). We observed the simultaneous presence of CMV PCR signal in leukocytes and neutralizing antibody (S/N ratio > or = 5) in the plasma in 22 (41.5%) of the 53 renal transplant recipients. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSIONS: In this study among the immunosuppressed transplant patients we observed an association between symptomatic disease and the relative absence of neutralizing antibodies. The neutralizing antibodies are less frequently demonstrable among controls; while appearance in a higher proportion of asymptomatic recipients especially in association with high IgG avidity (> 90%) is suggestive of its role in control of CMV disease despite reactivation as evidenced by DNAemia while on immunosuppressive therapy.

Role of molecular techniques in the detection of HBV DNA & HCV RNA among renal transplant recipients in India.

In this study we have investigated the occurrence of hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis D virus (HDV) infections among 68 renal transplant recipients. Replicative HBV and replicative HCV infections were seen in 12 (17.6%) and 38 (55.9%) patients respectively, the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.001). Among the 38 HCV RNA+ individuals, anti-HCV was present only in 23. Anti-HCV in the absence of HCV RNA was detected in one patient. Anti-HDV antibody was seen in 2 (15.4%) of the 13 HBV infected individuals. Nine (13.2%) of the 68 individuals had replicative dual infection with HBV and HCV. Triple infection (HBV DNA+, HCV RNA+, anti-HDV+) was seen in 2 transplant recipients. There was significantly higher demonstration of replicative HCV (P < 0.001) in transplant recipients having elevated liver enzymes (n = 34) as compared to transplant recipients having normal liver enzyme levels (n = 34). Though not significant, a higher detection rate was also seen with replicative HBV infection and replicative dual infection among transplant recipients with elevated liver enzymes. The higher detection of HCV in renal transplant recipients by molecular techniques, emphasizes the need for HCV RNA testing. Further deliberate attempts to change practices to reduce this problem may also improve graft and patient survival in recipients.

Cytomegalovirus infection in a seroendemic renal transplant population: a longitudinal study of virological markers.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The detection of viremia by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in renal allograft recipients has been shown to have a predictive value for disease. However, its diagnostic utility in a population with high background seropositivity has not been defined. This prospective study was undertaken to assess the relationship of CMV DNAemia, and/or IgM seropositivity to CMV disease in a seroendemic transplant population. METHODS: Consecutive patients undergoing renal transplantation between August 1997 and February 1998 were enrolled. Blood was sampled before transplantation from the donors and recipients for CMV serology and nested PCR for CMV DNA, and after transplantation from the recipients only at monthly intervals until 6 months. Patients were observed for the development of any CMV-like illness during follow-up. CMV DNA was quantitated using limiting dilution PCR on samples obtained from symptomatic patients at the time of illness and from asymptomatic patients at the end of their 6-month follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 57 recipient-donor pairs were recruited. Immunosuppression was cyclosporine-based in 55 of 57 (95. 6%). The CMV serologic status was D+R+ in 55 of 57 and D+R- in 2 of 57 pairs. PCR positivity indicating viremia increased from 5% before transplantation to 95% at 6 months after transplantation. Similarly IgM positivity reached 80% at 3 months and thereafter; positivity for any marker was 100% by 6 months. Viremia was sustained in over half the patients. The incidence of CMV-attributable disease peaked at 3 months, and was predominantly mild and self-limiting. Tissue-invasive disease appeared later in 4 patients (7%). Asymptomatic viremia was seen in 60-70% of patients at each sampling point. The positive predictive value (PPV) of PCR positivity for disease was 35-40%, and the negative predictive value (NPV), 90-100%. However, the high NPV was of use only in the early post-transplant period, negativity for markers declining rapidly with time. Quantitative assay showed significantly higher levels of CMV DNA in symptomatic patients (p = 0.01). A cutoff of 0.001 microg had a specificity of 95% and a PPV of 92.3% for symptomatic CMV disease. CONCLUSION: Qualitative tests to detect CMV DNAemia and IgM, although useful markers of viremia and active infection, have limited utility for the diagnosis of disease in a seroendemic transplant population. Quantitation of CMV DNAemia may play an important role in diagnosis in such a setting.

Management and outcome of brain abscess in renal transplant recipients.

Although infection is the commonest central nervous system complication following renal transplantation, brain abscess is uncommon. Over the last 11 years, five renal transplant recipients who had brain abscesses were treated by computed tomography (CT)-guided stereotactic aspiration. Three patients had a fungal abscess, one a tuberculous abscess and the other had a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus abscess. One patient required a craniotomy for the excision of a fungal abscess which was persistent after two CT-guided stereotactic aspirations. The survivors in this group are the patient with a tuberculous abscess who is alive and well 5 years after diagnosis, and another with a dematiaceous fungal abscess (phaeohyphomycosis). CT-guided stereotactic surgery is minimally invasive, and can safely be performed in these patients. It often leads to an aetiological diagnosis in renal transplant recipients with brain abscesses. Specific antibiotic management directed towards the causative organism rather than empirical treatment can be instituted following the procedure. Although the ultimate prognosis in these patients is bleak even with specific antibiotic therapy, an occasional patient might have a good outcome with prompt and appropriate therapy.

A randomised controlled trial of intradermal hepatitis B vaccination and augmentation of response with erythropoietin.

AIM: Intradermal administration of Hepatitis B vaccine (HBV) achieves better seroconversion in patients on dialysis compared to intramuscular administration. The aim of the study was to determine whether twice weekly intradermal injections of the vaccine can further augment the vaccine response as compared to once weekly injections. Patients with end stage renal failure on haemodialysis were randomly allocated over a period of 22 months to receive 20 mu gms of recombinant HBV by intradermal injections once a week (group 1) or twice a week (group 2) for 6 weeks. The patients recruited during the first 12 months of the study did not receive recombinant human erythropoietin (Epo) as it was not available (phase 1). During the last 10 months of study all patients received Epo (phase 2) in addition to HBV. RESULTS: A total of 85 patients were enrolled of whom 77 completed the study. There were 41 patients in group 1 and 36 patients in group 2. Seroprotection (anti HBs > 10 mIU/ml in the absence of HBs Ag and anti HBc) was achieved in 56.1% patients of group I compared to 77.8% of group 2 (p < 0.05). The seroprotection rate was 78.1% among patients receiving Epo (phase 2) compared to 60% among 45 who did not receive Epo (phase 1). Anti HBs titre in responders was 308.5 +/- 148.7 mIU/ml in patients of phase 2 compared to 198 +/- 112.8 mIU/ml in patients of phase 1 (p < 0.05). The subgroup receiving both Epo and twice weekly vaccine (group 2 of phase 2) had the highest seroprotection rate of 86.7%. CONCLUSION: Twice weekly intradermal vaccination is more effective than once weekly regime in achieving rapid seroconversion. The vaccine response may be augmented by use of Epo probably due to reduction in transfusion requirement and concomitant immunosuppression.

Prognostic factors in diffuse proliferative lupus nephritis.

BACKGROUND: Patients with diffuse proliferative lupus nephritis (DPLN) can have variable clinical course. Identification of the predictors of outcome would help to improve the management. We have studied the prognostic significance of clinical, laboratory and histological parameters in patients with DPLN. METHODS: Twenty nine patients diagnosed to be having DPLN seen between 1987 and 1991 were followed up for over 57 months. Parameters assessed for prognostic significance included serum creatinine, urine protein at the time of biopsy, blood pressure, type of immunosuppression, composite scores and individual components of activity index (AI) and chronicity index (CI). Kaplan-Meier survival curves were plotted and the results were compared using log rank test. Fishers' exact test was used to study the risk factors. RESULTS: End stage renal failure developed in 7/29 (24.1%) patients; 7/19 (36.8%) who had hypertension and 7/16 (43.8%) who had nephrotic proteinuria developed renal failure, while none who had normal blood pressure or nonnephrotic proteinuria, developed renal failure (p < 0.01). Three patients had high activity index (> 12) and all three developed renal failure. Other parameters such as age, gender, serum creatinine, type of immunosuppression, CI and individual components of AI failed to predict the outcome (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Hypertension, nephrotic proteinuria and high AI were predictive of progression to end stage renal failure in patients with diffuse proliferative lupus nephritis.

Leprosy and renal transplantation.

Nine cases of leprosy in patients treated at a large renal transplant centre in South Asia are described. Three had leprosy diagnosed before transplantation and had either completed or were continuing chemotherapy at the time of transplantation. One showed exacerbation of undisclosed leprosy after transplantation. Five patients developed the disease for the first time 22 months to 12 years after transplantation. Immunosuppression did not adversely affect the treatment of leprosy in any of the patients though concurrent liver disease required cessation of rifampicin in one patient.