Reversal of Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass for Successful Salvage of Renal Allograft.

Enteric hyperoxaluria (EH) is a known complication of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and can lead to nephrolithiasis, oxalate-induced nephropathy, and end-stage renal disease. Recurrent EH-induced renal impairment has been reported after kidney transplantation and may lead to allograft loss. EH occurs in up to one quarter of patients following malabsorption-based bariatric operations. We present a report of medically refractory EH in a renal transplant recipient with allograft dysfunction that was successfully managed with reversal of RYGB. The patient developed renal failure 7 years following gastric bypass requiring renal transplant. Following an uneventful living donor kidney transplant, the patient developed recurrent subacute allograft dysfunction. A diagnosis of oxalate nephropathy was made based on biopsy findings of renal tubular calcium oxalate deposition in conjunction with elevated serum oxalate levels and elevated 24-hr urinary oxalate excretion. Progressive renal failure ensued despite medical management. The patient underwent reversal of her RYGB, which resulted in recovery of allograft function. This report highlights an under-recognized, potentially treatable cause of renal allograft failure in patients with underlying gastrointestinal pathology or history of bariatric surgery and proposes a strategy for management of patients with persistent hyperoxaluria based on a review of the literature.

Anemia in patient with primary hyperoxaluria and bone marrow involvement by oxalate crystals.

We present a rare case of anaemia secondary to bone marrow infiltration by oxalate crystals and renal failure in a patient diagnosed with primary hyperoxaluria. In our case, the anaemia was recovered after the double liver and kidney transplantation, the latter was performed on two occasions after the failure of the first graft.

Longterm renal allograft survival after sequential liver-kidney transplantation from a single living donor.

Combined liver-kidney transplantation (CLKT) is well established as a definitive therapy with the potential to provide complete recovery for certain liver-kidney diseases, although the results might be contingent on the cause of transplantation. The purposes of the present study were to review the longterm outcome of renal allografts in CLKT patients from single living donors and to investigate the beneficial factors, compared with solitary renal transplantation. Thirteen patients underwent sequential liver transplantation (LT) and kidney transplantation (KT) from single living donors. The indications for KT were oxaluria (n = 7), autosomal recessive polycystic disease (n = 3), and others (n = 3). The same immunosuppressive regimen used after LT was also used after KT. KT was performed between 1.7 and 47.0 months after the LT. The overall patient survival rate was 92.3% at 10 years. In 12 of the 13 surviving patients, the renal allografts were found to be functioning in 11 patients after a mean follow-up period of 103.6 months. The death-censored renal allograft survival rate at 10 years was 100%, which was better than that of KT alone (84.9%) in Japan. Immunological protection conferred by the preceding liver allograft may have contributed to the longterm outcomes of the renal allografts. In addition, the donation of double organs from a single living and related donor may have a favorable impact on the graft survival rate. In the future, investigations of factors affecting the longterm outcome of renal allografts, including details of the involvement of de novo donor-specific antibody, will be needed. Liver Transplantation 23 315-323 2017 AASLD.

Recurrence of Hyperoxaluria and Kidney Disease after Combined Intestine-Kidney Transplantation for Enteric Hyperoxaluria.

BACKGROUND: Enteric hyperoxaluria (EH) occurs with a rate of 5-24% in patients with inflammatory bowel disease, ileal resection and modern bariatric surgery. The excessive absorption of calcium oxalate causes chronic kidney disease (CKD) in patients with EH. In the literature, a single experience was reported in combined intestine-kidney transplantation (CIKTx) in patients with CKD due to EH. METHODS: After a report of 2 successful cases of CIKTx in patients with EH and CKD, one was performed at our center in a 59-year-old Caucasian female who developed intestinal failure with total parenteral nutrition (TPN) dependence after a complication post-bariatric surgery. Before CIKTx, she underwent kidney transplantation alone (KTA) twice, which failed due to oxalate nephropathy. RESULTS: In July 2014, the patient underwent CIKTx and bilateral allograft nephrectomy to avoid EH and oxalate stone burden. The postoperative course was complicated with acute tubular necrosis due to the use of high pressors related to perioperative bleeding. The patient was discharged 79 days after CIKTx with a serum creatinine (sCr) of 1.2 mg/dl and free of TPN. Her sCr increased at 7 months and a renal biopsy showed oxalate nephropathy. SLC26A6 (oxalate transporter) staining was significantly diminished in native duodenum/rectum as well as in intestinal allograft compared to control. CONCLUSIONS: KTA in patients with CKD secondary to EH should not be recommended due to high risk of recurrence. Although other centers showed good long-term outcomes in CIKTx, our patient experienced recurrence of EH due to oxalate transporter defect, early kidney allograft dysfunction and prolonged antibiotic use.

Long-term results of combined liver-kidney transplantation for primary hyperoxaluria type 1: the French experience.

Primary hyperoxaluria type 1 (PH1) is a hepatic metabolic defect leading to end-stage renal failure. The posttransplant recurrence of kidney disease can suggest a need for combined liver-kidney transplantation (LKT). However, the risk of LKT is theoretically far higher than the risk of kidney-alone transplantation (KAT). An unselected consecutive series of 54 patients with PH1 was analyzed according to the type of transplantation initially performed between May 1979 and June 2010 at 10 French centers. The duration of dialysis, extrarenal lesions, age, and follow-up were similar between the groups. Postoperative morbidity and mortality did not differ between the groups, and 10-year patient survival rates were similar for the LKT (n = 33) and KAT groups (n = 21; 78% versus 70%). Kidney graft survival at 10 years was better after LKT (87% versus 13%, P < .001) . Four patients (12.1%) lost their first kidney graft in the LKT group, whereas 19 (90%) did in the KAT group (P < .001). The recurrence of oxalosis occurred in 11 renal grafts (52%) in the KAT group but in none in the LKT group (P < .001). End-stage renal failure resulting from rejection was also higher in the KAT group (19% versus 9%, P < 0.0001). A second kidney transplant was performed for 15 patients (71%) in the KAT group versus 4 patients (12%) in the LKT group (P < 0.001). In conclusion, LKT for PH1 provides better kidney graft survival, less rejection, and similar long-term patient survival and is not associated with an increased short-term mortality risk. LKT must be the first-line treatment for PH1 patients with end-stage renal disease.

[Anal verruciform xanthoma in a transplant background for primary hyperoxaluria. Anal verruciform xanthoma after a combined hepato-renal transplantation]. / Xanthome verruciforme anal chez une patiente transplantée hépatique et rénale.

We report a case of anal verruciform xanthoma in a patient who underwent a combined liver and kidney transplantation for primary hyperoxaluria. Verruciform xanthoma is a rare and benign lesion arising in oral cavity and genital mucosa. It is characterized pathologically by papillary epithelial hyperplasia and aggregates of foamy macrophages in connective tissue papillae. This condition, whose pathogenesis remains unclear, has been reported in immunosuppressive background or associated with underlying dermatosis. We report here the second case of anal verruciform xanthoma. To our knowledge, this is the first report of verruciform xanthoma in association with primary hyperoxaluria.

Combined kidney and intestinal transplantation in patients with enteric hyperoxaluria secondary to short bowel syndrome.

Kidney transplantation is the treatment of choice for end-stage renal disease whereas indications for intestinal transplantation are currently restricted to patients with irreversible small bowel failure and severe complications of total parenteral nutrition (mostly shortage and infection of venous accesses, major electrolyte disturbances and liver failure). Enteric hyperoxaluria is secondary to certain intestinal diseases like intestinal resections, chronic inflammatory bowel disease and other malabsorption syndromes and can lead to end-stage renal disease requiring kidney transplantation. We report two patients suffering from renal failure due to enteric hyperoxaluria (secondary to extensive intestinal resection) in whom we elected to replace not only the kidney but also the intestine to prevent recurrence of hyperoxaluria in the transplanted kidney.

Paediatric liver transplantation in Johannesburg: initial 29 cases and prospects for the future.

BACKGROUND: The Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre paediatric liver transplant programme is the second such unit in sub-Saharan Africa. Initiated in November 2005, it forms part of the centre's solid organ transplant unit, comprising kidney, liver and simultaneous kidney-pancreas arms. Initially established in the private sector, we recently received government approval to expand our programme into the provincial sector and have performed transplants on several provincial-sector patients. Current challenges relate to the lack of appropriately trained paediatric sub-specialists, specifically critical care practitioners and hepatologists. METHODS: Subsequent to institutional approval, a retrospective chart analysis of all paediatric liver transplants performed at our facility to date was conducted. RESULTS: Defining children as those under 18 years of age, 29 patients have received a cadaveric liver transplant since 2005, using 16 whole livers, 10 reduced-size grafts, and 3 split segments; 13 were transplanted with biliary atresia, 3 hyperoxalurea, 3 autosomal recessive polycystic disease, 2 alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, and 2 idiopathic, with the remainder for a wide spectrum of other pathologies. Seven patients received combined liver-kidney transplants. There were 3 in-hospital mortalities. The remaining 26 patients are all long-term survivors. We describe 7 acute surgical morbidities in 6 patients, and 8 long-term surgical morbidities. One patient was subsequently re-transplanted in Cape Town. CONCLUSIONS: Despite a shortage of organs, we have overcome a steep learning curve, with results comparable with other early series. The current threat to the continued viability of our unit is the lack of appropriately trained paediatric hepatologists and intensivists.

Paediatric liver transplantation for metabolic disorders. Part 1: Liver-based metabolic disorders without liver lesions.

Liver-based metabolic disorders account for 10 to 15% of the indications for paediatric liver transplantation. In the last three decades, important progress has been made in the understanding of these diseases, and new therapies have emerged. Concomitantly, medical and surgical innovations have lead to improved results of paediatric liver transplantation, patient survival nowadays exceeding 80% 10-year after surgery with close to normal quality of life in most survivors. This review is a practical update on medical therapy, indications and results of liver transplantation, and potential future therapies, for the main liver-based metabolic disorders in which paediatric liver transplantation may be considered. Part 1 focuses on metabolic based liver disorders without liver lesions, and part 2 on metabolic liver diseases with liver lesions.

A rare case of primary hyperoxaluria type 1 co-existing with autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease in a newborn.

We describe the first reported case to our knowledge of an infant presenting with the extremely rare association of primary hyperoxaluria type 1 (PH-1) and autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). This diagnosis was suspected on the basis of the renal US findings and confirmed by complementary examinations. It led to severe oxalosis with very rapid onset of end-stage renal failure (ESRF) and required combined liver-kidney transplantation at the age of 18 months. The boy died 13 days after transplantation.

Liver and vascularized posterior rectus sheath fascia composite tissue allotransplantation.

Abdominal wall closure in pediatric solid organ recipients may be confounded by donor size discrepancy and structural insults from previous surgery. Here we describe the novel use of vascularized donor abdominal wall posterior rectus sheath fascia, as a composite tissue allotransplant (CTA), to achieve abdominal wall closure in a liver and double kidney pediatric recipient who could not be closed primarily due to donor/recipient size mismatch. The posterior rectus sheath fascia was procured in continuity with the liver and falciform ligament. Blood supply was achieved using the single hepatic artery anastomosis as part of the standard liver transplantation procedure. Specimens of posterior rectus sheath fascia taken on postoperative days 3 and 30 showed no signs of acute rejection. The patient succumbed to an overwhelming fungal infection on day 51, with no signs of intraabdominal involvement. The patient received no additional immunosuppression in conjunction with the posterior rectus sheath fascia allotransplant.

Transplantation outcomes in primary hyperoxaluria.

Optimal transplantation strategies are uncertain in primary hyperoxaluria (PH) due to potential for recurrent oxalosis. Outcomes of different transplantation approaches were compared using life-table methods to determine kidney graft survival among 203 patients in the International Primary Hyperoxaluria Registry. From 1976-2009, 84 kidney alone (K) and combined kidney and liver (K + L) transplants were performed in 58 patients. Among 58 first kidney transplants (32 K, 26 K + L), 1-, 3- and 5-year kidney graft survival was 82%, 68% and 49%. Renal graft loss occurred in 26 first transplants due to oxalosis in ten, chronic allograft nephropathy in six, rejection in five and other causes in five. Delay in PH diagnosis until after transplant favored early graft loss (p = 0.07). K + L had better kidney graft outcomes than K with death-censored graft survival 95% versus 56% at 3 years (p = 0.011). Among 29 year 2000-09 first transplants (24 K + L), 84% were functioning at 3 years compared to 55% of earlier transplants (p = 0.05). At 6.8 years after transplantation, 46 of 58 patients are living (43 with functioning grafts). Outcomes of transplantation in PH have improved over time, with recent K + L transplantation highly successful. Recurrent oxalosis accounted for a minority of kidney graft losses.

Living donor kidney transplantation in patients with hereditary nephropathies.

Patients with some hereditary nephropathies-including autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), Fabry disease and Alport syndrome-can progress to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and are candidates for kidney transplantation. When considering whether a potential living donor is appropriate for a particular patient, clinicians should be aware of the increased risk of adverse outcomes for the donor and the recipient. Renal transplantation from a living related donor is not contraindicated in most nephropathies that have an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance (for example, autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease and cystinosis). Renal transplant recipients with ADPKD, however, should only receive a kidney from a related donor if the disease has been excluded in the donor by imaging and/or genetic testing. Potential living related donors for patients with Alport syndrome should be evaluated carefully for the presence of microhematuria and microalbuminuria before a decision is made to perform transplantation, and mothers or heterozygous sisters of affected male recipients with X-linked Alport syndrome should be informed about the possible long-term increased risk of renal dysfunction associated with donation. Most patients with atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome should not receive a kidney transplant from a living donor because there is a high risk of disease recurrence and graft loss.

Primary hyperoxaluria type 1: strategy for organ transplantation.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Primary hyperoxaluria type 1, the most common form of primary hyperoxaluria, is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by a deficiency of the liver-specific enzyme alanine:glyoxylate aminotransferase. This results in increased synthesis and subsequent urinary excretion of the metabolic end-product oxalate and the deposition of insoluble calcium oxalate in the kidney and urinary tract. As glomerular filtration rate decreases due to progressive renal involvement, oxalate accumulates and results in systemic oxalosis. RECENT FINDINGS: Diagnosis is still often delayed. It is mainly established on the basis of clinical and sonographic findings, urinary oxalate ± glycolate assessment, and DNA analysis. SUMMARY: Following specific conservative measures, the ultimate management is based on organ transplantation. Correction of the enzyme defect by liver transplantation should be planned before systemic oxalosis develops to optimize outcomes and may be either simultaneous (immunological benefit) or sequential (biochemical benefit) liver-kidney transplantation depending on disease staging, facilities, and access to deceased or living donors. Allograft and patient survival currently approaches that of transplant patients with kidney transplantation alone and with other diseases requiring combined liver-kidney transplantation. In addition, this strategy has also provided significant improvement in both quality of life and statural growth.

Combined liver-kidney transplantation and follow-up in primary hyperoxaluria treatment: report of three cases.

INTRODUCTION: Primary hyperoxaluria type-1 (PH1) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by impaired activity of the hepatic peroxisomal alanine-glyoxilate aminotransferase, which leads to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and requires combined liver-kidney transplantation (CLKT). Herein, we have reported 3 children diagnosed with PH1 who received CLKT. CASE 1: A 4.5-year-old boy with an elder brother diagnosed with PH1 was diagnosed during family screening when the sonography showed multiple calculi. Within 5 years he experienced flank pain, hematuria attacks, and anuric phases due to obstruction and received hemodialysis (HD) when ESRD appeared. CLKT was performed from his full-match sister at the age of 9.5. He is doing well at 5.5 years. CASE 2: A 7-year-old boy was admitted with polyuria, polydypsia, and stomach pain with renal stones on sonography. PD was instituted when serum creatinine and BUN levels were measured as high values. At the age of 10, CKLT was performed from his mother. His liver and renal function tests are well at 14 months after CKLT. CASE 3: A 2.5-year-old girl had attacks of dark urine without any pain; renal stones were imaged on sonography. She was diagnosed with PH1 and operated on several times due to obstruction. She received peritoneal dialysis and a cadaveric CLKT was performed when she was 9 years old. At the age of 16, she experienced chronic allograft nephropathy requiring HD and subsequent cadaveric donor renal transplantation at 1.5 years after initiation of HD. CONCLUSION: Herein, we have presented the favorable clinical outcomes of patients with CKLT to indicate the validity of this treatment choice for PH1.

Amelioration of anemia after kidney transplantation in severe secondary oxalosis.

INTRODUCTION: In small bowel disease such as M. Crohn, the intestinal absorption of oxalate is increased. Severe calcium oxalate deposition in multiple organs as consequence of enteric hyperoxaluria may lead to severe organ dysfunction and chronic renal failure. The management of hemodialyzed patients with short bowel syndrome may be associated with vascular access problems and oxalate infiltration of the bone marrow leading to pancytopenia. Although the risk of recurrence of the disease is very high after renal transplantation, it may be the ultimate therapeutic alternative in secondary hyperoxaluria. CASE: Here, we report a patient with enteric oxalosis due to Crohn's disease. He developed end-stage renal disease, erythropoietin-resistant anemia, oxalate infiltration of the bone marrow and severe vascular access problems. Following high-urgency kidney transplantation, daily hemodiafiltration of 3 hours was performed for 2 weeks to increase oxalate clearance. Despite tubular and interstitial deposition of oxalate in the renal transplant, the patient did not require further hemodialysis and the hematocrit levels normalized. DISCUSSION: Early treatment of hyperoxaluria due to short bowel syndrome is essential to prevent renal impairment. Declining renal function leads to a further increase in oxalate accumulation and consecutive oxalate deposition in the bone marrow or in the vascular wall. If alternative treatments such as special diet or daily hemodialysis are insufficient, kidney transplantation may be a therapeutic alternative in severe cases of enteric oxalosis despite a possible recurrence of the disease.

[Kidney transplantation in children]. / Il trapianto di rene nel bambino.

Indications, procedures, complications, pharmacokinetics and outcomes of renal transplantation are different in children and in adults. Subjects <18 yrs old, are often included in a unique list as in Italy, benefiting from donors <15 yrs old, and the waiting time is reduced to <12 months in 71% of cases. The risk of thrombosis limits the use of donors <2 yrs and trans-plantation in infants <1 yr. The age at kidney transplantation is <5 yrs in 20-30% of children. In Italy living-related trans-plantation (LRT) is performed in 7% of cases, while in the USA it is more common (57%) and is often pre-emptive before entering dialysis (24%). Current therapy tends to reduce steroid treatment doses and, optimizing induction therapy with IL-2R inhibitors, using tacrolimus or mycophenolate or sirolimus. Transplanted patient survival is better in children than in adults (94-98% at 5 yrs). Infections, cardiovascular diseases and neoplasia induce 34, 15 and 12% of deaths, respectively, at 10 yrs; morbidity for infections and lymphoproliferative disease is increasing. Acute rejections declined from 70% in 1987 to 31% in 2002 in cadaveric transplantation (CT) and renal survival at 3 yrs increased from 50% in 1985 to 82% for CT and up to 92% in LRT. In adolescents (11-17 yrs old) renal survival is lower than in infants and in adults <65 yrs old. Renal losses are due to chronic transplant nephropathy (32%), vascular thrombosis (13%) and the recurrence of the original nephropathy (focal glomerulosclerosis up to 50%, membrano-proliferative glomerulonephritis up to 30%, and primary hyperoxaluria up to 90% if combined kidney-liver transplantation is not performed). Growth improves after transplantation particularly in children <5 yrs, while it is not completely satisfactory in adolescents. Overall, results indicate that kidney transplantation in children has very much improved and will offer in the near future even more favorable outcomes.