Transplant InternationalPub Date : 2026-04-21eCollection Date: 2026-01-01DOI: 10.3389/ti.2026.16262
Jan Sönke Englbrecht, Tobias Piegeler, Mira Küllmar, Christopher Marschall, Svitlana Ziganshyna
{"title":"Anesthetic Management of Brain-Dead Donors During Organ Retrieval: Hemodynamic Effects and Potential Organ-Protective Implications - A Retrospective Analysis of 85 Cases.","authors":"Jan Sönke Englbrecht, Tobias Piegeler, Mira Küllmar, Christopher Marschall, Svitlana Ziganshyna","doi":"10.3389/ti.2026.16262","DOIUrl":"10.3389/ti.2026.16262","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Currently, no evidence-based recommendations for anesthetic management of brain-dead organ donors exist. Hemodynamic responses to surgical stimulation and potential organ-protective effects of anesthetic agents have been reported inconsistently. We retrospectively analyzed anesthetic management of all donors at University Hospital Münster between 2010 and 2025. Heart rate (HR) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were assessed before, during, and up to 15 min after first incision. Eighty-five donors were included; volatile anesthetics were administered in 41%, opioids in 80%, and neuromuscular blocking agents in 92%. HR (bpm) remained unchanged from before (94 [85-105]) to during (93 [84-104]) and post-incision (95 [85-103]). MAP (mmHg) decreased from 5 minutes (86 [76-95]) to 15 min post-incision (80 [72-89]; p = 0.034). Sufentanil did not affect HR or MAP at any point. Sevoflurane was associated with lower HR at all time points (p < 0.001) and lower MAP during incision (p = 0.020), but independent of surgical stimulation. Anesthetic management varied substantially. Hemodynamics did not increase following incision, and our findings do not support opioid administration, whereas hemodynamic effects of sevoflurane must be carefully managed to ensure sufficient organ perfusion during retrieval. Evidence-based recommendations for anesthetic management are needed to support organ-protective strategies in organ donation.</p>","PeriodicalId":23343,"journal":{"name":"Transplant International","volume":"39 ","pages":"16262"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13139039/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147843254","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Transplant InternationalPub Date : 2026-04-20eCollection Date: 2026-01-01DOI: 10.3389/ti.2026.16316
Georgios Kourounis, Stephen Gilbert, Simon R Knight, Amanda Leal, Jackie Leach Scully, Alexandre Loupy, Dominique E Martin, Evgenia Preka, Nadia Primc, Fernando Seoane Martinez, Helena Webb, Gabriel C Oniscu, Colin Wilson
{"title":"Shaping the Future of AI in Organ Transplantation: Position Paper of the European Society for Organ Transplantation.","authors":"Georgios Kourounis, Stephen Gilbert, Simon R Knight, Amanda Leal, Jackie Leach Scully, Alexandre Loupy, Dominique E Martin, Evgenia Preka, Nadia Primc, Fernando Seoane Martinez, Helena Webb, Gabriel C Oniscu, Colin Wilson","doi":"10.3389/ti.2026.16316","DOIUrl":"10.3389/ti.2026.16316","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Advances in AI hold considerable promise for organ transplantation. While every transformation brings change, not all change is transformative. Despite the rapid growth of AI in medicine, most applications remain in developmental or experimental stages, with relatively few having been successfully integrated into routine clinical practice. As a professional society, ESOT recognises that achieving meaningful impact will require more than technical progress. This position paper outlines five critical domains for successful implementation. (1) High-quality development: Coordinated collaboration and methodological rigour are prerequisites for trust; AI is only as robust as the data used to train it. (2) Ethical considerations: We must address risks to equity and access to care, and move from generic ethical principles to transplantation-specific ethical guidance. (3) Regulatory landscape: AI in transplantation is regulated under both EU medical device and AI legislation; compliance is central to stakeholder trust. (4) Responsible adoption: AI should augment, not replace, human expertise. Strengthening AI literacy is essential for meaningful adoption. (5) Participatory design: Active involvement of transplant professionals and patients is essential to address real clinical needs. These statements serve as a strategic framework to guide clinicians, researchers, and policymakers in making AI a genuine force multiplier for the transplant community.</p>","PeriodicalId":23343,"journal":{"name":"Transplant International","volume":"39 ","pages":"16316"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13136039/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147843332","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Transplant InternationalPub Date : 2026-04-17eCollection Date: 2026-01-01DOI: 10.3389/ti.2026.16100
Florian Huwyler, Matthias Pfister, Diwakar Phuyal, Yomna E Dean, Margareta Mittendorfer, Lars Saemann, Hannah Rasel, Simon Stoerzer, Jonas Binz, Bahareh Tabatabaei, Gabor Szabo, Sandra Lindstedt, Bahar Bassiri Gharb, Mark W Tibbitt, Pierre-Alain Clavien
{"title":"Time as a Therapeutic Ally: The Promise of Long-Term Solid Organ and Tissue Perfusion.","authors":"Florian Huwyler, Matthias Pfister, Diwakar Phuyal, Yomna E Dean, Margareta Mittendorfer, Lars Saemann, Hannah Rasel, Simon Stoerzer, Jonas Binz, Bahareh Tabatabaei, Gabor Szabo, Sandra Lindstedt, Bahar Bassiri Gharb, Mark W Tibbitt, Pierre-Alain Clavien","doi":"10.3389/ti.2026.16100","DOIUrl":"10.3389/ti.2026.16100","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Rapid advances in tissue preservation and the growing adoption of machine perfusion have fundamentally reshaped solid-organ and tissue transplantation in recent years. Multiple short-term perfusion devices have received regulatory approval and are increasingly used in clinical practice to preserve grafts for several hours, improving allograft assessment. The boundaries of dynamic tissue preservation have been pushed even further in research settings, where grafts have been reliably perfused for multiple days. The extended time of long-term machine perfusion opens a new therapeutic window for interventions, allowing for reconditioning and even tissue repair of injured and diseased grafts. The increasing global organ shortage makes these approaches particularly attractive to recover additional allografts for safe transplantation. In this review, we highlight current clinical practice for <i>ex situ</i> perfused allografts, multi-day perfusions in research settings, and potential therapeutic benefits of long-term perfusion with a focus on hearts, livers, lungs and vascularized composite allografts.</p>","PeriodicalId":23343,"journal":{"name":"Transplant International","volume":"39 ","pages":"16100"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13132794/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147821307","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Transplant InternationalPub Date : 2026-04-13eCollection Date: 2026-01-01DOI: 10.3389/ti.2026.16153
Rikako Oki, Luckshi Rajendran, Dean Yonghoon Kim, Atsushi Yoshida, Marwan Abouljoud, Shunji Nagai
{"title":"Exploring Disease-Specific Waitlist Outcomes in Simultaneous Liver-Kidney Transplantation.","authors":"Rikako Oki, Luckshi Rajendran, Dean Yonghoon Kim, Atsushi Yoshida, Marwan Abouljoud, Shunji Nagai","doi":"10.3389/ti.2026.16153","DOIUrl":"10.3389/ti.2026.16153","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The current allocation system does not account for liver etiology in simultaneous liver-kidney transplantation (SLKT). This study aims to assess differences in waitlist outcomes among major liver disease groups (alcohol-related liver disease [ALD], metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis [MASH], hepatitis C virus infection, and biliary diseases) in SLKT using Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) registry. In total, 4,846 adult SLKT candidates listed between January 2018 and March 2024 were enrolled. Patients with MASH had worse waitlist 1-year mortality compared to ALD adjusted for patient characteristics at listing (HR 1.300, 95% CI 1.059-1.597, p = 0.012), whereas the 1-year SLKT probability was comparable. When patients were categorized by MELD score at listing (6-20, 21-29, and ≥30), patients with MASH had significantly higher 1-year waitlist mortality compared to those with ALD in the middle MELD score group (HR 1.365, 95% CI 1.008-1.834, p = 0.044). Prior to the allocation policy change in 2020, patients with MASH experienced higher waitlist mortality compared to ALD, however, this disparity was not observed following the policy change. Waitlist outcomes varied significantly depending on the etiology in SLKT. The revised 2020 allocation policy may be temporally associated with changes in mortality disparities across different liver etiologies.</p>","PeriodicalId":23343,"journal":{"name":"Transplant International","volume":"39 ","pages":"16153"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13111173/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147782392","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Transplant InternationalPub Date : 2026-04-10eCollection Date: 2026-01-01DOI: 10.3389/ti.2026.15264
Andrea Lombardi, Davide Mangioni, Giulia Viero, Laura Alagna, Giulia Renisi, Paola Saltini, Alessandra Bandera
{"title":"New Antibiotics Against Multidrug-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacteria in Lung Transplantation: Clinical Evidence, Safety, and PK/PD Properties.","authors":"Andrea Lombardi, Davide Mangioni, Giulia Viero, Laura Alagna, Giulia Renisi, Paola Saltini, Alessandra Bandera","doi":"10.3389/ti.2026.15264","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/ti.2026.15264","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Infections caused by multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (MDR-GNB) and <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> are leading causes of morbidity and mortality after lung transplantation (LuTx). We reviewed the pharmacology, clinical evidence, and safety of five agents potentially active against MDR-GNB in LuTx recipients (LUTR): ceftolozane/tazobactam, ceftazidime/avibactam, meropenem/vaborbactam, imipenem/relebactam, and cefiderocol. Literature from the last 10 years was reviewed for data on activity spectrum, efficacy in LUTR and adverse events. Ceftolozane/tazobactam and ceftazidime/avibactam were the most studied, providing high cure rates for difficult-to-treat <i>Pseudomonas</i> (DTR-PA) and <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> carbapenemase (KPC)-producing Enterobacterales, respectively. Meropenem/vaborbactam offers reliable coverage of KPC strains, while imipenem/relebactam is an interesting option for imipenem-non-susceptible <i>Pseudomonas</i> spp. Cefiderocol exhibits the broadest <i>in vitro</i> spectrum, including metallo-β-lactamase producers. Across agents, pharmacokinetic variability, augmented renal clearance, and extracorporeal support can compromise target attainment; prolonged or continuous infusion is preferred. Collectively, these antibiotics expand the therapeutic armamentarium against MDR-GNB in LUTR, allowing pathogen-directed, toxicity-sparing regimens. Nonetheless, prospective LuTx-focused studies are needed to optimise their use in such a peculiar setting.</p>","PeriodicalId":23343,"journal":{"name":"Transplant International","volume":"39 ","pages":"15264"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13106095/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147782438","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Transplant InternationalPub Date : 2026-04-09eCollection Date: 2026-01-01DOI: 10.3389/ti.2026.15987
Lucas Milo Bellier, Hannah Kaminski, Pierre Merville, Lionel Couzi
{"title":"Interactions Between Immunosuppressive Regimens and Cytomegalovirus Infection After Solid-Organ Transplantation.","authors":"Lucas Milo Bellier, Hannah Kaminski, Pierre Merville, Lionel Couzi","doi":"10.3389/ti.2026.15987","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/ti.2026.15987","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cytomegalovirus (CMV) remains a major infectious complication after solid-organ transplantation, driven by immunosuppressive therapies that alter CMV-specific cell-mediated immunity. Antithymocyte globulin induces profound and prolonged T-cell depletion, transiently impairing CMV-specific cell-mediated immunity and increasing CMV risk in seropositive recipients. Calcineurin inhibitors suppress cytokine production, notably IL-2 and IFN-γ, without significantly impairing cytotoxic function, while mycophenolate mofetil limits lymphocyte proliferation but preserves effector capacity. In contrast, mTOR inhibitors exert dual antiviral and immunomodulatory effects by directly inhibiting CMV replication and enhancing CMV-specific T-cell memory formation. Belatacept, through CD28-CD80/CD86 blockade, may predispose to late, severe, or relapsing CMV disease, particularly in elderly or D<sup>+</sup>/R<sup>-</sup> recipients. Corticosteroids broadly inhibit NK cell cytotoxicity and CMV-specific T-cell responses, but clinical data on steroid withdrawal remain inconsistent. Overall, CMV risk is determined less by a single drug than by the cumulative depth of immunosuppression. Integrating immune monitoring tools, such as CMV-specific T-cell assays, could enable tailored immunosuppressive regimens balancing antiviral protection with graft survival.</p>","PeriodicalId":23343,"journal":{"name":"Transplant International","volume":"39 ","pages":"15987"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13102634/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147782428","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Transplant InternationalPub Date : 2026-04-08eCollection Date: 2026-01-01DOI: 10.3389/ti.2026.15780
Haris Omic, David Vecsei, Michael Eder, Karim Abd El-Ghany, Wolfgang Winnicki, Alice Schmidt, Sebastian Kapps, Daniela Gerges, Robert Strassl, Ludwig Wagner, Farsad Eskandary
{"title":"Urinary VP1 Flow Cytometry as a Complementary Approach for BK Polyomavirus Monitoring: A Proof-Of-Concept Study.","authors":"Haris Omic, David Vecsei, Michael Eder, Karim Abd El-Ghany, Wolfgang Winnicki, Alice Schmidt, Sebastian Kapps, Daniela Gerges, Robert Strassl, Ludwig Wagner, Farsad Eskandary","doi":"10.3389/ti.2026.15780","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/ti.2026.15780","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Polyomavirus nephropathy (BKPyVAN) is a major cause of allograft dysfunction after kidney transplantation (KTX). While plasma BKPyV-PCR is the diagnostic gold standard, it may not fully reflect tissue injury. We conducted a prospective observational proof-of-concept study in 30 KTX recipients with BKPyV reactivation (November 2022-February 2024); 21 underwent kidney biopsy, 11 were diagnosed with biopsy-proven (BP)-BKPyVAN. Urine samples were analyzed by flow cytometry to quantify the potential of VP1-positive reno-urinary epithelial cells as a novel non-invasive marker of active tubular damage. The control cohort included 21 virology-negative patients. Median urinary VP1-positivity was higher in BP-BKPyVAN (33%, IQR 27-46) vs. non-BKPyVAN patients (5%, IQR 1-13; <i>p</i> < 0.001). The assay achieved an AUC of 0.98 (95% CI 0.93-1.00, p = 0.0003; cut-off: 11.7%; sensitivity = 91%, specificity = 89%) for BP-BKPyVAN. Longitudinally, median VP1-burden declined from 13% (IQR 4-29) at baseline to 0% (IQR 0-0.4). BKPyV-DNAemia declined rapidly, but plateaued at ∼4 × 10<sup>2</sup>-7 × 10<sup>2</sup> copies/mL, whereas urinary VP1-positive cells became undetectable. Our preliminary results suggest that combining urinary VP1-positivity with plasma BKPyV-PCR may help distinguish BP-BKPyVAN from non-BKPyVAN within a BKPyV-reactivation cohort. Longitudinal VP1 tracking may indicate resolution of viral infection earlier than DNAemia. These findings are hypothesis-generating and require validation in larger independent cohorts.</p>","PeriodicalId":23343,"journal":{"name":"Transplant International","volume":"39 ","pages":"15780"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13099444/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147782430","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Transplant InternationalPub Date : 2026-04-08eCollection Date: 2026-01-01DOI: 10.3389/ti.2026.15340
Mike Schnepppfister, Yue Wang, Chen Zhong, Tori Huey, Hesham El-Shewy, Yichu Kao, Joseph R Scalea, Thomas A Morinelli, Yuan Zhai, Dirk J van der Windt
{"title":"Beyond a Biomarker: Investigations of a Proinflammatory Role for Cell-Free DNA in Liver Transplant Ischemia and Reperfusion.","authors":"Mike Schnepppfister, Yue Wang, Chen Zhong, Tori Huey, Hesham El-Shewy, Yichu Kao, Joseph R Scalea, Thomas A Morinelli, Yuan Zhai, Dirk J van der Windt","doi":"10.3389/ti.2026.15340","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/ti.2026.15340","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Donor-derived cell-free DNA (dd-cfDNA) is a biomarker for rejection after organ transplantation. We hypothesized that high release of cfDNA immediately after liver transplant also has a biologic role in inflammation in ischemia and reperfusion injury (IRI). To investigate this concept, C57BL/6 mice were subjected to 90 min <i>in situ</i> liver ischemia. After 6 h reperfusion, cfDNA was purified from serum and used to stimulate macrophages <i>in vitro</i>, which resulted in production of high levels of inflammatory cytokines TNFα and IL-6, and chemokine CXCL10. Enzymatic degradation of cfDNA by DNase I inhibited these inflammatory responses (e.g., TNFα: DNase I 48.1 ± 37.4 vs. untreated 1,030 ± 206 pg/mL, p = 0.0001). cfDNA from netosis-deficient PAD4KO mice was found to be equally pro-inflammatory compared to wild type cfDNA (TNFα: PAD4KO 1048 ± 199 vs. wild-type 1,162 ± 150 pg/mL, p = 0.64), indicating its mechanism is not dependent on neutrophils undergoing netosis. Next, a single dose of DNase I was added to the perfusate during rat liver normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) to significantly reduce perfusate cfDNA levels (384 ± 132 to 129 ± 18 ng/mL, p = 0.026). In conclusion, our data suggest that cfDNA can have pro-inflammatory effects during liver IRI beyond being a biomarker. DNase I may be a promising therapeutic intervention during NMP to reduce the graft's inflammatory propensity prior to implantation.</p>","PeriodicalId":23343,"journal":{"name":"Transplant International","volume":"39 ","pages":"15340"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13099445/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147782369","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}