Amr Nassar, Ghada Elgohary, Tusneem Elhassan, Zubeir Nurgat, Said Y Mohamed, Mahmoud Aljurf
{"title":"Methotrexate for the Treatment of Graft-versus-Host Disease after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation.","authors":"Amr Nassar, Ghada Elgohary, Tusneem Elhassan, Zubeir Nurgat, Said Y Mohamed, Mahmoud Aljurf","doi":"10.1155/2014/980301","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/980301","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Glucocorticoids have been the primary treatment of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) over the past decade. Complete responses to steroid therapy are usually expected in almost one-third of aGVHD cases and partial response is anticipated in another one-third of patients. However, for those patients not responding to corticosteroid treatment, there is no standard second-line therapy for acute or chronic GVHD. Methotrexate (MTX) for treatment of steroid refractory GVHD has been evaluated in a number of studies. Results from peer-reviewed original articles were identified and the pooled data analyzed. Despite several limitations in data collection and analysis, weekly administration of methotrexate at a median dose of 7.5 mg/m(2) seems to be safe with minimal toxicities in the context of both aGVHD and cGVHD treatments. The observed overall response (OR) in patients with aGVHD to MTX treatment in the published studies was 69.9%, with complete response (CR) in 59.2% and PR in 10.6%. In cGVHD the OR was 77.6%, with CR reported in 49.6% and PR in 28% of patients. Predictors of better responses were lower grade GVHD, cutaneous involvement, and isolated organ involvement. MTX as a steroid sparing agent might reduce long-term complications and improve the quality of life of GVHD affected individuals. </p>","PeriodicalId":45795,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Transplantation","volume":"2014 ","pages":"980301"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2014-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1155/2014/980301","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"32822068","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Eleazar Chaib, Eduardo Massad, Bruno Butturi Varone, Andre Leopoldino Bordini, Flavio Henrique Ferreira Galvão, Alessandra Crescenzi, Arnaldo Bernal Filho, Luiz Augusto Carneiro D'Albuquerque
{"title":"The Impact of the Introduction of MELD on the Dynamics of the Liver Transplantation Waiting List in São Paulo, Brazil.","authors":"Eleazar Chaib, Eduardo Massad, Bruno Butturi Varone, Andre Leopoldino Bordini, Flavio Henrique Ferreira Galvão, Alessandra Crescenzi, Arnaldo Bernal Filho, Luiz Augusto Carneiro D'Albuquerque","doi":"10.1155/2014/219789","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/219789","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Until July 15, 2006, the time on the waiting list was the main criterion for allocating deceased donor livers in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. After this date, MELD has been the basis for the allocation of deceased donor livers for adult transplantation. Our aim was to compare the waitlist dynamics before MELD (1997-2005) and after MELD (2006-2012) in our state. A retrospective study was conducted including the data from all the liver transplant candidate waiting lists from July 1997 to December 2012. The data were related to the actual number of liver transplantations (Tr), the incidence of new patients on the list (I), and the number of patients who died while being on the waitlist (D) from 1997 to 2005 (the pre-MELD era) and from 2006 to 2012 (the post-MELD era). The number of transplantations from 1997 to 2005 and from 2006 to 2012 increased nonlinearly, with a clear trend to levelling to equilibrium at approximately 350 and 500 cases per year, respectively. The implementation of the MELD score resulted in a shorter waiting time until liver transplantation. Additionally, there was a significant effect on the waitlist dynamics in the first 4 years; however, the curves diverge from there, implying a null long-range effect on the waitlist by the MELD scores. </p>","PeriodicalId":45795,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Transplantation","volume":"2014 ","pages":"219789"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2014-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1155/2014/219789","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"32923149","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mohammed Quader, Luke Wolfe, Gundars Katlaps, Vigneshwar Kasirajan
{"title":"Donor Heart Utilization following Cardiopulmonary Arrest and Resuscitation: Influence of Donor Characteristics and Wait Times in Transplant Regions.","authors":"Mohammed Quader, Luke Wolfe, Gundars Katlaps, Vigneshwar Kasirajan","doi":"10.1155/2014/519401","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/519401","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Background. Procurement of hearts from cardiopulmonary arrest and resuscitated (CPR) donors for transplantation is suboptimal. We studied the influences of donor factors and regional wait times on CPR donor heart utilization. Methods. From UNOS database (1998 to 2012), we identified 44,744 heart donors, of which 4,964 (11%) received CPR. Based on procurement of heart for transplantation, CPR donors were divided into hearts procured (HP) and hearts not procured (HNP) groups. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify predictors of heart procurement. Results. Of the 4,964 CPR donors, 1,427 (28.8%) were in the HP group. Donor characteristics that favored heart procurement include younger age (25.5 ± 15 yrs versus 39 ± 18 yrs, P ≤ 0.0001), male gender (34% versus 23%, P ≤ 0.0001), shorter CPR duration (<15 min versus >30 min, P ≤ 0.0001), and head trauma (60% versus 15%). Among the 11 UNOS regions, the highest procurement was in Region 1 (37%) and the lowest in Region 3 (24%). Regional transplant volumes and median waiting times did not influence heart procurement rates. Conclusions. Only 28.8% of CPR donor hearts were procured for transplantation. Factors favoring heart procurement include younger age, male gender, short CPR duration, and traumatic head injury. Heart procurement varied by region but not by transplant volumes or wait times. </p>","PeriodicalId":45795,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Transplantation","volume":"2014 ","pages":"519401"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2014-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1155/2014/519401","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"32578052","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Anemia control in kidney transplant recipients using once-monthly continuous erythropoietin receptor activator: a prospective, observational study.","authors":"Klemens Budde, Thomas Rath, Volker Kliem","doi":"10.1155/2014/179705","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/179705","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In a multicenter, prospective, observational study of 279 kidney transplant recipients with anemia, the efficacy and safety of once-monthly continuous erythropoietin receptor activator (C.E.R.A.) were assessed to a maximum of 15 months. The main efficacy variable was the proportion of patients achieving a hemoglobin level of 11-12 g/dL at each of visits between months 7 and 9. At study entry, 224 patients (80.3%) were receiving erythropoiesis stimulating agent (ESA) therapy including darbepoetin alfa (98), epoetin beta (61), and C.E.R.A. (45). The mean (SD) time between C.E.R.A. applications was 34.0 (11.9) days. Among 193 patients for whom efficacy data were available, mean (SD) hemoglobin was 11.1 (0.99) g/dL at study entry, 11.5 (1.1) g/dL at month 7, 11.6 (1.3) g/dL at month 9, and 11.4 (1.1) g/dL at month 15. During months 7-9, 20.7% of patients had all hemoglobin values within the range 11-12 g/dL and 64.8% were within 10-13 g/dL. Seven patients (2.5%) discontinued C.E.R.A. due to adverse events or serious adverse events. In this observational trial under real-life conditions, once-monthly C.E.R.A. therapy achieved stable hemoglobin levels in stable kidney transplant recipients with good tolerability, and with no requirement for any dose change in 43% of patients. </p>","PeriodicalId":45795,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Transplantation","volume":"2014 ","pages":"179705"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2014-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1155/2014/179705","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"32387225","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Julian König, Martin Möckel, Eda Mueller, Wolfgang Bocksch, Seema Baid-Agrawal, Nina Babel, Ralf Schindler, Petra Reinke, Peter Nickel
{"title":"Risk-stratified cardiovascular screening including angiographic and procedural outcomes of percutaneous coronary interventions in renal transplant candidates.","authors":"Julian König, Martin Möckel, Eda Mueller, Wolfgang Bocksch, Seema Baid-Agrawal, Nina Babel, Ralf Schindler, Petra Reinke, Peter Nickel","doi":"10.1155/2014/854397","DOIUrl":"10.1155/2014/854397","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Background. Benefits of cardiac screening in kidney transplant candidates (KTC) will be dependent on the availability of effective interventions. We retrospectively evaluated characteristics and outcome of percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) in KTC selected for revascularization by a cardiac screening approach. Methods. In 267 patients evaluated 2003 to 2006, screening tests performed were reviewed and PCI characteristics correlated with major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) during a follow-up of 55 months. Results. Stress tests in 154 patients showed ischemia in 28 patients (89% high risk). Of 58 patients with coronary angiography, 38 had significant stenoses and 18 cardiac interventions (6.7% of all). 29 coronary lesions in 17/18 patients were treated by PCI. Angiographic success rate was 93.1%, but procedural success rate was only 86.2%. Long lesions (P = 0.029) and diffuse disease (P = 0.043) were associated with MACE. In high risk patients, cardiac screening did not improve outcome as 21.7% of patients with versus 15.5% of patients without properly performed cardiac screening had MACE (P = 0.319). Conclusion. The moderate procedural success of PCI and poor outcome in long and diffuse coronary lesions underscore the need to define appropriate revascularization strategies in KTC, which will be a prerequisite for cardiac screening to improve outcome in these high-risk patients. </p>","PeriodicalId":45795,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Transplantation","volume":"2014 ","pages":"854397"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2014-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1155/2014/854397","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"32520870","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Interstitial Lung Disease Associated with mTOR Inhibitors in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients: Results from a Large Phase III Clinical Trial Program of Everolimus and Review of the Literature.","authors":"Patricia Lopez, Sven Kohler, Seema Dimri","doi":"10.1155/2014/305931","DOIUrl":"10.1155/2014/305931","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Interstitial lung disease (ILD) has been reported with the use of mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors (mTORi). The clinical and safety databases of three Phase III trials of everolimus in de novo kidney (A2309), heart (A2310), and liver (H2304) transplant recipients (TxR) were searched using a standardized MedDRA query (SMQ) search for ILD followed by a case-by-case medical evaluation. A literature search was conducted in MEDLINE and EMBASE. Out of the 1,473 de novo TxR receiving everolimus in Phase III trials, everolimus-related ILD was confirmed in six cases (one kidney, four heart, and one liver TxR) representing an incidence of 0.4%. Everolimus was discontinued in three of the four heart TxR, resulting in ILD improvement or resolution. Outcome was fatal in the kidney TxR (in whom everolimus therapy was continued) and in the liver TxR despite everolimus discontinuation. The literature review identified 57 publications on ILD in solid organ TxR receiving everolimus or sirolimus. ILD presented months or years after mTORi initiation and symptoms were nonspecific and insidious. The event was more frequent in patients with a late switch to mTORi. In most cases, ILD was reversed after prompt mTORi discontinuation. ILD induced by mTORi is an uncommon and potentially fatal event warranting early recognition and drug discontinuation. </p>","PeriodicalId":45795,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Transplantation","volume":"2014 ","pages":"305931"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2014-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4281397/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"32968615","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jackson Tan, Muhammad Abdul Mabood Khalil, Si Yen Tan, Muhammad Khalil, Dalinatul Ahmed, Shaukat Zinna, William Chong
{"title":"Outcomes of Renal Transplantation in Brunei Darussalam over a Twenty-Year Period (1993-2012).","authors":"Jackson Tan, Muhammad Abdul Mabood Khalil, Si Yen Tan, Muhammad Khalil, Dalinatul Ahmed, Shaukat Zinna, William Chong","doi":"10.1155/2014/784805","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/784805","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Objectives. Brunei Darussalam has a high prevalence and incidence of end stage renal disease (ESRD). Up until 2012, all renal transplantations were performed in overseas centres, either as government-sponsored (living-related transplantation) or as self-sponsored (commercialized transplantation) ones. We hypothesize that graft and patient survival of Brunei renal transplant patients are on a par with international standards. Materials and Methods. Data of all renal transplant patients in Brunei were analysed over a twenty-year period from registry records and case notes. Comparative survival data from other countries were obtained from PubMed-listed literature. Results. A total of 49 transplantation procedures were performed in foreign centres between 1993 and 2012. 29 were government-sponsored and 20 were self-sponsored transplantations. The 5- and 10-year overall patient survival rates were 93.3% and 90.1%, respectively. The 5- and 10-year overall graft survival rates were 91.1% and 81.2%. There is no difference in the survival outcomes of government-sponsored and self-sponsored patients. Living-related (government-sponsored) and commercialised (self-sponsored) grafts had equivalent survival to those reported in the literature. Conclusion. Our survival data was on par with those achieved in many countries. We hope to use this information to convince local stakeholders and patients to favour transplantation as the preferred modality of RRT. </p>","PeriodicalId":45795,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Transplantation","volume":"2014 ","pages":"784805"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2014-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1155/2014/784805","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"32883303","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Samir J Patel, Samantha A Kuten, Richard J Knight, Dana M Hong, A Osama Gaber
{"title":"Resolution of Mild Ganciclovir-Resistant Cytomegalovirus Disease with Reduced-Dose Cidofovir and CMV-Hyperimmune Globulin.","authors":"Samir J Patel, Samantha A Kuten, Richard J Knight, Dana M Hong, A Osama Gaber","doi":"10.1155/2014/342319","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/342319","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Ganciclovir-resistant cytomegalovirus (CMV) is associated with significant morbidity in solid organ transplant recipients. Management of ganciclovir-resistant CMV may be complicated by nephrotoxicity which is commonly observed with recommended therapies and/or rejection induced by \"indirect\" viral effects or reduction of immunosuppression. Herein, we report a series of four high serologic risk (donor CMV positive/recipient CMV negative) kidney transplant patients diagnosed with ganciclovir-resistant CMV disease. All patients initially developed \"breakthrough\" viremia while still receiving valganciclovir prophylaxis after transplant and were later confirmed to exhibit UL97 mutations after failing to eradicate virus on adequate dosages of valganciclovir. The patients were subsequently and successfully treated with reduced-dose (1-2 mg/kg) cidofovir and CMV-hyperimmune globulin, given in 2-week intervals. In addition, all patients exhibited stable renal function after completion of therapy, and none experienced acute rejection. The combination of reduced-dose cidofovir and CMV-hyperimmune globulin appeared to be a safe and effective regimen in patients with mild disease due to ganciclovir-resistant CMV. </p>","PeriodicalId":45795,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Transplantation","volume":"2014 ","pages":"342319"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2014-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1155/2014/342319","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"32479005","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Emilie Pambrun, Catherine Mengelle, Geneviève Fillola, Patrick Laharrague, Laure Esposito, Isabelle Cardeau-Desangles, Arnaud Del Bello, Jacques Izopet, Lionel Rostaing, Nassim Kamar
{"title":"An Association between BK Virus Replication in Bone Marrow and Cytopenia in Kidney-Transplant Recipients.","authors":"Emilie Pambrun, Catherine Mengelle, Geneviève Fillola, Patrick Laharrague, Laure Esposito, Isabelle Cardeau-Desangles, Arnaud Del Bello, Jacques Izopet, Lionel Rostaing, Nassim Kamar","doi":"10.1155/2014/252914","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/252914","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The human polyomavirus BK (BKV) is associated with severe complications, such as ureteric stenosis and polyomavirus-associated nephropathy (PVAN), which often occur in kidney-transplant patients. However, it is unknown if BKV can replicate within bone marrow. The aim of this study was to search for BKV replication within the bone marrow of kidney-transplant patients presenting with a hematological disorder. Seventy-two kidney-transplant patients underwent bone-marrow aspiration for cytopenia. At least one virus was detected in the bone marrow of 25/72 patients (35%), that is, parvovirus B19 alone (n = 8), parvovirus plus Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) (n = 3), cytomegalovirus (n = 4), EBV (n = 2), BKV alone (n = 7), and BKV plus EBV (n = 1). Three of the eight patients who had BKV replication within the bone marrow had no detectable BKV replication in the blood. Neutropenia was observed in all patients with BKV replication in the bone marrow, and blockade of granulocyte maturation was observed. Hematological disorders disappeared in all patients after doses of immunosuppressants were reduced. In conclusion, an association between BKV replication in bone marrow and hematological disorders, especially neutropenia, was observed. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings. </p>","PeriodicalId":45795,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Transplantation","volume":"2014 ","pages":"252914"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2014-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1155/2014/252914","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"32375883","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}