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Transplantation Patients (transplantation + patient)
Kinds of Transplantation Patients Selected AbstractsHematologic aspects of myeloablative therapy and bone marrow transplantationJOURNAL OF CLINICAL LABORATORY ANALYSIS, Issue 2 2005Roger S. Riley Abstract The transplantation of bone marrow cells or isolated hematopoietic stem cells from the bone marrow or peripheral blood is a widely utilized form of therapy for patients with incurable diseases of the hematopoietic and immune systems. Successful engraftment of the transplanted stem cells in an adequately prepared recipient normally leads to bone marrow reconstitution over a period of several weeks, accompanied by more gradual reconstitution of the immune system. Since the recipient is profoundly ill during the initial treatment period, laboratory data is critical for monitoring engraftment, detecting residual/recurrent disease, and identifying problems that may delay bone marrow reconstitution or lead to other medical complications. Accurate blood cell counts are imperative, and most bone marrow transplantation patients undergo periodic monitoring with bone marrow aspirates and biopsies with cytogenetic, molecular, and multiparametric flow cytometric studies. The potential complications of bone marrow transplantation include engraftment failure and delayed engraftment, infection, residual bone marrow disease, acute and chronic graft versus host disease, myelofibrosis, therapy-related acute leukemia, post-transplant lympho-proliferative disorders, and toxic myelopathy. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 19:47,79, 2005. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] A comparison of sirolimus vs. calcineurin inhibitor-based immunosuppressive therapies in liver transplantationALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 4 2006H. ZAGHLA Summary Background, Sirolimus is a potent immunosuppressive agent whose role in liver transplantation has not been well-described. Aim, To evaluate the efficacy and side-effects of sirolimus-based immunosuppression in liver transplant patients. Methods, Retrospective analysis of 185 patients who underwent orthotopic liver transplantation. Patients were divided into three groups: group SA, sirolimus alone (n = 28); group SC, sirolimus with calcineurin inhibitors (n =56) and group CNI, calcineurin inhibitors without sirolimus (n = 101). Results, One-year patient and graft survival rates were 86.5% and 82.1% in group SA, 94.6% and 92.9% in group SC, and 83.2% and 75.2% in group CNI (P = N.S.). The rates of acute cellular rejection at 12 months were comparable among the three groups. At the time of transplantation, serum creatinine levels were significantly higher in group SA, but mean creatinine among the three groups at 1 month was similar. More patients in group SA required dialysis before orthotopic liver transplantation (group SA, 25%; group SC, 9%; group CNI, 5%; P = 0.008), but at 1 year, post-orthotopic liver transplantation dialysis rates were similar. Conclusions, Sirolimus given alone or in conjunction with calcineurin inhibitors appears to be an effective primary immunosuppressant regimen for orthotopic liver transplantation patients. Further studies to evaluate the efficacy and side-effect profile of sirolimus in liver transplant patients are warranted. [source] Prevention and treatment of rethrombosis after liver transplantation with an implantable pump of the portal veinLIVER TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 3 2010Zhengrong Shi Implantable pumps have been used to prevent deep vein thrombosis and other diseases. In this article, we report for the first time the prevention and treatment of rethrombosis of the portal vein in liver transplantation with an implantable pump of the portal vein. Four hundred four orthotopic liver transplantation cases were retrospectively reviewed and divided into 3 groups: portal vein thrombosis (PVT) patients with an implantable pump (n = 28), PVT patients without an implantable pump (n = 20), and patients without preexisting PVT (n = 356). The following parameters for the 3 groups of patients were calculated and compared: (1) preoperative parameters, including baseline data of the donors and recipients and times of graft ischemia; (2) intraoperative and postoperative parameters, including surgery time, red blood cell and plasma transfusion, platelet concentrate transfusion, bleeding and primary graft malfunction, and duration of the hospital and intensive care unit stays; and (3) follow-up information for the patency of the portal vein, rethrombosis rate, stenosis and reoperation (relaparotomy or retransplantation), in-hospital mortality, and actuarial 1-year survival rate. Among the 3 groups of recipients, no significant differences were detected in preoperative and intraoperative parameters. However, compared to PVT patients without an implantable pump, PVT patients with an implantable pump showed remarkable reductions in their postoperative hospital stay, rethrombosis, reoperation rate, and in-hospital mortality. An implantable pump of the portal vein in liver transplantation patients can prevent and facilitate the treatment of portal vein rethrombosis and is associated with a reduction of in-hospital mortality. Liver Transpl 16:324,331, 2010. © 2010 AASLD. [source] Use of activated protein c in liver transplantation patients with septic shock,LIVER TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 11 2008Laura Rinaldi Recombinant human activated protein C (rhAPC) has been approved for use in patients with severe sepsis at high risk of death. Because of the high risk of bleeding, liver transplantation (LT) patients have been excluded from the randomized control trials that evaluated efficacy and safety of rhAPC and, thus, few data are available on the use of this drug in LT patients with severe sepsis. We describe our experience with 5 LT recipients treated for septic shock with the best conventional therapy and rhAPC. Before rhAPC therapy, all the patients showed septic shock, with ,3 organ dysfunctions and thrombocytopenia with impairment of coagulation. rhAPC therapy started within 30 hours after septic shock onset in all the patients who recovered from sepsis-induced circulatory failure, improved organ dysfunction, and completed the 96 hours of rhAPC therapy. During rhAPC infusion, 4 patients received fresh frozen plasma and/or platelet concentrates because of thrombocytopenia and severe hemostasis dysfunction. No major bleeding occurred and only 1 patient presented with minor bleeding events. Liver Transpl 14:1598,1602, 2008. © 2008 AASLD. [source] Conversion to sirolimus-based immunosuppression in maintenance liver transplantation patientsLIVER TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 5 2007Isabelle Morard Sirolimus (SRL) has been proposed to replace calcineurin inhibitors (CNI) in case of CNI-induced toxicity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of conversion from CNI to SRL in maintenance liver transplantation (LT) patients. Between 2002 and 2006, conversion was performed in 48 patients (17 female, 31 male; mean age 57 ± 10 yr) after a median delay of 19.4 months (range 0.2,173 months) after LT. Indication for conversion was renal impairment (RI) (78%), CNI neurotoxicity (13%), or post-LT cancer (9%). Median follow-up was 22.6 ± 11 months. Median SRL dosage and trough levels were 2.4 ± 1.3 mg and 8.1 ± 2.7 ,g/L. Immunosuppression consisted of SRL alone (33%), or SRL + mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) (39%), SRL + prednisone (15%), SRL + CNI (4%), or SRL + MMF + prednisone (8%). Mean glomerular filtration rate (GFR) improved from 33 to 48 mL/minute in patients with severe RI (P = 0.022) and from 56 to 74 mL/minute in patients with moderate RI (P = 0.0001). After conversion, main complications were albuminuria (36%), hyperlipidemia (49%), dermatitis (14%), edema (14%), oral ulcers (12%), joint pain (4%), infection (2%), and pneumonia (2%). Acute rejection (AR) occurred in 17% of the patients. SRL was withdrawn in 17% of the patients. In conclusion, conversion from CNI to SRL is safe and is associated with significant renal function improvement. Liver Transpl 13:658,664, 2007. © 2007 AASLD. [source] Adefovir dipivoxil for wait-listed and post,liver transplantation patients with lamivudine-resistant hepatitis B: Final long-term resultsLIVER TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 3 2007Eugene Schiff Wait-listed (n = 226) or post,liver transplantation (n = 241) chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with lamivudine-resistant hepatitis B virus (HBV) were treated with adefovir dipivoxil for a median of 39 and 99 weeks, respectively. Among wait-listed patients, serum HBV DNA levels became undetectable (<1,000 copies/mL) in 59% and 65% at weeks 48 and 96, respectively. After 48 weeks, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), albumin, bilirubin, and prothrombin time normalized in 77%, 76%, 60%, and 84% of wait-listed patients, respectively. Among posttransplantation patients, serum HBV DNA levels became undetectable in 40% and 65% at weeks 48 and 96, respectively. After 48 weeks, ALT, albumin, bilirubin, and prothrombin time normalized in 51%, 81%, 76%, and 56% of posttransplantation patients, respectively. Among wait-listed patients who underwent on-study liver transplantation, protection from graft reinfection over a median of 35 weeks was similar among patients who did (n = 34) or did not (n = 23) receive hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIg). Hepatitis B surface antigen was detected on the first measurement only in 6% and 9% of patients who did or did not receive HBIg, respectively. Serum HBV DNA was detected on consecutive visits in 6% and 0% of patients who did or did not receive HBIg, respectively. Treatment-related adverse events led to discontinuation of adefovir dipivoxil in 4% of patients. Cumulative probabilities of resistance were 0%, 2%, and 2% at weeks 48, 96, and 144, respectively. In conclusion, adefovir dipivoxil is effective and safe in wait-listed or posttransplantation CHB patients with lamivudine-resistant HBV and prevents graft reinfection with or without HBIg. Liver Transpl 13:349-360, 2007. © 2007 AASLD. [source] Alternatives to the double vena cava method in partial liver transplantationLIVER TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 1 2005Yoji Kishi Minimizing graft congestion in partial liver transplantation is important, especially when the graft weight is marginal for the recipient metabolic demand. We prefer the double vena cava technique for reconstructing middle hepatic vein tributaries with thick, short hepatic veins because the technique can reduce the warm ischemic time of the graft and make a wide anastomosis. This technique requires a cryopreserved superior or inferior vena cava. We devised an alternative double vena cava method using iliac or femoral vein grafts and applied it to two right liver transplantation patients. There was no postoperative hepatic venous outflow block in either patient. In conclusion, application of this technique, even in the absence of a suitable vena cava, can help to minimize graft congestion. (Liver Transpl 2005;11:101,103.) [source] Effect of coadministered lopinavir and ritonavir (Kaletra) on tacrolimus blood concentration in liver transplantation patientsLIVER TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 9 2003Ashokkumar B. Jain With the advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), HIV positivity is no longer a contraindication for liver transplantation. Some of the antiretroviral agents, particularly protease inhibitors (e.g., ritonavir, indinavir, and nelfinavir) have been described as potent inhibitors of the metabolism of certain immunosuppressive drugs. In this article we describe a profound interaction between tacrolimus and Kaletra (Abbott Laboratories, Chicago, IL) (a combination of lopinavir and ritonavir) in 3 liver transplantation patients. Patient 1, who was maintained on a 5 mg twice daily dose of tacrolimus with a trough blood concentration around 10.6 ng/mL, required only 0.5 mg of tacrolimus per week after addition of Kaletra to achieve similar tacrolimus blood concentrations, with a half-life of 10.6 days. In patient 2, the area under the blood concentration versus time curve for tacrolimus increased from 31 ng/mL/h to 301 ng/mL/h after addition of Kaletra, with a corresponding half-life of 20 days. When the patient was subsequently switched to nelfinavir, the half-life decreased to 10.3 days. Patient 3, who was maintained with 4 to 8 mg/d of tacrolimus and a corresponding blood concentration of 10 ng/mL before Kaletra, required a tacrolimus dose of 1 mg/wk and tacrolimus concentrations of 5 ng/mL with Kaletra. In conclusion, a combination of lopinavir and ritonavir led to a much more profound increase in tacrolimus blood concentrations than use of single protease inhibitor, nelfinavir. A tacrolimus dose of less than 1 mg/wk may be sufficient to maintain adequate blood tacrolimus concentrations in patients on Kaletra. Patients may not need a further dose of tacrolimus for 3 to 5 weeks depending on liver function when therapy with Kaletra is initiated. Great caution is required in the management of tacrolimus dosage when Kaletra is introduced or withdrawn in HIV-positive patients after liver transplantation, particularly in the presence of hepatic dysfunction. [source] Characterization of Genotypes of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in Immunosuppressed and Immunocompetent Patient GroupsTHE JOURNAL OF EUKARYOTIC MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 4 2009ROBERT J. TEN HOVE ABSTRACT. A retrospective phylogenetic analysis was performed on isolates of Enterocytozoon bieneusi to characterize the genotypes in different patient cohorts. Fifty-seven isolates, collected from patients living in Malawi and the Netherlands, were classified by age and immune status of the hosts. Sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region identified 16 genotypes; nine have not previously been described. Genotypes K and D were most prevalent among patient groups, whereas genotype C was restricted to transplantation patients receiving immunosupressives and genotype B showed a predisposition toward patients living with HIV/AIDS. Different genotypes showed more dispersion among isolates from Malawi compared with those from the Netherlands. A constructed map estimating the genealogy of the ITS region reveals a dynamic evolutionary process between the genotypes. [source] Pancreas Allograft Biopsies with Positive C4d Staining and Anti-Donor Antibodies Related to Worse Outcome for PatientsAMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 7 2010H. De Kort C4d+ antibody-mediated rejection following pancreas transplantation has not been well characterized. Therefore, we assessed the outcomes of 27 pancreas transplantation patients (28 biopsies), with both C4d staining and donor-specific antibodies (DSA) determined, from a cohort of 257 patients. The median follow-up was 50 (interquartile range [IQR] 8,118) months. Patients were categorized into 3 groups: group 1, patients with minimal or no C4d staining and no DSA (n = 13); group 2, patients with either DSA present but no C4d, diffuse C4d+ and no DSA or focal C4d+ and DSA (n = 6); group 3, patients with diffuse C4d+ staining and DSA (n = 9). Active septal inflammation, acinar inflammation and acinar cell injury/necrosis were significantly more abundant in group 3 than in group 2 (respective p-values: 0.009; 0.033; 0.025) and in group 1 (respective p-values: 0.034; 0.009; 0.002). The overall uncensored pancreas graft survival rate for groups 1, 2 and 3 were 53.3%, 66.7% and 34.6%, respectively (p = 0.044). In conclusion, recipients of pancreas transplants with no C4d or DSA had excellent long-term graft survival in comparison with patients with both C4d+ and DSA present. Hence, C4d should be used as an additional marker in combination with DSA in the evaluation of pancreas transplant biopsies. [source] Anticarbohydrate Antibody Repertoires in Patients Transplanted with Fetal Pig Islets Revealed by Glycan ArraysAMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 1 2009O. Blixt Ten patients with type I diabetes were transplanted with porcine fetal islet-like cell clusters (ICC) between 1990 and 1993. A significant rise in the anti-,-Gal antibody titers was seen posttransplant, but also non-,-Gal-specific antibodies were detected in some patients. We have reanalyzed the carbohydrate specificity of antibodies in the sera from seven of these patients taken before transplantation, 1, 6 and 12 months posttransplantation using a glycan array with 200 structurally defined glycans. The main findings were: (i) prepig ICC transplantation patients had antibodies reactive with terminal ,-GalNAc (e.g. the Forssman antigen, but not the blood group A determinant in blood group A patients), ,-Gal (except blood group B determinants in B individuals), ,3-linked Gal especially Gal,1,3GlcNAc even if terminally sulfated or sialylated, ,-GlcNAc except if ,1,3-linked and oligomannosyl compounds; (ii) the titers of all carbohydrate-specific antibodies detected before transplantation rose after transplantation; (iii) the kinetics of the antibody responses differed between patients; (iv) in some patients antibodies reacting with Gal,1,3Lex and several structures terminated with Neu5Gc appeared after transplantation. In conclusion, anti-,-Gal antibodies are the predominant anticarbohydrate antibodies detected after porcine ICC transplantation, with some patients also developing Neu5Gc-specific antibodies. Their clinical significance needs to be established. [source] Prophylactic Bisphosphonate Treatment Prevents Bone Fractures After Liver TransplantationAMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 7 2007M. Bodingbauer A randomized controlled prospective open-label single center trial was performed. At the time of transplantation patients were randomly assigned to one of two treatment arms: The study group of 47 patients received zoledronic acid (ZOL, 8 infusions at 4 mg during the first 12 months after LT), calcium (1000 mg/d) and vitamin D (800 IE/d). The control group consisted of 49 patients who received calcium and vitamin D at same doses (CON). The incidence of bone fractures or death was predefined as the primary endpoint. Secondary endpoints included bone mineral density (BMD), serum biochemical markers of bone metabolism, parameters of trabecular bone histomorphometry and mineralization density distribution (BMDD). Patients were followed up for 24 months. Analysis was performed on an intention-to-treat basis. The primary endpoint fracture or death was reached in 26% of patients in the ZOL group and 46% in the CON group (p = 0.047, log rank test). Densitometry results were different between the groups at the femoral neck at 6 months after LT (mean+/-SD BMD ZOL: 0.80 ± 0.19 g/cm2 vs. CON: 0.73 ± 0.14 g/cm2, p = 0.036). Mixed linear models of biochemical bone markers showed less increase of osteocalcin in the ZOL group and histomorphometry and BMDD indicated a reduction in bone turnover. Prophylactic treatment with the bisphosphonate zoledronic acid reduces bone turnover and fractures after liver transplantation. [source] Candidemia in patients with hematologic malignancies in the era of new antifungal agents (2001-2007)CANCER, Issue 20 2009Stable incidence but changing epidemiology of a still frequently lethal infection Abstract BACKGROUND: The incidence, epidemiology, Candida species distribution, resistance patterns, and outcome of candidemia in high-risk hematologic malignancy and/or stem cell transplantation patients have not been extensively described since the introduction of new antifungal agents. METHODS: In this retrospective study, the authors reviewed the medical records and microbiologic data of hematologic malignancy patients with candidemia at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center from March 2001 to February 2007. RESULTS: The authors analyzed 173 episodes of candidemia (170 patients), 125 (72%) of which were breakthrough cases after prior antifungal agents, mainly fluconazole (28 [22%]), caspofungin (25 [20%]), and voriconazole (18 [14%]). The incidence of candidemia (per 100,000 inpatient days) remained relatively stable, from 13.9 in 2001 to 19.2 in 2006. However, compared with the findings of previous studies at the authors' institution, the frequency of Candida glabrata and C. krusei infection decreased (to 5% and 17%, respectively) and C. parapsilosis (24%) and C. tropicalis (21%) increased. C. parapsilosis fungemia was associated with prior caspofungin use (P < .001). The overall 30-day crude mortality rate was 38%, and the attributable mortality rate was 19%, similar to previous findings at the authors' institution. The Candida species associated with the highest mortality rate was C. glabrata. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the widespread use of antifungal prophylaxis and the introduction of new antifungal agents, the incidence and associated mortality rates of candidemia remained stable in high-risk hematologic malignancy patients. However, its epidemiological characteristics have shifted, with C. parapsilosis and C. tropicalis becoming more common. Cancer 2009. © 2009 American Cancer Society. [source] Tacrolimus as secondary intervention vs. cyclosporine continuation in patients at risk for chronic renal allograft failureCLINICAL TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 5 2005Thomas Waid Abstract:, Background:, Chronic renal allograft failure (CRAF) is the leading cause of graft loss post-renal transplantation. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of tacrolimus as secondary intervention in cyclosporine-treated kidney transplantation patients with impaired allograft function as indicated by elevated serum creatinine (SCr) levels. Methods:, Patients receiving cyclosporine-based immunosuppression who had an elevated SCr at least 3 months post-renal transplantation were enrolled. Treatment allocation was 2:1 to switch to tacrolimus or continue cyclosporine. This analysis was performed after 2 yr; patients will be followed for an additional 3 yr. Results:, There were 186 enrolled and evaluable patients. On baseline biopsy, 90% of patients had chronic allograft nephropathy. Baseline median SCr was 2.5 mg/dL in both treatment groups. For patients with graft function at month 24, SCr had decreased to 2.3 mg/dL in the tacrolimus-treated patients and increased to 2.6 mg/dL in the cyclosporine-treated patients (p = 0.01). Acute rejection occurred in 4.8% of tacrolimus-treated patients and 5.0% of cyclosporine-treated patients during follow-up. Two-year allograft survival was comparable between groups (tacrolimus 69%, cyclosporine 67%; p = 0.70). Tacrolimus-treated patients had significantly lower cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein levels and also had fewer new-onset infections. Cardiac conditions developed in significantly fewer tacrolimus-treated patients (5.6%) than cyclosporine-treated patients (24.3%; p = 0.004). Glucose levels and the incidences of new-onset diabetes and new-onset hyperglycemia did not differ between treatment groups. Conclusions:, Conversion from cyclosporine to tacrolimus results in improved renal function and lipid profiles, and significantly fewer cardiovascular events with no differences in the incidence of acute rejection or new-onset hyperglycemia. [source] |