供者特异性抗体监测在肾移植中的应用

目的 研究肾移植术后受者血清中供者特异性抗体（DSA）与发生急性排斥反应的关系,为临床早期诊断、合理制定个体化治疗方案、评估疗效提供客观的参考依据.方法 选取2012年1月至2013年8月西安交通大学医学院第一附属医院肾病医院肾移植科285例首次肾移植受者,术后动态监测DSA水平,检测时间点为术后3,5,7,14,21,30,60,90 d.观察受者肾功能和急性排斥反应发生情况.使用卡方检验或Fisher精确概率法比较不同HLA抗体类型的受者急性排斥反应发生率.结果 285例肾移植受者术后初筛人类白细胞抗原（HLA）抗体阳性率为22.11％ （63/285）,其中DSA阳性4例.急性排斥反应发生率6.67％ （19/285）.HLA抗体阴性受者和HLA抗体阳性且DSA阴性受者急性排斥反应发生率分别为3.15％ （7/222）和16.95％ （10/59）,二者相比差异有统计学意义（x2=12.891,P＜0.05）;4例DSA阳性受者有3例发生急性排斥反应,与HLA抗体阴性、HLA抗体阳性且DSA阴性受者急性排斥反应发生率相比,差异均有统计学意义（P=0.000和P=0.016）.19例发生急性排斥反应受者经甲泼尼龙、兔抗人胸腺细胞免疫球蛋白冲击治疗或血浆置换等治疗后,15例受者成功逆转,1例死于并发症.结论 动态监测肾移植术后受者DSA水平,可预测移植肾功能状态,对急性排斥反应的发生有重要预警作用,有利于及时清除或降低DSA水平,对有效预防和及时诊治排斥反应具有重要作用。     

补体依赖-流式细胞术-淋巴细胞毒交叉配型实验方法的研究

目的提高识别介导肾移植术后严重排斥反应的抗供者HLA抗原IgG类抗体的准确性,建立补体依赖-流式细胞术-淋巴细胞毒交叉配型(Flow-CDC)实验方法。方法62例等待肾移植受者的血清,分别与33份供者淋巴细胞进行100次经典补体依赖微量淋巴细胞毒交叉配型(NIH-CDC)及Flow-CDC实验,依照受者移植前PRA分为PRA阴性组(25例)和PRA阳性组(75例),比较方法学差异;并观察5例PRA阳性受者的NIH-CDC、Flow-CDC及临床肾移植效果。结果PRA阴性组NIH-CDC与Flow-CDC均为阴性;PRA阳性组中,NIH-CDC阳性24例(32.0%),Flow-CDC阳性31例(41.3%),2种CDC方法阳性率比较差异有统计学意义(χ2=5.14,P=0.016)。100例CDC中,NIH-CDC与Flow-CDC结果吻合率93%,相关系数0.80。4例接受NIH-CDC和Flow-CDC均阴性的供肾PRA阳性患者,术后未发生排斥,近期效果良好;另1例PRA阳性患者接受了NIH-CDC阴性Flow-CDC阳性肾移植,术后发生加速排斥反应而丧失移植肾。结论Flow-CDC能特异性识别针对供者H...     

活体肾移植前对致敏患者的处理经验及疗效分析

目的 总结活体肾移植前对致敏患者的处理经验,并对移植效果进行分析.方法 回顾性分析609例活体肾移植受者的临床资料.根据移植前群体反应性抗体(PRA)水平将受者分为高致敏组(41例,PRA≥30％),低致敏组(102例,PRA为0～30％)和非致敏组(466例,PRA为0).所有受者经HLA抗体检测和淋巴细胞毒交叉配合试验(CDC)确认没有针对供者的HLA抗体后进行肾移植.高致敏组给予抗胸腺细胞球蛋白诱导治疗,低致敏组给予抗白细胞介素2受体单抗诱导治疗.随访1年以上,观察各组术后移植肾功能、急性排斥反应发生率、受者和移植肾存活率及并发症发生率.结果 高致敏组、低致敏组和非致敏组受者术后移植肾恢复正常的时间和1年时肾小球滤过率均无明显差异;3组均未发生超急性排斥反应,急性排斥反应发生率分别为9.76％(4/41)、8.82％(9/102)和8.15％(38/466),术后1年移植肾存活率分别为97.6％(40/41)、97.1％(99/102)和98.1％(457/466),受者存活率分别为97.6％(40/41)、98.0％(100/102)和98.9％(461/466),3组间上述指标的差异均无统计学意义(P＞0.05).高致敏组的感染发生率为31.7％(13/41),明显高于低致敏组的26.5％(27/102)和非致敏组的21.6％ (101/466) (P＜0.05).结论 致敏受者肾移植前经HLA抗体检测和CDC配型,避开受者体内供者特异性抗体针对的供肾,并给予免疫诱导治疗,可以获得与非致敏受者相似的良好效果.     

丙型肝炎病毒感染对肾移植受者排斥反应及人/肾存活率的影响

目的 研究丙型肝炎病毒(HCV)感染是否影响移植肾急性和慢性排斥反应的发生率,以及受者和移植肾的存活率.方法 对1992年6月至2004年6月所行肾移植的495例受者进行了随访,其中术前HCV抗体阳性受者27例(HCV阳性组),随机抽取HCV抗体阴性受者27例作为对照组,行组间配对研究,分析HCV感染状态对肾移植受者急性和慢性排斥反应发生率以及人/肾存活率的影响.结果 HCV阳性组受者急性排斥反应的发生率显著高于对照组(19.14%和6.38%,P<0.01),HCV阳性组慢性排斥反应的发生率也明显高于对照组(23.40%和12.76%,P<0.01),对照组肾移植后1、3、5年人/肾存活率显著高于HCV阳性组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.01).结论 HCV感染可以明显增加肾移植受者急性和慢性排斥反应的发生率,降低人/肾存活率.     

肾移植术后特异性HLA抗体对急性排斥的影响

目的评价肾移植术后特异性HLA抗体对移植肾急性排斥的影响.方法采用前瞻性队列研究,通过酶联免疫吸附(ELISA)法检测136例肾移植患者围手术期特异性HLA抗体水平,随访观察HLA抗体对急性排斥的影响.结果术后HLA抗体阳性组急性排斥发生率高于阴性组(32.65%vs13.79%,P=0.000).按照HLA-Ⅰ类和Ⅱ类抗体水平分组后,移植肾无排斥存活率依次为HLA-Ⅰ-/Ⅱ-组＞HLA-Ⅰ-/Ⅱ+组＞HLA-Ⅰ+/Ⅱ-组＞HLA-Ⅰ+/Ⅱ+组(P=0.03).结论术后特异性HLA抗体可能是引起移植肾急性排斥的原因之一,HLA-Ⅰ类抗体与急性排斥关系较为密切.     

动态监测供者特异性抗体与非供者特异性抗体判断移植肾预后的临床意义

目的 动态监测肾移植前后供者HLA特异性抗体(DSA)及非供者HLA特异性抗体(NDSA)的变化,观察其对移植肾预后的影响.方法 采用免疫荧光液相芯片(Luminex)技术检测8例肾移植患者术前HLA基因分型、术前和术后的特异性HLA抗体改变.结果 术前HLA抗体阴性者4例,术后1例并发肺部感染死亡,另3例半年内HLA抗体阴性,肾功能良好.2例移植前后检测HLA抗体阳性,术后半年抗体滴度明显逐渐增高,分离出DR11(DSA);DR12、DQ7、DQ8(NDSA).1例术前存在A11(DSA),A34(NDSA)抗体,术后1个月始NDSA增多,且其分值呈上升趋势.1例术前存在DR.15(DSA)抗体,术后1周发生急性排斥反应行移植肾切除.结论 肾移植前受者存在DSA会导致移植肾急性排斥,特别是存在HLA-Ⅱ类抗体.在随访期间HLA抗体滴度和类型持续升高者,应鉴定其DSA与NDSA类型,尽早采用有效的治疗方法 减少移植肾功能减退及排斥反应的发生和发展.     

HLA配型对群体反应性抗体阳性的肾移植受者人/肾存活率的影响

目的探讨HLA交叉反应组（CREGs）配型对群体反应性抗体（PRA）阳性肾移植受者人／肾存活率的影响。方法应用美国莱姆德公司LAT1240、LM720R、SSP2LB试剂，准确检测112例PRA阳性肾移植受者体内PRA的水平及其抗体的特异性，评估其致敏状态，应用CREGs配型标准选择最匹配的供者。结果112例受者中，HLA-Ⅰ类抗体阳性43例，Ⅱ类抗体阳性39例，Ⅰ、Ⅱ类抗体均为阳性30例；HLA配型0～5个位点错配数分别为6、39、38、21、7、1例，术后移植肾发生加速性排斥反应2例、急性排斥反应18例、慢性排斥反应5例、移植肾功能延迟恢复（DGF）4例，因排斥反应导致移植肾切除1例，死亡13例（其中移植肾带功能死亡5例）。目前人存活99例，肾存活96例，5年、3年和1年肾存活率分别为86．21％、86．96％和91．96％。结论运用CREGs配型原则，能使供、受者间的HLA相配率显著提高，可减少PRA对肾移植的不良影响，提高PRA阳性受者的人／肾存活率。     

影响致敏受者肾移植术后人/肾存活的相关因素

目的：探讨影响致敏受者肾移植术后人／肾存活的相关因素。方法：对82例致敏受者尸体肾移植患者可能影响移植肾存活相关的20个因素47个水平，进行Logrank单因素分析和Cox模型多因素回归分析。结果：82例的1、2和3年的人存活率分别为98％、96％和94％；移植肾存活率分别为90％、87％和83％。总的移植肾半生存期为4．7年。单因素分析，群体反应抗体水平和动态变化、供体特异性抗体、急性排斥、慢性排斥、冷缺血时间、早期肾功能、血肌酐水平和免疫诱导剂等9个因素；多因素分析，急性排斥、供体特异性抗体和群体反应抗体类型等3个因素；单因素和多因素同时分析，急性排斥和供体特异性抗体2个因素，对致敏受者移植肾短期和长期的存活率有重要的影响(P＜0．05)。结论：高质量的供肾、群体反应抗体动态监测、尽力避免和有效处理术前和术后相关危险因素，对提高致敏受者肾移植的人／肾存活率有重要的作用。     

供犬脾灌注对特异性致敏犬移植肾功能的影响

目的探讨供犬脾灌注对特异性致敏犬移植肾的免疫保护作用。方法雄性家犬作为肾移植的供、受者。首先采用供者淋巴细胞多次输注诱导18只受者致敏后，随机平均将致敏受者分为3组。特异性脾灌注组：用加工过的人用血液透析穿刺管将同一供者的离体脾动、静脉与受者的腹主动脉及下腔静脉连通后开放血流（血流量约18-25ml／min），充盈后轻揉脾脏，灌注40min，然后用同一供肾行肾移植术；非特异性脾灌注组：离体脾灌注以及肾移植的方法与特异性脾灌注组相同，不同的是供脾和供肾均来自于无关供者；对照组：开腹旷置40min后，同法行肾移植。监测脾灌注前、后各组受者微量淋巴细胞毒（CDC）试验和混合淋巴细胞培养（MLC）的变化；观察供者脾灌注对受者移植肾排斥反应发生和肾功能的影响。结果各组受者均在输注淋巴细胞3～4次后诱导致敏成功。特异性脾灌注可以显著降低受者CDC配型水平和MLC淋巴细胞增殖水平，使受者外周血白细胞计数一过性减少，总补体溶血活性（CH50）下降。肾移植术后特异性脾灌注组移植肾肾小球滤过率下降较非特异性脾灌注组和对照组缓慢；病理检查提示术后特异性脾灌注组移植肾排斥反应较非特异性脾灌注组和对照组为轻。结论供者脾灌注可以特异性吸附毒性抗体，使外周血激活淋巴细胞归巢，耗竭血小板，从而延缓特异性致敏受者肾移植后排斥反应的发生，改善移植肾功能。     

猕猴预致敏后肾移植加速性排斥反应的免疫学及病理学特点

目的 观察猕猴预致敏后肾移植加速性排斥反应的免疫学及病理学变化特点.方法 建立猕猴皮肤预致敏后肾移植加速性排斥反应模型(供、受者各3只).检测3只受者皮肤移植预致敏前、后及肾移植后血清内供者特异性抗体的变化.并在发生排斥反应时对移植肾进行免疫组织化学(测定补体、抗体的沉积及各类型淋巴细胞浸润情况)及病理学分析.结果 3只受者均发生了加速性排斥反应.其中2只受者在预致敏后血清中供者特异性抗体明显增加,对供者的淋巴毒反应明显升高;肾移植后受者血清中供者特异性抗体及针对供者的淋巴毒进一步升高.苏木精-伊红染色显示排斥反应的移植肾内有明显的动脉坏死、血栓形成、间质出血、中性粒细胞浸润;免疫组织化学及荧光染色显示移植肾内有大量的补体、抗体沉积(主要为IgG),而各种类型的淋巴细胞浸润少见.另1只受者体内的供者特异性抗体及对供者淋巴毒反应的升高程度不如前2只明显,病理学变化以肾小管损伤为主.结论 皮肤移植预致敏可以诱导受者产生程度不等的预存抗体,导致大多数移植肾在术后早期发牛主要南抗体和补体介导的严重的急性体液性排斥反应.     

再次肾移植受者和移植肾长期预后影响因素分析

目的探究再次肾移植受者和移植肾存活情况及长期预后影响因素。 方法回顾性分析1991年1月1日至2017年12月31日于浙江大学医学院附属第一医院肾脏病中心接受肾移植受者临床资料。共纳入再次肾移植受者37例,首次肾移植受者5 374例。根据再次肾移植受者移植肾存活时间长短,将其分为长期存活组(19例,>5年)和短期存活组(18例,≤5年)。采用成组t检验比较长期和短期存活组供受者年龄、首次与再次肾移植间隔时间、HLA错配数和再次移植供肾冷/热缺血时间。采用卡方检验比较长期和短期存活组受者性别、再次移植供肾类型、再次移植前后群体反应性抗体阳性比例、首次移植失功移植肾切除比例、再次移植前免疫诱导比例及再次移植后移植肾功能延迟恢复(DGF)和急性排斥反应发生比例。采用Kaplan-Meier法分析再次和首次肾移植受者/移植肾1、5和10年存活率。采用Cox比例风险模型分析影响再次肾移植术后移植肾长期存活影响因素。P<0.05为差异有统计学意义。 结果截至2018年3月1日,37例再次肾移植受者中位随访时间为152个月(11～323个月),2例死亡,18例发生移植肾失功,17例移植肾功能稳定。5 374例首次肾移植受者中位随访时间为108.9个月(0.1～350.0个月),459例死亡,1 343例发生移植肾失功。再次移植组受者/移植肾1、5和10年存活率分别为86%/81%、86%/62%和82%/36%,首次移植组受者/移植肾1、5和10年存活率分别为99%/98%、93%/89%和88%/80%。再次移植组移植肾1、5和10年存活率均低于首次移植组(χ²＝60.816、25.110和43.900,P均<0.05);再次移植组受者1年存活率低于首次移植组,差异有统计学意义(χ²＝40.409,P<0.05)。长期和短期存活组受者再次移植后移植肾DGF和急性排斥反应发生比例差异均有统计学意义(χ²＝4.039和4.748,P均<0.05)。Cox回归分析结果示DGF和急性排斥反应是影响再次肾移植受者移植肾长期存活的独立危险因素,差异有统计学意义(RR＝4.317和4.571,P均<0.05)。 结论再次肾移植受者移植肾存活率低于首次肾移植受者,DGF和急性排斥反应是影响再次移植受者移植肾存活的独立危险因素。     

Posttransplant donor‐specific antibody characterization and kidney graft survival

Abstract This study was designed to investigate the clinical relevance of donor‐specific antibodies (DS‐Abs) and their influence on graft survival. Among 106 patients who underwent cadaveric kidney donor transplantation and were monitored by flow cytometry crossmatch (FCXM) during the 1st posttransplantation year, 25 (23.6%) resulted positive for DS‐Ab production. During a 2‐year follow up only 12 of the 81 FCXM‐negative patients (14.8%) suffered rejection vs 17 of 25 FCXM‐positive patients (68%; P = 0.00001). Correlating graft loss to DS‐Ab production, 9 FCXM‐positive patients lost the graft vs only 1 among the FCXM‐negative patients. A worse graft function was evidenced in FCXM‐positive subjects who had also suffered rejection episodes than in those which had acute rejection but did not produce DS‐Abs. A high incidence of HLA‐AB mismatches was found in FCXM‐positive subjects which produced anti‐class I antibodies. FCXM appears useful in estimating post‐transplant alloimmune response. Moreover our findings confirm the harmful effects of anti‐class IDS‐Abs on long‐term graft survival.     

Outcome of the Using Older Donors for Kidney Transplantation; Gazi University, Ankara Experience

The extreme organ shortage in Turkey has led to expansion of living and diseased donors. We retrospectively analyzed patient data to determine the outcomes of elderly donors. Among 210 donors, 28 (13.3%) were atleast ≥55 years old. In this group, 17 were from living and 11 from diseased donors. Mean cold ischemia time was 68 ± 21 minutes. The immunosuppressive protocol consisted of induction therapy (simulect 20 mg on days 0 and 4) and immunosuppression with calcineurin inhibitors, mycophenolic acid, and steroids. Nine patients (32.6%) with delayed graft function (DGF) required transient hemodialysis. None of the recipients or their grafts were lost due to surgical complications. We noted 5 acute rejection episodes which were all reversed by pulse steroids. Mean creatinine levels at 1, 3, and 5 years were 1.7, 2.1 and 2.3 mg/dL respectively. Patient and graft survivals at 1, 3, and 5 years were 100%, 96%, and 92% and 100%, 92%, and 92%, respectively. Although 3.6% of recipients displayed DGF, it did not affect graft outcomes. In conclusion, kidney transplantation from older donors should be considered to be an option for kidney transplantation.     

Impaired kidney graft survival is associated with the TNF-alpha genotype

BACKGROUND: The TNF2 allele at position -308 of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha gene is associated with high TNF production. The purpose was to study the association of this gene polymorphism with rejection episodes and graft survival after kidney transplantation. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of transplant outcomes of patients who only had been treated with one single form of immunosuppression consisting of cyclosporine, azathioprine, and prednisolon was performed. RESULTS: We found that 115 (73%) patients had the TNF1/TNF1 genotype, whereas 42 (27%) were TNF2 positive. There was no difference in the overall acute rejection frequency between these two groups (50% in each), but our data showed a non-significant tendency towards a higher frequency of steroid resistant rejections in the TNF2 positive group (57% vs. 40%). There was no significant difference in graft survival between the two genotype groups, although an early tendency towards worse survival was seen in TNF2 recipients. However, the TNF2 positive recipients with rejection episodes had far worse graft survival compared with the TNF1/TNF1 recipients with rejection episodes (P<0.02). No difference was seen between the two genotype groups in patients without rejection episodes. CONCLUSION: Our data propose that potentially high TNF producers with the TNF2 allele do not have an increased risk for rejection episodes, but if rejection episodes occur, they have a significantly increased risk for early graft loss. TNF production may intensify rejection, but is not a primary factor for the induction of such acute immune activation.     

肾移植受者抗HLA抗体监测的临床意义

目的探讨动态监测肾移植受者抗HLA抗体的临床意义。方法采用酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)对1517例肾移植受者进行手术前、后血清群体反应性抗体(panel reactive antibody,PRA)强度动态监测,对PRA阳性受体进一步行抗HLA抗体分型并进行随访,观察PRA水平对移植物长期存活和移植肾功能的影响。结果1517例中,术前PRA阴性者1336例,阳性者181例。术前PRA阳性受者和阴性受者的移植物功能延迟恢复(DGF)发生率分别为34.8%、11.9%,两组比较差异有统计学意义(P0.01)。术前PRA阳性受者的移植肾1、3、5、8年存活率分别为94%、85%、73%和63%,术前PRA阴性受者相应为96%、87%、72%和65%,两组比较差异均无统计学意义(P0.05)。移植前及移植6个月后PRA均为阴性的265例受者中,血清肌酐水平异常者仅占19.6%,而术后PRA转为阳性的57例受者中,血清肌酐异常者高达61%,两者比较差异有统计学意义(P0.01);移植前PRA阳性的53例受者中,有24例移植后PRA转为阴性,术后血清肌酐全部正常。结论术前筛查PRA可科学评估肾移植患者的体液致敏状态,为致敏患者选配合适供者;术后监测PRA可及时了解移植肾的免疫状态,有利于防治排斥反应。     

Long-term analysis of combined liver and kidney transplantation at a single center

OBJECTIVE: To analyze use of combined liver and kidney transplantation (CLKT) for patients with chronic primary diseases of both organs and for patients with hepatorenal syndrome. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. SETTING: Multiorgan transplantation service in a large university medical center. PATIENTS: A total of 98 patients underwent 99 CLKTs during a 16-year period; 76 had primary renal diseases, and 22 had hepatorenal syndrome. Patients receiving isolated liver and kidney transplants were analyzed for comparison. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patient and graft survival, rejection rates, and need for hemodialysis before and after transplantation. RESULTS: Overall patient survival was 76%, 72%, and 70% at 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively; liver graft survival was 70%, 65%, and 65%; and kidney graft survival was 76%, 72%, and 70%. No risk factors analyzed for recipients or donors were associated significantly with early posttransplantation mortality or graft loss. In 28 patients who received monoclonal antibody induction therapy with interleukin 2 blockers, there were significantly fewer episodes of acute liver rejection. For patients with hepatorenal syndrome, CLKT did not confer a survival advantage over liver-only transplantation (1-year patient survival was 72% vs 66%; P = .88). The 1-year acute kidney rejection rate in the adult CLKT group was 14% vs 23% in a 5-year cadaveric renal transplantation cohort (P<.01). CONCLUSIONS: First, CLKT is indicated in patients with dual organ disease and achieves excellent results. Second, CLKT for hepatorenal syndrome is indicated in patients receiving hemodialysis for longer than 8 weeks and confers advantages in patient survival and use of hospital resources. Third, the liver is immunoprotective for the kidney.     

Clinical Implications of Initial Renal Function After Deceased Donor Transplant

The aim of this study was to investigate whether slow graft function (SGF) after transplantation of deceased-donor kidneys affected the prevalence of anemia or the glomerular filtration rate (GFR). We retrospectively evaluated the records of 534 kidney transplant patients who were classified based on their initial renal function, namely, immediate graft function (IGF), slow graft function (SGF), or delayed graft function (DGF). Among the 534 kidney transplant patients studied, the occurrences of each condition were IGF 104, SGF 133, and DGF 297. Six months after transplantation, a greater percentage of DGF patients were anemic compared with the others (P = .028). However, at 12 months after transplantation, SGF patients showed more anemia than the IGF group. DGF and SGF patients displayed similar GFR values at 18 and 24 months after transplantation. However, IGF patients displayed higher GFRs, even when subjects who experienced acute rejection episodes were censored (P = .004). The incidence of acute rejection episodes was similar among SGF and DGF patients. Patients displaying SGF after deceased-donor transplantation showed a greater tendency to be anemic than those displaying IGF. This study also suggested that SGF patients were at risk for acute rejection episodes and/or significantly reduced kidney function as measured by GFR.     

Outpatient Management of Delayed Graft Function Is Associated With Reduced Length of Stay Without an Increase in Adverse Events

Delayed graft function (DGF) is a common and costly complication of kidney transplantation. In July 2011, we established a multidisciplinary DGF clinic managed by nurse practitioners to facilitate early discharge and intensive management of DGF in the outpatient setting. We compared length of stay, 30‐day readmission, acute rejection, and patient/graft survival in 697 consecutive deceased donor kidney transplantations performed between July 2009 and July 2014. Patients were divided into three groups: no DGF (n = 487), DGF before implementation of the DGF clinic (n = 118), and DGF clinic (n = 92). Baseline characteristics including age, gender, panel reactive antibody, retransplantation rates, HLA mismatches, induction, and maintenance immunosuppression were not significantly different between pre‐ and post‐DGF clinic groups. Length of stay was significantly longer in pre‐DGF clinic (10.9 ± 6.2 vs. 6.1 ± 2.1 days, p < 0.001). Thirty‐day readmission (21% vs. 16%), graft loss (7% vs. 20%), and patient death (2% vs. 11%) did not differ significantly between pre‐ and post‐DGF clinic. Patients in the DGF clinic were less likely to develop acute rejection (21% vs. 40%, p = 0.006). Outpatient management of DGF in a specialized clinic is associated with substantially shorter hospitalization and lower incidence of acute rejection without significant difference in 30‐day readmission or patient and graft survival.     

Efficacy of early biopsy in kidney allograft recipients with delayed graft function

It is accepted that kidney transplants that display delayed graft function (DGF) show poorer survival and function, particularly when an acute rejection episode (ARE) occurs. A diagnostic biopsy to establish the reason for DGF, or acknowledge an ARE, even if borderline, can improve short- and long-term graft survivals. From January 2002 to September 2006 we retrospectively evaluated 358 kidney transplant recipients. We performed a biopsy to evaluate the cause of DGF in all patients who required dialysis, or had serum creatinine levels that increased, remained unchanged, or decreased less than 10% per day on three consecutive days during the first week after transplantation. An ARE was found in 18.8% (n = 19) of the biopsies. Early biopsy for patients with DGF is a safe method that allows uncovering of an ARE that would otherwise be undetected. The immediate recognition and treatment of rejection episodes can certainly increase long-term survival and function of renal transplants.     

Kidney transplantation from donation after cardiac death donors: lack of impact of delayed graft function on post‐transplant outcomes

Singh RP, Farney AC, Rogers J, Zuckerman J, Reeves‐Daniel A, Hartmann E, Iskandar S, Adams P, Stratta RJ. Kidney transplantation from donation after cardiac death donors: lack of impact of delayed graft function on post‐transplant outcomes.
Clin Transplant 2011: 25: 255–264. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Abstract: Introduction: Delayed graft function (DGF) is more common in recipients of kidney transplants from donation after cardiac death (DCD) donors compared to donation after brain death (DBD) donors. Methods: Single‐center retrospective study to evaluate the impact of DGF on controlled (Maastricht category III) DCD donor kidney transplant outcomes. Results: From 10/01 to 6/08, 578 adult deceased donor kidney transplants were performed including 70 (12%) from DCD and 508 (88%) from DBD donors. Mean follow‐up was 36 months. DCD donor kidney transplants had significantly greater rates of DGF (57% DCD vs. 21% DBD, p < 0.0001)) and acute rejection (29% DCD vs. 16% DBD, p = 0.018) compared to DBD donor kidney transplants, but patient and graft survival rates were similar. DBD donor kidney transplants with DGF (n = 109) had significantly greater rates of death‐censored graft loss (12.5% DCD vs. 31% DBD), primary non‐function (0 DCD vs. 10% DBD) and higher 2 year mean serum creatinine levels (1.4 DCD vs. 2.7 mg/dL DBD) compared to DCD donor kidney transplants with DGF (n = 40, all p < 0.04). On univariate analysis, the presence of acute rejection and older donor age were the only significant risk factors for death‐censored graft loss in DCD donor kidney transplants, whereas DGF was not a risk factor. Conclusion: Despite higher rates of DGF and acute rejection in DCD donor kidney transplants, subsequent outcomes in DCD donor kidney transplants with DGF are better than in DBD donor kidney transplants experiencing DGF, and similar to outcomes in DCD donor kidney transplants without DGF.