Clinical Transplants

Intestinal transplantation is a viable treatment strategy for patients with irreversible intestinal failure for whom parenteral nutrition is no longer an option. Although improvements have been made in short-term post-transplant survival outcomes, long-term allograft loss, mainly to acute or chronic rejection, remains a major obstacle to successful transplantation. In all types of solid organ transplants, there is increasing evidence that antibodies directed against human leukocyte antigens, and in particular donor-specific antibodies (DSA), contribute to acute and chronic rejection as well as allograft loss...

Kidney transplantation (KT) recipients with donor specific HLA antibodies (DSA) encounter higher rates of acute rejection and inferior allograft survival. We report our single center experience with prospective DSA monitoring and provide details of treatments utilized to overcome the potential impact of DSA in a cohort of predominantly African American adult KT recipients. Seventy-five flow crossmatch negative KT recipients underwent periodic screening for DSA utilizing the single antigen bead assay at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months post-transplant...

The development of donor specific antibodies (DSA) post transplant has been associated with chronic rejection and graft failure. In a longitudinal study, we have shown that increases in DSA precede rejection by months, thus allowing time for intervention. We hypothesized that mycophenolic acid (MPA) dose increases may reduce and/or stabilize DSA strength and also preserve renal function. Thirty stable DSA positive kidney transplant recipients participated in this Institutional Review Board approved, exploratory, open-label, single center study to assess the efficacy of MPA dose escalation in patients with DSA...

Improved virtual crossmatch assessments following the implementation of solid phase HLA antibody immunoassays has significantly impacted transplantation of sensitized candidates, using either deceased or living donor organs. In deceased donor transplants, the virtual crossmatch has reduced the number of unexpected positive crossmatch tests resulting in improved organ allocation and reduced ischemia and wait times. The virtual crossmatch has also improved access to living donor transplantation by expediting donor evaluation by impacting clinical decisions regarding desensitization, and through implementation of successful kidney paired donation programs...

In the last few years, there have been studies published on serial testing and longitudinal analysis of anti-human leukocyte antigen (anti-HLA) antibodies. The focus of these studies was to determine specific characteristics of the impact of donor specific anti-HLA antibodies (DSA) in organ transplant dysfunction. These publications have led to an increasing concern about DSA and a growing effort to better understand DSA and to develop treatment for patients with DSA. In 2014, several reports were published that either confirm or expand upon both the understanding of the humoral theory and the clinical applications of DSA testing...

BACKGROUND: In 2003, the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) changed its policy to allow candidates with 'inactive' status to accrue time on the waitlist. In this study, we assessed the transplant outcomes among deceased donor kidney transplant (DDKT) recipients who were temporarily inactive specifically due to medical reason, i.e., being temporarily too sick (reason 7). METHODS: Using the UNOS database, adult DDKT recipients were divided into two groups: those who had never been inactivated (active group) and those with a history of being inactive due to reason 7 (reason 7 group)...

BK virus associated nephropathy (BKVN) can cause clinically significant viral infections in renal transplant recipients, leading to allograft dysfunction and loss. The usual management of BKVN involves reduction of immunosuppression and the addition of leflunomide, quinolones, and cidofovir, but the rate of graft loss remains high. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) on the outcome of BKVN in renal transplant recipients. Upon diagnosis of BKVN, patients remained on anti-polyomavirus treatment consisting of reduction of immunosuppression and the use of leflunomide therapy...

The management of patients undergoing lung transplantation has continued to evolve, leading to improvements in 90-day and 1-year survival. The significant advancements in donor management and utilization at our center have led to significant increases in lung transplant activity without any compromise in recipient outcomes. Through the use of a patient-centered multidisciplinary model of care involved in all aspects of recipient management, from assessment and waitlisting to pre-, peri- and post-operative care, our lung transplant outcomes represent 2015 world's best lung transplant practice...

New Zealand is a geographically isolated country with 4.55 million inhabitants. It has endemic hepatitis B (HBV) infection that is especially evident in Maori and Pacific Island communities and impacts indications for liver transplantation. The country has a socialised medical system that allows for full coverage of the assessment for, and completion of liver transplants in suitable recipients. Between February 1998 and December 2014, the New Zealand Liver Transplant Unit (NZLTU) had performed 595 liver transplants in 568 patients, indicating a crude re-transplant rate of 4...

Over the sixteen year history of liver transplantation (LT) at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida (MCF), we have maintained a practice devoted to excellence in pre- and post-LT management for patients suffering from end stage liver disease. With an emphasis on quality, MCF has made several adjustments with the goal of better utilizing marginal grafts for both successful post-transplant outcomes and minimizing waitlist mortality. This systematic approach is most exemplified in our experience with donation after cardiac death (DCD) liver allografts...

Between June 1978 and June 2014, 4,199 kidney transplants were performed at the Transplantation Center of PLA, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University. In our initial practice period (1978-1985), graft and patient survivals were 48.2% and 56.5%, 27.3% and 31.7%, 22.5% and 24.4%, 20.1% and 23.2%, and 16.5% and 20.8%, at 1, 5, 10, 15, and 20 years, respectively. These results improved tremendously after cyclosporine A (1986-1998) was used at our center. The rates of 1-, 5-, 10-, 15-, and 20-year graft and patient survival were 84...

At the University of Cologne Hospital, 1062 kidney transplants in adults and 136 pediatric transplants were performed between 1990 and 2014. Immunosuppressive therapy was changed during this time period from a therapy with anti-lymphocyte globulin induction followed by a triple therapy to a period using induction (IL2 receptor antagonists) followed by low dose tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil and steroids. Antiviral therapy has been constant during the 25 years, consisting of ganciclovir or valganciclovir...

Since 1999, we have performed 2,302 kidney transplants at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona. Transplant volume has increased by 45% since 2010. Our center performed 269 kidney transplants in 2013. Our growth is related to multiple factors, including an experienced, committed team and strong support from our institution and referring nephrologists. Areas of program innovation at our center include: transplanting deceased donors with acute kidney injury, outcomes in older kidney transplant recipients, alemtuzumab induction with steroid avoidance, living donor paired kidney exchange-3 site experience, and other non-traditional deceased donor kidney transplants...

There were 1997 deceased donor renal transplants reported to the Taiwan Organ Registry and Sharing Center between April 1, 2005, and December 31, 2014. The median age of transplant recipients was 45 years, with most patients between 35 and 64 years old. The number of male patients was comparable to that of female patients. There were more blood type O patients than any other blood type. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year patient survival rates were 96%, 93%, and 89%, respectively. Graft survival rates at 1, 3, and 5 years were 94%, 88%, and 82%, respectively...

Intestinal transplantation has continued to evolve over the past decade. Fewer patients have received intestine transplants in the past 5 years, perhaps due to efforts in intestine rehabilitation. Despite improvement in earlier outcomes, long-term survival has remained steady over the past decade. This is potentially due to the complications of immunosuppression, as well as inherent poor graft half-life due to chronic rejection. Improvements in outcome will require multidisciplinary efforts to understand the long-term mechanisms of intestine graft acceptance and to properly optimize and individualize immunosuppression for the transplant recipient...

As of September 19, 2014, 2441 cases of intestinal transplantation have been performed in 46 centers (2400 deceased, 41 living). Eight centers did more than 100 transplants. Annual case numbers peaked in 2007 (N = 198) and steadily decreased to 109 cases in 2013. Short gut syndrome (68%) and functional bowel problems (15%) are two major indications for intestinal transplantation. The 3 major types of transplants involving the intestine include: isolated intestine transplant (I); simultaneous intestine, liver, and pancreas transplant (I+L+P); and, combined intestine and liver (I+L) transplant...

Heart transplantation in the United States remains an important option for those with heart failure. Survival rates over the last 25 years have improved with the advent of newer immunosuppressive agents, innovation, and a better understanding of managing risk. However, many patients continue to experience allograft failure after transplantation. Innovations in modalities to reduce acute and chronic rejection are needed to improve the long-term success of heart transplantation.

Advances in immunosuppression (IS) agents and strategies have resulted in reduced rejection rates and improved survival outcomes after liver transplantation. The use of induction and maintenance IS agents is both associated with reductions in acute rejection (AR) risk within the first 6 to 12 months posttransplant and with superior failure-free survival. With the lowered incidence of allograft losses attributable to rejection, the long-term sequelae of IS have become the major therapeutic challenge. The long-term use of calcineurin inhibitors and corticosteroids in maintenance immunotherapy regimens has been implicated in the development of renal dysfunction, infections, metabolic derangements, de novo and recurrent malignancies, and the propagation of hepatitis C virus reinfection...

Kidney transplantation has become a preferred treatment for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) as transplant recipients enjoy freedom from dialysis and improvement in both quality and quantity of life. More patients are being placed on the transplant waiting list, although the waiting list patients still only represent a very small fraction of ESRD patients. The characteristics of both waitlisted and transplanted patients have changed considerably in the last decade, as the ESRD population has aged and waiting list times have increased...

The non-classical human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I antigen HLA-G represents a tolerogenic molecule and is involved in the inhibition of natural killer cell and cytotoxic T lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity. Under physiological conditions, HLA-G expression is mainly restricted to immune-privileged tissues, whereas it is overexpressed in tumors and transplants as well as in virus-infected cells. Due to its immunosuppressive features, HLA-G is important for pregnancy or organ transplantation and autoimmune diseases as well as cancer immune escape...