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Transplantation

Transplants Can Proceed Despite Substance Abuse

John Schieszer February 03, 2010

FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla.—Substance abuse by renal transplant recipients does not significantly affect graft and patient outcomes, according to new data presented at the American Society of Transplantation 10th Annual State of the Art Winter Symposium.

Obesity Need Not Rule Out Renal Transplants

John Schieszer February 03, 2010

FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla.— Elevated BMI in renal transplant recipients does not appear to impact early graft function and the risk of acute rejection, according to study findings presented here at the American Society of Transplantation 10th Annual State of the Art Winter Symposium.

Rituximab May Increase Infection Risk in Kidney Transplant Patients

Jody A. Charnow January 08, 2010

Use of rituximab in kidney transplant patients is associated with a high risk of infections, according to a French study. In addition, rituximab used in combination with antithymocyte globulin is associated with an increased risk of infection-related death.

Kidney Disease Patients Older than 70 Benefit from Renal Transplants

Jody A. Charnow December 30, 2009

They have significantly prolonged survival compared with those who remain on dialysis.

Earlier May Not Be Better For Preemptive Transplant

Jody A. Charnow December 17, 2009

SAN DIEGO—Pre-dialysis transplant recipients with a high level of kidney function do not appear to benefit from their transplant more than pre-dialysis recipients with a low level of kidney function, data show.

Transplant Get-Togethers May Boost Donations

John Schieszer December 17, 2009

SAN DIEGO—Get-togethers with a kidney disease patients' family and friends may improve their willingness to consider donation, according to a new report.

Delayed Graft Function, Vitamin D Deficiency Linked

Jody A. Charnow December 15, 2009

Renal transplant recipients who are deficient in 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D are at higher risk of delayed graft function (DGF), according to a Polish study published in Transplantation Proceedings (2009;41:3002-2005).

Sleep Apnea May Raise Cardiovascular Risk in Kidney Transplant Patients

Tasheema Prince November 23, 2009

Kidney transplant patients who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea have an increased risk for developing heart-related complications, according to a study published in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (2009; published online ahead of print).

Flu Vaccine Advised for Transplant Patients

John Schieszer November 19, 2009

Influenza should be prevented in renal transplant recipients because it can cause allograft rejection.

Alendronate May Benefit Long-Term Transplant Survivors

John Schieszer November 19, 2009

DENVER—Anti-resorptive therapy with alendronate may suppress bone turnover in long-term renal transplant survivors even when intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) is elevated, according to Japanese researchers.

Donor Size Not An Issue For Children

Jill Stein November 19, 2009

Adult kidneys were transplanted successfully into very small recipients.

Diagnosing Acute Kidney Rejection through Urinary Proteome Analysis

John Schieszer November 01, 2009

It may be possible to detect acute allograft rejection in kidney transplant patients by urinary proteome analysis, according to a new German study that was presented at ASN's Renal Week 2009.

Risk Factors for New-Onset Diabetes in Pediatric Transplant Patients Identified

John Schieszer November 01, 2009

Among pediatric renal transplant recipients, increased age and having a very high or very low BMI, steroid use at the time of hospital discharge are three independent factors associated with an increased risk of new onset diabetes, according to new data presented at ASN's Renal Week 2009.

Intensified Dosing Regimen May Lower Rejection Rate

John Schieszer November 01, 2009

An intensified-dosing regimen of enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium in combination with basiliximab and standard doses of cyclosporine may result in a lower rate of rejection without compromising safety and tolerability, according to new data presented at ASN's Renal Week 2009.

High-Dose Multivitamin Does Not Reduce CVD Outcomes in Transplant Patients

John Schieszer November 01, 2009

Treatment of stable renal transplant recipients with a regimen of high-dose folic acid and vitamins B6 and B12 lowers total homocysteine levels better than a low-dose multivitamin containing no folic acid. However, it does not reduce cardiovascular disease outcomes or total mortality in this patient population, according to a study presented at ASN's Renal Week 2009.

Switching Immunosuppressants May Reduce Cancer Risk in Kidney Transplant Recipients

John Schieszer October 31, 2009

Switching to sirolimus from a calcineurin inhibitor may reduce the high risk of skin cancer after kidney transplantation, according to a new multi-centered trial conducted in Australia, New Zealand and the United States that was presented at ASN's Renal Week 2009.

Active Surveillance for BK Virus May Help Minimize Nephropathy in Kidney Transplant Recipients

John Schieszer October 31, 2009

Active surveillance for BK virus with prompt reduction in immunosuppression therapy may help minimize graft loss due to BK nephropathy, according to researchers who presented their study at ASN's Renal Week 2009.

Survival Better on PD than HD in the First Year After Renal Graft Failure

John Schieszer October 31, 2009

Following renal transplant failure, patients starting peritoneal dialysis have better survival in the first year than patients starting on hemodialysis, but then the survival advantage lessens with time, according to British researchers in a report presented at ASN's Renal Week 2009.

Kidney Transplants Generally Safe for Lupus Patients

John Schieszer October 31, 2009

Contrary to previous studies, lupus patients who receive kidney transplants rarely develop lupus nephritis in their new allograft, according to a study presented at ASN's Renal Week 2009.

Higher iPTH Does Not Hike Risk of Death, Cardiovascular Events

Eric Butterman October 30, 2009

Higher intact parathyroid hormone levels are not associated with all-cause mortality and cardiovascular events in CKD patients not yet on dialysis, researchers have concluded in a study that was presented at Renal Week 2009.

Study: Cardiovascular Risk Reduction Lacking in Kidney Transplant Patients

John Schieszer October 30, 2009

Despite the fact that cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in kidney transplant patients, overall utilization of cardioprotective drugs—such as antihypertensive agents and statins—is low in this high-risk population, Hungarian researchers reported at ASN's Renal Week 2009.

Superior Efficacy Reported with Enteric-Coated Mycophenolate

John Schieszer October 30, 2009

Results from a pooled analysis suggest that enteric-coated mycophenolate is more effective than mycophenolate in renal transplant patients, according to a study presented at Renal Week 2009.

Foreign Renal Transplants Measure Up to Those Performed in the U.S.

John Schieszer October 30, 2009

A new study suggests that kidneys transplanted abroad have comparable function to kidneys transplanted in the United States more than five years after surgery. The study was presented at ASN's Renal Week 2009 in San Diego.

Donor Race May Impact Survival in Kidney Transplant Patients

John Schieszer October 30, 2009

Kidney transplants within the same races appear to result in better patient survival than transplants between races, according to a new study presented at ASN's Renal Week 2009.

Earlier May Not Be Better For Preemptive Kidney Transplants

John Schieszer October 29, 2009

Pre-dialysis transplant recipients with a high level of kidney function do not appear to benefit from their transplant more than pre-dialysis recipients with a low level of kidney function, data show. The findings suggest that pre-dialysis patients need not rush to have a preemptive transplant.

Kidney Transplant Get-Togethers May Increase Donations

John Schieszer October 29, 2009

Get-togethers with a kidney disease patients' family and friends may improve their willingness to consider donation, according to a new report.

Kidney Transplant Consent Forms May Need a Make-Over

John Schieszer October 29, 2009

It may be time to make-over kidney transplant consent forms. A new study suggests that these forms are often written at a level that makes it difficult for many kidney patients to fully understand them.

Younger Doctors More Likely to Recommend Preemptive Kidney Transplantation

John Schieszer October 29, 2009

Recent medical school graduates are more likely than veteran doctors to refer CKD patients for renal transplantation before their patients require dialysis, a procedure known as preemptive kidney transplantation, a new study suggests.

Renal Week Live 2009

October 26, 2009

Renal & Urology News is proud to deliver wall-to-wall coverage from the American Society of Nephrology's (ASN) Renal Week 2009 in San Diego starting on Oct. 29. Topics of coverage include anemia, hyperphosphatemia, secondary hyperparathyroidism and transplantation.

Anti-CMV Drug Cleared for Pediatric Transplant Patients

Jody A. Charnow October 16, 2009

The FDA has approved Valcyte (valganciclovir hydrochloride) for the prevention of cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease in pediatric kidney and heart transplant recipients (aged four months to 16 years) who are at high risk of developing the disease. FDA also approved a new pediatric oral solution formulation for the drug that will enable easier administration to these patients.