Search

Introduction Hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT) is a well-recognized complication of liver transplantation (LT). HAT is an important risk factor for infectious, in particular hepatic abscess, which can cause graft loss and increasing morbidity and mortality. Case Report We present a case report of complicated LT in a 52-year-old Caucasian man with primary sclerosing cholangitis. In 2007 the patient was included on the waiting list in Padua for LT. In 2012 the patient underwent percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage for bile duct stricture, complicated with acute pancreatitis. A diagnostic laparoscopy was performed with choledochotomy and Kehr's T tube drainage. On February 14, 2012, the patient underwent LT with arterial reconstruction and choledochojejunostomy. The postoperative course was complicated with HAT, multiple liver abscesses, and sepsis associated with bacteremia due to Enterococcus faecium despite massive intravenous antibiotic therapy and percutaneous drainages. On November 28, 2012, the patient underwent retransplantation. Four years after transplantation the patient is still in good general condition. Conclusion Hepatic abscess formation secondary to HAT following LT is a major complication associated with important morbidity and mortality. In selected cases retransplantation should be considered as our case demonstrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between CMV and EBV infection and the occurrence of antibody mediated rejection (AMR) in a cohort of adult heart transplant recipients (HTXs).Materials and Methods: 47 adult HTX patients were enrolled in a case-control study from June 2010 to June 2012, 24 of them with humoral rejection and 23 without.Endomyocardial biopsies (EMBs) were routinely performed and pathological diagnosis of AMR assessed according to ISHLT 2011. Donor specific antibodies titles were evaluated at the same time of EMBs biopsy. Routine surveillance for viral reactivation or infection comprised weekly determination of whole blood CMV DNAemia during the first 100 days post-transplant. CMV and EBV DNAemia was evaluated using real-time PCR. We divided the cohort study in two groups according to time since HTx as early (1-90 days) and late (91-360 days).Results: In the AMR group the EBV infection was present in 13 cases (13/24, 54%) and CMV in 10 cases (10/24, 42%). In the control group the cases of pts with EBV were 2/23 (9%), while CMV were 4/23 (17%).In the early period EBV infection was present in 12/24 cases (50%, p=0.000) and CMV infection was present in 10/23 cases (p=0.042). In the late period EBV was present in 6/24 cases (25%, p=0.002) and CMV in 1/23 (4%, p=0.000).Conclusions: EBV and CMV infections during follow-up post heart transplantation occurred more frequently in patients with AMR suggesting that virus could act as a trigger in humoral rejection. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most frequent infectious complication following solid organ transplantation (SOT). The virus, is responsible for both direct (viral syndrome, hepatitis, pneumonitis, colitis, etc.) and indirect effects (rejection, infections by other microorganisms and graft dysfunction). In this evidence-based guideline we deal with the most important aspects of CMV infection in SOT recipients, including pre- and post-transplant diagnosis assessment and risk factors, with special emphasis on the prevention and treatment of this viral infection. Overall, adequate management of CMV infection is a critical aspect of transplant patient care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new application of a device enabling the long-term enteral administration of drugs or nutritional supplementation was developed for implementing in research entailing the use of macaques (Macaca fascicularis). After implanting a subcutaneous port, a surgically-placed gastrostomy (SPG) was completed to afford access to the gastric lumen and enable the administration of substances. In this study, the device was left in place for a period ranging between two and 12 months in macaques (n = 16). In five cases, the SPG was used successfully for 8-12 months, until the experimental endpoint was reached. In six cases, the SPG had to be removed earlier due to local infection at the implant site, which promptly regressed after the SPG was removed and antibiotic treatment was administered. One SPG-implanted macaque was euthanized for reasons unrelated to the SPG or the xenotransplantation procedure. In four cases, the SPG was implanted without any complications but has yet to be used to administer substances to the animals. From an ethical standpoint, the SPG device described here minimizes the forced handling of macaques otherwise needed for the oral administration of viscous or unpalatable substances by gavage. The device thus represents an effective refinement that fully complies with the tenet of the '3 Rs' that should be considered by primate centres exposing non-human primates to the long-term daily administration of substances by oral gavage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The ultimate goal of organ transplantation is the reestablishment of organ function and the restoration of a solid immunity to prevent the assault of potentially deadly pathogens. T cell immunity is crucial in controlling cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. It is still unknown how preexisting antiviral T cell levels, prophylaxis, or preemptive antiviral strategies and pharmacological conditioning affect immune reconstitution. Methods. Seventy preemptively treated CMV-seropositive recipients, 13 prophylaxis-treated CMV-seronegative recipients of seropositive donor transplants, 2 seropositive recipients of seronegative donor kidneys, and 27 pretransplant subjects were enrolled in a cross-sectional study and analyzed for CMV viremia (DNAemia) and CMV-specific T cell response (interferon-gamma enzyme-linked immunospot assay) before transplantation and at 30, 60, 90, 180, and 360 days after transplantation. Results. CMV-seropositive transplant recipients displayed a progressive but heterogeneous pattern of immune reconstitution starting from day 60 after transplantation. CMV-seronegative recipients did not mount a detectable T cell response throughout the prophylaxis regimen. A single episode of CMV viremia (CMV copy number, 7000-170,000 copies/mL) was sufficient to prime a protective T cell immune response in CMV-seronegative recipients. Antithymocyte globulin treatment did not significantly affect CMV-specific T cell response. Conclusions. Baseline immunity, antiviral therapy but not antithymocyte globulin treatments profoundly influence T cell reconstitution in kidney transplant recipients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

M. Winkler, J. Pratschke, U. Schulz, S. Zheng, M. Zhang, W. Li, M. Lu, D. Sgarabotto, G. Sganga, P. Kaskel, S. Chandwani, L. Ma, J. Petrovic, M. Shivaprakash. Caspofungin for post solid organ transplant invasive fungal disease: results of a retrospective observational study. Transpl Infect Dis 2010: 12: 230–237. All rights reserved Objective. This study was designed to determine clinical outcomes with caspofungin in patients with proven or probable invasive fungal infection (IFI) after a solid organ transplant (SOT) procedure. Methods. In this retrospective observational study, data were collected for a single episode of IFI in patients with an SOT between January 2004 and June 2007. Response was determined by the investigator as favorable (complete or partial) or unfavorable (stable disease or failure) at the end of caspofungin therapy (EOCT). The primary effectiveness population was the proportion of patients who received ≥5 doses of caspofungin (modified all-patients-treated population). Safety was assessed for patients who received ≥1 dose of caspofungin. Results. A total 81 of patients from 13 sites in China, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom were enrolled, including 49 (60%) liver, 22 (27%) heart, 5 (6%) lung, 2 (2%) kidney, 2 (2%) liver and kidney, and 1 (1%) pancreas and kidney recipients. Candidiasis was diagnosed in 64/81 patients (79%) and aspergillosis in 22/81 patients (27%). Most patients received caspofungin monotherapy (75%). Caspofungin was given as first-line therapy to 59 (73%) patients. The overall favorable response at EOCT was 87% (58/67; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 76%, 94%), with favorable responses in 88% (43/49; 95% CI: 75%, 95%) of patients receiving caspofungin monotherapy and 83% (15/18; 95% CI: 59%, 96%) of patients receiving combination therapy with caspofungin (modified all-patients-treated population). Response by type of SOT was as follows: liver 87% (39/45), heart 93% (14/15), kidney 100% (5/5), and lung 50% (2/4). An overall survival rate (all-patients-treated) of 69% (56/81; 95% CI: 59%, 79%) was observed at 7 days post EOCT. No serious drug-related adverse events were reported. Conclusion. In this study, caspofungin was effective and well tolerated in the treatment of IFIs involving SOT recipients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]