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Increased cancer risks are well documented in adult organ transplant recipients. However, the spectrum of malignancies and risk in the pediatric organ transplant population are less well described. We identified all solid organ transplanted patients aged <18 in Sweden between 1970–2007 (n = 536) in the National Patient Register and linked to the Cancer Register. Nationwide rates were used to calculate standardized incidence rate ratios and 95% CI estimating the association between transplant and cancer during maximum 36 years of follow‐up. Nearly 7% of pediatric solid organ transplant recipients developed a premalignant or malignant tumor during follow‐up. Transplantation was associated with an increased risk of any cancer (n = 24, SIR = 12.5, 95% CI: 8.0–18.6): non‐Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) (n = 13, SIR = 127, 95% CI: 68–217), renal cell (n = 3, SIR = 105, 95% CI: 22–307), vulva/vagina (n = 3, SIR = 665, 95% CI: 137–1934) and nonmelanoma skin cancers (n = 2, SIR = 64.7, 95% CI: 7.8–233.8). NHL typically appeared during childhood, while other tumors were diagnosed during adulthood. Apart from short‐term attention toward the potential occurrence of NHL, our results suggest cancer surveillance into adulthood with special attention to skin, kidneys and the female genitalia.

Increased cancer risks are well documented in adult organ transplant recipients. However, the spectrum of malignancies and risk in the pediatric organ transplant population are less well described. We identified all solid organ transplanted patients aged <18 in Sweden between 1970–2007 (n = 536) in the National Patient Register and linked to the Cancer Register. Nationwide rates were used to calculate standardized incidence rate ratios and 95% CI estimating the association between transplant and cancer during maximum 36 years of follow-up. Nearly 7% of pediatric solid organ transplant recipients developed a premalignant or malignant tumor during follow-up. Transplantation was associated with an increased risk of any cancer (n = 24, SIR = 12.5, 95% CI: 8.0–18.6): non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) (n = 13, SIR = 127, 95% CI: 68–217), renal cell (n = 3, SIR = 105, 95% CI: 22–307), vulva/vagina (n = 3, SIR = 665, 95% CI: 137–1934) and nonmelanoma skin cancers (n = 2, SIR = 64.7, 95% CI: 7.8–233.8). NHL typically appeared during childhood, while other tumors were diagnosed during adulthood. Apart from short-term attention toward the potential occurrence of NHL, our results suggest cancer surveillance into adulthood with special attention to skin, kidneys and the female genitalia.

A simplified technique for pancreaticoduodenal transplantation with enteric exocrine drainage is described. The whole‐organ pancreaticoduodenal transplant is placed intraperitoneally with vascular anastomosis to the right common iliac artery and the caval vein, respectively. The graft duodenum is anastomosed side‐to‐side to the most proximal part of the donor jejunum. No Roux‐en‐Y loop or pancreatic duct catheter is used to protect the anastomosis with this technique. Nevertheless, excellent results have been obtained, with no graft losses occuring due to leakage or infection. With this technique, the 1‐yr patient and graft survival rates in uremic recipients of simultaneous renal and pancreas transplants are 100% and 87%, respectively.

Sirolimus (rapamycin, RAPA) is a natural fermentation product (macrolide antibiotic) that has demonstrated potent immunosuppressive activity. A reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method is described for analysis of the drug in whole blood. The samples are purified by using liquid-liquid extraction with butyl chloride/diethyl ether combined with reversed-phase solid-phase extraction. RAPA and internal standard were traced by UV-detection at 278 nm. Linear calibration curves with correlation coefficients >0.999 were obtained (range, 1-50 ng/ml). Minimum detectable concentration was ∼0.4 ng/ml and recovery ∼45% for both RAPA and internal standard. Coefficient of variation (day to day) was 9.8% at 5 ng/ml (n= 6) and 5.6% at 40 ng/ml (n= 6). The chromatography requires <10 min per sample. The assay has proved to be free of interference peaks from cyclosporine or tacrolimus. The method has been used to determine the whole blood concentrations in samples from healthy volunteers and renal transplant recipients receiving single and multiple doses of oral rapamycin.

Fifty-nine pancreatic transplantations have been performed at Huddinge Hospital between May 1974 and October 1985 with a substantial improvement in results over the years. In the most recent series, consisting of 19 combined renal and pancreatic transplantations performed May 1984 to September 1985; the 1-year actuarial patient survival and pancreatic graft survival were 86% and 66% respectively. Thirteen of these grafts are functional presently, at 18 to 2 months, and all such patients are insulin free and exhibit normal metabolic control. Our practice includes drainage of the pancreatic juice to the exterior by means of a pancreatic duct catheter during the first 2-3 postoperative weeks, thereby promoting healing of the pancreatico-enteric anastomosis. Although cold ischemia time was kept low in this series, a moderate graft pancreatitis developed, with a peak serum amylase level of 16.8 + 2.2 ukat/1 and a peak amylase activity in the peripancreatic fluid of 280 + 110 ukat/l. The volume of pancreatic juice from the ductal catheter was very low in the first postoperative days but then rose to reach a plateau level of about 500 ml/day. The amylase activity in this juice was very high (9100 + 2500 ukat/1) during the first postoperative day, but then gradually decreased to reach a steady level around 3000 ukat/1 after 4-7 days.

Twenty eight consecutive combined renal and pancreatic transplantations with enteric exocrine diversion were performed between June 1984 and May 1986. The one-year actuarial patient survival and renal and pancreatic graft survival were 90, 67, and 69, respectively. Nineteen pancreatic grafts and eighteen renal grafts are currently functioning at 1–24 months. Of the pancreatic graft losses only 2 were attributable to non-immunological complications. No pancreatic graft was lost due to pancreaticoenteric leakage or vascular thrombosis. This was achieved by reducing the cold ischemia time and by adopting an aggressive anticoagulant policy. In all patients with functioning grafts the fasting blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin level, and oral glucose tolerance test were normal. The intravenous glucose tolerance test was normal in most of the patients but subnormal in some.