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Background and Objectives: Acute pancreatitis after renal transplantation is seldom seen yet a dreadful complication. The causes include traditional causes and immunosuppressive medications and viral infections. Classical symptoms are not always present at onset, causing delay in diagnosis. The available literature on pancreatitis in renal transplants is either as case reports or case series. Large studies with longer follow-up periods and outcome in renal transplant patients with pancreatitis are lacking. We conducted this retrospective study to analyze the incidence, clinical features, and causes of pancreatitis in our institute in post-azathioprine era., Design: We conducted a single center retrospective study of renal transplant recipients who suffered at least 1 episode of acute pancreatitis during a period from January 2002 to September 2018. We followed International Association of Pancreatology/American Pancreatic Association evidence-based guidelines for confirming diagnosis of acute pancreatitis and included only patients who fulfilled these criteria. Once the diagnosis is confirmed we retrospectively analyzed the etiology, clinical features, management and outcomes of renal transplant recipients with pancreatitis., Results: Twenty-six patients (men 81%; mean age 38.5 years) were included. Etiology included gallstones (19.3%), structural lesions (11.5%), viral infections (7.8%), and drugs. Clinical presentations, laboratory parameters were like pancreatitis in non-transplant patients. Graft dysfunction was noted in 20 patients (77%) and all showed either partial or complete recovery. Patient survival was high with 88% of the patients surviving the episode., Conclusion: Pancreatitis after renal transplantation is a rare complication with outcomes better than what has been reported in the past., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Reactivation of cytomegalovirus (CMV) and BK polyomavirus (BKV) can result in virus-associated tubulointerstitial nephritis in renal allografts. All those renal biopsies reported as viral cytopathic were isolated and examined by two independent renal histopathologists from our institute and classified as CMV, BKV, and CMV-BKV coinfection-associated viral cytopathic changes with confirmation through polymerase chain reaction technology in either serum or urine or both. All twenty patients were categorized as 10 in CMV, four in BKV, and six were in CMV-BKV coinfection. One patient each had received antithymocyte globulin and basiliximab as induction all patients received triple-drug immunosuppression. The mean graft survival was 69, 61, and 59 months in CMV, BKV, and CMV-BKV coinfection group, respectively. At the end of the study period, 10 (50%) patients died. 1-, 3-and 5-year patient survival was 94%, 88% and 76% among CMV group, 75%, 75% and 50% in BKV group, and 96%, 83% and 62%, in CMV-BKV coinfection group (P = 0.157). CMV and BK virus are not so common infections in postrenal transplant patients yet an important cause of graft dysfunction. Coinfection did not pose an increased risk for acute rejection or patients and death-censored and uncensored graft survival among compared groups., Competing Interests: None declared.

Objectives: There are no reports of de novo donor-specific antibody monitoring by a low-cost solid-phase crossmatch assay using donor lysate after renal transplant., Materials and Methods: We prospectively evaluated 121 complement-dependant cytotoxicity crossmatch-negative living-donor kidney transplant recipients for development of de novo donor-specific antibodies (class I and II HLA) by solid-phase crossmatch Luminex assay after transplant., Results: Of 121 recipients in our study group, 26 (21.5%) developed de novo donor-specific antibody within 3 months after transplant. Fifteen (58%) of these 26 recipients developed class II de novo donor-specific antibody, 8 patients (30%) developed class I, and 3 (12%) developed both class I and class II. Of the remaining 95 patients (79%) who did not develop de novo donor-specific antibody, 6 (33.3%) had antibody-mediated rejection with glomerulitis (2 with C4d-positive disease). Donor-specific antibody was detected by Luminex solid-phase crossmatch in 18 patients (5 with class I, 11 with class II, and 2 with both class I and II), all with no evidence of clinical rejection. Development of de novo donor-specific antibody detected by solid-phase crossmatch was associated with more acute rejection (31% in de novo donor-specific antibody-positive group versus 19% in the negative group). The positive group had more antibody-mediated rejection (75% of acute rejections), whereas only 33.3% of acute rejections in the negative group were antibody-mediated rejection. Of 12 patients with antibody-mediated rejection, 9 were C4d negative (75%) and were diagnosed by donor-specific antibody positivity detected by solid-phase cros?match testing and histologic findings. The use of donor lysate in solid-phase crossmatch assays is more economical than the single-antigen bead Luminex assay (per test cost of US $45.20 vs $403.20).

In recent past, direct-acting anti-viral drugs (DAAs) have become the standard of care for the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. However, the experience with the use of these drugs in Indian renal transplant recipients is limited. We retrospectively reviewed our experience with DAA-based treatment for HCV infection in such patients. Between April 2015 and December 2016, six adults (median age 41 [range 34-52] years, male 5; GT1 2, GT3 3, and GT4 1; including three with prior failed interferon-based treatment) had received genotype-guided, DAA-based anti-HCV treatment 1 to 158 (median 15) months after renal transplantation. Of them, four completed the planned 24-week treatment without any significant adverse event. One of them had increase in serum creatinine after 16 weeks of treatment with sofosbuvir and daclatasvir, with acute interstitial nephritis on kidney biopsy; his renal function improved on stopping the drugs. The other patient had preexisting mild renal dysfunction, which worsened after 8 weeks of sofosbuvir-ledipasvir treatment; this did not reverse on stopping treatment. All the six patients achieved undetectable HCV RNA after 4 weeks of treatment and also achieved sustained virologic response, i.e. lack of detectable HCV RNA in serum 12 weeks after stopping treatment. Overall, DAA-based treatment was effective in treating HCV infection in our renal transplant recipients; however, caution and monitoring of renal function during such treatment is advisable in patients who have additional factors that predispose to renal injury.

Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is a method for the assessment of nutritional status. We studied the effect of graft function on nutritional status in postrenal 45 transplant patients with borderline to good allograft function using BIA. The patients had a mean serum creatinine of 1.42 ± 0.42 mg% and mean glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of 45.1 ± 14.1 mL/min. Based on BIA-derived GFR, the patients were divided into two groups; group 1: borderline graft function GFR <40 mL/min and a mean of 27.34 ± 9.1 mL/min and group 2: good graft function GFR ≥40 mL/min and a mean of 51.60 ± 9.16 mL/min. The patient data were compared with 30 healthy individuals. There was a significant difference between healthy controls and the posttransplant patients. There were significant differences between the study groups in body weight (P <0.01), serum creatinine (P <0.005), body mass index (BMI) (P <0.000), fat free mass (FFM) (P <0.003), fat mass (FM) (P <0.003), body cell mass (P <0.000), and dry weight (P <0.001). Group 1 had significantly lower body weight, BMI, FFM, FM, and dry weight, indicating poorer nutritional status compared with those in group 2. Based on phase angle, there were significant differences between group A (phase angle <4.0) and group B (phase angle >4.0) in extracellular water (P <0.015), intracellular water (P <0.002), plasma fluid (P <0.016), interstitial fluid (P <0.016), and body cell mass (P <0.024). Subjective global assessment (SGA) scores showed that transplant patients had normal nutritional status, but when compared with healthy individuals as assessed by BIA, there were significant differences in FM, FFM, and body cell mass. In conclusion, BIA was more sensitive to evaluate nutritional depletion than SGA in transplant patients with borderline.

Aim: Delayed graft function is an early complication leading to impaired creatinine clearance, urine formation and determinant of long term graft outcome. The aim of the present study was to determine the earliest predictive cut-off value of uKIM-1 level in patients with delayed graft function and acute tubular necrosis., Methods: We have determined the serial urinary KIM-1 normalized to urinary creatinine (uKIM-1, pg/mg) level at 0, 6, 12, 18, 24 and 48 h of post-transplant by ELISA methods., Result: The normalized uKIM-1 and AUC-ROC, of uKIM-1 were progressively increased up to 48 h in both delayed graft function (DGF) and immediate graft function (IGF). The u KIM-1 values were significantly high at 6, 12, 18, 24 and 48 h in patients with DGF as compared to that of IGF except at half an hour post-transplant values. Although, progressive increase in uKIM-1 values were observed in both groups of patients; there was an overlap of values between two groups up to 12 h. The earliest non-overlapping values of uKIM-1 between the groups were observed at 18 h onwards and minimum difference of 923.43 pg/mg. The earliest predictive AUC-ROC of uKIM-1 in patients with DGF without overlap with IGF was also observed at 18 h post-transplant with specificity of 100% and sensitivity of 89.9%., Conclusion: Serial uKIM-1 measurement can be used as non-invasive diagnostic biomarkers to predict the incident of DGF in living donor renal transplant recipients. At 18(th) post-transplant hour uKIM-1 can predict DGF with 100% specificity and 89.9% sensitivity with a cut-off value of normalized KIM-1 of 923.43 pg/mg., (© 2015 Asian Pacific Society of Nephrology.)

Objectives: We aimed to study the role of T-bet-positive mononuclear cell infiltration in different compartments of kidney graft tissues in patients with chronic transplant glomerulopathy, interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy, and stable graft function., Materials and Methods: There were 80 living-related renal transplant recipients included (chronic transplant glomerulopathy, n = 28; interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy, n = 28; stable graft function, n = 24). Histologic characteristics and scoring for peritubular capillaritis, glomerulitis, interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy, and intimal arteritis were performed according to Banff 2007 classification and compared between the groups. Immunohistologic staining was performed for transcription factor T-bet, T-bet mononuclear cells were counted, and T-bet infiltration score was compared between groups., Results: Patients in different groups had similar clinical profiles and human leukocyte antigen mismatches, except the groups differed in serum creatinine and proteinuria. The prevalence and scoring of peritubular capillaritis and glomerulitis were significantly higher in chronic transplant glomerulopathy than interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy (P = .001) and stable graft function (P < .001). Tubulitis was observed in 6 patients (21.4%) with chronic transplant glomerulopathy but no patients with interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy. The C4d/donor-specific antibody was positive in 100% patients with chronic transplant glomerulopathy, 0% patients with interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy, and 4.1 % patients with stable graft function. Interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy was seen in 100% patients who had interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy; in patients who had chronic transplant glomerulopathy, 24 patients (85.7%) had interstitial fibrosis and 78.5% patients had tubular atrophy. The degree and severity of T-bet-positive cell infiltration were significantly higher in chronic transplant glomerulopathy than interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy or stable graft function; however, 85% patients with interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy also had T-bet-positive infiltration, suggesting a role of T-bet-positive cells in interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy., Conclusions: Chronic transplant glomerulopathy is a consequence of chronic active immune-mediated injury. Interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy may be associated with T-bet-positive mononuclear cell infiltration in the peritubular region. The T-bet infiltration should be evaluated in patients with chronic allograft injury.

Background: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is highly endemic in India, being the most common cause of acute hepatitis; however, no case of chronic infection has been reported. All the human isolates of HEV from India till date have belonged to genotype 1. In contrast, in non-endemic areas, genotype 3 is the most prevalent, and persistent HEV infection has been reported among solid-organ transplant recipients. Whether persistent infection occurs with genotype 1 HEV is unclear. We therefore looked for evidence of HEV infection among renal transplant recipients with elevated alanine transaminase (ALT)., Methods: Renal transplant recipients receiving immunosuppressive therapy were screened for ALT levels, irrespective of time duration since renal transplant. For those with ALT levels equal to or exceeding 50 IU/mL on at least two occasions ≥3 weeks apart, serum was tested for HEV RNA using a sensitive real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assay. For those testing positive, HEV genotyping and follow up for duration of viral persistence were planned., Results: Of the 275 patients studied, 49 (17.8 %, 44 male, median age = 39.5 years) had elevated ALT levels (median = 62 [range = 50-477] IU/L). None of these 49 patients had detectable HEV RNA in the serum using an assay with detection sensitivity of 300 copies of RNA/mL of specimen., Conclusion: Our data indicate that persistent HEV infection is an infrequent cause of ALT elevation in Indian renal transplant recipients who are receiving immunosuppressive drugs. This suggests that infection with genotype 1 HEV may have either no or low potential to cause persistent infection.

Developing a non-invasive method such as diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWMRI) could be used as a feasible and reproducible modality in the differential diagnosis of allograft dysfunction. We assessed the functional status of the renal allograft by DWMRI and its applicability in assessment of graft dysfunction on all end-stage renal transplant patients who attained normal renal function on the 7th day post-transplantation. Follow-up imaging of the recipient allograft was performed at the end of 90 and 180 days and in case of graft dysfunction. Kidney biopsies were performed to correlate with the corresponding MRI. The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps of the cortex and medulla were obtained by studying the DWMRI. The ADC values were significantly lower in the medulla compared with the cortex in normal donor kidneys and normally functioning transplanted kidneys, while they decreased significantly when rejection occurred. The reduction in ADC values occurred both in the cortex and in the medulla, and correlated with the degree of rejection on the kidney biopsies. The ADC values increased significantly during the recovery from rejection. We conclude that DWMRI can be beneficial in the diagnosis and follow-up of transplant patients during acute rejection.

This study was undertaken to compare the outcomes of living donor renal transplant recipients using peritoneal dialysis (PD) and hemodialysis (HD) as a bridge modality for renal replacement therapy till renal transplantation. The demographic profiles of the recipients and donors, the patients' native kidney disease (diabetic versus non-diabetic), duration on dialysis, requirement of anti-hypertensive drugs, number of blood transfusions, human leukocyte antigen (HLA) mismatch status, pre- and post-transplant infectious complications, and post-transplant outcomes of patients were compared between the two groups. The demographic features of the study patients were similar in the two groups. The duration of dialysis prior to transplant was significantly longer in the PD group than in the HD group of patients. The anti-hypertensive drug requirement was lower and the hemoglobin level and residual urine volume at the time of transplant were relatively better in the PD patients compared to the HD patients. The number of acute rejection episodes, delayed graft function, surgical complications, glomerular filtration rate at one month and at the last follow-up, were also similar in both groups. The short-term and long-term graft survival was similar in both groups of patients. The one-, two-, five-, and eight-year death-censored graft survival rates of the PD patients were 98, 95, 85, and 73%, respectively, and in the HD group of patients, they were 100, 93, 84, and 79%, respectively. The one-, two-, five-, and eight-year patient survival rates in the PD group were 97, 92, 77, and 66%, respectively, and in the HD group, they were 97, 92, 79, and 69%, respectively. Our study suggests that the outcomes of the living donor renal allograft recipients did not differ between the groups of patients who used PD or HD as renal replacement therapy prior to renal transplantation.

Aim: It was found that, by affecting populations of T lymphocytes and regulatory T cells, basiliximab also indirectly affects pancreatic β-cell function and glucose homeostasis., Methods: In this prospective observational study, we included all renal transplant recipients from 1 July 2007 to 31 July 2011. The overall incidence of hyperglycaemia (transient hyperglycaemia, impaired fasting glucose (IFG), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and new onset diabetes after transplantation (NODAT)) was compared between patients with and without basiliximab induction., Results: Of the 439 eligible study patients, 105 patients received basiliximab induction and 334 patients did not. Overall hyperglycaemia (transient hyperglycaemia, IFG, IGT and NODAT) was detected in 102/334 (30.5%) patients without induction and 44/105 (41.9%) patients with induction (P = 0.03). Of the 102 patients with hyperglycaemia in patients without basiliximab, 46 (45.1%) patients improved, while only 10 (22.7%) of the 44 patients with basiliximab improved (P = 0.016) at the end of 3 months. Finally, NODAT was observed in 56/334 (16.7%) patients without induction and 102/334 (30.5%) patients with induction. Relative risk of NODAT with basiliximab was 2.3 (95% CI 1.4-3.9) compared to that of patients without induction. Basiliximab and hepatitis C virus infection were independent risk factors for NODAT. Risk of NODAT remained high with basiliximab despite adjusting the acute rejections episodes., Conclusions: Basiliximab induction prevents acute rejection; however, it is associated with increased risk of NODAT., (© 2014 Asian Pacific Society of Nephrology.)

Objectives: Despite increased use of diabetogenic immunosuppressive drugs and increased incidence of new-onset diabetes after transplant in renal allograft recipients, there are few case studies on the subject of de novo allograft diabetic nephropathy and interstitial fibrosis/tubular atrophy without specific glomerular changes. We sought to study the outcomes of allograft diabetic nephropathy and interstitial fibrosis/tubular atrophy without specific glomerular changes in patients with new-onset diabetes after transplant., Materials and Methods: We reviewed the case records of all new-onset diabetes after transplant patients who underwent graft biopsy for graft dysfunction from 1992 to 2010. We analyzed the clinical characteristics and outcomes of new-onset diabetes after transplant patients with de novo allograft diabetic nephropathy and interstitial fibrosis/tubular atrophy without specific glomerular changes., Results: Of the 1989 recipients, 421 patients developed new-onset diabetes after transplant and 26 underwent graft biopsy. Of the 26 patients, 9 had histopathologic evidence of de novo allograft diabetic nephropathy, and 17 had interstitial fibrosis/tubular atrophy without specific glomerular changes. The mean duration from transplant to developing novo allograft diabetic nephropathy was 115.2 months (range, 33-192 mo), and from developing new-onset diabetes after transplant to allograft diabetic nephropathy, was 109.66 months (range, 27-188.4 mo). Of the 9 patients with de novo allograft diabetic nephropathy, 3 died (33.3%), 2 reached end-stage renal disease (22.2%), and 4 remained stable (44.4%). Of the 17 with interstitial fibrosis/tubular atrophy, 2 died (11.7%), 5 developed end-stage renal disease (29.4%), and 10 remained stable on triple immunosuppression and insulin therapy during follow-up (58.8%)., Conclusions: De novo allograft diabetic nephropathy is a significant cause of graft and patient loss in renal allograft recipients who develop new-onset diabetes after transplant.

Anti-IL-2 receptor has been proven to be effective in reducing the rate of acute rejection in kidney transplantation and also in improving the graft and patient survival rates. In this study, we retrospectively reviewed the role of the anti-IL-2 receptor, basiliximab, as an induction immunosuppression. Fifty-seven kidney transplant recipients from living donors who received the IL-2 blocker basiliximab (Group 1) as induction therapy in combination with cyclosporine (CsA), steroids and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) or azathioprine (AZA) were compared with similarly matched renal transplant recipients (N = 312) who did not receive induction therapy (Group 2). Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meir method. Chi-square test was used to compare the outcome difference of various parameters between the two groups. Both the groups were similar in terms of demographic characteristcs and maintenance immunosuppression used. The total number of rejections was significantly less in Group 1, 14% vs 25% in Group 2 (P = 0.04, Odds ratio = 0.44). A higher number of patients in Group 2 had steroid-resistant rejections, although the difference was not statistically significant (9.9% in Group 2 vs 5.3% in Group 1). Death-censored graft survival was not significantly better in Group 1 at five years as compared with Group 2 (79.4% vs 47.2%, P = 0.09). On multivariate analysis for association with graft survival, only late acute rejections and steroid-resistant rejections were independently associated with poor graft survival, while the type of maintenance immuno-suppression (MMF vs AZA), use of basiliximab induction therapy and total number of acute rejection episodes had no association. Our study suggests that the use of anti-IL-2 receptor antibody basiliximab as induction immuno-suppression results in significantly better prevention of acute rejection, but it does not result in a significantly improved graft survival at five years. It also results in reduced severity of acute rejection.

We herein report a renal allograft recipient five years post transplant who had bilateral lung abscesses. The abscess grew Candida tropicalis on bronchoalveolar lavage. The patient was administered amphotericin B, but succumbed to massive hemoptysis. The case highlights a fungal complication in renal transplant and need for early suspicion and prompt therapy.

Objectives: Cystatin C is emerging as an endogenous marker of glomerular filtration rate. This study sought to assess the usefulness of serum cystatin C as a marker of glomerular filtration rate in comparison with serum creatinine and serum creatinine-based glomerular filtration rate estimations in voluntary kidney donors., Materials and Methods: Serum cystatin C and serum creatinine were estimated in 35 voluntary kidney donors. Glomerular filtration rate was estimated using: (1) Cockcroft-Gault method normalized to 1.73 m(2) of body surface area, (2) 4-variable Modification of Diet in Renal Diseases formula, and (3) (99m)Tc-DTPA double plasma sampling method. Glomerular filtration rate-double plasma sampling method was used as a reference value. Results were expressed as means ± SD., Results: The mean age of the participants was 44.23 ± 8.61 years old (19 women, 16 men). The mean serum creatinine was 0.83 ± 0.14 mg/dL, and the mean serum cystatin C was 0.71 ± 0.12 mg/L. Serum cystatin C showed significant correlation with serum creatinine (r = 0.864; P < .001). Glomerular filtration rate-MDRD showed the strongest correlation with glomerular filtration rate double plasma sampling method (r = 0.93; P < .001), followed by glomerular filtration rate-Cockcroft-Gault (r = 0.76; P < .001 ), serum creatinine (r = - 0.68; P < .001), and serum cystatin C (r = - 0.59; P < .001). The mean serum cystatin C values were 22.6% higher in men than in women. There was a significant correlation of serum cystatin C with glomerular filtration rate-Cockcroft-Gault (r = - 0.50; P = .002 ), glomerular filtration rate-MDRD (r = - 0.59; P < .001 ), and glomerular filtration rate-double plasma sampling method (r = - 0.59; P < .001 )., Conclusions: Serum cystatin C is an optimal marker of glomerular filtration rate in voluntary kidney donors.

Objective: To evaluate the outcomes of bilateral pretransplant nephrectomy (BPN) for small kidneys, using a bilateral dorsal lumbotomy (BDL) or transperitoneal laparoscopy (TL) approach., Patients and Methods: Fifty-eight patients with end-stage renal disease and small kidneys underwent BPN for various indications, most commonly uncontrolled hypertension. There were 38 patients in the BDL group (group 1) and 20 in the TL group (group 2). The variables before and during surgery, and the outcomes afterward, were compared between the groups., Results: The mean age of the patients and male/female ratio were comparable in both groups. The mean size of the kidneys removed were 7.4 and 8.2 cm, respectively, in groups 1 and 2. The mean (range) operative duration was longer in group 2, at 210 (160-240) min, than in group 1, at 112 (90-150) min (P < 0.001). The postoperative analgesic requirement for pain, blood transfusion rate, wound and pulmonary complications were similar between the groups. Bowel function recovered earlier in group 1 than group 2 (19 vs 37 h, P < 0.001). The total cost for the nephrectomy in group 2 was 3.5 times that of group 1. The mean interval between nephrectomy and transplantation was similar in both groups., Conclusion: BDL appears to be better than TL for BPN in small kidneys because the surgery is quicker, and there is earlier bowel recovery and lower costs.

Background: Increasing long-term allograft survival is the main challenge in organ transplantation, and allograft loss due to chronic rejection has been found to correlate with episodes of early acute rejection. It is important to understand the mechanisms that maintain the donor-specific hyporesponsive state. This study prospectively evaluates immune events related to donor-specific hyporesponsiveness in the stable transplant patients on calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs)., Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells of transplant recipients on CNI (n=19) were tested in mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) against donor and third-party peripheral blood mononuclear cells pretransplant and at 6 to 8 weeks, 14 to 18 weeks, and 6 to 8 months posttransplant. Interleukin (IL)-10 and transforming growth factor-beta were quantitated in cultures supernatants by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. CD4CD25 T-regulatory cells (Tregs) were enumerated using flow cytometry., Results: All patients showed sharp decline in anti-donor and third-party MLR response at 6 to 8 weeks posttransplant with progressive decline up to 6 to 8 months. This was accompanied by increased IL-10 levels in the supernatant at all the follow-ups. Transforming growth factor-beta level in the supernatant was significantly lower at 14 to 18 weeks. Frequency of CD4CD25 Tregs showed a significant decrease at 6 to 8 weeks posttransplant, which was sustained up to 6 to 8 months., Conclusion: The study shows that the maintenance of good graft function in early posttransplant period in recipients on CNI is associated with a decrease in donor-specific and third-party MLRs. There is a decline in Treg numbers along with increased IL-10 levels. High IL-10, probably from a non-Tregs source, may have an important role in maintaining hyporesponsiveness and good graft function.

Background: Some studies have shown that the normal range of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was lower in an Indian population than in western populations. To verify these findings and determine whether it is physiological or an expression of subclinical disease, we measured GFR in a cohort of healthy Indian adults by using more stringent criteria to define "healthy" than used in previous studies., Study Design: Cross-sectional study., Setting and Participants: 109 healthy adults being evaluated for kidney donation with normal blood pressure, body mass index, urinalysis results, and protein excretion and symmetrical function on radionuclide renogram. Subjects followed a vegetarian diet with 1 g/kg of protein intake for 10 days before the study., Predictors: Age, sex, relation to recipient (relative versus spouse), body surface area, body mass index, kidney size, serum creatinine level, and urinary protein-creatinine ratio. OUTCOME AND MEASUREMENTS: GFR measured as plasma clearance of technetium 99m diethyl-triamine-penta-acetic acid before and after amino-acid infusion (protein-induced hyperfiltration). Measurements were performed after a 12-hour fast., Results: Mean baseline GFR was 82.4 +/-12.7 mL/min/1.73 m(2) (95% confidence interval, 80.0 to 84.8). Mean stimulated GFR was 104.7 +/- 16.1 mL/min/1.73 m(2) (95% confidence interval, 101.6 to 107.8). Measured mean protein-induced hyperfiltration was 27.3% +/- 10.04% (range, 6.7% to 56%). In multivariable linear regression analysis, younger age, spousal donor, and larger average kidney size were associated with significantly greater baseline GFR, and only greater baseline GFR was associated significantly with stimulated GFR., Limitations: Dietary protein intake was not measured; a habitual low-protein diet cannot be excluded as a cause of low GFR., Conclusions: Basal GFR is significantly lower than the normal value of 120 to 130 mL/min/1.73 m(2) in western populations. The conventional cutoff value of 60 mL/min/1.73 m(2) for defining chronic kidney disease might not be appropriate in India.

Background: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is observed frequently in patients with end-stage renal disease, hemodialysis patients, and renal allograft recipients. There are few studies of sildenafil use in renal allograft recipients., Methods: The study is designed as a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial. Efficacy was assessed by using the self-administered International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF), a 15-question validated measure of ED, and a global efficacy question (Did the treatment improve your erection?)., Results: Thirty-two eligible renal transplant recipients were included in this study. After treatment with sildenafil citrate, patients had significantly better scores in 13 of 15 questions, except for questions 11 (desire frequency; P = 0.39) and 12 (desire level; P = 0.61). Treatment efficacy assessed through questions 3 (penetration ability; P < 0.001) and 4 (maintenance frequency; P < 0.001) was significantly better after sildenafil therapy. There were no significant differences between baseline and post-placebo treatment scores, except for question 13 (relationship satisfaction). Patients treated with sildenafil had significantly better scores in 4 domains compared with baseline, but a difference was not observed in the sexual desire domain (P = 0.32). There were no significant differences in scores between placebo and baseline in any domain. On the global efficacy question, 81.3% of patients showed improvement compared with 18.7% with placebo. There were no differences in areas under the curve and maximum cyclosporine concentrations before and after sildenafil therapy. No patient discontinued the drug because of side effects except for 1 patient with visual hallucination., Conclusion: Treatment with sildenafil in renal transplant recipients is a valid option with an effective response.

This study was conducted to evaluate the outcome of pediatric renal transplants at our center. A retrospective analysis was done on 39 pediatric transplants (age at transplant <18 years) done at our center over the last 10 years. The mean age at transplant was 15.6+/-1 years (10-17 years). They comprised 4.2% of all renal transplants done at our center (39/921) over the period. Girls comprised 17.5% of total recipients ( n=7). Two patients had a preemptive transplant. The underlying causes of end stage renal disease were chronic glomerulonephritis ( n=21), chronic interstitial nephritis ( n=17) and Alport syndrome [1]. All the 39 children were initiated on triple drug immunosuppression (cyclosporin A (CsA) azathioprine, prednisolone). All patients received grafts from living related donors. In the first month, three patients had graft loss (serum creatinine, SCr, >5 mg/dl). Of these, two patients died because of septicemia and one had acute cortical necrosis. There was evidence of infection in 16 patients (40%). Acute rejection was seen in 17 patients (45.8%). The 1-year patient and graft survival was 89% and at 3 years 70%. The actuarial graft survival at 5 years was 50%. Twelve children discontinued CsA after 1 year post-transplant and five of these had graft loss. Graft losses were significantly greater in patients who discontinued CsA as compared to those who continued CsA (5/12 vs 2/22). After a mean follow-up of 31.5+/-3.5 months, of the 37 patients, 10 had graft loss and chronic graft dysfunction was observed in another 9 patients. The rest of the 17 (48%) patients had a mean SCr of 1.2 mg/dl. The long-term outcome of pediatric renal transplants in our country remains suboptimal. CsA discontinuation due to financial constraints and/or non-compliance remain the most important reasons for this.

Introduction: Antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR) is one of the major determinants of graft survival. Although diagnostic precision and treatment options have improved, response to therapy and graft survival has not improved very significantly. The phenotypes of early and late acute ABMR differ in many ways. In this study, we assessed the clinical characteristics, response to therapy, DSA positivity, and outcomes of early and late ABMR. Methods: During the study period, 69 patients with acute ABMR diagnosed on renal graft histopathology were included with a median follow-up of 10 months after rejection. Recipients were stratified into early acute ABMR (<3 months of transplant; n = 29) and late acute ABMR (>3 months of transplant; n = 40). Graft survival, patient survival, response to therapy, and doubling of serum creatinine were assessed and compared between the two groups. Results: Baseline characteristics and immunosuppression protocols were comparable between the early and late ABMR groups. Late acute ABMR had an increased risk of doubling of serum creatinine than the early ABMR group (P = 0.002). Graft and patient survival were not statistically different between the two groups. Response to therapy was inferior in the late acute ABMR group (P = 0.00). Pretransplant DSA was present in 27.6% in the early ABMR group. Late acute ABMR was frequently associated with nonadherence or suboptimal immunosuppression and low DSA positivity (15%). Infections such as CMV, bacterial, and fungal infections were similar in the earlier and late ABMR groups. Conclusion: Late acute ABMR group had a poor response to anti-rejection therapy and also an increased risk of doubling of serum creatinine compared to the early acute ABMR group. There was also a tendency toward increased graft loss in late acute ABMR patients. Late acute ABMR patients are more frequently associated with nonadherence/suboptimal immunosuppression. There was also a low incidence of anti-HLA DSA positivity in late ABMR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A repeat renal transplantation is believed to confer the best survival advantage for allograft failure. The scarcity of matching donors at one end, coupled with the expanding pool of ABO-incompatible (ABOi) donors at the other end, lead us to consider the option of ABOi kidney re-transplantation. However, ABOi kidney re-transplantation is associated with heightened immunological risk due to the presence of two substantial immunological barriers. Concern, queries, and uncertainty exist over the course and outcome of this option. We prospectively studied five patients who underwent live-related ABOi re-transplantation after a failed previous transplant. Four patients (mean age 40.8 ± 6.6 years, 4 males) underwent a second renal transplant, whereas one patient had a third renal transplant. All patients received desensitization with rituximab, plasmapheresis, and intravenous immunoglobulin as per routine protocol. One patient required immunoadsorption to achieve the desired Anti-ABO titer. All five patients had good graft survival. One of them developed combined antibody and cell-mediated rejection and another antibody-mediated rejection. Live-related ABOi kidney re-transplantation could be a viable option for patients with a previously failed graft. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early graft dysfunction after renal transplantation manifests as acute rejection (AR) or acute tubular necrosis (ATN). Blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is a noninvasive method of assessing tissue oxygenation, which may be useful for predicting acute allograft dysfunction. This was a prospective study involving 40 patients scheduled for renal transplantation from August 2012 to August 2014. In addition, 15 healthy donors were also enrolled in this study. All recipients underwent BOLD MR imaging (MRI) and R2* mapping 10-20 days after transplant, and additionally within 48 h of biopsy if there was any evidence of graft dysfunction. The healthy donors underwent BOLD MRI 1-2 days before surgery. The biopsies were grouped into AR, ATN, and no evidence of AR or ATN. The mean medullary R2*, cortical R2*, corticomedullary gradient, and medullary: cortical R2* ratio were compared between groups using one-way analysis of variance. Spearman's correlation and multinomial linear regression were applied to determine the influence factors of R2* value. Overall, nine patients had graft dysfunction. Six were reported as AR, two as ATN, and one as no evidence of ATN or rejection. The mean medullary and cortical R2* were significantly higher in ATN group compared with AR and normal group, whereas the mean medullary and cortical R2* of AR group were significantly lower than normal group. The corticomedullary gradient of AR group was significantly lower compared with ATN and normal group. Medullary R2*:cortical R2* ratio was significantly lower in AR group compared with normal group. No significant difference was noted between the 15 donors and patients with normal graft function. R2* values on BOLD MRI are significantly decreased in AR allografts and increased in an early stage of ATN allografts, suggesting that BOLD MRI can become a valuable tool for discriminating between AR and ATN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We aimed to longitudinally analyse changes in the levels of serum fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23), intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) and associated minerals in patients undergoing renal transplantation. Methods: Sixty-three patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) who underwent living donor transplantation were recruited. Serum FGF23, iPTH, uric acid, inorganic phosphorous (iP), blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine were measured pre-transplant and at 1 (M1), 3 (M3) and 12 months (M12) post-transplantation. Results: FGF23 levels were decreased at M1, M3 and M12 by 93.81, 96.74 and 97.53%, respectively. iPTH levels were decreased by 67.95, 74.95 and 84.9%, respectively. The prevalence of hyperparathyroidism at M1, M3 and M12 post-transplantation was 63.5, 42.9 and 11.1%, respectively. FGF23 and iP levels remained above the normal range in 23 (36.5%) and 17 (27%) patients at M1, 10 (15.9%) and 5 (8%) at M3 and in none at M12 post-transplantation, respectively. A multivariate regression model revealed that, pre-transplant, iP was positively associated with iPTH (P = 0.016) but not with FGF 23; however, post-transplant, iP level was negatively associated with FGF23 (P < 0.001) but not with iPTH. Conclusions: Post-transplant FGF23 levels settle faster than those of iPTH. However, 11% of patients continued to have hyperparathyroidism even after 12 months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Chicken pox, although a common infection among children, is rare in immunocompromised patients, particularly renal transplant recipients, and carries a very high incidence of morbidity and mortality There is little data on chickenpox in adult renal transplant recipients, although reports have suggested that it may follow a virulent course requiring frequent hospitalization, and in severe cases can cause death. Aims. To evaluate the incidence, severity and complications of a varicella/chickenpox infection in renal transplant recipients over 10 years follow-up. Results. An incidence of 1.48% of our patients were diagnosed with varicella infection during this 10-year period from June 2000 to June 2010 in our live-related renal transplant program, with a median patient age of 39 years (range 21–54 years). Graft dysfunction was observed among five patients following the infection, two of whom became dialysis-dependent. The other three had mild graft dysfunction from which they subsequently recovered, suggesting that infection was responsible for graft dysfunction. None of them developed rejection following exposure or with modification of immunosuppression. All of our patients required admission with 47.8% presenting with various presentations, with orchitis, pancreatitis, encephalitis and gastritis each affecting 8.6% of the patients. All patients were managed with intravenous acyclovir for 2 weeks followed by oral acyclovir for 3 months. The infection was associated with an increased mortality of 13.4% due to superadded infections and central nervous system involvement in one patient with fatal bilateral pneumonia. Conclusions. This infection, which is a benign disease with a largely stable course among the general population, can have severe outcomes for immunocompromised patients, accounting for almost 90% with significant morbidity and mortality in the 8.6% of infected patients, thus highlighting the importance of pre-transplant vaccination in this subgroup of the population. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Continuous peritoneal dialysis (CPD) is the most commonly used modality of dialysis in children. Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) has been an established form of therapy in adult patients with end-stage renal failure in India for more than a decade. There is a paucity of published experience of CPD in children from developing countries. We retrospectively studied children with end-stage renal failure (ESRD) that had been on CAPD over the past 10 years. Thirty patients with ESRD, mean age 13±8 years (range 5–21 years), male 18, were started on CAPD from 1994 to October 2004. The mean break-in period was 12±3 days. Of these 30 patients, 15 had a total of 21 episodes of peritonitis. The peritonitis rate was 0.58 episodes per patient year. E. coli was the commonest organism causing peritonitis. On outcome analysis, 7/30 (23.3%) patients received a renal transplant, while 11/30 (36.6%) continued on CAPD, awaiting a kidney transplant. Of the rest, eight (26.6%) patients died, two (6.7%) suffered technique failure and were changed to haemodialysis, and two (6.7%) were lost to follow-up after 2 months. The mean cumulative survival time of patient on CPD was 42 months. We conclude that CPD is a viable option for dialysis in ESRD children in a developing country and is a successful bridge between ESRD and renal transplantation [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study that examined the long-term outcome of cyclosporin A (CsA) withdrawal in patients undergoing live related renal transplantation. Comparison of outcomes of patients undergoing early and late CsA withdrawal and patients with long-term dose CsA administration; Determination of graft function in terms of creatinine levels; Incidence of rejection.

Abstract: Passenger lymphocyte syndrome is an important though rare cause of immune hemolysis, an adverse effect affecting solid organ transplantation. Passenger lymphocytes in grafted kidney have been reported to result in autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) in minor ABO incompatible transplants. This case report describes one such case of a 26-year-old male renal allograft recipient of an ABO compatible renal transplant with his wife as a donor. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective: Fungal infection of skin is common problem in post transplant period which affects quality of life adversely. Therefore we conducted study with objective to look for spectrum of skin and subcutaneous infection in our renal transplant recipients and effect of treatment on these infections. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed records of 550 patients attending transplant clinic from January 2004 to Feb 2007. Patients with skin or subcutaneous infections (102) were included in study. All relevant details of patients were recorded Patients were diagnosed with fungal infection by clinical examination, skin scrapings or by aspiration cytology (in case of subcutaneous infection). Univariat e and multivariate analysis was performed to see impact of various factors on recurrence of skin infections. Results: 102 patients (18.54%) had fungal infection of skin or subcutaneous tissue. Mean age of patients was 32.4±13.8 years. Gender ratio was 2.8:1.80 patients were on calcineurine inhibitors, mycophenolate and prednisolone, 11 patients received azathioprine and prednisolone and 5 patients received sirolimus, calcineurine inhibitors and prednisolone.32 patients had history of acute rejection. 96 patients (94.22%) had evidence of skin infection and 6 patients (5.88%) suffered from subcutaneous infection. 42 patients had infection during first year of transplant and remaining patients had infection afterwards. Most common cause of skin infection was dermatophytosis (79.17%) and other causes were P.versicolour (12.5%), Candida (8.33%). 22 patients had evidence of nail involvement. 28 patients (34.47o/6) with candida or Tinea infection had 2 or more episode of skin infections. All patients were treated with oral fluconazole and topical therapy. Duration of therapy <3 weeks and presence of diabetes were predictor of relapse.6 patients had subcutaneous infection. 4 patients had phaeohyphomycosis. Other causes were aspergillus (1) and Cryptococcus(1). 3 patients needed surgery 2 patients needed repeated course of amphotericin B. Conclusions: Duration of treatment <3 weeks and diabetes were predictor of relapse. Patients with subcutaneous infection may need surgical excision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To analyze outcome and economics of CAPD versus hemodialysis (MHD) as a bridge to live related renal transplant. Materials and Methods: 51 patients (age 34±13 years, M:F=41:10), CAPD (n=26) and MHD (n=25) as bridge to renal transplant were included. Outcome of patients in terms of delayed graft function (DGF), acute rejection (AR) and infective complications were compared in two groups. Cost and feasibility were also compared. Results: Demographic profiles of CAPD versus MHD groups in terms of age (35±15 vs 34±11 years, P=0.74), gender (M:F 21:5 vs 20:5), diabetic versus non-diabetic (6:26 vs 3:22, P=0.52), donors' age (44 ± 11 vs 42 ± 10, P = 0.37), donors' gender (M:F 21:5 vs 19:6, P = 0.67) were similar. Immunosuppression protocol, HLA mismatch and CIT were similar in both groups but WIT was shorter in CAPD than MHD (88±23 vs 109±39 seconds, P=0.045). In CAPD versus MHD, AR developed in 3[26 vs 4/25, P=0.72 and DGF in 4/26 vs 3/25, P=0.53 patients, respectively. Mean BUN (17.6±7.8 vs 21.6±10 mg/dl, P= 0.13), creatinine (0.98±0.32 vs 1.1±0.23 mg/dl P=0.23}, and GFR (86±23 vs 77±15 ml/min, P=0.22) was similar in both groups. Dialysis duration in CAPD (9.1 ± 7.1 vs 4.3 ± 2.5 months, P= 0.003) was higher and anti-hypertensives requirements was lesser (1.7±0.99 vs 2.56±1.1, P=0.019) than MHD. Of 26 CAPD patients, only 3 had single peritonitis episode which resolved with antibiotics at home. However, of 25 MHD patients, 3 had chest infection, 2 urosepsis and 3 access related infection and all needed hospitalization before transplantation. Yearly cost of CAPD and MHD at our hospital is US $ 4643 and $ 4333 respectively. MHD cost in private hospital is $ 5720. Hemodialysis centers are few and limited to major cities whereas patients living in remote areas can remain on CAPD before transplantation. Conclusion: Outcome of renal transplant is similar in CAPD and MHD patients. Anti-hypertensives requirement and infectious complication are less in CAPD compared to MHD. CAPD is successful bridge to renal transplantation in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Organ recipients recognize graft as foreign and generate anti-donor immune response which causes acute and chronic rejections. CD4 +/CD25 + T regulatory (T regs) cells have been recently shown to play an important role in modulating immune responses. The role of Tregs in human renal allograft has not been well studies. The aim of the present study is to assess the role of Tregs in transplant survival and rejection. Materials and Methods: Twenty one transplant recipients (on standard immunosuppressive regimen) with stable graft functions were assessed prior to transplantation and 6-8 week (n=21), 14-18 weeks (n=16), >24 weeks (n=14) after renal transplantation. Proliferative responses in mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) using donor/third party stimulators, T regs enumeration by flow cytometry and IL-10 and TGF-β concentration in supernatant of MLR cultures by ELISA were evaluated. Results: See Table. Conclusion: These results demonstrate an early stable decline of donor specific and third party allo-responses in the post-transplant period in patients with stable graft function. This is associated with increased production of IL-10 although Tregs has decreased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]