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Background: The two h post-dose cyclosporine (CsA) concentration has been advocated as the optimal time point measurement for CsA area under the curve (AUC) estimation after solid organ transplantation. The aim of the study was to investigate whether intensified CsA monitoring is necessary, or if a single time point measurement is accurate to estimate the AUC in the very early period following lung transplantation (LuTX). Methods: Within the first two wk following transplantation, daily AUCs were calculated by serial CsA measurements at zero, one, two, three, four, and six h (C0–C6) in 12 consecutive lung transplant recipients. Correlation of single CsA measurements and AUC as well as linear regression analysis was performed to evaluate the most predictive single CsA blood level regarding the AUC. Results: A total of 606 CsA concentration measurements were performed and the 101 corresponding AUCs were calculated for each patient. Mean AUC was 3443 ± 1451 μg/L. C0: 361 ± 118 μg/L, C1: 481 ± 231 μg/L, C2: 682 ± 314 μg/L, C3: 715 ± 347 μg/L, C4: 658 ± 271 μg/L, C6: 571 ± 260 μg/L. The correlation of CsA serum levels with AUC was the lowest at trough levels (C0) with a correlation coefficient (r = 0.31) and highest at three h (C3: r = 0.89) and two h (C2: r = 0.88). Conclusions: Similar to a stable post-transplant period, CsA trough levels turned out to have poor correlation with the corresponding AUC early after LuTX. The highest correlation of C3 with the AUC may be explained by delayed intestinal resorption immediately post-operative, however C2 is a peer parameter. Optimum AUCs and corresponding C2 or C3 levels in the immediate post-operative phase however remain to be determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infective endocarditis (IE) is reported with an incidence of 6/100 000 inhabitants in the general population. Even though immunosuppression predisposes to systemic infection, reports regarding IE after solid organ transplantation (SOT) are sparse. From 1989 to 2004, 2556 patients underwent SOT at the University Hospital Innsbruck. During this period, 27 transplant recipients were diagnosed IE. Nine patients (33.3%) were diagnosed at autopsy, eight patients (29.6%) were cured by antibiotic treatment and 10 patients (37.1%) underwent surgery. Overall mortality was 44.4% (12 patients). Staphylococcus was the predominant microorganism in 16 cases (59.3%), fungal infection was present in four patients (14.8%). Incidence of IE was 1% (95% CI: 0.67–1.49), indicating a 171-fold risk compared with the overall population. IE after SOT constitutes a significant problem and is associated with an excessive high mortality. Alertness to this condition is indicated, as we might diagnose more cases of IE in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lung transplantation has become important in treating end-stage lung disease; however, bronchial complications are common. Lack of bronchial arterial circulation, ischemic time, and acute rejection episodes may damage the bronchial wall. In this study, we analyzed factors that may hamper bronchial airway healing, requiring intervention after lung transplantation.Methods: We collected data from a consecutive series of 81 transplantations performed between 1993 and 2002 and evaluated recipients for bronchial complications. In 30 single and 51 sequential bilateral lung transplantations, a total of 132 anastomoses were performed. Four patients (3 bilateral and 1 single lung transplant recipients who died within the first 14 post-operative days were excluded from the analysis. Finally, 125 lung grafts remained for statistical analysis of factors influencing bronchial complications.Results: Peri-operative mortality was 8.9%. Eleven patients (14.7%) experienced severe bronchial complications in 16 of 125 evaluated bronchial anastomoses (12.8%) and required surgical treatment or bronchoscopic interventional therapy. In a multivariate logistic regression model, severe reperfusion edema (adjusted odds ratio, 8.3; p = 0.002) and rejection episode within the 1st post-operative month (adjusted odds ratio, 4.1; p = 0.036) were associated with bronchial complications. Using the univariate model, we found that factors such as interleukin-2-antibody induction therapy, immunosuppression, or bronchial anastomotic technique had significant influence on bronchial healing, whereas we could not confirm this when using multivariate anasysis.Conclusions: Preventing reperfusion edema with optimized lung preservation and with early and aggressive medical treatment or mechanical hemodynamical support (e.g., veno-arterial extra corporal membrane oxygenation are necessary to avoid prolonged ventilation dependence, which may result in bronchial complications. Furthermore, avoiding early rejection episodes promotes uncomplicated bronchial healing. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article presents a case study of a 45-year-old man with fever and neurological disorder symptoms who was taken to the emergency room because weakness and sensory loss of the right limb. He survived without severe neurological deficits. He had also undergone drug-refractory atrial fibrillation before admittance. The article discusses the atrioesophageal fistula as life-threatening complication with mortality rate of 80 percent.