Başkent Üniversitesi Yayınları
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Item Infectious Complications in Kidney Transplant: A Lebanese Perspective(Başkent Üniversitesi, 2010-06) Abou-Jaoude, Maroun M.; Almawi, Wassim Y.; Daoud, Ziad; Shaheen, Joseph; Nawfal, NajiObjectives: Infections remain a frequent, potentially life-threatening complication of kidney transplant. Subjects and Methods: Between 1998 and 2006, we evaluated the incidence of infections in 114 kidney transplant patients, with a 1-year follow-up. All patients received a posttransplant anti-infectious prophylaxis regimen. Induction therapy was given to 94 patients (82.4%), and maintenance immunosuppression consisted of calcineurin inhibitor (cyclosporin microemulsion or tacrolimus), together with mycophenolate mofetil and prednisone. Results: In total, 56 patients (49.1%) developed a total of 95 infections up to 1-year after kidney transplant, including 46 in-hospital infections in 38 patients. Bacterial infections were the most frequent (97.8%), and were mainly urinary, followed by drain, central line catheter, and pulmonary infections. The most-frequent isolated bacteria were E. coli, followed by Klebsiella, Acinetobacter, and Pseudomonas. No viral infections were detected. Up to 1 year after discharge from the hospital, 49 infections occurred in 26 patients, of which 79.5% were bacterial; mainly urinary tract infections due to E. coli, in addition to 7 cases of cytomegalovirus, 1 herpes, and 2 cases of fungal infections. Conclusions: This is the first Lebanese study that deals with posttransplant infections in kidney transplant patients and underscores the importance of close patient monitoring and follow-up. Comparison with international data shows similar patterns.Item Neuromuscular Complication After Liver Transplant in Children: A Single-Center Experience(Başkent Üniversitesi, 2010-03) Dehghani, Seyed Mohsen; Malek-Hosseini, Seyed Ali; Haghighat, Mahmood; Bahador, Ali; Kazemi, Kourosh; Gholami, Siavash; Inaloo, Soroor; Honar, NaserObjectives: Neurologic complications are a significant cause of morbidity in children after liver transplant. In this study, we sought to evaluate the neurologic complications in children after liver transplant. Materials and Methods: All children aged younger than 18 years old who had undergone liver transplant between June 2004 and June 2007 were included in this prospective study. There were 30 boys (62.5%) and 18 girls (37.5%) (mean age, 9.6 ± 4.3 years; mean duration of follow-up, 21.6 ± 9.4 months). The most common indications for liver transplant were biliary atresia (n=12, 25%), Wilson disease (n=7, 14.6%), tyrosinemia (n=7, 14.6%), progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (n=6, 12.5%), and autoimmune cirrhosis (n=5, 10.4%). Results: Immunosuppressive medication consisted tacrolimus (n=44, 91.7%) or cyclosporine (n=4, 8.3%) combined with mycophenolate mofetil (n=33, 68.7%) and prednisolone (n=18, 37.5%). The most-common neurologic complications were tremor (n=8, 16.7%), convulsions (n=6, 12.5%), insomnia (n=6, 12.5%), headache (n=5, 10.4%), muscle cramps (n=5, 10.4%), paresthesia (n=3, 6.2%), and weakness (n=3, 6.2%). Conclusions: We conclude that the most-common neurologic complication after liver transplant in children in contrast to other studies is tremor, same as adult patients. This may be due to higher rate of use of tacrolimus in our patients.Item Late Fulminant Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome After Liver Transplant(Başkent Üniversitesi, 2009-09) Heidenhain, Christoph; Neuhaus, Peter; Puhl, GeroObjectives: Posterior leukoencephalopathy due to calcineurin-inhibitor–related neurotoxicity is a rare but severe complication that results from treament with immunosuppressive agents (primarily those administered after a liver or kidney transplant). The pathophysiologic mechanisms of that disorder remain unknown. Case: We report the case of a 46-year-old woman who received a liver transplant in our center as treatment for alcoholic cirrhosis and in whom either a fulminant course of posterior leuko¬encepha¬lo¬¬pathy or posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome developed 110 days after transplant. After an initially uneventful course after the transplant, the patient rapidly fell into deep coma. Results: Cerebral MRI scan showed typical signs of enhancement in the pontine and posterior regions. Switching the immunosuppressive regimen from tacrolimus to cyclosporine did not improve the clinical situation. The termination of treatment with any calcineurin inhibitor resulted in a complete resolution of that complication. Conclusions: Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome after liver transplant is rare. We recommend a complete cessation of any calcineurin inhibitor rather than a dose reduction.Item Skin Infections in 401 Renal Transplant Recipients in Southern Turkey(Başkent Üniversitesi, 2009-06) Dicle, Ozlem; Yilmaz, Ertan; Demirbas, Alper; Tuncer, Murat; Gurkan, Alihan; Parmaksizoglu, BetulObjectives: Renal transplant recipients are predisposed to the development of a variety of skin infections that can result from graft-preserving immunosuppressive therapy. In this study, we aimed to determine the prevalence of skin infections in a group of renal transplant recipients in the Mediterranean region of Turkey. Materials and Methods: The medical records of 401 patients followed up by the Transplantation Center at Akdeniz University in Antalya, Turkey, were used in a retrospective analysis. The prevalence of skin infections was calculated, and the effects of age, sex, and time after transplant on skin infections were evaluated. Results: Of the patients studied, 220 (54.9%) had a skin infection. Of 280 infections identified in those individuals, 180 (64.3%) were fungal, 77 (27.5%) were viral, and 23 (8.2%) were bacterial. Pityriasis versicolor was present in 95 patients (23.7%), human papillomavirus infection in 44 (11%), onychomycosis in 23 (5.7%), and fungal toe-web infection in 20 (5%). The duration of immunosuppression significantly affected the prevalence of skin infections, and the mean interval for the development of fungal infections after transplant was earlier than that for viral or bacterial infections (25.8 ± 29.3, 50.7 ± 36.7, and 52.1 ± 47.9 months, respectively). Conclusions: In this study, pityriasis versicolor was the most common skin infection in renal transplant recipients in our region. Except for the higher prevalence of superficial fungal infections, the overall results in our population agree with those of other similar series.Item Therapeutic Failure in a Renal Transplant Patient with Pneumocystis Jiroveci Pneumonia: A Case Report(Başkent Üniversitesi, 2009-06) Archontoulis, Nikolaos K.; Staikou, Chryssoula V.Objectives: Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia is common in immunocompromised individuals. Patients: This case report describes an immunosuppressed patient who acquired P jiroveci pneumonia 6 months after renal transplant surgery. Results: The patient experienced many pneumonia-related complications and adverse effects from drug therapy, and despite treatment with various antibiotic agents, he died on the 62nd day after his admission to the intensive care unit. Conclusions: The therapeutic failure of the drug of choice (co-trimoxazole) was evident. This case raises questions about the development of P jiroveci resistance to current therapies.Item A Retrospective Study of Conversion From Tacrolimus-based to Sirolimus-based Immunosuppression in Orthotopic Liver Transplant Recipients(Başkent Üniversitesi, 2008-06) Yu, Si; Huang, Jiefu; Ju, Weiqiang; Zhu,Xiaofeng; Ma, Yi; Yang, Lu; He, XiaoshunObjectives: Calcineurin inhibitors are used widely in liver transplant recipients. Sirolimus is a new, potent immunosuppressant considered to be nonnephrotoxic. There is limited experience with the use of sirolimus in liver transplant recipients. This study aimed to investigate the clinical experience of conversion from tacrolimus-based to sirolimus-based immunosuppression in liver transplant recipients. Patients switched to cyclosporine-based immunosuppression during the same period were enrolled as controls. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study examined liver transplant recipients who had been switched from tacrolimus-based to sirolimus-based or cyclosporine-based immunosuppressive therapy between January 2004 and January 2007 in the first affiliated hospital of Sun Yat-sen University. Patients were divided into 3 groups: those switched to sirolimus-based immunosuppression owing to acute rejection (group SIR-AR; n=11); those switched to sirolimus-based immunosuppression owing to renal insufficiency (group SIR-RI; n=18), and those switched to cyclosporine-based immunosuppression owing to acute rejection (group CsA-AR; n=15) Results: In patients switched owing to acute rejection, the rate of successful conversion was 54.5% in group SIR-AR (6/11) compared with 60% in group CsA-AR (9/15); this difference was not statistically significant (P > .05). After conversion, renal function in patients in group SIR-AR remained normal. Conversely, renal function in patients in group CsA-AR became abnormal 3 months after conversion. In patients who were switched owing to renal insufficiency in group SIR-RI, renal function improved significantly after conversion (P < .05). In the sirolimus groups, some sirolimus-associated adverse effects occurred but were limited and well controlled. Conclusions: Sirolimus can be used safely in liver transplant recipients. In the early stages after liver transplant, sirolimus combination therapy is recommended to prevent acute rejection. For patients with tacrolimus-related adverse effects, a sirolimus-based immunosuppression regimen is a rescue therapy.Item Clinicoepidemiologic Study of Posttransplant Diabetes After Living-Donor Renal Transplant(Başkent Üniversitesi, 2008-03) Elmagd, Mogahid M Abu; Wahab, Ahmad M abd El; AMetwally, Abdel Hameed; Bakr, Mohammed A.Objectives: We sought to evaluate posttransplant diabetes mellitus with regard to its incidence, risk factors for occurrence, complications, impact on graft function, and impact on patient and graft survival rates. Materials and Methods: A total of 1580 patients received living-donor renal allografts at Mansoura University, Egypt, between March 1976 and November 2004. Of these, 286 recipients developed diabetes after transplant (diabetic group). These patients were matched with 316 kidney transplant recipients who did not develop diabetes after transplant (control group). A complete clinical history was obtained and a clinical examination was done. Laboratory analyses including urine analysis, complete blood count, total serum cholesterol, fasting and 2-hour postprandial plasma glucose, Hb A1c, serum creatinine, and creatinine clearance were obtained in all patients. In each patient, presence of hepatitis B and C was determined with polymerase chain reaction, and a graft biopsy was obtained to diagnose renal allograft rejection. Results: The onset of diabetes mellitus among our recipients occurred primarily during the first 6 months after transplant (in 52.4% of the patients). Significant correlations were found between posttransplant diabetes mellitus and the recipients’ age (P = .0001), obesity (P = .001), positive family history of diabetes mellitus (P = .001), hepatitis C virus infection (P = .039), cumulative dose of steroids in the first 3 months (P = .047), and calcineurin inhibitor-based immunosuppressive therapy (P = .001). Moreover, posttransplant diabetes mellitus significantly affected rates of coronary heart disease (P = .001), hypertension (P = .02), and hypercholesterolemia (P = .001). Graft survival was similar in both groups until 15-year follow-up, at which time graft survival began to decrease in patients with diabetes mellitus compared with those without diabetes mellitus (43.5% vs 53.6%, P = .013). Similarly, patient survival was similar until 8-year follow-up, at which time survival rates began to decline in patients with diabetes as compared with patients without diabetes (79.9% vs 86.1%, P = .001); this trend continued to the 15-year follow-up (60.6% vs 77.8%, P = .001). Conclusions: Posttransplant diabetes mellitus is a major problem that endangers patient and graft survival. In our population, the incidence of posttransplant diabetes mellitus was 18.2%. Further studies are recommended to screen for patients with impaired fasting glucose and impaired glucose tolerance for prediction, early detection, and better management of posttransplant diabetes mellitus.Item Successful Pulmonary Thromboendarterectomy for Right Atrial Thrombosis in a Heart Transplant Recipient: A Case Report(Başkent Üniversitesi, 2007-06) Bigdeli, A. K.; Beiras-Fernandez, A.; Kaczmarek, I.; Sadoni, S.; Brenner, P.; Schmoeckel, M.; Nikolaou, K.; Reichart, B.Acute massive or submassive pulmonary embolism is a life-threatening condition with a poor prognosis. It causes sudden hemodynamic deterioration and warrants immediate surgery. We report the case of a 41-year-old male heart transplant recipient who had not been treated prophylactically for thrombosis, who was referred to our center because of exertional dyspnea after immobilization owing to an injury in one of his legs. Transesophageal echocardiography revealed a large, mobile, right atrial mass originating from a pacemaker lead. Furthermore, contrast-enhanced computed tomography scanning of the chest revealed multiple pulmonary emboli resulting in subtotal occlusion of both pulmonary arteries. Although typically reserved for patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, surgical thromboendarterectomy was successfully performed. Six months after discharge, the patient is well and has a New York Heart Association class 1 rating. This is the first report of a successful pulmonary thromboendarterectomy in a heart transplant recipient.Item Severe Tacrolimus Toxicity in Rabbits(Başkent Üniversitesi, 2007-06) Giessler, Goetz A.; Gades, Naomi M.; Friedrich, Patricia F.; Bishop, Allen T.Objectives: Tacrolimus is an effective immunosuppressant, safely administered in clinical practice by monitoring blood levels. In experimental transplants, many dosage regimens have been reported, often without such determinations. Anorexia and organ toxicity commonly occur. We report the toxic effects of tacrolimus in rabbits receiving intramuscular injections (1 mg/kg/d) and the subsequent dosage modifications that resulted in improved animal survival without toxic effects. Materials and Methods: To obtain nontoxic drug concentrations in the blood, 3 dosage regimens were required. Drug concentrations were targeted using therapeutic human values as a guide (range, 5-20 ng/mL). First, a group of 12 Dutch Belted rabbits received vascularized femoral allografts and were treated with intramuscular dosages of tacrolimus (1 mg/kg/d) for 14 days. Subsequently, dosage reductions in 10 more rabbits, to 0.2 mg/kg/d for 14 days, were necessary. Finally, another group of 20 rabbits was treated with 0.08 mg/kg for 3 days, and then every other day thereafter. Weight loss > 30%, cardiopulmonary failure, and/or creatinine levels > 221 µmol/L were the criteria approved by our local Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee for euthanizing the animals. Treated animals were compared with 20 nonimmunosuppressed controls that underwent the same operation. Results: At an intramuscular dosage of 1 mg/kg/d, the mean tacrolimus blood level was 90.7 ng/mL. Ten of the 12 animals in the original group died or required euthanasia. At necropsy, renal failure, cardiac abnormalities, and pulmonary edema were found. The tacrolimus dosage of 0.2 mg/kg/d produced a mean tacrolimus blood level of 17.6 ng/mL; however, 8 of the subsequent 10 rabbits died when given this dosage. Ultimately, the 0.08 mg/kg regimen in 20 rabbits permitted survival of 18 animals with a mean tacrolimus blood level of 6.8 ng/mL. None of 20 nonimmunosuppressed controls died after surgery. Conclusions: For successful immunosuppression, Dutch-Belted rabbits require intramuscular tacrolimus dosages lower those required in other rabbit breeds. This has not been reported previously. The 0.08 mg/kg/d dosage combined with intermittent drug level monitoring permits survival without significant complications.Item Cytomegalovirus Disease with Atypical Presentation in a Renal Transplant Patient: Case Report(Başkent Üniversitesi, 2006-06) Khosravi, Masoud; Nobakht, Ali; Nikokar, Abdolah R.Infection is a major problem after kidney transplantation. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most common viral infection affecting transplant patients. This report presents a rare clinical manifestation of CMV in the form of a hemorrhoid in a 58-year-old woman. One week after undergoing an external hemorrhoidectomy, the patient presented with fever, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia. Pathological analysis showed CMV in the hemorrhoidal tissue, which was confirmed via a positive PP65 antigenemia assay. Therapy with ganciclovir (250 mg IV b.i.d. for 2 weeks) was started. The patient’s response to treatment was good, and she has been doing well since that time. Her plasma creatinine level 2 years later was 79.2 µmol/L (normal range, 53-106 µmol/L). Physicians must always be aware of the hazards of CMV in immunocompromised patients with typical, and even with atypical, presentations. Taking into consideration the statement, “prophylaxis precedes treatment,” nephrologists must try to detect CMV in their patients (especially during the first 6 months after transplantation) prior to the appearance of any clinical manifestations. If CMV is detected, pre-emptive therapy with ganciclovir should be started.