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Background: Tacrolimus has been shown to have a less adverse effect on the lipid profiles of transplant patients when the drug is started as induction therapy. In order to determine the effect tacrolimus has on lipid profiles in stable cyclosporine-treated renal transplant patients with established hyperlipidemia, a randomized prospective study was undertaken by the Southeastern Organ Procurement Foundation., Methods: Patients of the 13 transplant centers, with cholesterol of 240 mg/dl or greater, who were at least 1 year posttransplant with stable renal function, were randomly assigned to remain on cyclosporine (control) or converted to tacrolimus. Patients converted to tacrolimus were maintained at a level of 5-15 ng/ml, and control patients remained at their previous levels of cyclosporine. Concurrent immunosuppressants were not changed. Levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, total high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), very-low-density lipoprotein, and apoproteins A and B were monitored before conversion and at months 1, 3, and 6. Renal function and glucose control were evaluated at the beginning and end of the study (month 6)., Results: A total of 65 patients were enrolled; 12 patients failed to complete the study. None were removed as a result of acute rejection or graft failure. Fifty-three patients were available for analysis (27 in the tacrolimus group and 26 controls). Demographics were not different between groups. In patients converted to tacrolimus treatment, there was a -55 mg/dl (-16%) (P=0.0031) change in cholesterol, a -48 mg/dl (-25%) (P=0.0014) change in LDL cholesterol, and a -36 mg/dl (-23%) (P=0.034) change in apolipoprotein B. There was no change in renal function, glycemic control, or incidence of new onset diabetes mellitus in the tacrolimus group., Conclusion: Conversion from cyclosporine to tacrolimus can be safely done after successful transplantation. Introduction of tacrolimus to a stable renal patient does not effect renal function or glycemic control. Tacrolimus can lower cholesterol, LDL, and apolipoprotein B. Conversion to tacrolimus from cyclosporine should be considered in the treatment of posttransplant hyperlipidemia.

Background: Studies of kidneys shared through the South-Eastern Organ Procurement Foundation (SEOPF) have shown that regional organ procurement (ROP) trays can predict negative crossmatch in highly sensitized patients when the HLA match is of a high grade. In an attempt to offer more well-matched kidneys to highly sensitized patients, SEOPF organized the High Grade Match (HGM) Program., Methods: This United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS)-approved allocation variance requires mandatory sharing of all kidneys by participating centers after UNOS mandatory sharing requirements have been met. The HGM levels of sharing are: (1) 0 A,B mismatch (MM); panel-reactive antibody (PRA) > or = 40%; negative ROP crossmatch; (2) 0 B,DR MM with > or = 40% PRA; negative ROP crossmatch; (3) 0 B,DR MM with PRA < 40%. Non-HGM cadaveric transplants at the same participating centers--locally or distally procured--serve as the control group., Results: During the first 18 months of this program, the 23 participating centers shared 124 kidneys of the 1592 that were available. Well-matched kidneys (two mismatches or less) accounted for 91.1% in the HGM group, but only 19% of the controls (P<0.0001). Highly sensitized patients (PRA > or = 40%) represented 13.8% of the HGM group, but only 3.3% of the non-HGM group (P<.0001). With HGM kidneys, there was a shift in recipient demographics. Patients with blood group O, female patients, older patients, and retransplanted patients all accounted for significantly larger percentages of the HGM group compared with the non-HGM control group. The racial composition of the recipients of high-grade matches was, however, no different than that of the control recipients at the same centers., Conclusion: The HGM Program resulted in longer ischemia times, but graft survival was not affected. The 1-year actuarial graft survival rate (Kaplan-Meier) for HGM kidneys was not different from the control cadaveric graft survival rate. By sharing kidneys based on improved HLA matches with consideration for high PRA, the HGM Program offered more transplant opportunities to women, blood group O recipients, retransplants, and older patients.

To determine if cold preservation time continues to affect renal transplant outcome, prospectively collected data from 17,937 cadaveric renal transplants performed between 1982 and 1991 were analyzed. Cold preservation intervals of 1-16, 16-32, 32-48, and greater than 48 hr were studied by multi- and univariate methods for two time periods: 1982-1989 (n = 13,800) and 1990-1991 (n = 4137). The functional one-year graft survival for kidneys stored over different intervals was significantly different (P < 0.001) only for the 1982-1989 epoch: one-year allograft survival ranged from 76% (1-16), to 72% (16-32 and 32-48) to 74% (> 48) hr. One-year graft survival ranged from 81 to 83% for the four preservation times in 1990 through 1991 (P = NS). Overall actuarial graft survival was 76% (74% prior to 1990, and 82% after 1990). Factors significantly (P < 0.0001) affecting kidney transplant outcome before and after 1990 were delayed graft function (DGF): n = 4232, 65% one-year graft survival; retransplant status: n = 3029, 67% one-year graft survival; and HLA match at three or more loci: n = 6067, 79% one-year graft survival. While DGF occurred more often with prolonged preservation, kidneys with DGF had similar survival regardless of preservation duration. Before 1990, pretransplant transfusion was associated with better and black recipient race with worse outcome; neither transfusion nor recipient race had any effect after 1990. Patients receiving kidneys preserved for longer periods demonstrate one-year graft survival comparable to kidneys preserved for shorter periods. Prolonged cold ischemic time should no longer be a principal reason for considering organ discard.