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Background Pregnancy after kidney transplantation is an uncommon event. In addition to the risk to the child and the mother, pregnancy has a certain risk for the transplanted kidney. Methods We made a retrospective analysis of pregnancy and kidney function over a 49-year period in women with transplanted kidneys monitored at the National Transplant Centre, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia. Results We analyzed 22 pregnancies in 18 women (26-39 years old) 78 ± 37 months after transplantation. Serum creatinine before conception was 92 ± 26 μmol/L; 3 years after delivery, it was 117 ± 67 μmol/L. There were no rejections during pregnancy. Three rejections occurred in the first 9 months after delivery. The median duration of pregnancies was 37 weeks. Preeclampsia occurred in 4 women and severe eclampsia occurred in 2 women. In 19 cases, delivery was by caesarean section. One child was born with trisomy of chromosome 21 and 3 children were born with minor congenital anomalies. Conclusions Renal function and proteinuria did not deteriorate 3 years after pregnancy, even after 2 pregnancies. Rejections in the early post-pregnancy period were common. Preeclampsia was more frequent than in the average population. The incidence of major congenital anomalies was comparable to that seen in pregnant women without immunosuppression.

Background Chronic kidney disease is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. After renal transplant, some traditional and chronic kidney disease–specific risk factors vanish, but new risk factors emerge. This retrospective study aimed to define the long-term impact of renal transplant and diabetes mellitus on arterial stiffness, evaluated by measuring pulse wave velocity (PWV) and augmentation index (AI) and on myocardial perfusion, evaluated by subendocardial viability ratio (SEVR). Methods PWV, AI, and SEVR were evaluated noninvasively by applanation tonometry using SphygmoCor in the first 4 weeks after kidney transplant and 4 to 5 years thereafter. Results A total of 48 graft recipients (18 women, 30 men; mean ± standard deviation age, 47.9 ± 11.8 years) were included. The follow-up period was 57.4 ± 8.0 months. PWV did not change significantly during the follow-up period (9.1 ± 1.8m/s and 8.7 ± 1.8m/s, respectively; P = .137). In the subgroup of patients without diabetes mellitus, we observed a trend of PWV reduction, whereas in the subgroup of patients with diabetes we observed the trend of PWV increase. The duration of smoking before transplant correlated significantly with PWV (P = .012). AI in the whole group increased significantly during the study period (from 18.3% ±10.3% to 25.9% ±9.4%; P Conclusions PWV, reflecting the central vessel stiffness, did not change significantly in the whole group during the follow-up period. The AI, which indicates systemic stiffness, increased significantly within 5 years after transplant, indicating the progression of vascular processes of elastic and muscular arteries. Significant increases in the SEVR values in both diabetics and nondiabetics indicate the long-term favorable effect of kidney transplant on myocardial perfusion.

AIM The use of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) estimating equations is not always reliable, especially in specific populations, such as patients with transplanted kidney. The purpose of this study was to improve the performance of GFR equations by taking into account dry lean body mass. MATERIALS AND METHODS A prospective clinical study included 100 patients with kidney graft. Estimated GFR (eGFR) with Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equations with serum creatinine concentration (CKD-EPI Cr), serum cystatin C concentration (CKD-EPI CysC), or both (CKD-EPI Cr-CysC) were compared with measured GFR with 51Cr-EDTA clearance (mGFR 51Cr-EDTA). Dry lean body mass (body mass without fat mass and water) was measured with bioimpedance analysis. RESULTS All of the eGFRs overestimated mGFR 51Cr-EDTA by a significant degree (shown as bias ± SD in mL/min/1.73m2 with 30% accuracy in parentheses): CKD-EPI Cr 15.1 ± 15.3 (50%), CKD-EPI CysC 8.0 ± 16.6 (56%), CKD-EPI Cr-CysC 10.3 ± 13.4 (55%). Dry lean body mass significantly correlated with mGFR 51Cr-EDTA (R = 0.241; p = 0.016) and all biases except the bias of CKD-EPI CysC. Considering the dry lean body mass and preexisting equations with creatinine, we developed two new equations with better performance and statistically insignificant bias: Corrected CKD-EPI Cr -1.43 ± 13.6 (67%) and Corrected CKD-EPI Cr-CysC -1.64 ± 13.4 (77%). CONCLUSION Dry lean body mass improves the performance of GFR equations in our kidney transplant cohort.

Background Acute granulomatous interstitial nephritis (AGIN) in native kidneys is most commonly linked to drugs. In allografts, it is a rare complication, and it occurs mostly with infections. Case presentation Our case report presents AGIN with simultaneous acute cellular rejections and acute tubular necrosis in a kidney transplant patient 2 weeks after intravenous application of zoledronic acid. A kidney biopsy showed signs of destructive AGIN with acute cellular rejection. After treatment with methylprednisolone pulses and immunosuppressive therapy modification, rebiopsy confirmed complete regression of AGIN with less intense persistent acute cellular rejection and acute tubular necrosis. Kidney function improved after glucocorticoid and intravenous immunoglobulin G therapy. Conclusion To our knowledge, this is the first case of AGIN related to bisphosphonate zoledronate in a kidney transplant patient with consequent acute cellular rejection. In using intravenous zoledronate infusion in a kidney transplant recipient, we should be aware that it could potentially induce acute granulomatous tubulointerstitial nephritis and acute rejection. .

Background Treatment of idiopathic membranous nephropathy with rituximab was introduced more than a decade ago following experimental data that suggested involvement of B-cell-mediated reactions in its pathogenesis. It was a logical step towards a more selective therapy with less severe side effects as compared to the recommended first-line immunosuppressive therapy with corticosteroids and different immunosuppressant drugs. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the anonymous data of patients who were treated with rituximab for idiopathic membranous nephropathy at our institution from January 2006 to July 2016. Daily proteinuria and serum creatinine were analyzed 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after rituximab application. The patients were divided into 4 groups according to proteinuria. We separately analyzed remission rates in the whole group and in groups with different quantity of daily proteinuria. Other history data and laboratory parameters were also compared within different groups of patients. Results The study involved 29 rituximab treatments in 26 patients: 7 (26.9%) female and 19 (73.1%) male patients. In 16 out of 29 treatment cases (55.1%), patients had been previously treated with cyclophosphamide and steroids, or cyclosporine with low dose of steroids, or both. In 72.4% of patients, antiphospholipase A2 receptor antibodies were present. In 2 cases of treatment (6.9%), patients received rituximab 375 mg/m2 of body surface area in 3 and 4 weekly doses, respectively. In all other cases, repeated rituximab applications were given as needed according to the levels of circulating CD-20 B-cells. The total remission rate in our cohort of patients was 37.9% (11 out of 29 cases). The average serum creatinine in the group of patients who achieved remission was significantly lower than in the group without remission (86.5 vs. 155.5 µmol/L, p = 0.003). There was no difference in the duration of the disease prior to treatment with rituximab between the groups (53.6 and 56.4 months, respectively). The remission rate was highest in the group with daily proteinuria less than 4 g per day (83.3%). There were no remissions in the group of patients with daily proteinuria more than 12 g per day. Conclusion The remission rate after rituximab treatment in our cohort of patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy was lower than in other studies. The reason for this is possibly the application of a single dose of rituximab in the majority of patients, which might have been insufficient in patients with higher proteinuria. .

Objectives To evaluate the role of urinary vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) as an early predictor of chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression in patients with glomerular diseases. Methods We prospectively included patients with proteinuria and CKD grade 1 - 5 due to glomerular disease at the time of kidney biopsy. At baseline, we collected demographics, comorbidities, smoking history, serum creatinine (sCr), proteinuria, and urinary VEGF in collected 24-hour urine. The primary outcome was a 50% increase in sCr at last follow-up. Binary regression was used to explore the impact of urinary biomarkers adjusted for baseline patient characteristics on the outcome. Results From July 2011 to September 2012 we included 49 patients aged 45.2 ± 14.8 years, 43% female, with different glomerular diseases. We followed them for 29 ± 11 months. Twelve out of 49 (22%) patients met the primary outcome. The patients with a 50% increase in sCr at last follow-up had a significantly higher baseline sCr (193 ± 101 vs. 127 ± 84; p = 0.014) and higher urinary VEGF/creatinine in 24-hour urine (7.7 ± 6.4 vs. 3.0 ± 4.0; p = 0.005). When we added both sCr and urinary VEGF/creatinine to the binary regression model, the correlation with baseline sCr was not significant (OR 1.01; 95% CI 1.00 - 1.01; p = 0.184), while urinary VEGF/creatinine remained significant (OR 1.18; 95% CI 1.04 - 1.35; p = 0.008). Baseline patient characteristics, such as age, gender, body mass index, sCr, proteinuria, smoking status, histopathologic diagnosis, concomitant arterial hypertension, and time to last follow-up did not influence the primary outcome. Conclusions The urinary VEGF/creatinine ratio in 24-hour urine seems to independently predict worsening of chronic kidney disease in patients with glomerular diseases. .

Uromodulin and microRNAs (miRNAs) have recently been investigated as potential biomarkers for kidney graft associated pathology and outcome, with a special focus on biomarkers indicating specific disease processes and kidney graft survival. The study&rsquo, s aim was to determine whether expression of serum uromodulin concentration and selected miRNAs might be related to renal function in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). The uromodulin concentration and expression of six selected miRNAs (miR-29c, miR-126, miR-146a, miR-150, miR-155, and miR-223) were determined in the serum of 100 KTRs with stable graft function and chronic kidney disease of all five stages. Kidney graft function was estimated with routine parameters (creatinine, urea, cystatin C, and Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration study equations) and precisely measured using chromium-51 labelled ethylenediaminetetraacetic-acid clearance. The selected miRNAs were shown to be independent of kidney graft function, indicating their potential as biomarkers of associated kidney graft disease processes. In contrast, the serum uromodulin level depended entirely on kidney graft function and thus reflected functioning tubules rather than any specific kidney graft injury. However, decreased concentrations of serum uromodulin can be observed in the early course of tubulointerstitial injury, thereby suggesting its useful role as an accurate, noninvasive biomarker of early (subclinical) kidney graft injury.

Background The use of equations that predict glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in patients with a kidney graft is still a matter of debate. The purpose of this study was to determine the level of accuracy of GFR equations and the relevance of dry lean body mass in the assessment of GFR. Methods In a prospective clinical study, 100 patients with a kidney graft were included. Estimated GFR with Modification of Diet in Renal Disease equation (MDRD), Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation (CKD EPI) with serum creatinine concentration (CKD EPI Cr), serum cystatin C concentration (CKD EPI CysC) or both (CKD EPI Cr-CysC), and creatinine clearance calculated with Cockcroft-Gault equation (CG) was compared with GFR measured by 51Cr-EDTA clearance (mGFR 51Cr-EDTA). Dry lean body mass (body mass without fat mass and body water) was measured with bioimpedance analysis. Results All of the estimating equations overestimated mGFR 51Cr-EDTA by a significant degree (bias ± SD in mL/min/1.73m2, 30% accuracy in brackets): CG 16.8 ± 14.1 (44%), MDRD 12.5 ± 15.3 (54%), CKD EPI Cr 15.1 ± 15.3 (50%), CKD EPI CysC 8.0 ± 16.6 (56%), CKD EPI Cr-CysC 10.3 ± 13.4 (55%). Dry lean body mass significantly correlated with mGFR 51Cr-EDTA, but not with estimated GFRs. Conclusion The estimating GFR equations are neither accurate nor precise in renal transplant recipients. Dry lean body mass is an important parameter that could potentially improve the GFR estimation in this population. .

BACKGROUND Complex and longstanding bone disease superimposed by harmful influences of immunosuppression is the reason for increased risk of bone fracture in kidney transplant recipients. The aim of our study was to analyze the incidence and prevalence of nonvertebral bone fractures and early (in the first post-transplant year) clinical and laboratory risk factors for suffering bone fracture in the long-term post-transplant period. METHODS Clinical and laboratory data as well as bone mineral density (BMD) measurements of 507 first kidney transplant recipients who were transplanted in the period from 1976 to 2011 were analyzed. RESULTS The mean age of included patients was 54.3 ± 12.0 years, there were 45% females, and mean time on renal replacement treatment prior to transplantation was 63.4 ± 43.6 months. The average observation time post-transplant was 9.7 years (1.4 - 36.3 years). Post-transplant, 64 (12.6%) patients suffered 89 nonvertebral fractures (44 patients suffered 1 fracture, 15 patients 2 fractures, and 5 patients 3 fractures). Patients with fractures had significantly lower late BMD of femoral neck in the period of 1 - 10 years post-transplant, had osteopenia and osteoporosis more frequently in the same time period, and higher serum alkaline phosphatase in the first year post-transplant. 13 patients (13/64, 20.3%) had major fractures. Patients with major fractures were significantly older than patients with no major fractures and had lower serum albumin. Frequency of treatment with bisphosphonate, calcium, or phosphate did not differ between the groups. Vitamin D supplement (active form in 98% of cases) was prescribed more frequently in the group without fractures, but this was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION Fracture rate in our transplant patient population was comparable to that reported in the literature. Except for a higher level of serum total alkaline phosphatase in the fracture group, we found no other early laboratory risk factors for bone fractures. BMD at the femoral region 1 - 10 years after kidney transplantation but not BMD at the time of transplantation was a risk factor for nonvertebral fractures. Osteopenia and osteoporosis in the post-transplant period were found to be a fracture risk factor. .

BACKGROUND We present a case of acute rhabdomyolysis in the setting of interferon-β treatment and concomitant pomelo juice ingestion, with concern of possible pharmacological interaction, which has not yet been described in the literature. CASE PRESENTATION A young Caucasian female with multiple sclerosis on chronic therapy with interferon-β presented with acute rhabdomyolysis after mild exercise and concomitant ingestion of pomelo extract. After stopping the suspected drugs, the signs of rhabdomyolysis diminished, the subsequent course was favorable. CONCLUSIONS The most probable cause of rhabdomyolysis in our patient could have been the combination of interferon effect, which down-regulates P450 expression, with inhibition of the P450 activity by furanocoumarin derivatives from pomelo juice. Therefore, patients treated with drugs that have a possible interaction with inhibitors of cytochrome P450 should be warned against pomelo ingestion. .

AIMS Kidney biopsy remains the gold standard for accurately diagnosing renal diseases. Urinalysis and assessment of renal function are the cornerstones for assessment of patients prior to biopsy. There is significant overlap in the results of routine urine parameters (proteinuria, erythrocyturia, leukocyturia) among different kidney diseases, which hinders the possibility of adequately estimating disease etiology prior to the biopsy. The aim of our study was to assess whether diverse markers of glomerular and tubular proteinuria - urinary albumin, IgG, α-1-microglobulin (α-1-m) and N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) - are capable of distinguishing between patients with primary tubulointerstitial (TID) and primary glomerular disease (GLOM). METHODS Our study is a retrospective, single-center, consecutive case series of patients referred for kidney biopsy. We analyzed routine urinalysis results performed on a second morning urine sample immediately prior to the biopsy. RESULTS Patients with TID had significantly higher values of α-1-m and NAG, with lower values of albumin and IgG in the urine compared to patients with GLOM. Three tubular urinary indexes had high sensitivity and specificity for distinguishing TID from GLOM: NAG/albumin, α-1-m/proteinuria, and α-1-m/albumin, with the highest values in the latter index (96.6% and 98.2%, respectively, cut-off point ≥ 0.33). CONCLUSIONS Prior to kidney biopsy, tubular urinary indexes may present a valuable tool in distinguishing patients with TID from patients with GLOM. .

Background The aim of our study was to determine outcomes of standard treatment of antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR) of kidney grafts as compared to the addition of bortezomib or rituximab. Methods The cohort of this retrospective study included patients treated for ABMR of kidney grafts at our national center in the period of 2005 - 2017, divided into two groups: standard (ST) group treated standardly with plasmapheresis or immunoadsorption, intravenous immunoglobulins, and corticosteroids, and BR group treated with the addition of bortezomib and/or rituximab. Patient and graft survival at 2 years was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier method, and predictors of graft survival were analyzed by Cox regression. Results There were 78 patients with ABMR (48 in the ST group, 30 in the BR group), 41 (53%) were men, mean age 49.5 ± 13.8 years. In ST and BR, respectively, mean serum creatinine was 267 ± 164 and 208 ± 112 µmol/L (p = 0.088), donor-specific antibodies (DSA) were positive in 75% and 97% (p = 0.022), and ABMR was acute in 50% and 33% (p = 0.149). Patient survival at 2 years was 89% in the ST and 100% in the BR group (p = 0.125). Cumulative proportion of kidney graft survival at 1 and 2 years was 67% and 53% in the ST group and 73% and 48% in the BR group, respectively, (p = 0.641). Chronic ABMR (HR 5.22, p = 0.004) was significant, while dialysis dependency at biopsy (HR 3.28, p = 0.072), serum creatinine at kidney biopsy (HR 1.003, p = 0.082), and presence of DQ-DSA (HR 3.37, p = 0.062) were borderline significant predictors of worse graft outcome. Infections were relatively common in both groups, with a trend towards more rehospitalizations due to infections in the first 6 months after treatment in the BR group (p = 0.066). In 5 patients (17%), treatment with bortezomib was discontinued prematurely due to cytopenia. Conclusions Bortezomib or rituximab, added to standard treatment, did not significantly improve kidney graft survival and was also not associated with significant side effects, except cytopenia in some cases. Treatment of acute ABMR resulted in better graft survival than chronic ABMR. .

Encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis (EPS) is a rare complication in patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD), the prevalence of which increases with the time spent on PD. Various causative factors have been proposed, but the pathogenesis still remains unclear. The aim of our retrospective study was to analyze the basic clinical characteristics and outcomes of five patients diagnosed with EPS out of 423 patients treated with PD between January 1983 and December 2003. One patient was admitted due to ultrafiltration failure of the peritoneal membrane, and four patients were admitted for acute peritonitis. All of our patients presented with clinical symptoms suggestive of obstructive ileus. We confirmed the diagnosis of EPS with a computer tomography scan, a diagnostic laparotomy or laparoscopy, and a biopsy of the parietal peritoneum. We treated all of our patients with catheter removal, transferal to hemodialysis, antibiotics, complete parenteral nutrition, methylprednisolone, and tamoxifen for 6 months. One patient was treated with surgical enterolysis and died of septic complications, another patient died of sudden cardiac death during treatment. Three patients were doing well for 4-7 months after the treatment was started. The incidence of EPS was 1.2% and the mortality rate was 40%. EPS is a rare complication in longstanding PD patients in our institution. Despite treatment with hemodialysis, complete parenteral nutrition, steroids, tamoxifen and surgical intervention, the mortality rate is high and comparable to other reports.

The aim of our retrospective study was to analyze the clinical course and outcome of patients with immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy who presented with macroscopic hematuria and acute kidney injury (AKI). During the period from 1990 to 2005, seven out of 584 adult patients with IgA nephropathy (1.2%) fulfilled the criteria for macroscopic hematuria-induced AKI. There was an equal gender distribution among our patients, and a rather high average age at presentation (55.7 +/- 10.9 years). Four patients who were oliguric upon admission to hospital needed hemodialysis treatment. The average serum creatinine at the time of kidney biopsy was 429.8 +/- 377 micromol/L (median value 378). The percutaneous kidney needle biopsies showed focal proliferative crescentic glomerulonephritis of subclass III, according to the Haas scheme, associated with prominent red blood cell tubular casts and acute tubulointerstitial nephritis. Four patients with the most prominent crescents and tubulointerstitial involvement were treated with methylprednisolone. All patients, treated and untreated, recovered their kidney function (the serum creatinine at a median follow-up of 15 months was 111.7 +/- 38 micromol/L). In conclusion, AKI in IgA nephropathy accompanied by macroscopic hematuria appears to have been a reversible condition in our series of patients. Regarding pathogenesis, the kidney biopsy study points to the important role of glomerular bleeding with consequent, widespread obstructive red blood cell tubular casts accompanied by tubular injury and interstitial nephritis.

Therapy with renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS)-blocking drugs prevents the development of fibrosis and angiogenesis in animal models and humans. In our study we have evaluated the systemic effect of RAAS blockade and the effect on peritoneal growth factors, cytokine production and membrane transport characteristics in patients on peritoneal dialysis. Thirty-seven peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients were enrolled in our cross-sectional study. Aldosterone and angiotensin II concentrations were measured in serum to determine the RAAS activity. The inflammatory and profibrotic activity was evaluated by measuring the concentration of C-reactive protein (CRP), serum albumin, and peritoneal concentration of interleukin-6 (IL-6), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and cancer antigen-125 (CA-125). The transport characteristics of the peritoneal membrane were analyzed with a peritoneal equilibration test (PET). Results were compared between the group with RAAS-blocking drugs (RAAS group) and the group without them (non-RAAS group). Mean serum aldosterone concentration was significantly lower in patients treated with ARB-blocking drugs (P = 0.001) and serum angiotensin II concentration was lower in patients treated with ACE inhibitors (P = 0.009). RAAS blockade resulted in lower peritoneal PAI-1 levels (748.1 to 1222.7 ng/L; P = 0.07) without any influence on CRP, peritoneal concentrations of IL-6, VEGF, TGF-β and CA-125, or alteration in peritoneal membrane characteristics tested by PET. RAAS-blocking drugs could be effective in preventing peritoneal fibrosis due to possible reduction of peritoneal PAI-1 concentrations that have already been etiologically linked with fibrin deposition in the pathogenesis of encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis.

Background Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) represents an important cause of morbidity and mortality in kidney transplant recipients. In recent years an increasing number of PCP outbreaks have been reported worldwide. Patients and Methods We performed a retrospective study including the demographic, clinical, laboratory, and therapeutic parameters of all renal transplant recipients with PCP in Slovenia during the period from January 1, 2006, to December 31, 2011. Results At the end of the 2011, 13/601 (2.2%) kidney transplant recipients followed in our center experienced PCP. The median time from transplantation to development of disease was 17 months (range, 3–148). Three recipients had PCP during the first year after transplantation because of early trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) discontinuation; in 3, it was related to acute graft rejection treatment; and in 6, to cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. Pneumocystis jirovecii was microbiologically confirmed in 10 recipients. In 10 of 13 patients serum concentrations of lactic acid dehydrogenase (LDH) were increased. In addition, serum concentrations of beta- d -glucan was determined in 9 cases was elevated in each one. Conclusion The incidence of PCP was low, most probably owing to prolonged (12 months) TMP-SMX prophylaxis. Premature TMP-SMX discontinuation in the first year after transplantation, treatment of graft rejection and CMV infection seemed to be risk factors for PCP. Elevated serum beta- d -glucan concentration was a better noninvasive indicator of P jirovecii infection than elevated serum LDH concentration. In cases with no microbiological conformation, beta- d -glucan and LDH concentrations were helpful to establish the diagnosis of PCP for early treatment.

Background Antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) of a kidney graft has been increasingly recognized as an important cause of graft failure. Our historic cohort study sought to analyze its treatment and outcomes at our center. Methods All patients with AMR between 2005 and 2011 were treated with plasma exchange (PE), intravenous low-dose cytomegalovirus (CMV) hyperimmune globulin, and adjustment of basal immunosuppression. We analyzed data regarding baseline characteristics, rejection treatment with focus on PE, complications, and 1-year outcomes. Results Twenty-three AMRs occurred in 23 patients (10 male, 13 female) of mean age 41 ± 16 years, all recipients of deceased-donor kidneys with a median of 3 HLA mismatches. The subjects had a median peak panel-reactive antibodies (PRA) of 7% (interquartile range [IQR] 1%–10%). Basal serum creatinine was 174 ± 84 μmol/L estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (eGFR 42 ± 22 mL/min/1.73 m2), while 3 patients were dialysis- dependent. Median period between transplantation and rejection was 38 months (IQR 1.5–88.5). Concomitant T-cell–mediated rejection was treated in 78% of cases. Median number of PE procedures per patient was 10 (range, 5–17). Treatment was estimated to be successful in 83%. Donor-specific antibodies documented in 12 patients (52%) disappeared or showed reduced titers in 7/10 patients with repeated measurements. An infection was present during treatment in 7 (30%) patients. Among 237 PE, there was 1 (0.4%) mild allergic reaction to fresh frozen plasma and significant metabolic alkalosis occurred after 7 (3%) procedures. One year after rejection the mean serum creatinine level was 144 ± 52 μmol/L and Kaplan-Meier estimated graft and patient survival rates were 62% and 95%, respectively. Conclusions Intensive treatment with PE, intravenous immunoglobulin, and adjustment of basal immunosuppression were safe and effective to reverse AMR with improved graft function in the majority of patients. However, AMR was associated with markedly decreased 1-year graft survival and the optimal treatment remains uncertain.

The aim of this study was to analyze the prevalence and efficacy of renal anemia treated with epoetin in maintenance kidney transplant recipients in Slovenia. By the end of 2009, 107 out of 537 patients (19.9%) had been treated with epoetin. A cohort of 49 patients (45.8%) were analyzed in detail: 11 patients received epoetin alpha, 18 epoetin beta, 10 darbepoetin alpha, and 10 patients received methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta. The median epoetin dose was 0.36 µg/kg body weight per week. The median serum laboratory parameters were as follows: hemoglobin 120 g/L, hematocrit 0.36, ferritin 332 ng/mL, transferrin saturation 34%, serum creatinine 145 µmol/L, serum albumin 41 g/L, intact parathyroid hormone 79 ng/L, and C-reactive protein 3 mg/L. We concluded that the prevalence of renal anemia in kidney transplant recipients treated with epoetin was approximately 20%, and laboratory parameters suggested that the treatment of renal anemia in this study cohort was optimal.

Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) and antibodies against glomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM) rarely coexist. Both antibodies may be associated with rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis and pulmonary hemorrhage. We describe the clinical, serological and histological features of our patients with dual antibodies. From 1977 to 2008, 48 patients with anti-GBM antibody-associated renal disease were observed. Eight out of the 30 tested patients (26.7%), all females, had positive myeloperoxidase (MPO)-ANCA coexistent with anti-GBM antibodies. The patients' mean age was 63.4 +/- 7.8 years. Five presented with pulmonary-renal syndrome, all but one were dialysis-dependent on admission. They had constitutional symptoms and different organ involvement. The kidney biopsies revealed intense linear staining for immunoglobulin G and C3 along the glomerular and distal tubular basement membrane associated with irregular diffuse or focal extracapillary crescentic glomerulonephritis with necrosis of varying extent. Lesions of varying ages were characteristically expressed. Seven patients were treated with methylprednisolone and plasma exchange, four with cyclophosphamide, and one with intravenous immunoglobulin. After 28-74 months, there were three dialysis-dependent survivors and one patient with stable chronic renal disease. Two clinical relapses with pulmonary involvement and MPO-ANCA positivity without anti-GBM antibodies occurred in two dialysis-dependent patients. In summary, screening for ANCA and anti-GBM antibodies should be undertaken in patients with clinical signs of systemic vasculitis. In dialysis-dependent patients, the goal of treatment is to limit the damage of other involved organs and not to preserve renal function. Careful follow-up is necessary due to the relapsing nature of the ANCA component of the disease.

We studied prospectively the efficacy and safety of basiliximab combined with triple immunosuppression in adult recipients ofor = 1 HLA-mismatched deceased donor renal grafts. All studied patients received equal immunosuppressive drugs: 20 mg infusion of basiliximab on day 0 and on day 4, cyclosporine microemulsion (Neoral), mycophenolate mofetil, and methylprednisolone. An analysis of 1-year data assessed the incidence of acute rejection episodes, safety of this therapy, renal graft function, and patient and graft survivals. One hundred seventy-two patients were studied. The HLA-antigen mismatches were 2.9 +/- 0.9 (mean +/- SD), and the cold ischemia time was 22.0 +/- 7.5 hours. Fifty-three (31.5%) patients experienced delayed graft function. At 12 months, 5 (3.0%) patients experienced acute rejection. Six renal grafts were lost, but not from rejection. Two patients died. Sixty-six infections required treatment in the hospital. One carcinoma of cervix (in situ) and two basal cell carcinomas of skin were detected. Hypersensitivity reactions and cytokine-release syndrome were not observed. At 12 months, serum creatinine was significantly higher (119 +/- 46 micromol/L; P.001) in patients with delayed graft function than in patients with immediate graft function (99 +/- 26 micromol/L). Patient and graft survivals were 98.8% and 97.1%, respectively. Basiliximab combined with this triple therapy was an efficient and safe immunosuppression strategy, demonstrated with very low incidence of acute rejections, an acceptable adverse event profile, excellent graft function, and high short-term survival rates in adult recipients of deceased donor renal transplant.

Iron deficiency in patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD) treated by haemodialysis (HD) is difficult to diagnose. The reticulocyte hemoglobin content (CHr) and the percentage of hypochromic red cells (%hypo) are sensitive novel assays for the detection of functional iron deficiency in patients treated with erithropoietin (EPO). In our study thirty-nine chronically hemodialyzed patients were evaluated to determine the value of these two parameters in comparison to the conventional biochemical indicators of iron metabolism. There were significant correlations between CHr and transferrin saturation, CHr and weekly dosage of EPO, and also between %hypo and weekly dosage of EPO. Our data represent superior value of %hypo and CHr to the transferrin saturation and ferritin concentration in detecteng of iron deficiency in HD patients.