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Aim Bacterial and fungal infections are serious, life-threatening conditions after kidney transplantation. The development of oral/oesophageal candidiasis after kidney transplantation is not a reported risk factor for subsequent severe infection. This study was performed to investigate the relationship between oral/oesophageal candidiasis after kidney transplantation and the development of subsequent infection requiring hospitalization. Methods This retrospective study included 522 consecutive patients who underwent kidney transplantation at Japanese Red Cross Aichi Medical Center Nagoya Daini Hospital from 1 January 2010 to 1 February 2019. Ninety-five percentage of patients were living donor transplant recipients. Visual examination was performed to detect oral candidiasis, beginning immediately after kidney transplantation; upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed 8-10 months after kidney transplantation. Twenty-five patients developed candidiasis (Candida-onset group) and 497 did not (non-Candida-onset group). The follow-up periods were 67 (37-86) months in the Candida-onset group and 55 (34-89) months in the non-Candida-onset group. Severe infection was defined as bacterial or fungal infection requiring hospitalization; viral infections were excluded. Results Severe infection developed in 9/25 (36%) patients in the Candida-onset group and in 77/497 (15%) patients in the non-Candida-onset group (p = .006). Binomial logistic analysis revealed that Candida infection (odds ratio [OR] 2.53, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.06-6.06; p = .037) and use of rituximab (OR 1.81, 95% CI 1.12-2.93; p = .016) were significant predictors of subsequent severe infection. Conclusion Oral/oesophageal candidiasis is a risk factor for severe infection after kidney transplantation and suggests an over-immunosuppressive state, which should prompt evaluation of immunosuppression.

OBJECTIVES Our aim was to investigate effects of surgery on living donors' body composition and clarify factors related to it. MATERIALS AND METHODS We evaluated preoperative computed tomography images of 335 living kidney donors (127 men, 209 women) to calculate 3 body composition parameters and changes with aging by sex: (1) skeletal muscle mass, quantified by skeletal muscle index; (2) fat distribution, calculated by visceral adipose tissue/subcutaneous adipose tissue ratio; and (3) muscle quality, quantified by intramuscular adipose tissue content. Thereafter, with pre- and postoperative computed tomography images from 75 living kidney donors (25 men, 50 women) after hand-assisted laparoscopic donor nephrectomy, we compared pre- and postoperative body composition changes. RESULTS Annual change in intramuscular adipose tissue content with age was 0.0049 in men and 0.0091 in women. Of 75 patients, 49 had lower quality of muscle, intramuscular adipose tissue content was significantly higher after nephrectomy (P < .001), and median change in intramuscular adipose tissue content was 0.061 (range, 0.018-0.11) in men and 0.052 (range, 0.017-0.18) in women. Univariate analysis revealed that skeletal mass index and visceral adipose tissue/subcutaneous adipose tissue ratio changes were significantly different between the intramuscular adipose tissue content improvement and deterioration groups. Multivariate analysis revealed skeletal mass index change was an independent factor for intramuscular adipose tissue content change (P = .0019). Intramuscular adipose tissue content change was negatively correlated with skeletal mass index change (r = -0.40). CONCLUSIONS Although muscle quality deteriorates after nephrectomy, maintaining muscle mass is important to retaining muscle quality.

Introduction: Living kidney donation improves the lives of individuals with kidney failure; however, recent studies have suggested that living kidney donors may be at a relatively higher risk of reduced renal function than healthy non-donors. We therefore aimed to evaluate the clinical and pathological findings in living kidney donors who developed kidney disease. Methods: From January 1991 to May 2019, 1,625 live kidney donations were performed at our hospital. Among the donors, 7 developed kidney disease after donation and underwent open renal biopsy. We studied the clinical and pathological findings of these patients from their clinical records. Results: There were 3 patients with immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy, 2 with membranous nephropathy, 1 with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated glomerulonephritis, and 1 with secondary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). All patients with IgA nephropathy had latent IgA deposition on their baseline biopsy. One patient with membranous nephropathy demonstrated findings of membranous nephropathy on the baseline biopsy, despite being asymptomatic. All patients, except for those with ANCA-associated nephropathy and secondary FSGS, recovered from the nephritis or maintained an adequate renal function after treatment. Discussion/Conclusion: Baseline biopsy is necessary for assessing the renal condition of kidney donors, and these donors require long-term follow-up based on their baseline biopsy findings. If donors develop kidney disease, appropriate diagnosis and treatment are essential.

The effect of parathyroidectomy (PTx) timing on serum calcium (Ca) levels and renal functions in renal transplant recipients with severe hyperparathyroidism (HPT) remains unclear. We retrospectively aimed to investigate and compare the clinical data of patients who underwent pre- and post-transplant PTx and elucidated the impact of PTx timing on serum Ca levels and renal graft outcomes after renal transplantation (RTx).During January 2000-December 2016, 53 and 55 patients underwent post-transplant PTx (Post-RTx group) and pretransplant PTx (Pre-RTx group), respectively. The serum Ca levels and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were assessed in both groups.At the end of the follow-up, the serum Ca levels were significantly higher and the incidence of hypocalcemia was significantly lower in the Pre-RTx group than in the Post-RTx group [9.5 vs. 8.9 mg/dL, P 0.001; 14.5% vs. 34.0%, P = 0.024]. The decrease in the eGFR 12-36 months after RTx was more significant in the Post-RTx group than in the Pre-RTx group (-13.8% vs. -0.9%; P = 0.001). A logistic regression involving age, sex, dialysis period, and serum parathormone level revealed that post-transplant PTx is an independent risk factor for persistent hypocalcemia at the end of the follow-up (P = 0.034) and for a20% decrease in the eGFR 12-36 months after RTx (P = 0.029).In renal transplant candidates with severe HPT, pretransplant PTx should be considered to prevent persistent hypocalcemia and deterioration of the renal graft function.

Recently, in vitro experiments have demonstrated that anti-blood group A/B antibody binding to endothelial cells induce a protective effect against antibody-mediated injury. This study aimed to clarify the potential clinical benefit of ABO incompatibility in donor-specific HLA antibody (DSA)-induced chronic antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR). We enrolled 215 ABO-incompatible renal transplant (ABO-I) and 467 ABO-identical/compatible renal transplant recipients (ABO-Id/C). The prevalence of de novo DSA production and incidence of biopsy-proven chronic ABMR were compared between the two groups. The incidence of DR-associated de novo DSA was significantly lower in ABO-I than in ABO-Id/C (P = 0.028). Diagnostic biopsy for ABMR was conducted in 54 patients (11 ABO-I and 43 ABO-Id/C). Biopsy-proven chronic ABMR was lower in ABO-I than in ABO-Id/C (27.3% [3/11] vs. 44.2% [19/43]) patients. Our findings suggest that ABO incompatibility may cause low production of DR-associated de novo DSA, possibly resulting in a reduced incidence of chronic ABMR.

In pre-sensitizing events, immunological memory is mainly created via indirect allorecognition where CD4+ T cells recognize foreign peptides in the context of self-HLA class II (pHLA) presented on antigen-presenting cells. This recognition makes it possible for naive CD4+ T-helper cells to differentiate into memory cells, resulting in the creation of further antibody memory. These responses contribute to effective secretion of donor-specific anti-HLA antibodies (DSA) after second encounters with the same peptide. Preformed donor-reactive CD4+ memory T cells may induce early immune responses after transplantation; however, the tools to evaluate them are limited. This study evaluated shared T cell epitopes (TEs) between the pre-sensitizing and donor HLA using an in silico assay, an alternative to estimate donor-reactive CD4+ memory T cells before transplantation. In 578 living donor kidney transplants without preformed DSA, 69 patients had anti-HLA antibodies before transplantation. Of them, 40 had shared TEs and were estimated to have donor-reactive CD4+ memory T cells. De novo DSA formation in the early phase was significantly higher in the shared TE-positive group than in the anti-HLA antibody- and shared TE-negative groups (p=0.001 and p=0.02, respectively). In conclusion, evaluation of shared TEs for estimating preformed donor-reactive CD4+ memory T cells may help predict the risk of early de novo DSA formation after kidney transplantation.

In living kidney transplantation, predicting the risk of end-stage kidney disease in the organ donors though crucial remains to be resolved. Thus, any useful biomarker to predict kidney outcome would be highly desirable to safeguard donors. This retrospective study was conducted at Nagoya Daini Red Cross Hospital to confirm whether an increase in preserved kidney volume (PKV) was a predict marker of proteinuria. A change of PKV before and 1 year after kidney donation was measured, and its association with proteinuria 3 years after the donation was analyzed. A total of 119 kidney donors who met the Japanese donor guideline were enrolled. The mean age was 57.4 years, 46.2% were male. The mean values of the variables before kidney donation (baseline) were: BMI levels: 23.4 kg/m2, BSA-adjusted PKV: 132.9 cm3/1.73 m2, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFRave): 82.9 mL/min/1.73 m2. A positive correlation was noted between BSA-adjusted PKV and eGFRave (r = 0.61, p

Background De novo donor-specific HLA antibody (DSA) and antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR) are strongly associated with late allograft loss in renal transplant recipients. However, the impact of therapeutic intervention with the current treatment options for ABMR remains unclear. This study aimed to elucidate the efficacy of treatment for ABMR. Methods Sixty-seven patients who had de novo DSAs underwent diagnostic biopsy for ABMR, and these patients were classified into 3 groups: ABMR-free group (n = 40), clinical ABMR group (n = 15), and subclinical ABMR group (n = 12). The ABMR-positive groups were treated mainly with double-filtration plasmapheresis followed by rituximab and corticosteroid pulse. The patient characteristics and graft outcomes were compared between groups. Results The clinical and subclinical ABMR groups were younger and had a higher number and mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of de novo DSAs than the ABMR-free group. The graft survival in the clinical ABMR group was significantly lower than that in the ABMR-free group, but the subclinical ABMR group had a surprisingly good graft survival rate compared to the ABMR-free group (43.3% vs 100% vs 94.2% 5 years after diagnostic biopsy in the clinical ABMR, subclinical ABMR, and ABMR-free groups, respectively, P Conclusions Our findings indicated that early therapeutic intervention for patients with de novo DSAs may improve graft survival.

To evaluate the surgical outcomes of parathyroidectomy (PTx) for secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) resistant to calcimimetic treatment, we retrospectively studied 187 patients with SHPT who had no history of calcimimetic treatment (NCMT group) and 186 patients with SHPT who were resistant to calcimimetic treatment (RCMT group). Success rate and operative time of PTx were compared among the two groups. Operative time was significantly longer in the RCMT group than in the NCMT group (180 vs. 158 min, P < 0.001), but the difference was attenuated after multivariate adjustment including the weight of the largest parathyroid gland. No significant differences were observed in success rate of PTx (90.9% vs. 91.4%, P = 1.000) between the two groups. In patients with SHPT who are resistant to calcimimetic treatment, operative time could be elongated but success rate of PTx remains unchanged. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Objective To improve the long-term survival rate after kidney transplantation (KTx), allograft injury should be identified as soon as possible. Regardless of aggressive immunosuppressive therapies, recipients of kidney transplants still have a significant risk of graft failure. No specific predictor for the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) after KTx has yet been found. Aberrant molecular mechanisms involving the αKlotho-fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 23 axis may be a useful determinant of renal impairment and graft failure over time. Methods Plasma and spot urine samples were collected from 47 patients 1 year after KTx. Evaluation of renal function after KTx was performed using levels of biomarkers including serum intact FGF23, soluble αKlotho, 25(OH) vitamin D (25(OH)D), and the difference in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) between the first and third year after KTx (ΔeGFR). Results The median serum αKlotho, intact FGF23, and 25(OH)D were 516.3 pg/mL, 58.7 pg/mL, and 5.7 ng/mL, respectively. No marked changes in the standard biomarkers that regulate phosphate homeostasis were found. Serum αKlotho levels were associated with ΔeGFR. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that serum αKlotho levels significantly predicted a decrease in eGFR in the graft kidney 2 years after KTx, but serum 25(OH)D and FGF23 levels were not significant. Serum αKlotho levels showed an inverse correlation with fractional excretion of magnesium, which reflects tubular injury in the early stage of CKD. Conclusion Measurement of serum αKlotho may serve as a useful predictor of KTx patients who require initiation of pre-emptive medication.

Noninvasive methods for the early diagnosis of chronic antibody-mediated rejection (cAMR) are desired for patients with de novo (dn) donor-specific HLA antibody (DSA). This study aimed to elucidate the clinical relevance of immune-related gene expression in peripheral blood of kidney transplant recipients. The expression levels of fourteen key molecules (Foxp3, CTLA-4, CCR7, TGF-β, IGLL-1, IL-10, ITCH, CBLB, Bcl-6, CXCR5, granzyme B, CIITA, Baff, TOAG-1/TCAIM) related to regulatory/cytotoxic function of immune cells were compared in 93 patients, which were divided into Groups A (clinical cAMR with dn DSA, n = 16), B (subclinical cAMR with dn DSA, n = 17), C (negative cAMR with dn DSA, n = 21) and D (stable function without dn DSA, n = 39). CIITA mRNA expression levels in groups B and C were significantly lower than those in group D (p 0.01). Moreover, the CTLA-4 mRNA expression in group A was significantly higher than that in groups B and C (p 0.01). ROC curve analysis suggested that CIITA (AUC = 0.902) and CTLA-4 (AUC = 0.785) may serve as valuable biomarkers of the stage of dn DSA production and clinical cAMR, respectively. In addition to dn DSA screening, monitoring of CIITA and CTLA-4 in peripheral blood could offer useful information on the time course of the development of cAMR.

Preemptive kidney transplantation (PEKT) incidence has recently increased in Japan. The effect of PEKT and mineral bone factors before kidney transplantation (KTx) on long-term calcium (Ca) levels remains unknown. Eighty-one consecutive patients at Nagoya Daini Red Cross Hospital were included in this study (PEKT group with 41 patients and non PEKT group with 40 patients). Ca metabolism, including intact fibroblast growth factor 23 (iFGF23), were measured before KTx and intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), and corrected Ca (cCa) were measured before KTx and 6 months (M), 12 M, and 24 M after KTx. In PEKT group, cCa levels at 24 M were higher from the baseline level. At baseline, cCa levels had a positive correlation with iFGF23 levels (r = 0.51; p

Complete parathyroidectomy (PTx) is essential during total PTx for secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) to prevent recurrent and persistent hyperparathyroidism. Pre-operative imaging evaluations, including computed tomography (CT), ultrasonography (US), and Tc-99m sestamibi (MIBI) scans, are commonly performed. Between June 2009 and January 2016, 291 patients underwent PTx for SHPT after pre-operative evaluations involving CT, US, and MIBI scans, and the diagnostic accuracies of these imaging modalities for identifying the parathyroid glands were evaluated in 177 patients whose intact parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels were 9 ng/mL after PTx, and the diagnostic validities of the imaging modalities for the remnant parathyroid glands were evaluated. A combination of CT, US, and MIBI scans achieved the highest diagnostic accuracy (75%) for locating bilateral upper and lower parathyroid glands before initial PTx. The accuracies of CT, US, and MIBI scans with respect to locating remnant parathyroid glands before additional PTx were 100%, 28.6%, and 100%, respectively. A combination of CT, US, and MIBI scans is useful for initial PTx for SHPT, and CT and MIBI scans are useful imaging modalities for additional PTx procedures.

Everolimus (EVR) is often administered with cyclosporine A (CsA), according to an established protocol. Although the administration protocol of EVR with tacrolimus (TAC) has not been established, it has been clinically demonstrated that a higher dose of EVR is necessary when used in combination with TAC than with CsA. In this study, we aimed to determine the optimal dose of EVR administered with TAC to maintain a similar EVR level in the blood to that observed when EVR is administered with CsA. Between June 2009 and January 2016, 22 patients who underwent living donor kidney transplantation were enrolled in this study. Among them, 12 patients were administered steroids, basiliximab, CsA, and EVR (CsA + EVR group) and 10 were administered steroids, basiliximab, TAC, and EVR (TAC + EVR group). Blood samples were collected at different time points from patients in both CsA + EVR and TAC + EVR groups, after drug administration. The trough EVR level in both groups was maintained within 3–8 ng/mL during the perioperative period. The optimal EVR doses for both groups were estimated by using a population pharmacokinetic analysis. Overall, the optimal dose of EVR for the TAC + EVR group was 3.59-fold higher than that for the CsA + EVR group to maintain a similar trough level to that of the latter group. Thus, administration of a higher EVR dose is recommended when provided in combination with TAC than with CsA to prevent adverse events caused by under immunosuppression, that could lead to acute kidney rejection.

Persistent or recurrent renal hyperparathyroidism may occur after total parathyroidectomy and transcervical thymectomy with forearm autograft under continuous stimulation due to uremia. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels may reflect persistent or recurrent renal hyperparathyroidism because of the enlarged autografted parathyroid glands in the forearm or remnant parathyroid glands in the neck or mediastinum. Detailed imaging requires predictive localization of causative parathyroid glands. Casanova and simplified Casanova tests may be convenient. However, these methods require avascularization of the autografted forearm for >10 min with a tourniquet or Esmarch. The heavy pressure during avascularization can be incredibly painful and result in nerve damage. An easier method that minimizes the burden on patients in addition to predicting the localization of causative parathyroid glands was developed in this study. Ninety patients who underwent successful re-parathyroidectomy for persistent or recurrent renal hyperparathyroidism after parathyroidectomy between January 2000 and July 2019 were classified according to the localization of causative parathyroid glands (63 and 27 patients in the autografted forearm and the neck or mediastinum groups, respectively). Preoperatively, intact PTH levels were measured from bilateral forearm blood samples following a 5-min avascularization of the autografted forearm. Cutoff values of the intact PTH ratio (intact PTH level obtained from the non-autografted forearm before re-parathyroidectomy/intact PTH level obtained from the autografted forearm before re-parathyroidectomy) were investigated with receiver operating characteristic curves to localize the causative parathyroid glands. Intact PTH ratios of 0.859 with an AUC 0.744 (95% CI: 0.587–0.901; P = 0.013) could predict causative parathyroid glands in the autografted forearm and the neck or mediastinum with diagnostic accuracies of 81.1% and 83.3%, respectively. Therefore, we propose that the intact PTH ratio is useful for predicting the localization of causative parathyroid glands for re-parathyroidectomy.

It is unclear whether all donor-specific antibodies (DSA) can cause chronic antibody-mediated rejection (AMR). Subclinical stage before manifestation of renal dysfunction may be a critical period for reversing AMR. The aim of our study was to identify factors related to the development of subclinical AMR and to clarify the characteristics of de novo DSA.Eight hundred ninety-nine renal transplants were screened for HLA antibody. De novo DSA were detected in 95 patients. Forty-three patients without renal dysfunction who underwent renal biopsies were enrolled in this study. Eighteen patients (41.9%) were diagnosed with biopsy-proven subclinical AMR and treated with plasmapheresis and rituximab-based therapy, whereas 25 showed no findings of AMR.Significant subclinical AMR-related factors were younger recipients, history of acute T cell-mediated rejection and DSA class II, especially DR-associated DSA. Mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) values of DR-DSA were significantly higher, whereas DQ-DSA was not different between subclinical AMR and no AMR. The ΔMFI (50%), DSA-MFI values greater than 3000, and C1q binding DSA were also significant subclinical AMR-related factors (P0.05). Among 18 patients treated for subclinical AMR, 8 patients (44.4%) obtained over 50% reduction of DSA-MFI and/or improvement or no deterioration of pathological findings. In contrast, 25 patients without subclinical AMR did not show renal dysfunction clinically. Moreover, all of the 8 patients with rebiopsy after 2 years continued to demonstrate no AMR.About 40% of patients with de novo DSA demonstrated biopsy-proven subclinical AMR, leading to progressive graft injury. To validate the intervention and treatment for de novo DSA-positive patients without renal dysfunction, further study is necessary.

Evidence regarding the differences in clinical outcomes after preemptive kidney transplantation (PKT) and non-PKT in Japan is lacking.We conducted a retrospective cohort study at a single center in Japan. Consecutive patients ages18 years old who had received a kidney transplant from a living donor between November of 2001 and December of 2013 at our institution (n=786) were enrolled. The primary study outcome was the occurrence of clinical events before the end of 2014. Clinical events were defined as any of the following: death with functioning graft (DWFG), graft loss, or post-transplant cardiovascular disease (CVD).The median follow-up period was 61.0 (35.3-94.0) months. PKT was performed in 239 patients (30.4%). Clinical events occurred in 78 (9.9%). In the Cox proportional hazard model for univariate analysis, factors found to be associated with higher risk of clinical events included older age, men, ABO incompatibility, longer dialysis duration, diabetes, pretransplant CVD, and large ventricular mass index. PKT was associated with lower risk. Clinical event rate in patients who received a PKT was 3.3% compared with 10.8%, 11.1%, 10.4%, 10.2%, 16.7%, and 16.2% among patients who were on dialysis for1, 1 to2, 2 to3, 3 to4, 4 to5, and ≥5 years before transplant, respectively (P=0.002). The multivariate analysis showed that ABO incompatibility (hazard ratio [HR], 2.98; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.89 to 4.71), duration of dialysis per year (HR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.03 to 1.11), and diabetes (HR, 3.54; 95% CI, 2.05 to 6.12) were only three independent risk factors for the incidence of clinical events.Even in Japan, where the long-term outcomes of patients on hemodialysis are excellent, PKT could be beneficial to reduce DWFG, graft loss, and post-transplant CVD.

Chronic antibody-mediated rejection, caused by de novo donor-specific antibody (dnDSA) production, results in poor graft survival. To prevent dnDSA production, optimal blood levels of immunosuppressive drugs in living donor kidney transplant recipients were determined. A total of 772 recipients underwent living donor kidney transplantation between January 2008 and December 2017. Graft survival and risk factors for dnDSA production were investigated in 647 recipients. Optimal blood levels of tacrolimus (TAC) and extended-release TAC (TACER) were measured in recipients receiving steroids and mycophenolate mofetil, combined with TAC (n = 53) or TACER (n = 135). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and comparisons between dnDSA-negative and dnDSA-positive recipients were carried out. The Kaplan-Meier method revealed significantly poor graft survival in dnDSA-positive recipients (P 0.001). Cox regression models indicated calcineurin inhibitor withdrawal as a significant risk for dnDSA production (P 0.001; hazard ratio 6.637; 95% confidence interval 2.667-6.517). Average trough levels of TAC and TACER in dnDSA-negative recipients were significantly higher than those in dnDSA-positive recipients (4.88 vs 3.69 ng TAC/ml, P = 0.023, and 4.60 vs 3.85 ng TACER/ml, P = 0.001). ROC curve analysis indicated 4.325 and 3.990 ng/ml as the best trough levels under TAC- and TACER-based regimens, respectively, to prevent dnDSA production (areas under the curve: 0.788 and 0.813, respectively). Maintenance of the trough levels of TAC 4.325 ng/ml and TACER 3.990 ng/ml may prevent dnDSA production.

Reoperative parathyroidectomy (RPTX) because parathyroid glands have been missed is frequently required in patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT). The usual locations of these missed glands in patients with SHPT are yet to be fully elucidated. We retrospectively investigated the locations of missed glands in 165 patients who underwent RPTX for persistent or recurrent SHPT at our institution from August 1982 to July 2014. At our institution, total parathyroidectomy with forearm autograft is the routine operative procedure for SHPT. We also routinely resect the thymic tongue. Of 165 patients, 82 underwent initial parathyroidectomy at our institution (Group A), and the remaining 83 underwent initial parathyroidectomy at other institutions (Group B). A total of 239 parathyroid glands were resected (Group A, 93; Group B, 146). Missed glands were most commonly located in the mediastinum (Group A, 22/93) and the thymic tongue (Group B, 31/146). In patients with persistent or recurrent SHPT, ectopic parathyroid glands are frequently located in the mediastinum and thymic tongue. Therefore, resecting the thymic tongue during the initial operation may reduce the need for RPTX.

Persistent hyperparathyroidism (HPT) after renal transplantation (RTx), termed tertiary HPT (THPT), is not uncommon. However, risk factors and appropriate operative procedures for THPT are poorly understood. A retrospective study of patients who underwent RTx without pre-transplant parathyroidectomy (PTx) was performed at our hospital between January 2001 and March 2011. Risk factors for the development of THPT were investigated by comparing THPT and non-THPT groups. We retrospectively analyzed patients with THPT who underwent total PTx with forearm autograft. Pre- and postoperative (1 year after PTx) laboratory results were analyzed for PTx efficacy. Data for 520 patients were analyzed. On multivariate analysis, long dialysis duration (p = 0.009, hazard ratio (HR) 1.01), large maximum parathyroid gland size before RTx (p = 0.003, HR 1.23), pre-RTx high intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) (p = 0.041, HR 1.01), post-RTx (

We occasionally experience cases of severe secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) that require parathyroidectomy (PTX) despite undergoing short-term renal replacement therapy (RRT). Because the characteristics of such cases have never been discussed, we aimed to elucidate the pathophysiology of severe SHPT after short-term RRT by retrospectively analyzing clinical data. A total of 1013 patients with severe SHPT underwent PTX between January 2007 and April 2016 at Nagoya Daini Red Cross Hospital. Of these patients, 570 underwent RRT for ≥10 years (long RRT group) and 23 for ≤1 year (short RRT group). We retrospectively investigated and compared patient characteristics, preoperative data, subjective symptoms, and bone lesion incidence between the two groups. A higher proportion of subjects with congenital or hereditary diseases as primary disease for chronic kidney disease (CKD) (21.7% (5/23) vs. 6.3% (36/570); P = 0.016) and longer predialysis period (21.2 ± 14.0 vs. 10.1 ± 9.2 years; P

The effectiveness of desensitization with rituximab in ABO-incompatible renal transplantation (ABO-I) has been widely reported. However, ABO-I outcomes are still worse than those of ABO-identical or ABO-compatible renal transplantation (ABO-Id/C). We retrospectively examined the outcomes in consecutive living donor ABO-Id/C (n = 412) and ABO-I (n = 205) cases to elucidate the causes of inferiority in ABO-I. ABO-I cases included recipients treated with rituximab (RIT, n = 131), splenectomy (SPX, n = 21), or neither because of low anti-A/B antibody titers (NoR/S, n = 53). Graft survival, infection, and de novo HLA antibody production were compared for ABO-I and ABO-Id/C, followed by stratification into RIT and NoR/S groups. Propensity score-based methods were employed to limit selection bias and potential confounders. Overall graft survival for ABO-I was significantly lower than that for ABO-Id/C (92.8% vs 97.2% after 5 years, P = .0037). Graft loss due to infection with ABO-I was significantly more frequent than that with ABO-Id/C, whereas acute antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) caused no graft failure in ABO-I recipients. Stratified analysis demonstrated significantly higher infection risk with RIT than with NoR/S. Safe reduction or avoidance of rituximab in desensitization protocols might contribute to further improvement of ABO-I outcome.

Atherosclerosis is becoming a more common problem for dialysis patients. Therefore, transplant surgeons are faced with the need to develop surgical techniques and procedures for severe atherosclerosis. This study aimed to clarify the clinical features, the usefulness of examinations, and operative procedures for kidney transplant recipients with the complication of severe atherosclerosis.Among 220 kidney transplant candidates, 13 patients (severe atherosclerosis group) were predicted complications due to arterial calcification in the bilateral iliac arterial system using a computed tomographic scan. They were compared with the remaining 207 patients (mild atherosclerosis group) based on patient characteristics. The severe atherosclerosis group was evaluated by additional examination, anastomosis procedure of the graft artery, and patient outcome.The severe atherosclerosis group had significantly higher rates of mean recipient age, glycosylated hemoglobin A1c, past smoking, and administration of antithrombotics. Past vascular surgery related to atherosclerosis in the aortoiliac region had been performed in 8 patients from the severe atherosclerosis group. A three-dimensional computed tomography angiography and an intraoperative periarterial echography were useful to determine the kidney transplant site. A balloon catheter effectively blocked blood flow. A polytetrafluoroethylene vascular graft was used for bypass between the graft artery and abdominal aorta. All kidney grafts of the severe atherosclerosis group were functioning well.Kidney transplant for patients with severe atherosclerosis can be achieved successfully by additional examinations and vascular surgical techniques.

Residual cardiovascular risk factors, such as triglyceride (TG), can cause cardiovascular disease. The role of TG metabolism in kidney transplantation remains unclear. Sixty-three consecutive stable recipients at 1 year after their kidney transplants were included in the study from January to September 2014 at Nagoya Daini Red Cross Hospital. We performed the cookie test to evaluate TG metabolism. TG, blood sugar, and remnant-like particle cholesterol (RLP-C) were measured at fasting (f) and 2 and 4 h after ingestion. Low- and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C and HDL-C, respectively) and apoB levels were measured at fasting. Mean TGf and RLP-Cf were 139.4 ± 62.6 and 5.6 ± 3.4 mg/dl, respectively, and were within normal ranges; however, both mean TG 2 and 4 h were >200 mg/dl, and both mean RLP-C 2 and 4 h were >9 mg/dl. A negative correlation was seen between TGf and eGFR (r = −0.48, p

Human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) is a common pathogen among children, classically presenting with fever and rash that resolves without specific therapy. HHV-6 can be reactivated in the immunosuppressed patient. After bone marrow and solid organ transplantation, HHV-6 has been linked to various clinical syndromes, including undifferentiated febrile illness, encephalitis, myelitis, hepatitis, pneumonitis, and bone marrow suppression. However, HHV-6 encephalitis after pancreatic transplant has rarely been reported. Early diagnosis and treatment of HHV-6 encephalitis may be important for affected patients. We report the case of a 53-year-old pancreas-after-kidney transplant recipient who initially presented with high fever and confusion 3 weeks after operation. We managed to save the patient's life and preserve the pancreas graft function. We also review previously reported cases of HHV-6B encephalitis in solid organ transplant recipients.

A 61-year-old Japanese woman, who had undergone hemodialysis because of chronic glomerulonephritis, received a living renal transplant from her ABO blood type–compatible spouse. HLA typing of A, B and DRB showed 3/6 mismatches. Complement-dependent cytotoxicity crossmatches, HLA antibody screening with the use of flow panel reactive antibody (PRA), and flow cytometry crossmatches (FCXM) were all negative. Tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, methylprednisolone (MP), and basiliximab induction were used as the standard immunosuppressive therapy. After renal transplantation, her serum creatinine level favorably decreased, but urine output was not sufficiently obtained, contrary to our expectations. Doppler sonography revealed disappearance of diastolic arterial flow on postoperative day 2. The episode biopsy showed acute antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) based on the current Banff classification, although FCXM and flow PRA were still negative. To determine the cause of acute AMR, we expanded the HLA typing at high resolution levels to Cw, DQB1, and DPB1. Retrospective analysis of perioperative sera demonstrated the presence of low levels of donor-specific HLA IgG and moderate levels of IgM antibody against DQB1 before transplantation. There was an elevation of IgM antibody at the time of rejection, whereas IgG antibody showed no remarkable change. AMR was successfully treated with plasma exchange, low-dose intravenous immunoglobulin, high-dose intravenous MP pulse, and rituximab.

The long-term effect of rituximab and splenectomy on de novo HLA antibody production and chronic antibody-mediated rejection after renal transplantation is uncertain. In order to gain insight on this, we studied 92 ABO-incompatible and 228 ABO-identical/compatible consecutive renal transplant patients and determined their de novo HLA antibody production and graft outcome. Patients with pretransplant donor-specific antibodies had been excluded. ABO-incompatible transplants included 30 recipients treated with rituximab, 51 by splenectomy, or 11 with neither, due to low anti-A or -B antibody titer. Graft survival in ABO-identical/compatible patients (97.7% at 5 years) was significantly higher than in ABO-incompatible (87.0% at 5 years), rituximab (96.7% at 3 years), or splenectomy (85.7% at 5 years) patients. Only four patients had clinical chronic antibody-mediated rejection (two each identical/compatible and incompatible). There was no significant difference in prevalence of de novo HLA antibody, including donor-specific and nondonor-specific antibodies among ABO-identical/compatible patients (13.9%), patients receiving rituximab (14.3%) or splenectomy (13.2%), or among those receiving cyclosporine, tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, mizoribine, and everolimus. Renal function remained stable in most recipients with de novo HLA antibody. Thus, neither pretransplant splenectomy nor rituximab treatment has an inhibitory effect on de novo HLA antibody production during medium-term follow-up. Further study on long-term effects is needed.

Although short-term graft survival has been improved by recent desensitization protocols including B cell depletion therapy, little is known about risk factors of chronic antibody-mediated rejection (CAMR) in HLA-incompatible (HLA-I) renal transplantation (RTx). Twenty-six HLA-I RTx with positive donor-specific antibodies (DSA) and negative T cell cytotoxic crossmatches were compared with 88 ABO-incompatible (ABO-I) and 207 ABO-identical/compatible (ABO-Id/C) RTx. The desensitization therapy consisted of mycophenolate mofetil, rituximab and double-filtration plasmapheresis. Protocol biopsies within 1 year revealed subclinical CAMR in 36% of HLA-I, 5% of ABO-I and 3% of ABO-Id/C, although clinical acute AMR was observed in 8%, 3% and 1%, respectively. The incidence of CAMR was not different between class I and class II DSA. Most of class I DSA (94%) changed to negative 1 year after RTx, whereas 77% of class II DSA remained positive. In addition, the remaining DRB ± DQB DSA caused CAMR in 80% of patients, while DQB DSA alone did not. The progress of subclinical CAMR within 1 year could not be circumvented by rituximab. Sustained class II (DRB ± DQB) DSA detection after RTx may pose a potential risk for developing CAMR, but negative change in class I DSA could also elicit CAMR.

Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) develops as the result of unregulated complement progression and precipitates de novo thrombotic microangiopathy. Plasma therapy is used to control the progression of the complement cascade, but that therapy is not effective in all patients and is accompanied by risk of infection and/or allergy. Eculizumab has been reported as an efficient therapy for aHUS. We report the case of a 35-year old woman who underwent effective eculizumab therapy for aHUS recurrence and antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) progress after renal transplantation with preformed donor-specific antibodies (DSA). She developed end-stage renal disease due to suspicious IgA nephropathy at age 33 years. Kidney transplantation was performed at age 35 years, and aHUS recurred 2 weeks later, leading to the progressive hemolytic anemia and renal dysfunction. Therefore, she underwent plasma therapy several times. Because it was difficult to continue to plasma therapy for severe allergy, eculizumab was proposed as an alternate therapy. Treatment with eculizumab was initiated 36 days after renal transplantation. After 3 years of eculizumab treatment, and without plasma therapy, schistocytes decreased, haptoglobin increased to within normal limits, creatinine levels stabilized, and no further episodes of diarrhea were reported. At protocol biopsy 1 year after transplantation, she was diagnosed with C4d-negative subclinical AMR. However, her pathologic findings at follow-up biopsy 3 years after transplantation were recovered. We conclude that eculizumab alone, without plasma therapy, is sufficient to treat recurrence of aHUS and AMR due to DSA after renal transplantation and to maintain long-term graft function.

This study aimed to investigate the impact of grafting using thin upper pole artery ligation for living-donor adult kidney transplantation. Few reports have examined the safety of thin upper pole artery ligation. Between January 2008 and May 2015, 613 consecutive living-donor adult kidney transplantations were performed. We excluded 21 recipients who experienced graft loss due to factors that were unrelated to surgical complications and 3 recipients with grafts treated with arterial reconstruction and thin upper pole artery ligation for 3 arteries. We included 439 kidney grafts with single arteries (Single Artery Group), 123 with reconstructed arteries (Arterial Reconstruction Group) and 27 with ligated thin upper pole arteries (Arterial Ligation Group) in this retrospective cohort study. To evaluate the safety of thin upper pole artery ligation, we compared the Arterial Ligation Group with the Single Artery and Arterial Reconstruction groups. We evaluated the characteristics of the enrolled donors, recipients, and their grafts. Thereafter, we investigated recipients’ perioperative and postoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and complication rates. Significant differences among the 3 groups were identified for donor sex and endoscopic nephrectomy rates. Recipient eGFR and the complication rates were adjusted according to these factors. The perioperative and postoperative eGFR of recipients did not differ significantly in the Arterial Reconstruction and Single Artery groups with low complication rates. Thin upper pole artery ligation is a safe procedure for living-donor adult kidney transplantation and may prevent unnecessary arterial reconstruction and associated complications.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of everolimus plus reduced-dose cyclosporine compared with mycophenolate mofetil plus standard-dose cyclosporine 5years after living donor kidney transplantation. Between March 2008 and August 2009, 24 living donor kidney transplantations were enrolled in a 2-year, multicenter, randomized phase 3 study (RAD001A1202 study). 24 recipients were randomly classified into two groups and closely observed for 5years. 13 recipients were administered steroid, reduced-dose cyclosporine, everolimus and basiliximab (EVR group). 11 recipients were administered steroid, standard-dose cyclosporine, mycophenolate mofetil and basiliximab (STD group). Two groups were compared not only in graft function including estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and proteinuria, but also in adverse events such as de novo donor-specific antibody (DSA) production, rejection, new-onset diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. No graft loss was identified in 5years. The incidences of acute T cell rejection, de novo DSA production, hyperlipidemia, and new-onset diabetes were similar. eGFR levels throughout the observation periods were similar. Three cases of proteinuria were identified in STD group. One case of proteinuria observed in EVR group was well controlled with angiotensin receptor blocker. Incidence of CMV infection in CMV antibody-positive recipients was significantly lower in EVR group. The safety and efficacy of reduced-dose cyclosporine and everolimus protocol were similar to those of standard-dose cyclosporine and mycophenolate mofetil other than for superior prevention of CMV infection.

BACKGROUND Few studies have investigated whether the volume of native kidney and liver (when combined with polycystic disease) in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) decreases after renal transplantation. METHODS Changes in the volume of native kidney (bilateral: n=28; unilateral: n=5) and liver (concomitant polycystic disease: n=18) were analyzed in 33 patients with ADPKD, who underwent renal transplantation. Volumetry was retrospectively conducted using simple computed tomography scan data 6 months before transplantation, at the time of transplantation, and 1, 3, and 5 years after transplantation. Volume change was calculated on the basis of the value at the time of transplantation. RESULTS Mean±standard deviation values of bilateral native kidney volume were 3100±1417 (range: 756 to 6525; median: 2499) cm at the time of transplantation. Kidney volumes were significantly reduced in all but one patient after renal transplantation, decreasing by 37.7% and 40.6% at 1 and 3 years, respectively. The major proportion of the decrease was observed within the first year posttransplantation. In contrast, 16 of 18 patients showed significant increase of liver volumes after renal transplantation. The mean rates of increase were 8.6% and 21.4% at 1 and 3 years, respectively. CONCLUSIONS As the volume of native polycystic kidneys could be reduced after renal transplantation, resection would be unnecessary if the space for kidney graft is available in the absence of infection, bleeding, or malignancy. When ADPKD is combined with polycystic liver disease, the possibility of intolerable symptoms caused by growing liver cysts should also be taken into account.

ABO-incompatible (ABOi) renal transplantation has been increasing, but malignant tumor is a troubling complication of kidney transplantation due to potent immunosuppression. Few previous studies, however, have demonstrated that potent immunosuppression for ABOi living-donor renal transplantation (LDRT) is a risk factor for malignancy. In the present research, data on 252 LDRT patients ftom 2003 to 2008 were retrospectively analyzed to clarify whether ABOi LDRT was associated with malignancy. A potent immunosuppressive regimen for ABOiLDRT consisted of splenectomy, cyclophosphamide, and double-filtration plasmapheresis to minimize the risk of antibody-mediated rejection, in addition to conventional immunosuppresssants including calcineurin inhibitor, prednisolone, and anti-CD25 monoclonal antibody. A total of 11 incidences of malignancy were observed during a median follow-up of 48 months. The incidence rates in ABO-compatible (ABOc; n = 189) and ABOi (n = 63) LDRT groups were 4.2 % (8/189) and 4.8 % (3/63), respectively. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed no statistical difference in event-free survival for malignancy between ABOc and ABOiLDRT groups (log-rank P = .73). Multivariable Cox regression analyses identified no associations of malignancy with ABOi LDRT or any immunosuppressant use. In conclusion, our investigation suggested that potent immunosuppression with splenectomy and cyclophosphamide for ABOi LDRT may not be a risk factor for malignancy.

Recurrent renal hyperparathyroidism (HPT) is a serious problem after parathyroidectomy (PTx). We evaluated the frequency of graft-dependent recurrent HPT and the clinical outcomes after removal of the autograft. Between March 1980 and January 2009, 2660 patients underwent total PTx with forearm autograft. After resection of all parathyroid glands, 30 pieces of 1 × 1 × 3 mm parathyroid tissue from diffuse hyperplasia, if possible, were autografted into brachioradial muscle. Graft-dependent recurrence of HPT was diagnosed by a high PTH gradient and detection of swollen autografts by palpation and/or MRI or US. In 248/2660 (9.3%) patients, removal of the graft was required a total of 327 times (53 patients required removal of the autograft several times). The cumulative frequency of graft-dependent recurrent HPT was 17.4% ten years after the initial PTx. Thirty-two patients underwent both resection of missed glands located in the neck or mediastinum and removal of the graft. En-bloc resection of autograft with surrounding muscle was required to avoid reoperation. When the intact PTH level dropped under 300 pg/ml, in the majority of patients renal HPT could be medically managed after the operation. The mean weight of the resected parathyroid tissue was 1583.7 mg. No specimen had histopathologically malignant features. Three patients suffered from hematoma in the wound. Graft-dependent recurrent renal HPT is not negligible. However, in the majority of patients, renal HPT can be controlled by removal of the autograft noninvasively. Total PTx with forearm autograft is preferable for hemodialysis patients, especially when long-term survival is expected.

Some studies have reported causal associations between bacteremia and mortality or allograft loss in kidney transplant recipients (KTR). However, few studies have assessed the clinical course of kidney function and the risk of acute allograft rejection after bacteremia. We retrospectively reviewed 902 kidney transplants performed at Nagoya Daini Red Cross Hospital between January 1, 2002 and March 31, 2014. Forty-five living donor kidney transplant recipients with single bacteremia were included. We analyzed death, change in kidney function, and development of acute allograft rejection 12 months after bacteremia according to the following groups: primary source of bacteremia (urinary tract or other sources), site of acquisition (community acquired or nosocomial), severity (not meeting the systemic inflammatory response syndrome criteria and sepsis or severe sepsis and septic shock), empiric antibiotic use (appropriate or inappropriate), and baseline kidney function (estimated glomerular filtration rate ≤44.7 or ≥44.8 ml/min). Urinary tract infection (UTI) was the leading cause of bacteremia (68.9 %), and Escherichia coli was the most common pathogen. Three cases (6.7 %) died of infection that caused bacteremia within 12 months. Pneumonia accounted for two-thirds. Kidney function declined 1 week after bacteremia (P

Background Elderly renal transplant candidates constitute one the fastest-growing populations among end-stage renal disease patients. Since the impacts of advanced recipient age have not yet been fully defined, we evaluated the clinical characteristics and outcomes of elderly renal transplant recipients. Methods Among 564 adult renal transplant recipients, at our center between 2000 and 2009, 64 were at least 60 years of age (Elderly group), and 500 were younger than 60 years (Young group) at the time of the procedure. We compared their clinical features and surgical management. Results There were significant differences in mean donor age (55.6 years vs. 53.2 years, P = .030) and gender mismatch (77.0% vs. 63.4%, P = .035). However, there were no significant differences between the two groups in patient and graft survivals (P = .177 and P = .365, respectively). Malignancy after transplantation was a significant risk factor upon univariate evaluation but only ABO incompatibility upon multivariate analysis of patient and graft survival. The main cause of graft loss among the Elderly group was death with a functioning graft due to heart failure. Conclusions Renal transplantation is a feasible, safe option for the elderly and should be actively implemented. However, screening for cancer and heart disease should be mandatory to improve outcomes.

Recently, preemptive kidney transplantation (PKT) has increased in Japan; however, the effects of PKT on calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (Pi) metabolism are poorly understood. Thirty-two consecutive patients were enrolled in this study at Nagoya Daini Red Cross Hospital. Fifteen patients were in the PKT group and 17 patients were in the non-PKT group. Parameters of Ca and Pi metabolism, including fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 23 and intact parathyroid hormone, were measured before transplantation and 1, 3, and 24 weeks after transplantation. FGF 23 decreased dramatically in both groups after transplantation; however, FGF 23 before transplantation and at 1 and 3 weeks after transplantation was significantly lower in the PKT group than in the non-PKT group (p

With the recent increase in renal transplantations in Japan, accurate assessment of renal function is required.This study included 73 patients who had undergone renal transplantation at Nagoya Daini Red Cross Hospital at least 6 months previously and had stable renal function for3 months. Glomerular filtration rates (GFRs) were measured by inulin clearance (mGFR) and compared with estimated cystatin C-based GFRs (eGFRcys), estimated creatinine-based GFRs (eGFRcre) and their average values (eGFRave).mGFR was 43.3 ± 14.1 mL/min/1.73 m(2), eGFRcre was 39.6 ± 11.7, eGFRcys was 56.0 ± 17.1, and eGFRave was 47.8 ± 13.7 mL/min/1.73 m(2). Serum cystatin C was 1.39 ± 0.37 mg/L and serum creatinine was 1.58 ± 0.51 mg/dL. The correlation coefficients between mGFR and eGFRcre, eGFRcys, and eGFRave were 0.768, 0.831, and 0.841, respectively (P0.001, for all).The intraclass correlation coefficients were 0.754, 0.816, and 0.840, respectively (P0.001, for all).The mean differences between measured and estimated GFR values were 3.74 mL/min/1.73 m(2) with a root-mean square error (RMSE) of 9.06 for eGFRcre, +12.64 with RMSE of 9.48 for eGFRcys, and +4.45 with RMSE of 7.86 for eGFRave. Bland-Altman plots showed that eGFRcys overestimated GFR values compared with mGFR values in most cases and that eGFRave overestimated GFR values in 53 of 73 cases, whereas eGFRcre underestimated the values in 53 of 73 cases.eGFRave may be the best marker to estimate kidney function in Japanese renal transplant recipients with mildly reduced or normal kidney function.

Cinacalcet hydrochloride (cinacalcet) has been reported to be efficacious for patients with tertiary hyperparathyroidism (THPT). We experienced five patients with THPT requiring parathyroidectomy (PTx) because of resistance to cinacalcet treatment and investigated their clinical characteristics and clinical course. The maximum diameter of the parathyroid gland estimated by ultrasonography before renal transplantation was evaluated. Serum total calcium, phosphorus, intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and creatinine (Cr) levels were investigated every three months after the administration of cinacalcet and at PTx. After surgery, the Cr levels were followed. In all five patients, at least one parathyroid gland had a largest diameter of more than 1 cm, and the mean diameter was 18.7 mm (range 14.9-24.1 mm). Intact PTH and ALP levels gradually increased after the initiation of cinacalcet and the Cr levels transiently increased after PTx. These findings suggest that the existence of a severely enlarged nodular hyperplastic gland is a main factor involved in resistance to cinacalcet.

We report clinical and histopathologic findings of a case of acute rejection with adenovirus infection after kidney transplantation. A 63-yr-old woman with end-stage renal disease caused by lupus nephritis received an ABO-incompatible living kidney transplantation from her husband. On the 7th post-operative day (POD), she had fever, hematuria, and bladder irritation. Although she was treated with an antibiotic, the symptoms were not improved. We diagnosed adenovirus infection as positive with the urine shell vial method and blood PCR analysis. Cyclophosphamide was interrupted and immunoglobulin therapy was performed. However, urine output decreased and serum creatinine levels increased. An episode biopsy was performed on POD 20. We diagnosed acute antibody-mediated rejection. She was treated with plasma exchange for acute rejection and antiviral drug (rivabirin) for active adenovirus infection. However, the renal graft dysfunction was deemed irreversible and the renal graft was removed on POD 34. The graftectomy specimen showed acute rejection and acute tubular necrosis with adenovirus infection.

Advances in laparoscopy have enabled minimally invasive surgical treatment of splenic diseases. Even with these advances, laparoscopic splenectomy in patients on dialysis can be difficult because of tissue fragility due to the underlying renal disease. We report a safe surgical technique for laparoscopic splenectomy in patients on maintenance dialysis that is suitable for use before ABO-incompatible living donor renal transplantation (LDRTx). Between June 1972 and December 2006, a total of 800 patients underwent LDRTx in our department, including 82 patients who underwent ABO-incompatible LDRTx. Between April 2001 and December 2006 we performed laparoscopic splenectomy in 48 hemodialysis patients as a pretreatment before ABO-incompatible LDRTx. Under general anesthesia the operation was performed using a new technique, referred to as the "splenic hilum lump method." We evaluated the surgical outcomes, such as the operative time, amount of blood loss, efficacy, and complications. The mean operative time was 131.6 +/- 38.4 min and mean blood loss was 126 +/- 395 mL. Blood transfusion was required in three patients. All cases had satisfactory kidney function after LDRTx and none developed kidney graft failure due to acute rejection. Almost all patients could walk the day after laparoscopic splenectomy and were satisfied with the cosmetic appearance of the scar after wound healing. The surgical technique we report here can be safely performed on patients with renal failure who require caution because of tissue fragility. Laparoscopic splenectomy is a safe, effective and less invasive operative procedure as a pretreatment for ABO-incompatible LDRTx.

The aim of this study is to investigate the usefulness of arterial reconstruction using the recipient's own internal iliac artery for multiple kidney graft arteries. The safety and efficacy of various arterial reconstruction methods have been demonstrated. Although some reports have documented arterial reconstruction with the recipient's own internal iliac artery for multiple kidney graft arteries using the interposition method, usefulness of this technique has not yet been investigated compared with other arterial reconstruction methods. Between January 2008 and April 2014, 532 living donor kidney transplants in adult recipients were performed at 1 center. Of these, 389 kidney grafts had a single artery and did not need arterial reconstruction (nonarterial reconstruction group). Among the bench surgery patients, 19 kidney grafts for multiple arteries were performed using the interposition method with the recipient's own internal iliac artery (interposition group). Seventy-nine kidney grafts were performed using conjoined reconstruction (conjoined group) and 15 kidney grafts were performed using end-to-side reconstruction (end-to-side group). Total ischemic time (the period between arterial clamp and blood reperfusion), time to initial urination, perioperative and postoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and complication rates between the interposition group and other 3 groups were retrospectively investigated. This study was based on the STROBE compliant. Warm ischemic time (the period between arterial clamp and beginning of the cold perfusion) of interposition group was significantly longer than that of nonarterial reconstruction group. Total ischemic time of the interposition group was significantly longer than those of other 3 groups. But time to initial urination, perioperative and postoperative eGFR, and complications were similar to other 3 groups. The interposition method was shown to be a useful standard method for multiple kidney graft arteries of living donor kidney transplantation in carefully selected recipients without calcification of the iliac arteries.

The study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of intraoperative intact parathyroid hormone (IO-iPTH) in patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism (HPT). The cut-off for IO-iPTH monitoring remains unknown. This was a single-center retrospective review of 226 consecutive patients (107 males and 119 females) who underwent parathyroidectomy data for secondary HPT between May 2010 and March 2014. The predetermined cut-off for IO-iPTH was a 70% IO-iPTH drop from baseline 10 minutes after total parathyroidectomy and thymectomy. We used 60 pg/mL iPTH value (POD1) was significantly higher than that in patients with 70% IO-iPTH drop were 97.5%, 52.2%, and 92.9%, respectively, this criterion was demonstrated to be beneficial in 26 patients. In 5 patients, 70% IO-iPTH drop enabled termination of operations and iPTH value (POD1) was