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Background: Access to nephrology care prior to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is significantly associated with lower rates of morbidity and mortality. We assessed the association of area-level and individual-level indicators of poverty and race/ethnicity on pre-ESRD care provided by nephrologists., Methods: In this retrospective cohort study using the US Renal Data System database, we identified 739 537 patients initiated on maintenance dialysis from 1 January 2007 through 31 December 2012. We assessed the Medicare-Medicaid dual eligibility status as an indicator of individual-level poverty and ZIP code-level median household income (MHI) data obtained from the 2010 US census. We conducted multivariable logistic regression of pre-ESRD nephrology care as the outcome variable., Results: Among patients in the lowest area-level MHI quintile, 61.28% received pre-ESRD nephrology care versus 67.68% among those in higher quintiles (P < 0.001). Similarly, the proportions of dual-eligible and nondual-eligible patients who had pre-ESRD nephrology care were 61.49 and 69.84%, respectively (P < 0.001). Patients in the lowest area-level MHI quintile were associated with significantly lower likelihood of pre-ESRD nephrology care (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.86 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.85-0.87]) compared with those in higher quintiles. Both African American (AA) and Hispanic patients were significantly less likely to have received pre-ESRD nephrology care [aOR 0.85 (95% CI 0.84-0.86) and aOR 0.72 (95% CI 0.71-0.74), respectively]., Conclusions: Individual- and area-level measures of poverty, AA race and Hispanic ethnicity were independently associated with a lower likelihood of pre-ESRD nephrology care. Efforts to improve pre-ESRD nephrology care may require focusing on the poor and minority groups.

Introduction: The outcomes of patients who fail their kidney transplant and return to dialysis (RTD) has not been investigated in a nationally representative sample. We hypothesized that variations in management of transplant chronic kidney disease stage 5 leading to kidney allograft failure (KAF) and RTD, such as access, nutrition, timing of dialysis, and anemia management predict long-term survival., Methods: We used an incident cohort of patients from the United States Renal Data System who initiated hemodialysis between January 1, 2003 and December 31, 2008, after KAF. We used Cox regression analysis for statistical associations, with mortality as the primary outcome., Results: We identified 5,077 RTD patients and followed them for a mean of 30.9 ± 22.6 months. Adjusting for all possible confounders at the time of RTD, the adjusted hazards ratio (AHR) for death was increased with lack of arteriovenous fistula at initiation of dialysis (AHR 1.22, 95% CI 1.02-1.46, p = 0.03), albumin <3.5 g/dL (AHR 1.33, 95% CI 1.18-1.49, p = 0.0001), and being underweight (AHR 1.30, 95% CI 1.07-1.58, p = 0.006). Hemoglobin <10 g/dL (AHR 0.96, 95% CI 0.86-1.06, p = 0.46), type of insurance, and zip code-based median household income were not associated with higher mortality. Glomerular filtration rate <10 mL/min/1.73 m2 at time of dialysis initiation (AHR 0.83, 95% CI 0.75-0.93, p = 0.001) was associated with reduction in mortality., Conclusions: Excess mortality risk observed in patients starting dialysis after KAF is multifactorial, including nutritional issues and vascular access. Adequate preparation of patients with failing kidney transplants prior to resuming dialysis may improve outcomes., (© 2017 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Objective: We investigated malignancy risk after renal transplantation in patients with and without systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)., Methods: Using the United States Renal Data System from 2001 to 2009, 143 652 renal transplant recipients with and without SLE contributed 585 420 patient-years of follow-up to determine incident cancers using Medicare claims codes. We calculated standardised incidence ratios (SIRs) of cancer by group using age, sex, race/ethnicity-specific and calendar year-specific cancer rates compared with the US population., Results: 10 160 cancers occurred at least 3 months after renal transplant. Overall cancer risk was increased in both SLE and non-SLE groups compared with the US general population, SIR 3.5 (95% CI 2.1 to 5.7) and SIR 3.7 (95% CI 2.4 to 5.7), respectively. Lip/oropharyngeal, Kaposi, neuroendocrine, thyroid, renal, cervical, lymphoma, liver, colorectal and breast cancers were increased in both groups, whereas only melanoma was increased in SLE and lung cancer was increased in non-SLE. In Cox regression analysis, SLE status (HR 1.1, 95% CI 0.9 to 1.3) was not associated with increased risk of developing cancer, adjusted for other independent risk factors for developing cancer in renal transplant recipients. We found that smoking (HR 2.2, 95% CI 1.2 to 4.0), cytomegalovirus positivity at time of transplant (HR 1.3, 95% CI 1.2 to 1.4), white race (HR 1.2, 95% CI 1.2 to 1.3) and older recipient age at time of transplantation (HR 1.0 95% CI 1.0 to 1.2) were associated with an increased risk for development of cancer, whereas shorter time on dialysis, Epstein-Barr virus or HIV were associated with a lower risk for development of cancer., Conclusions: Cancer risk in renal transplant recipients appeared similar in SLE and non-SLE subjects, aside from melanoma. Renal transplant recipients may need targeted counselling regarding surveillance and modifiable risk factors.

Background: Reports from the United States Renal Data System (USRDS) indicated that kidney transplantation, whether from a living donor (LD) or deceased donor (DD), offers survival advantage over being on the waiting list. Whether this is true for patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is unknown given that patients with PAD have significant comorbidities., Methods: We used a cohort of USRDS incident dialysis patients from 2001 to 2007, with follow-up through 2008. Patients with PAD younger than the age of 70 were included and divided into 3 groups; PAD waitlisted, PAD patients who received a first transplant from a DD, or PAD patients who received a first transplant from a LD. Time-dependent Cox regression models were used to compare differences in mortality., Results: In this study, 23,699 incident dialysis patients met inclusion criteria; only 16.7% (n = 3964) were waitlisted, of which 8.9 % (n = 2121) underwent transplantation. Patient survival in the LD group at any time point was significantly better than being on the waiting list (P < .001). For DD, mortality was higher in the first year compared with waitlisted patients (P < .001), however, after 1 year survival did not differ as compared with remaining on the waiting list. After adjusting for confounders, the relative risk (RR) of dying was significantly higher for patients with history of severe vascular disease requiring amputation (RR, 1.45; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.15-1.84) in the DD group., Conclusions: Kidney transplantation from a DD did not offer survival advantage over being on the waiting list, in part due to a higher rate of severe vascular disease. Careful patient selection may improve outcomes in the DD group., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: The current study was performed to determine whether patient characteristics, including race/ethnicity, were associated with patient-reported care coordination for patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) who were treated in the Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system, with the goal of better understanding potential goals of quality improvement efforts aimed at improving coordination., Methods: The nationwide Cancer Care Assessment and Responsive Evaluation Studies survey involved VA patients with CRC who were diagnosed in 2008 (response rate, 67%). The survey included a 4-item scale of patient-reported frequency ("never," "sometimes," "usually," and "always") of care coordination activities (scale score range, 1-4). Among 913 patients with CRC who provided information regarding care coordination, demographics, and symptoms, multivariable logistic regression was used to examine odds of patients reporting optimal care coordination., Results: VA patients with CRC were found to report high levels of care coordination (mean scale score, 3.50 [standard deviation, 0.61]). Approximately 85% of patients reported a high level of coordination, including the 43% reporting optimal/highest-level coordination. There was no difference observed in the odds of reporting optimal coordination by race/ethnicity. Patients with early-stage disease (odds ratio [OR], 0.60; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.45-0.81), greater pain (OR, 0.97 for a 1-point increase in pain scale; 95% CI, 0.96-0.99), and greater levels of depression (OR, 0.97 for a 1-point increase in depression scale; 95% CI, 0.96-0.99) were less likely to report optimal coordination., Conclusions: Patients with CRC in the VA reported high levels of care coordination. Unlike what has been reported in settings outside the VA, there appears to be no racial/ethnic disparity in reported coordination. However, challenges remain in ensuring coordination of care for patients with less advanced disease and a high symptom burden. Cancer 2015;121:2207-2213. © 2015 American Cancer Society., (© 2015 American Cancer Society.)

Background: The impact of socioeconomic factors on arteriovenous fistula (AVF) creation in hemodialysis (HD) patients is not well understood. We assessed the association of area and individual-level indicators of poverty and health care insurance on AVF use among incident end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients initiated on HD., Methods: In this retrospective cohort study using the United States Renal Data System database, we identified 669,206 patients initiated on maintenance HD from January 1, 2007 through December 31, 2012. We assessed the Medicare-Medicaid dual-eligibility status as an indicator of individual-level poverty and ZIP code-level median household income (MHI) data obtained from the 2010 United States Census. We conducted logistic regression of AVF use at start of dialysis as the outcome variable., Results: The proportions of dual-eligible and non-dual-eligible patients who initiated HD with an AVF were 12.53 and 16.17%, respectively (p<0.001). Dual eligibility was associated with significantly lower likelihood of AVF use upon initiation of HD (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 0.91; 95% CI 0.90-0.93). Patients in the lowest area-level MHI quintile had an aOR of 0.97 (95% CI 0.95-0.99) compared to those in higher quintile levels. However, dual eligibility and area-level MHI were not significant in patients with Veterans Affairs (VA) coverage., Conclusions: Individual- and area-level measures of poverty were independently associated with a lower likelihood of AVF use at the start of HD, the only exception being patients with VA health care benefits. Efforts to improve incident AVF use may require focusing on pre-ESRD care to be successful., (© 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Introduction: We used the United Network of Organ Sharing Standard Transplant Analysis and Research Files (STAR files) to investigate the utility of the Kidney Donor Risk Index (KDRI) versus delayed graft function (DGF) to predict graft survival in the HIV (+) kidney transplant recipients., Methods: Individual matching (one case to five controls) was used to investigate predictive ability of the KDRI for graft survival in HIV (+) recipients (cases) as compared to HIV (-) recipients (controls) leaving 400 HIV (+) recipients matched with 1,904 HIV (-) recipients. Cox proportional hazard regression model was used to test association of the KDRI and DGF with graft survival. The relationship of the KDRI with graft survival was also explored by using Kaplan-Meier analysis., Results: HIV (+) and HIV (-) cohorts were well matched in terms of race, HCV co-infection, panel reactive antibody, and wait time except HIV + were more frequently diabetic. Donor qualities were similar between the cohorts, including method of allograft preservation pretransplant, HLA matching, and calculated KDRI. There was no significant difference in survival based on the KDRI quintiles among the HIV (+) cohort (logrank sum P=0.4986). Graft survival within the HIV (+) cohort was significantly worse in the DGF (+) group than the DGF (-) group (logrank P<0.01)., Discussion: We found that the KDRI did not predict graft survival for HIV (+) kidney transplant recipients; however, the presence of DGF continues to have a negative impact on the graft survival. Future predictive models should include DGF as a variable.

Introduction: We performed a survey of United States transplantation centers to evaluate practice patterns in the assessment of nonadherence before and after kidney transplantation., Methods: An electronically administered, anonymous survey was sent to 181 United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) approved transplantation centers in 2012., Results: Seventy-nine centers completed our survey. Of them, 51.3% had a protocol to evaluate medication/dialysis adherence before the listing; most common (36.4%) was the Simplified Medication Adherence Questionnaire. As an alternative to a questionnaire, the most common measure of nonadherence was the number of missed hemodialysis sessions (77.0%). The most common reason for poor adherence to dialysis regimens was difficulty with transportation (81.3%). Also, 94.4% noted the lack of a questionnaire to evaluate adherence to medications but relied on drug levels (73.4%) and self report. Only 12.9% used a questionnaire for the measurement of quality of life (Karnofsky performance scale). Of the participating centers, 27.1% used a formal cognitive testing for potential living donors. A social worker was used by most centers for nonadherent patients. Respondents indicated that patients (in the pretransplantation state) were more compliant with dialysis than with medication regimens. Finally, 37.7% of respondents noted graft failure due to medication nonadherence in 15% to 29% of their patients., Conclusions: There was a significant variability in the methods of screening for nonadherence while the patient was on dialysis, during pretransplantation work up, and during post-transplantation follow-up examinations. We recommend that there should be a standardized technique to evaluate nonadherence to facilitate focused clinical trials to improve adherence., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: High-quality supportive care is an essential component of comprehensive cancer care. We implemented a patient-centered quality of cancer care survey to examine and identify predictors of quality of supportive care for bowel problems, pain, fatigue, depression, and other symptoms among 1,109 patients with colorectal cancer., Patients and Methods: Patients with new diagnosis of colorectal cancer at any Veterans Health Administration medical center nationwide in 2008 were ascertained through the Veterans Affairs Central Cancer Registry and sent questionnaires assessing a variety of aspects of patient-centered cancer care. We received questionnaires from 63% of eligible patients (N = 1,109). Descriptive analyses characterizing patient experiences with supportive care and binary logistic regression models were used to examine predictors of receipt of help wanted for each of the five symptom categories., Results: There were significant gaps in patient-centered quality of supportive care, beginning with symptom assessment. In multivariable modeling, the impact of clinical factors and patient race on odds of receiving wanted help varied by symptom. Coordination of care quality predicted receipt of wanted help for all symptoms, independent of patient demographic or clinical characteristics., Conclusion: This study revealed substantial gaps in patient-centered quality of care, difficult to characterize through quality measurement relying on medical record review alone. It established the feasibility of collecting patient-reported quality measures. Improving quality measurement of supportive care and implementing patient-reported outcomes in quality-measurement systems are high priorities for improving the processes and outcomes of care for patients with cancer.

Background: Management of war-related pancreatic injuries is challenging with potential for associated concomitant injuries and complications., Methods: Retrospective record review of patients treated at Walter Reed Army Medical Center sustaining pancreatic injury during the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan from 2003 to 2009 was carried out., Results: Pancreatic injuries occurred in 31 of 522 (7%) patients, with the average age of 28 (range 19-54). Mechanism of injury included gunshot (68%), blast injuries (23%), and blunt injuries (10%). Distal pancreatic injuries were treated with distal pancreatectomy (55%) or drainage (45%). Head of the pancreas injuries were treated with drainage (86%). Four patients with unspecified anatomic location underwent drainage only. One patient underwent emergent pancreaticoduodenectomy (Whipple procedure) followed by completion pancreatectomy and islet cell autotransplantation., Conclusion: Management of war-related pancreatic injuries varied based on the anatomic location. Head of the pancreas injuries were primarily managed with drainage. Distal injuries were treated with resection or drainage. Autologous islet cell transplantation is a feasible option., (Reprint & Copyright © 2014 Association of Military Surgeons of the U.S.)

Background: An analysis of income and racial/ethnic disparities on renal transplant outcomes in recipients with lupus nephritis (LN) has not been reported. We analyzed the United States Renal Data System database to assess the impact of these disparities on graft loss and death in the LN and non-LN cohorts., Methods: We identified 4214 patients with LN as the cause of end-stage renal disease in a retrospective cohort of 150,118 patients first transplanted from January 1, 1995 to July 1, 2006. We merged data on median household income from the United States Census based on the ZIP code., Results: In multivariate Cox regression analyses, African-Americans (AF) recipients with LN (vs. non-AF) had an increased risk of graft loss (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR], 1.39; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.21-1.60) and death (AHR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.09-1.63). Furthermore, there were significant associations of lower-income quintiles with higher risk for graft loss and death among AF with LN. In comparison, among non-AF recipients with LN, income levels did not predict risk for transplant outcomes. The racial disparity for both graft loss and death outcomes among AF with LN was greater than among AF without LN (AHR, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.29-1.36 for graft loss and AHR, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.99-1.05 for death)., Conclusions: AF kidney transplant recipients with LN were at increased risk for graft loss and death compared with non-AF. Income levels were associated with the risk of graft loss and death in AF but not in non-AF recipients with LN.

Background: The prevalence of renal posttransplantation amputation and its impact on allograft and patient survival have not been widely reported., Methods: We used an incident cohort of patients who underwent renal transplantation between June 2004 and September 2009. Amputation data were obtained using Medicare institutional claim forms. Baseline demographics and comorbidities, such as peripheral vascular disease (PVD), diabetes, ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, hypertension, and smoking, were captured. The chi-square and t tests were used for statistical associations. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were plotted for renal allograft and patient survival. Independent associations between patient factors and amputation were examined using multivariable Cox regression analysis., Results: Of the 85,873 renal transplant recipients, 1062 patients had amputation. The prevalence of amputation was higher in those with PVD versus those without PVD at listing (5.6% vs. 1%; P=0.0001). Mean allograft survival was 55.5±0.55 months in patients with amputation versus 60.6±0.06 months in patients without amputation (P=0.0001). All-cause mortality was higher in patients with amputation versus those without amputation (19.9% vs. 7.3%; P=0.0001). Mean allograft survival was 60.97±0.67 months in non-African Americans without amputation versus 55.7±0.65 months in non-African Americans with amputation. Allograft survival was 59.73±0.13 months in African Americans without amputation versus 54.9±1.06 months in African Americans with amputation. In patients with amputation, race did not have any impact. Infectious complications were noted in 39 patients leading to death., Conclusions: Amputation is associated with decreased allograft and patient survival. Early detection and preventive strategies for PVD may decrease amputation rate and improve survival.

Purpose: Incident arteriovenous fistula (AVF) rates remain low. AVF placement is often not attempted because of small cephalic vein (CV) diameter. We postulated that isometric handgrip exercises would increase forearm CV diameter and allow successful AVF creation in non-AVF candidates., Methods: Adult subjects without prior vascular access (eGFR<25 mL/min/1.73 m²; CV<2.5 mm) were prospectively enrolled. They performed daily handgrip exercises in the preferred access arm (EA), with the nonexercised arm (NEA) as control. Adherence was assessed by exercise logs and grip strength. CV diameter was measured at baseline, four and eight weeks by ultrasound. The primary endpoint was the mean increase in CV diameter. Secondary endpoints were mean CV diameter increase from baseline, increased proportion of potential AVF sites and successful AVF placement., Results: A total of 17 subjects were enrolled and 15 completed the study. EA grip strength increased significantly. Mean CV diameter increased in both the EA and NEA by 0.48-0.59 and 0.71-0.81 mm (P=NS), respectively. Compared to baseline, all CV diameters increased significantly (P<.05) after four weeks. In the EA, mean distal and proximal CV increased from 1.66 to 2.13 mm and from 2.22 to 2.81 mm, respectively. Similar changes were noted in the NEA. There were also significant increases in the number of sites and subjects eligible for AVF creation. Five subjects had successful AVF placement., Conclusions: Isometric handgrip exercises resulted in significant CV diameter increases after four weeks, in both the EA and the NEA and potentially allows for AVF creation in those not previously deemed candidates.

Background: The U.S. Renal Data System was used to analyze renal allograft outcomes in patients with peripheral vascular disease (PVD) at the time of transplant listing., Methods: We used an incident cohort of patients who underwent renal transplantation between June 2004 and September 2009. We defined PVD as symptomatic PVD at wait-listing. Comorbid conditions were diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, hypertension, and smoking. Chi-square test, Student's t test, and Cox regression were used for statistical associations., Results: The mean graft survival was 55.3±0.40 months in patients with PVD versus 60.8±0.06 months in patients without PVD. There was an increased risk of graft failure with PVD (hazard ratio, 2.01; 95% confidence interval, 1.83-2.21; P=0.0001). After adjusting for other variables, PVD remained an independent risk factor for graft failure. Patients with PVD had lower death-censored graft survival versus patients without PVD at 1 year (93.3% vs. 96.6%), 2 years (89.7% vs. 95%), and 3 years (87.2% vs. 93.7%). All-cause mortality was higher in PVD versus without PVD (6.2% vs. 3.0%). In African Americans, the mean allograft survival was 54.8±0.98, months with PVD versus 59.7±0.135 months without PVD (P=0.0001). In non-African Americans, the mean allograft survival was 55.4±0.44 months with PVD versus 61.1±0.069 months without PVD (P=0.0001). There were no differences in survival between African Americans with PVD and non-African Americans with PVD., Conclusions: Patients with PVD have inferior allograft and patient survival versus those without PVD. Caution should be exercised when placing patients with symptomatic PVD or amputation on the wait-list.

Introduction: In 2008, we initiated the first Guyanese comprehensive kidney replacement program, comprising hemodialysis (HD), peritoneal dialysis (PD), vascular access procedures, and living-donor kidney transplantation. The government of Guyana, US-based philanthropists, US-based physicians, and Guyanese caregivers teamed up to form a public-private partnership. This pilot program was free of cost to the patients., Methods: From July 2010 to the time of writing, we placed 17 patients with end-stage kidney disease on PD, which was used as a bridge to living-donor kidney transplantation. During the same period, we placed 12 primary arteriovenous fistulae., Results: The 17 patients who received a PD catheter had a mean age of 43.6 years and a mean follow-up of 5.3 months. In that group, 2 deaths occurred (from multi-organ failure) within 2 weeks of catheter placement, and 2 patients were switched to HD because of inadequate clearance. Technical issues were noted in 2 patients, and 3 patients developed peritonitis (treated with intravenous antibiotics). An exit-site abscess in 1 patient was drained under local anesthesia. The peritonitis rate was 0.36 episodes per patient-year. Of the 17 patients who received PD, 4 underwent living-donor kidney transplantation., Conclusions: In Guyana, PD is a safe and cost-effective option; it may be equally suitable for similar developing countries. In Guyana, PD was used as a bridge to living-donor kidney transplantation. We have been able to sustain this program since 2008 by making incremental gains and nurturing the ongoing public-private partnership.

Introduction: We describe ethical/moral issues in patient selection in a new living donor kidney transplant program in Guyana, South America., Case Reports: Over 3 years, we screened 450 patients with chronic kidney disease among which 70 were suitable for kidney transplantation. There were five patients whose evaluations raised possible ethical dilemmas: one had nonadherence to dialysis; two of Guyanese origin living abroad wished to have the transplant performed in Guyana; a minor wished to donate to her mother; and another subject was considering commercialization of the transplant process., Results: Since inception of the renal replacement program in 2008, we have completed 13 living kidney transplantations, 17 peritoneal dialysis placements, and 20 vascular access procedures. In the five patients wherein faced ethical dilemmas, three were rejected for consideration despite having living donors: one was nonadherent, the second excluded due to an attempt to commercialize the process, and the third, a minor who wished to donate to the mother. The other two patients were considered Guyanese ex-patriots acceptable for the program., Discussion: The consequence of kidney failure in Guyana prior to introduction of renal replacement therapy was a virtual death sentence. These cases illustrate ethical dilemmas serving to throw into stark relief the implications of decisions made in a developing country versus those in a developing country., (Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Background: This is a single institution report of the incidence of combined acute antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR) + acute cellular rejection (ACR) [mixed rejection] in HIV (+) kidney transplant recipients., Methods: We prospectively enrolled 92 HIV (+) patients who received a kidney transplant between 2001 and 2009. There were three cohorts: no rejection [n=26], ACR [n=53], and mixed rejections (ABMR and ACR) [n=13]. Immunosuppression comprised of basiliximab, cyclosporine, sirolimus, and steroid minimization. Fisher exact tests for categorical variables, t test for continuous variables, and Kaplan-Meier estimates were used to describe events., Results: Mixed rejections were seen in all 13 HIV (+) kidney transplant recipients (14%) with a median time to ABMR of 48 days. Acute cellular rejection occurred in 28% at 1 month and 55% at 12 months. eGFR was lower for recipients who experienced ABMR versus those experiencing ACR and those never experiencing rejection up to 3 years (14 ± 9.4 vs 19 ± 3.3 vs 29 ± 7.3 mL/min, respectively). Kaplan-Meier showed that graft survival up to 9 years was worse in recipients experiencing mixed rejection. Suboptimal donors with terminal creatinine greater than 2.5 mg/dL was associated with increased incidence of mixed rejections versus cellular rejections and no rejection (42% vs 17% vs. 8%, respectively)., Conclusions: Our single center study showed a relatively higher incidence of mixed rejection compared with that reported for non-HIV transplant recipients. A donor terminal serum creatinine greater than 2.5 mg/dL predicted mixed rejection, which was associated with poor outcomes. Donor selection and optimization of immunosuppression may be critical in these patients.

Introduction: Machine learning can enable the development of predictive models that incorporate multiple variables for a systems approach to organ allocation. We explored the principle of Bayesian Belief Network (BBN) to determine whether a predictive model of graft survival can be derived using pretransplant variables. Our hypothesis was that pretransplant donor and recipient variables, when considered together as a network, add incremental value to the classification of graft survival., Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 5,144 randomly selected patients (age ≥18, deceased donor kidney only, first-time recipients) from the United States Renal Data System database between 2000 and 2001. Using this dataset, we developed a machine-learned BBN that functions as a pretransplant organ-matching tool., Results: A network of 48 clinical variables was constructed and externally validated using an additional 2,204 patients of matching demographic characteristics. This model was able to predict graft failure within the first year or within 3 years (sensitivity 40%; specificity 80%; area under the curve, AUC, 0.63). Recipient BMI, gender, race, and donor age were amongst the pretransplant variables with strongest association to outcome. A 10-fold internal cross-validation showed similar results for 1-year (sensitivity 24%; specificity 80%; AUC 0.59) and 3-year (sensitivity 31%; specificity 80%; AUC 0.60) graft failure., Conclusion: We found recipient BMI, gender, race, and donor age to be influential predictors of outcome, while wait time and human leukocyte antigen matching were much less associated with outcome. BBN enabled us to examine variables from a large database to develop a robust predictive model.

Introduction: The current pattern of evaluation for living kidney donors was investigated., Methods: We designed a 37-question electronic survey to collect information about living kidney donor evaluation. Of the 181 United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS)-approved centers, 72 responded. Survey responses were coded and downloaded into SPSS. Data was expressed as means and standard deviations or the percentage of centers with specific responses., Results: 66% of the centers used a cut-off of <80 ml/min for exclusion of living kidney donors. 24-hour urine measuring creatinine clearance (CrCl) was the most common screening method for glomerular filtration rate (GFR) assessment in potential living donors. 56% of the centers excluded donors with blood pressure (BP) >140/90, whereas 22.7 and 7.1% excluded patients with pre-hypertension with a cut-off BP of 130/85 and 120/80, respectively. 66% of the centers used 24-hour urine creatinine to assess for proteinuria. 20% of the centers accepted living kidney donors with microalbuminuria and 84% accepted patients with a history of nephrolithiasis. 24% of the centers reported use of formal cognitive testing of potential living donors., Discussion: There were significant variations in exclusion criteria based on GFR, history of kidney stones, body mass index, BP and donors with urinary abnormalities. The definitions for hematuria and proteinuria were variable. There is a need for uniformity in selection and for a living donor registry. We also recommend raising the cut-off for estimated GFR to 90 ml/min to account for 10-15% overestimation when CrCl is used., (Copyright © 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

An emergency autologous islet transplant after a traumatic Whipple operation and subsequent total pancreatectomy was performed for a 21-year-old patient who was wounded with multiple abdominal gunshot wounds. After Whipple pancreatectomy, the remnant pancreas (63.5 g), along with other damaged organs, was removed by the surgeons at Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC) and shipped to Diabetes Research Institute (DRI) for islet isolation. The pancreas was preserved in UW solution for 9.25 h prior to islet isolation. Upon arrival, the organ was visually inspected; the pancreatic head was missing, the rest of the pancreas was damaged and full of blood; the tail looked normal. A 16-gauge catheter was inserted into the main duct and directed towards tail of the pancreas after the dissection of main duct in the midbody of the pancreas. The pancreas was distended with collagenase solution (Roche MTF) through the catheter. During 10 min of intraductal delivery of enzyme, the gland was distended uniformly. No leakage of the solution was observed. The pancreas was transferred to a Ricordi chamber for automated mechanical and enzymatic digestion. Islets were purified using a COBE 2991 cell processor. Islet equivalents (IEQ; 221,250) of 40% purity and 90% viability were recovered during the isolation, which were shipped back to WRAMC and infused by intraportal injection into the patient. Immediate islet function was demonstrated by the rapid elevation of serum C peptide followed by insulin independence with near normal oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) 1 and 2 months later. It is possible to restore near normal glucose tolerance with autologous islet transplantation after total pancreatectomy even with suboptimal number of islets while confirming that islets processed at a remote site are suitable for transplantation.

Background: We investigated the effect of smoking on postkidney transplant outcomes in the United States Renal Data System., Methods: In a retrospective cohort of 41,705 adult Medicare primary renal transplant recipients in the United States Renal Data System database transplanted from January 1, 2000, to June 30, 2006, and followed through October 31, 2006, we assessed Medicare claims for smoking. The association between renal allograft loss and death and smoking as a time-dependent variable was assessed with Cox nonproportional hazards regression., Results: Of 41,705 Medicare primary adult renal transplant patients, there were 9.9% patients who had evidence of prior smoking and 4.6% patients with new claims for smoking after transplant. Incident smoking (new onset smokers) occurred at a mean of 1.29±0.88 years after transplant. In the adjusted analysis, factors associated with new smoking included male gender, history of drug or alcohol use, history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and later year of transplant. Compared with never smokers, incident smoking after transplant was associated with increased risk of death-censored allograft loss (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR] 1.46 [95% confidence interval {CI}: 1.19-1.79]; P<0.001) and death (AHR 2.32 [95% CI: 1.98-2.72]; P<0.001). In a sensitivity analysis excluding patients with history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, similar results were obtained with increased risk of death-censored allograft loss (AHR 1.43 [95% CI: 1.16-1.76]; P=0.001) and death (AHR 2.26 [95% CI: 1.91-2.66]; P<0.001)., Discussion: Incident smoking was detrimental to graft and patient survival. Transplant programs should screen those at risk during transplant follow-up and have smoking cessation programs.

Background: We previously reported that posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD) occurred more frequently in non-African American (AF) kidney transplant recipients. An in-depth analysis of racial differences in the development of PTLD has not been reported., Methods: We assessed Medicare claims for PTLD in a retrospective cohort of 53,719 patients who underwent transplantation from January 2000 to September 2006 and followed up through December 2007., Results: There were 719 (1.3%) patients with claims for PTLD. Non-AF recipient race (including all races analyzed separately, adjusted hazard ratio [AHR] 1.38, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.13-1.68), recipient Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) immunoglobulin G (IgG) seronegative status (AHR 1.88, 95% CI 1.53-2.34), and de novo sirolimus (AHR 1.22, 95% CI 1.03-1.45) were associated with an increased risk of PTLD. Furthermore, de novo sirolimus showed a significant interaction with EBV IgG; among EBV IgG-negative recipients, sirolimus use was significant (P = 0.003), but among EBV IgG-positive recipients, it was not significant (P = 0.18). EBV IgG-seronegative status was significant in all races except for AFs, and racial differences were a significant effect modifier for EBV IgG status and risk of PTLD. Mortality subsequent to PTLD did not differ by race. CONCLUSIONS.: AF kidney transplant recipients were at lower risk for PTLD, irrespective of the recipient EBV IgG serostatus. On the contrary, recipient EBV IgG-seronegative status was associated with a higher risk of PTLD in the non-AF population. De novo sirolimus therapy was associated with increased risk of PTLD in EBV IgG-negative recipients, regardless of race.

Background: Posttransplant neutropenia (PTN) is relatively common after kidney transplantation, and may result in a reduction of immunosuppression, which may precipitate acute rejection. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factors (GCSF) have been used to treat PTN, although outcomes associated with use of this medication in this population are unknown., Methods: In a retrospective cohort of 41,705 adult Medicare primary patients transplanted from January 2001 to June 2006, we assessed Medicare claims for neutropenia, leukopenia, and GCSF use, respectively. Outcomes included allograft loss and death., Results: There were 6043 (14.5%) patients with claims for PTN. Factors associated with PTN included female gender, Caucasian ethnicity, ischemic heart disease, donor cytomegalovirus positive, deceased donor, expanded donor criteria, delayed graft function, elevated panel reactive antibody, higher human leukocyte antigen mismatch, and later year of transplant. Thymoglobulin induction, tacrolimus, and mycophenolate mofetil were also associated. PTN was less frequent among patients with congestive heart failure, recipient cytomegalovirus positive, and interleukin-2 induction. PTN was associated with increased risk of allograft loss (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.59; 95% confidence interval, 1.43-1.76; P<0.001) and death (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.74; 95% confidence interval, 1.59-1.90; P<0.001). Of the 6043 patients with PTN, 740 (12.2%) received GCSF. Patients who received GCSF had a lower risk of death on unadjusted analysis, but this only trended towards significance after adjustment., Conclusions: Neutropenia after renal transplantation is common and is associated with an increased risk of allograft loss and death. GCSF was used in 12% of cases and did not increase risk of allograft loss. Strategies to avoid PTN and greater use of GCSF may be indicated to prevent graft loss and death.

We carried out an analysis of the United States Renal Data System to determine the incidence, risk factors and prognosis of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in a national population of patients receiving incident long-term dialysis. In Cox regression, male gender, older age, end-stage renal disease caused by obstruction, tuberous sclerosis, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, as well as acquired renal cysts, were independently associated with RCC. Most cases of RCC in incident long-term dialysis patients occurred in patients without acquired renal cysts. A diagnosis of RCC was associated with increased risk of subsequent mortality overall and in all high-risk groups., (Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Background and Objectives: Influenza vaccination is recommended in all renal transplant recipients. However, immunosuppression in the early period post-transplant may attenuate the immunologic response to the vaccine. Additionally, it has been theorized that vaccination can induce an immune response that could trigger rejection episodes., Design, Setting, Participants, & Measurements: In a retrospective cohort of 51,730 adult Medicare primary patients who were first transplanted from January 2000 to July 2006 and followed through October 2006, we assessed Medicare claims for influenza vaccination and influenza infections, respectively. Outcomes included allograft loss and death., Results: There were 9678 (18.7%) patients with claims for influenza vaccination in the first year post-transplant. Factors associated with vaccination included older age, diabetes, later year of transplant, and tacrolimus or mycophenolate at discharge. Vaccinations were less frequent among men, African Americans, highly sensitized patients, or those receiving induction immunosuppression or expanded criteria donor kidneys. Vaccination in the first year after transplant was associated with lower risk of subsequent allograft loss and death. Claims for influenza infection were reported in 310 (0.6%) patients and were not significantly associated with graft loss, although there was a trend toward death., Conclusions: In the first year after renal transplantation, influenza vaccination was associated with a lower risk of subsequent allograft loss and death. Although this study cannot comment on formation of protective antibodies after vaccination, these data do not support withholding vaccination on the basis of concerns of adversely affecting allograft function., (Copyright © 2011 by the American Society of Nephrology)

Background: We examined the United States Renal Data System registry to analyze trends in renal transplantation in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection., Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed using the United States Renal Data System, analyzing patients receiving renal transplants from January 1, 1995, to September 29, 2006. Factors independently associated with transplantation in HIV-infected patients with end-stage renal disease were identified., Results: There was a significant increase in renal transplant recipients who were HIV seropositive who received renal transplants from 2001 to 2006 (n=208, 0.26%) versus 1995 to 2000 era (n=43, 0.06%, P<0.001). Before 2001, only 18 states performed renal transplants in HIV-infected patients, whereas most states transplanted HIV-infected patients in the second era. There were more African American recipients with HIV infection from 2001 to 2006 compared with the earlier cohort (n=118 vs. 8, P<0.001). Patients with HIV infection were more likely to have received induction therapy (n=121 vs. 37, P<0.001) and tacrolimus maintenance suppression (n=105 vs. 13, P<0.001) in the latter era. There were also more deceased donor transplants from 2001 to 2006 (n=143 vs. 25, P<0.001). In logistic regression analysis, when adjusted for multiple factors including recipient and donor age, race, gender, and donor type, patients with HIV infection were more likely to have been transplanted after 2001 (adjusted odds ratio, 2.21; 95% confidence interval=1.49-3.28). In analysis adjusted for multiple factors including hepatitis C virus coinfection, HIV infection was not significantly associated with all-cause graft loss., Conclusions: There has been a dramatic increase in the number of transplants among HIV-infected patients. These findings suggest improved access to transplant wait listing and better management of immunosuppression, especially among African American patients., (© 2011 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins)

Introduction: Alemtuzumab and rabbit antithymocyte globulin (rATG) are being used with increasing frequency as induction agents in kidney transplantation. Using the US Renal Data Base System, we analyzed the safety profile of these agents in the elderly., Methods: In a cohort of patients transplanted from January 2000 to July 2009 and followed through 2009, we assessed the effect of induction on allograft loss and death among elderly recipients. Recipients were censored at dates of allograft loss, death or the end of study. Independent associations between induction agents and allograft loss or death were examined using multivariate analysis with forward stepwise Cox regression., Results: Among 130,402 patients with first transplants, 14,907 were age 65 years or older. 4,466 (30%), 3,049 (20.5%), 1,501 (10.1%), and 999 (6.7%) were induced with thymoglobulin, basiliximab, daclizumab, and alemtuzumab, respectively. After adjusting for baseline differences, induction with alemtuzumab was associated with an increased risk of graft loss and death, with an adjusted hazard ratio (AHR) of 1.26 (95% CI 1.08-1.48). Risk was also present at other age cutoffs [age >60 (AHR 1.16; 95% CI 1.03-1.31; p = 0.014), age >70 (AHR 1.43; 95% CI 1.13-1.81; p = 0.003) and age >75 (AHR 1.68; 95% CI 1.07-2.63; p = 0.024)]., Conclusions: In the elderly, alemtuzumab is associated with an escalating risk of death and graft loss in recipients of kidney transplantations., (Copyright © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Introduction: We carried out an analysis of the United States Renal Data System to determine the incidence, risk factors, prognosis, and costs associated with the diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) after kidney transplantation., Methods: This is a retrospective cohort of 40,821 Medicare primary renal transplant recipients transplanted from January 1, 2000, to July 1, 2005, and followed up till December 31, 2005, excluding those with prior RCC or nephrectomy. Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed to determine the time of occurrence of RCC, and Cox regression was used to determine factors associated with RCC., Results: Three hundred sixty-eight patients were diagnosed with RCC within 3 years after transplant (incidence of 3.16 per 1000 person years). The 3-year incidence of RCC posttransplant was 9.29 per 1000 person years (2.3%) for those with pretransplant cysts and 3.08 per 1000 person years (0.7%) without pretransplant cysts. RCC was diagnosed disproportionately early posttransplant in patients with cysts. Cysts were independently associated with increased risk of RCC, as was male gender, older recipient, donor age, African American recipient, increased time on dialysis and acute rejection within first year posttransplant. RCC was associated with increased risk of mortality with a higher risk with pretransplant cysts. Patients who developed RCC had higher cumulative median costs ($55,456 at 2 years) than those who did not develop RCC ($40,369). There was no "clustering" of RCC in individual states or centers more than would be expected by chance., Conclusion: RCC was diagnosed disproportionately early in patients with pretransplant renal cysts and was associated with a worse prognosis and increased costs.

A higher proportion of patients initiate hemodialysis (HD) with an arteriovenous fistula (AVF) in countries with universal health care systems compared with the United States. Because federally sponsored national health care organizations in the United States, such as the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) and the Department of Defense (DoD), are similar to a universal health care model, we studied AVF use within these organizations. We used the US Renal Data System database to perform a cross-sectional analysis of patients who initiated HD between 2005 and 2006. Patients who received predialysis nephrology care had 10-fold greater odds of initiating dialysis with an AVF (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 10.3; 95% confidence interval [CI] 9.6 to 11.1). DVA/DoD insurance also independently associated with initiating HD with an AVF (aOR 1.4; 95% CI 1.2 to 1.5). Fewer patients initiated HD at a DoD facility, but these patients were also approximately twice as likely to use an AVF (aOR 2.3; 95% CI 1.2 to 4.6). In conclusion, patients in DVA/DoD systems are significantly more likely to use an AVF at initiation of HD than patients with other insurance types, including Medicare. Further study of these federal systems may identify practices that could improve processes of care across health care systems to increase the number of patients who initiate HD with an AVF.

Introduction: Strategy of transplanting kidneys from A2 donors into patients with blood group B and O recipients has been used to alleviate the long waiting times., Materials and Methods: We used an inception cohort of US Renal Data System data base with patients older than 18 years who underwent renal transplantation between January 1995 and July 2006. The primary outcome variable was allograft loss (including death). Bivariate analysis of factors associated with receiving A2 or A2B kidneys was performed with chi-square testing for categorical variables (Fisher's exact test used for violations of Cochran's assumptions) and Student's t test for continuous variables (Mann-Whitney U test used for nonnormally distributed variables)., Results: There were 150,118 first kidney transplants of whom 113 received kidney transplant from A2 to O, and 125 patients received A2 to B kidney transplant. Compared with other recipients from the same blood group, recipients of A2 kidneys had significantly shorter wait times. O recipients had a median wait time of 1.63 years (range 0.00-17.21 years), whereas O recipients who received A2 kidneys had a median wait time of 0.70 years (range 0.02-1.47 years; P<0.001). B recipients had a median wait time of 1.90 years (range 0.00-17.52 years), whereas B recipients who received A2 kidneys had a median wait time of 0.74 years (range 0.10-5.21 years; P<0.001). There was no significant difference in graft loss or death between A2 to O and B versus all other recipients., Conclusions: The results showed that comparatively few patients received A2 to B or O kidney transplant.

Background: The incidence of new-onset diabetes after initiation of hemodialysis (NODAD) and its impact on survival is not known., Methods: We used data from the United States Renal Data System (USRDS) from January 2000 to December 2001, with at least 3 years of follow-up for this study. Patients aged 18-80 years were included. NODAD was defined as two Medicare institutional claims for diabetes in patients with no history of diabetes prior to starting hemodialysis (HD). Incidence (per 1,000 patient-years), prevalence (%) and hazard ratios for mortality in patients with NODAD were calculated., Results: There were 59,340 incident patients with no history of diabetes prior to starting HD, of which 3,853 met criteria for NODAD. The overall incidence and prevalence of NODAD were 20 per 1,000 patient-years and 7.6%, respectively. In a cohort of 444 patients without diabetes and documented glycosylated hemoglobin A1c, <6% prior to starting HD (from January 2005 and March 2006), at a mean follow-up of 4.7 +/- 2.6 months, 6.8% developed NODAD defined by two Medicare claims for diabetes after initiation of HD. NODAD was associated with a significantly increased risk of death as compared to non-diabetes patients (hazard ratio 1.20, 95% confidence interval 1.14-1.25)., Conclusion: The USRDS showed a high incidence of NODAD, associated with significantly higher mortality compared to those who did not develop NODAD. The mechanism of NODAD needs to be explored further in experimental and clinical studies., (2010 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Background: There are several case reports of rhabdomyolysis (RM) in renal transplant recipients, but the actual incidence of this complication is not known. Most of the reported cases have been attributed to drug-drug interactions with calcineurin inhibitors, with the majority of interactions reported between cyclosporine and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins). Pharmacokinetic studies have demonstrated that cyclosporine increases statin drug levels, presumably via competitive inhibition of cytochrome P450 3A4., Methods: In a retrospective cohort of 20 366 adult Medicare primary renal transplant recipients in the USRDS database transplanted from 1 January 2003 to 31 July 2005 and followed through 31 December 2005, we assessed Medicare claims for RM and dyslipidaemia (HPL), which was used as a surrogate for statin use., Results: The incidence rate of RM post-transplant for the study period was 1.4 (95% CI 1.1-1.8) per 1000 person-years. By Cox regression analysis, cyclosporine (versus tacrolimus) use [AHR 2.36 (95% CI 1.23-4.35); P = 0.006] and black race [AHR 2.33 (95% CI 1.30-4.17); P = 0.005] were associated with RM. By Cox non-proportional hazards regression, RM was associated with graft loss (including death) [AHR 2.84 (95% CI 1.70-4.72); P < 0.001]., Conclusions: RM is a rare complication after renal transplantation and is significantly associated with allograft loss (including death). RM is significantly more likely to occur with cyclosporine (versus tacrolimus)-based immunosuppression and possibly in persons of black race. Increased surveillance for RM is warranted in these at-risk patients.

This pilot study compared the use of the Lifor Organ Preservation Medium (RTLF) at room temperature with hypothermic Belzer machine preservation solution (CMPS) and room in vitro temperature Belzer machine preservation solution (RTMPS) in a porcine model of uncontrolled donation after cardiac death (DCD). In this study, 5 porcine kidneys for each perfusate group were recovered under a DCD protocol. The kidneys were recovered, flushed, and placed onto a renal preservation system following standard perfusion procedures. The average flow rate for CMPS was 36.2 +/- 7.2549 mL/min, RTMPS was 90.2 +/- 9.7159 mL/min, and RTLF was 103.1 +/- 5.1108 mL/min. The average intrarenal resistance for CMPS was 1.33 +/- 0.1709 mm Hg/mL per minute, RTMPS was 0.84 +/- 0.3586 and RTLF was 0.39 +/- 0.04. All perfusion parameters were statistically significant (P < .05) at all time points for the CMPS when compared with both RTMPS and RTLF. All perfusion parameters for RTMPS and RTLF were equivalent for the first 12 hours; thereafter, RTLF became significantly better than RTMPS at 18 and 24 hours. It appears that both RTMPS and RTLF have equivalent perfusion characteristic for the initial 12 hours of perfusion, but LF continues to maintain a low resistance and high flow up to 24 hours. The results of this pilot study indicate that RTLF may represent a better alternative to pulsatile perfusion with CMPS and requires validation in an in vivo large animal transplant model.

Introduction: In our previous prospective single-center study, using validated self-administered instruments, we demonstrated correlation between depression and nonadherence in recipients of kidney transplants. The purpose of this study was to confirm our finding that depression was associated with nonadherence in a large database of transplant recipients for which we used the United States Renal Data System (USRDS)., Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 32,757 Medicare primary renal transplant recipients in the USRDS who underwent transplantation from January 1, 2000 to July 31, 2004 and were followed up through December 31, 2004, assessing Medicare claims showing depression and nonadherence based on codes of the International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision., Results: Logistic regression analysis (adjusted hazards ratio 1.69 with 95% confidence interval, 1.48-1.92) and log rank test (P < .0005) showed that there was a strong association of depression and nonadherence. Depression was associated with nonadherence, irrespective of the time of depression, whether it was pretransplantation (P < .001) or posttransplantation (P < .001). Nonadherence was also associated with black race (P < .001), younger age (P < .001), less HLA mismatch (P < .005), recipients of living kidneys and patients who underwent transplantation a longer time ago (P < .001). Furthermore, patients with 12 or less years of education were more nonadherent (P < .001). Among the transplant donor factors we investigated, donor black race (P < .001) and expanded criteria donor kidneys were strongly associated with nonadherence (P < .001). However, donor age and delayed graft function were not significantly associated with nonadherence., Conclusions: Future clinical trials of immunosuppressive therapy should assess the impact of depression on graft survival.

Background: To investigate the effect of modern immunosuppression on the incidence, risk factors, morbidity, and mortality of Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) in recipients of kidney transplants., Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 32,757 Medicare primary transplant recipients in the United States Renal Data System from January 1, 2000 through July 31, 2004. PCP infection was defined by Medicare claims using International Classification of Disease, 9th Revision codes. The incidence of PCP infections, graft loss, and death were measured., Results: There were a total of 142 cases (cumulative incidence 0.4%) of PCP after kidney transplantation during the study period. By using multivariate analysis with Cox regression, expanded criteria donor, donation after cardiac death, and earlier year of transplant were associated with development of PCP disease. Induction immunosuppression and acute rejections were not associated with risk for PCP infections. However, based on adjusted hazard ratio (AHR), maintenance immunosuppression regimens containing the combination of tacrolimus and sirolimus (AHR 3.60, confidence interval [CI] 2.03-6.39), Neoral and mycophenolate mofetil (AHR 2.09, CI 1.31-3.31), and sirolimus and mycophenolate mofetil (AHR 2.77, CI 1.40-5.47), were associated with development of PCP. As a time dependent variable, PCP was associated with an increased risk of both graft loss and death., Conclusion: PCP infections are rare in the modern era of prophylaxis; however, these infections are a serious risk factor for graft loss and patient death, in particular, in patients who are on sirolimus as part of the immunosuppressive regimen. The median time to development of PCP after transplant was 0.80+/-0.95 years, suggesting a longer period of PCP prophylaxis.