Benefit of B7-1 staining and abatacept for treatment-resistant post-transplant focal segmental glomerulosclerosis in a predominantly pediatric cohort: time for a reappraisal.

Background: Primary FSGS manifests with nephrotic syndrome and may recur following KT. Failure to respond to conventional therapy after recurrence results in poor outcomes. Evaluation of podocyte B7-1 expression and treatment with abatacept (a B7-1 antagonist) has shown promise but remains controversial.

The role of preemptive antimicrobial therapy in kidney recipients of urine-only positive donor cultures.

Background: The use of preemptive antimicrobial therapy for recipients of donors with microbial growth on pre-transplant urine cultures remains poorly studied.

Methods: Single-center retrospective study of kidney transplant recipients of allografts from deceased donors with urine-only (ie, in absence of donor bacteremia) positive cultures (September 2011 to August 2015). Transplant outcomes, including donor-derived infections (DDI) within the first three months post transplant, were analyzed.

Highly Sensitized Patients: Miami Transplant Institute Experience.

Background: Transplantation continues to be challenging in highly sensitized patients. Herein, we compared induction immunosuppression (IS) based on immunologic risk stratification and desensitization with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG).

Methods: Of the 42 highly sensitized kidney and 3 kidney-pancreas transplant recipients who underwent IVIG for desensitization from 2008-2014, 10 (Control group) received standard induction IS with antithymocyte globulin, basiliximab, and methylprednisolone, and 35 (Rituximab group) received standard IS with rituximab ± IVIG ± plasmapheresis.

Economic impact of ambulatory care formulary restrictions at a large county health system.

Purpose: Study results documenting substantial cost savings achieved by an outpatient indigent-care pharmacy program through formulary modifications and optimized purchasing practices are presented.

Methods: Wholesale purchasing data were retrospectively evaluated to compare drug expenditures before and after a large Florida hospital's adoption of a tiered formulary system for three ambulatory care facilities serving mostly uninsured patients. The outcomes assessed included the average cost per prescription and total medication purchases before and after implementation of the tiered formulary, which was phased in over several months and accompanied by intensive educational programs targeting physicians and pharmacy staff.