Kidney transplantation using alemtuzumab, belatacept, and sirolimus: Five-year follow-up.

Kidney transplant outcomes are limited by toxicities associated with calcineurin inhibitors and steroids. This trial was conducted to determine whether a costimulation blockade (CoB)-based regimen could achieve acceptable long-term outcomes and graft survival could be maintained solely with CoB. Forty patients underwent alemtuzumab induction followed by belatacept and sirolimus maintenance therapy.

B cell reconstitution following alemtuzumab induction under a belatacept-based maintenance regimen.

Lymphocyte depletion has been shown to control costimulation blockade-resistant rejection but, in some settings, to exacerbate antibody-mediated rejection (AMR). We have used alemtuzumab, which depletes T and B cells, combined with belatacept and rapamycin and previously reported control of both costimulation blockade-resistant rejection and AMR. To evaluate this regimen's effect on B cell signatures, we investigated 40 patients undergoing this therapy.

Losartan therapy decreases albuminuria with stable glomerular filtration and permselectivity in sickle cell anemia.

Sickle cell nephropathy begins with hyperfiltration and microalbuminuria and may progress to renal failure. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of losartan on glomerular function and albumin excretion in sickle cell anemia (SCA). Individuals with SCA on hydroxyurea with persistent albuminuria were enrolled in a 1-year study of losartan.

Atypical presentation of perforated sigmoid diverticulitis in a kidney transplant recipient with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.

Perforated sigmoid diverticulitis, a complication of colonic diverticulosis commonly associated with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), can be life-threatening in allogeneic kidney transplant recipients in the postoperative period. Immunosuppressive medications not only place the patient at risk for intestinal perforation, but also mask classic clinical symptoms and signs of acute abdomen, and subsequently lead to delayed diagnosis and treatment. We report a case of an ADPKD patient post kidney transplantation presenting with nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain without signs of peritonitis.

Gene-centric association study of acute chest syndrome and painful crisis in sickle cell disease patients.

Patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) present with a wide range of clinical complications. Understanding this clinical heterogeneity offers the prospects to tailor the right treatments to the right patients and also guide the development of novel therapies. Several environmental (eg, nutrition) and nonenvironmental (eg, fetal hemoglobin levels, α-thalassemia status) factors are known to modify SCD severity.

High one year mortality in adults with sickle cell disease and end-stage renal disease.

Adequate pre-dialysis care reduces mortality among end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. We tested the hypothesis that individuals with ESRD due to sickle cell disease (SCD-ESRD) receiving pre-ESRD care have lower mortality compared to individuals without pre-ESRD care. We examined the association between mortality and pre-ESRD care in incident SCD-ESRD patients who started haemodialysis between 1 June, 2005 and 31 May, 2009 using data provided by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

Chronic kidney disease and albuminuria in children with sickle cell disease.

Background And Objectives: Sickle cell nephropathy begins in childhood and may progress to renal failure. Albuminuria is a sensitive marker of glomerular damage that may indicate early chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Design, Setting, Participants, & Measurements: The aims of this study were to determine the cross-sectional prevalence and clinical correlates of albuminuria and CKD among children with sickle cell disease (SCD).

Assessment of efficacy and safety of FK778 in comparison with standard care in renal transplant recipients with untreated BK nephropathy.

Background: BK polyomavirus infection has been reported in 10% to 60% of renal transplant recipients with progression to BK nephropathy (BKN) occurring in 1% to 5% of patients. Graft loss occurs in up to 60% of renal transplant recipients with BKN. Because BK polyomavirus infection is believed, in part, to be a manifestation of overimmunosuppression, the current standard of care involves the reduction of immunosuppressants.

A prospective, open-label trial of sirolimus in the treatment of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis.

Calcineurin inhibitors are effective therapy for steroid-resistant focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) but are associated with significant morbidity and nephrotoxicity. Sirolimus is a novel immunosuppressive agent that is structurally related to tacrolimus but demonstrates no long-term nephrotoxicity. For determination of the efficacy of sirolimus in reducing proteinuria, a prospective, open-label trial was conducted of 21 patients with idiopathic, steroid-resistant FSGS.

Glomerular involvement in adults with sickle cell hemoglobinopathies: Prevalence and clinical correlates of progressive renal failure.

Patients with sickle cell anemia (SCA) may develop a glomerulopathy with proteinuria and progressive renal insufficiency, leading to ESRD. Albuminuria is a sensitive marker of glomerular damage in this population and precedes the development of renal insufficiency. For determination of the prevalence of glomerular damage in SCA and the clinical correlates of renal insufficiency, 300 adult patients with SCA were studied (hemoglobin SS = 184; and 116 with other sickling hemoglobinopathies: SC, SD, and S-beta thalassemia); albumin excretion rates (AER) and renal function (Cockroft-Gault formula) were determined, and clinical and hematologic evaluations were conducted.

The clinical epidemiology and course of the spectrum of renal diseases associated with HIV infection.

Background: While an understanding of the epidemiology and clinical course of HIV-associated nephropathy (HIVAN) is growing, little is known about the risk factors and clinical course of the other renal diseases that may also occur as a complication of HIV infection. This study was undertaken to compare HIVAN to the spectrum of other kidney diseases seen among HIV-infected patients.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included all HIV-infected patients who underwent renal biopsy during the course of their clinical care at six major medical centers.

Equivalent pharmacokinetics of mycophenolate mofetil in African-American and Caucasian male and female stable renal allograft recipients.

African-American (AA) renal transplant recipients require higher doses of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) than Caucasians. A hypothesized pharmacokinetic (PK) difference was tested in stable renal transplant recipients. Whole blood was collected before, and 20, 40 and 75 min, and 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 and 12 h after the MMF dose.

Transmission of West Nile virus from an organ donor to four transplant recipients.

Background: In August 2002, fever and mental-status changes developed in recipients of organs from a common donor. Transmission of West Nile virus through organ transplantation was suspected.

Methods: We reviewed medical records, conducted interviews, and collected blood and tissue samples for testing with a variety of assays.