Chronic cyclosporine nephropathy is characterized by excessive autophagosome formation and decreased autophagic clearance.

Background: The study was performed to investigate the influence of cyclosporine A (CsA)-induced renal injury on autophagy in an experimental model of chronic CsA nephropathy.

Methods: Three dosages of CsA (7.5, 15, and 30 mg/kg/day) were administered to mice for 4 weeks.

Improved gastrointestinal symptoms and quality of life after conversion from mycophenolate mofetil to enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium in renal transplant patients receiving tacrolimus.

It is reported that a conversion from mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) to enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium (EC-MPS) relieves gastrointestinal (GI) symptom burden and improves health-related quality of life (HRQoL). However, it is unclear whether renal transplant recipients using tacrolimus receive the same benefit from the conversion. In this prospective, multi-center, open-label trial, patients were categorized into two groups by their GI symptom screening.

Changing donor source pattern for kidney transplantation over 40 years: a single-center experience.

Background/aims: Kidney transplantations at our center rely mainly on living donors. The purpose of this study was to suggest future donor supply directions by reviewing changing trends in donor type.

Methods: During the past 40 years, 1,690 kidney transplantations were performed at our center.

Clinical significance of slow recovery of graft function in living donor kidney transplantation.

Background: The clinical significance of slow recovery of graft function (SGF) in living donor kidney transplantation is unclear. We evaluated the incidence, risk factors, and clinical outcome of SGF in living donor transplantation.

Methods: Three hundred ten living donor kidney recipients were included and categorized into immediate recovery of graft function (IGF; n=239) and SGF (n=71), according to estimated glomerular filtration rate (60 mL/min/1.

Clinical impacts of CD38+ B cells on acute cellular rejection with CD20+ B cells in renal allograft.

Background: There is an increasing evidence that the presence of CD20 B cells is associated with poor clinical outcomes in acute cellular rejection (ACR), but clinical significance of CD38 B cells is undetermined. We attempted to examine the clinical significance of the CD38 B cells alone or in combination with CD20 B cells in renal transplant recipients with ACR.

Methods: Fifty-four patients with ACR were included.

The efficacy and safety of ezetimibe and low-dose simvastatin as a primary treatment for dyslipidemia in renal transplant recipients.

Background/aims: The efficacy and safety of a combination of ezetimibe and low-dose statin as primary treatment for dyslipidemia in renal transplant patients were evaluated prospectively.

Methods: The study enrolled 77 renal transplant recipients with dyslipidemia. They were given ezetimibe (10 mg) and simvastatin (10 mg) for 6 months as the initial treatment for dyslipidemia.

Comparison of long-term outcomes between spousal transplants and other living unrelated donor transplants: single-center experience.

Background/aims: The greater use of living unrelated donors (LUDs) as kidney donors is a worldwide trend in the current era of organ shortage, and spouses are an important source of LUDs. This study was to compare the long-term outcomes of spousal donor grafts with other LUD grafts.

Methods: Among 445 LUD grafts, 77 were spouses and 368 were other LUDs.

Comparison of antibody monitoring system with flow cytometric crossmatch test in renal transplant recipients with high panel-reactive antibody.

Background/aims: The antibody monitoring system (AMS) is a recently developed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) crossmatch assay to detect donor-specific anti-HLA immunoglobulin G antibodies (DS-HLA Abs). This study was conducted to compare the AMS with the flow cytometric crossmatch (FCXM) test in renal transplant recipients with high panel-reactive antibody (PRA).

Methods: Thirty-two sera were obtained from 10 patients with panel reactivity above 50%.

Successful renal transplantation with desensitization in highly sensitized patients: a single center experience.

Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and/or plasmapheresis (PP) are effective in preventing antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) of kidney allografts, but AMR is still a problem. This study reports our experience in living donor renal transplantation in highly sensitized patients. Ten patients with positive crossmatch tests or high levels of panel-reactive antibody (PRA) were included.