Conversion from Prograf to Advagraf in stable paediatric renal transplant patients and 1-year follow-up.

Background: The conversion from Prograf to Advagraf on a 1:1 (mg:mg) basis has been questioned in light of the publication of studies showing a decrease in tacrolimus blood concentrations after the administration of Advagraf.

Methods: The bioavailability of Prograf and Advagraf was evaluated in an open-label conversion study in 21 stable renal transplant paediatric patients. Serial blood samples for determining tacrolimus levels were collected during a 24-h period before (on Prograf) and after (on Advagraf) conversion.

Living-donor transplantation after excision of unrecognized renal cancer diagnosed after transplant.

Background: Published data on kidneys transplanted after resecting small renal cancers during the transplantation surgery are very rare and, to the best of our knowledge, no pediatric cases have been reported in the literature.

Case-diagnosis/treatment: Our patient was diagnosed with a bilateral Wilms tumor when he was 15 months old. A total bilateral nephrectomy was required to control the disease.

Comparison of MMF efficacy and safety in paediatric vs. adult renal transplantation: subgroup analysis of the randomised, multicentre FDCC trial.

Background: Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is widely used for immunosuppressive therapy in renal transplantation, but comparative data regarding efficacy and safety in paediatric vs. adult kidney allograft recipients in one and the same study are lacking.

Methods: We therefore performed this subgroup analysis of the FDCC trial, a 12-month, prospective, randomised study, comparing fixed-dose (FD) with concentration-controlled (CC) MMF dosing in paediatric and adult renal transplant recipients.

Long-term outcome of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis after pediatric renal transplantation.

Recurrence of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) after renal transplantation can limit graft survival. Despite new immunosuppressive agents, the incidence of recurrence remains relatively high. To identify risk factors for recurrence and efficacy of treatment, we reviewed the outcome of 23 grafts in 16 children with FSGS who had undergone transplantation between 1985 and 2007 at La Paz Children's Hospital.

Evolutive study of children with diffuse mesangial sclerosis.

Diffuse mesangial sclerosis (DMS) is a renal disease that usually presents as a nephrotic syndrome. It is characterized by early onset and rapid progression to end-stage renal disease, and can occur as an isolated finding or as part of the Denys-Drash syndrome. The aim of this study was to characterize clinical features and outcomes of DMS in a cohort of children.

Antierythropoietin antibody-induced pure red cell aplasia: posttransplant evolution.

Pure red cell aplasia is a rare complication of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) treatment, which physicians should consider once the more frequent causes of hyporegenerative anemia have been excluded. To our knowledge, no pediatric cases have been described. In our patient, cyclosporin A treatment enabled a reduction in the number of transfusions and the risk of hyperimmunization.