Alternative Pneumocystis Pneumonia Prophylaxis in Solid Organ Transplants.

Background: Despite limited data supporting use in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients, atovaquone and dapsone are often used as alternatives to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) for Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) prophylaxis.

Methods: This single-center, retrospective cohort study describes a multi-organ program's experience with alternative PJP prophylaxis. Adult SOT recipients transplanted November 13, 2020 to November 13, 2022 who received non-TMP-SMX PJP prophylaxis and had > 1 year follow-up were included.

A survey of solid organ transplant recipient attitudes and concerns regarding contraception and pregnancy.

Introduction: Many women who are solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients wish to have children after transplantation. Contraception is an important component of post-transplant planning and care, given the increased risk associated with post-transplant pregnancies. We sought to understand patient attitudes and concerns about post-transplant contraception and pregnancy.

Tolerability of mycophenolate mofetil in elderly kidney transplant recipients: A retrospective cohort study.

Background: Optimal immunosuppression in elderly kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) is not well defined, with mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) being poorly tolerated. Study aim was to compare MMF dose reduction incidence and reason(s) in elderly vs. nonelderly KTRs in the 1st year after transplant with a protocol dose of 1 g/day.

Delayed calcineurin inhibitor introduction and renal outcomes in liver transplant recipients receiving basiliximab induction.

Background: To investigate the impact of delayed calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) initiation in liver transplant recipients (LTR) with peri-operative renal insufficiency receiving basiliximab induction, we compared renal outcomes of LTR stratified by the degree of achieved post-operative renal recovery (RR) prior to CNI initiation.

Methods: All adult LTR transplanted between 01/2007 and 12/2015 who received basiliximab were included. Patients who received multi-organ transplantations, were repeat transplant recipients, or expired prior to post-operative day (POD) 90 were excluded.

Sublingual administration of tacrolimus: current trends and available evidence.

Widespread anecdotal use of sublingual tacrolimus administration has arisen, although little literature exists to guide practice. Given the paucity of data, we conducted a survey to evaluate the practice of sublingual tacrolimus administration at transplant centers across the United States and evaluated the literature that is currently available. A 10-question online survey assessing the current state of sublingual tacrolimus use was distributed to pharmacists at transplant centers that each performed more than 100 solid organ transplantations in 2013.

Utility of procalcitonin as a biomarker for rejection and differentiation of infectious complications in lung transplant recipients.

Objective: To evaluate the utility of procalcitonin (PCT) as a biomarker for rejection and differentiation of infectious complications in lung transplant recipients.

Data Sources: An English-language literature search was conducted using MEDLINE (1966-September 2013) using the terms procalcitonin, transplantation, and lung transplantation. Additional articles were identified through a manual search of reference lists of the articles obtained.