Characteristics and Sensitization Risk Factors in Kidney Transplant Wait List Candidates: Panel Reactive Antibodies Status Is Crucial for Successful Kidney Allocation Systems in Turkey.

Objectives: Kidney transplant is the treatment of choice for end-stage renal disease. Because of the insufficient supply of donor organs for transplant, the number of patients on the transplant wait list is increasing. We analyzed demographic and clinical factors including sensitization status of patients on the kidney transplant wait list in our center.

Fabry Disease Screening in Patients With Kidney Transplant: A Single-Center Study in Turkey.

Objectives: Fabry disease is a rare X-linked multisystemic lysosomal storage disorder of the glycosphingolipid metabolic pathway. Nephropathy is one of the most important complications of Fabry disease, and patients with classical phenotype are at risk of developing endstage kidney disease. In this study, we investigated the use of screening for Fabry disease in kidney transplant recipients at our center.

Therapeutic Effect of Plasmapheresis and Intravenous Immunoglobulin in Recipients of Kidney Transplant With High Panel-reactive Antibody Levels: A Single-center Experience.

Objective: High panel-reactive antibody (PRA) levels limit patients' access to kidney transplantation from potential living donor candidates and decrease renal graft survival by causing acute antibody-mediated rejection (AAMR). In this article, we report our experiences about the efficiency of plasmapheresis (PP) and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) in reduction of serum PRA levels in candidates for renal transplantation and in patients with AAMR.

Methods: We examined retrospectively 47 patients with high PRA levels (18 for desensitization (DS) and 29 with AAMR) at Ankara University.

Maintenance Immunosuppressive Treatment of Renal Transplant Recipients in the Critical Care Unit.

Background: In intensive care unit (ICU), although there is no standard protocol for maintenance of immunosuppressive (IS) treatments for the kidney transplant recipients (KTx), the dose and the number of IS drugs are decreased according to the center's experience. The aim of this study is to evaluate the changes in IS treatment during stays in the ICU and to evaluate the safety and results of this modification on the IS treatment in the ICU arbitrarily.

Method: We evaluated retrospectively our kidney transplant recipients in ICU between 2012 and 2017.

Outcomes of Canakinumab Treatment in Recipients of Kidney Transplant With Familial Mediterranean Fever: A Case Series.

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an important and preventable cause of chronic kidney disease due to secondary amyloidosis. Although colchicine is the first-line therapy in patients with FMF with 60% to 65% complete remission rates, 5% to 10% of patients are colchicine-resistant and 5% to 10% of them are intolerant to the therapy. Anti-interleukin-1 agents, such as anakinra and canakinumab, are safe and efficient therapeutic options in patients with colchicine resistance or intolerance.

Long-term Results of Kidney Transplantation in Patients With Familial Mediterranean Fever and Amyloidosis.

Introduction: Amyloid A amyloidosis is most commonly caused by familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) in Turkey. Amyloidosis secondary to FMF is an important cause of end-stage renal failure, and kidney transplantation (KT) in these cases can be complicated, with long-term results oftentimes inferior compared with organ transplant in patients without FMF. The present study aims to show the long-term results of patients with secondary amyloidosis caused by FMF undergoing KT .

Clinical Correlates of Ambulatory Blood Pressure Phenotypes at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Turkey.

Background/aims: Hypertension and its complications are major public health issues worldwide due to their association with high cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Despite significant progress in health, the prevalence of hypertension is increasing. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) is becoming increasingly important for the management of hypertension.

GDF-15 and Hepcidin Levels in Nonanemic Patients with Impaired Glucose Tolerance.

Aims. Growth Differentiation Factor-15 (GDF-15) has been suggested as one of the regulators of hepcidin, an important regulatory peptide for iron deposition. Current data is conflicting about the relationship between hepcidin and disorders of glucose metabolism.