Impact of monocyte-macrophage inhibition by ibandronate on graft function and survival after kidney transplantation: a single-centre follow-up study over 15 years.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of ibandronate administration on long-term graft function and graft survival after successful renal transplantation.

Methods: Seventy-two renal transplant recipients (36 patients each in the treatment and control group) were included and followed over a 15-year period. Data on graft function and death-censored transplant outcome were recorded at 1, 5, 10, and 15 years.

Hypocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis syndrome: an interdisciplinary challenge.

Background: Chronic urticaria often points the way to the diagnosis of a systemic disease, particularly when urticarial vasculitis can be demonstrated. Hypocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis syndrome (HUVS) is considered to be an independent immunological disease.

Method: Selective literature review and consideration of the author's own clinical experience.

[Sleep apnea--treatment improves hypertension].

Obstructive sleep apnea and arterial hypertension are frequent diseases, but they are also often overlooked. There is a causal relationship of sleep apnea and hypertension. Undiagnosed sleep apnea is probably the most important reason for "essential" hypertension.

Low-dose aspirin therapy is associated with improved allograft function and prolonged allograft survival after kidney transplantation.

Background: Aspirin treatment has an undoubted beneficial impact on the progression of cardiovascular diseases. We hypothesized that aspirin also protects allograft function and survival in the context of chronic renal allograft dysfunction, which displays decisive pathophysiologic features that are similar to those involved in atherogenesis.

Methods: A retrospective, multivariate analysis was performed to assess the effect of low-dose aspirin treatment (100 mg/day) on allograft function and survival of 830 renal transplant recipients.

Impact of in vivo complement activation and cryoglobulins on graft outcome of HCV-infected renal allograft recipients.

Background: Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is closely associated with mixed cryoglobulinemia. Cryoglobulins can activate complement leading to vascular damage. We examined whether cryoglobulinemia and complement turnover is associated with HCV infection in renal transplant recipients and whether this has an adverse effect on graft outcome.

No dose-dependent tubulotoxicity of 5-aminosalicylic acid: a prospective study in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases.

Background And Aims: Elevated levels of renal tubular markers in the urine are found in 20-30% of patients with chronic inflammatory bowel diseases. We investigated whether this reflects a dose-dependent tubulotoxicity of 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA).

Patients And Methods: In an open, prospective, multicenter study 18 patients with Crohn's disease and 29 with ulcerative colitis were treated with 3 g 5-ASA or more daily as the sole drug for 6 weeks.

Liver support--a task for nephrologists? Extracorporeal treatment of a patient with fulminant Wilson crisis.

Background: Patients with Wilson's disease may present with cirrhosis, acute hepatitis or fulminant hepatic failure. Without urgent orthotopic liver transplantation, a fulminant Wilson crisis has a mortality of 100%. We report on an 18-year-old female patient with fulminant hepatic failure due to Wilson crisis.

Impact of hepatitis B and C on graft loss and mortality of patients after kidney transplantation.

Background: Mortality or graft loss after renal transplantation might be influenced by hepatitis virus infection.

Methods: Sera from time of transplantation of 927 renal transplant recipients were tested for hepatitis C (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) in order to investigate the impact of hepatitis virus infection on graft loss and mortality over an observation period of 20 yr.

Results: One hundred and twenty three of 927 patients were HCV positive, 30 patients HBV positive and seven patients HBV and HCV positive.

Graft survival and graft function of pediatric en bloc kidneys in paraaortal position.

Background: En bloc kidneys from pediatric donors are regarded as questionable with respect to the safety and quality of the transplant outcome. Therefore, we retrospectively studied graft outcome and graft function of our 56 en bloc kidneys transplanted in paraaortal position between 1992 and 1999.

Methods: Graft outcome of en bloc kidneys (group A) was compared with graft outcome of single cadaveric adult donor kidneys (group B).

Effect of ibandronate on bone loss and renal function after kidney transplantation.

Severe osteoporosis frequently is observed after organ transplantation. In kidney transplantation, it adds to pre-existing renal bone disease and strategies to prevent osteoporosis are not established. Eighty kidney recipients were included in a randomized controlled prospective intervention trial.

Calcineurin-inhibitor induced pain syndrome (CIPS): a severe disabling complication after organ transplantation.

Bone pain after transplantation is a frequent complication that can be caused by several diseases. Treatment strategies depend on the correct diagnosis of the pain. Nine patients with severe pain in their feet, which was registered after transplantation, were investigated.

Dihydropyridine calcium antagonists and renal function in hypertensive kidney transplant recipients.

Objective: To investigate whether calcium antagonists are nephroprotective in hypertensive cyclosporine-treated renal allograft recipients.

Methods: We studied 50 hypertensive and 17 normotensive renal transplants (eight females, nine males; 14-54 years, mean age 38.8 +/- 3.

Compliance of German pediatric patients with oral antibiotic therapy: results of a nationwide survey.

Background: Noncompliance with a prescribed therapy is a common problem in ambulatory pediatrics.

Objective: To establish a nationwide status quo of compliance of German ambulatory pediatric patients with oral antibiotics prescribed for various bacterial infections.

Patients And Methods: In this study, organized and financed by the German Society for Pediatric Infectious Diseases, 42 pediatricians in private practice who were selected to represent the 3 main regions of Germany and residence in large cities or small towns, respectively, enrolled consecutive patients who had bacterial infections that required therapy with oral antibiotics.

Treatment of osteopenia and osteoporosis after kidney transplantation.

Background: Osteopenia and osteoporosis are frequent complications after kidney transplantation. Data for the treatment of low bone mass after kidney transplantation are not available.

Methods: To test the efficacy of antiresorptive treatment, 46 patients with osteopenia or osteoporosis after kidney transplantation (bone mineral density < or =1.

Occurrence and management of hepatitis B virus reactivation following kidney transplantation.

A 28-year-old woman was kidney transplanted. She had an inapparent hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection 2 years previously. At the time of transplantation she was hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) negative, anti-HBs, anti-HBc, anti-HBe and anti-HCV antibody positive and her transaminase activities were within the normal range.

Osteoporosis in transplant recipients: recommendations for avoidance and therapy.

Osteoporosis is a frequent and severe complication of transplantation that substantially reduces the recipient's quality of life. However, strategies to prevent or to treat osteoporosis have as yet not been established. Determination of bone mass and density is the basis for interventions following transplantation.