Evaluation of the efficacy of an interdialytic "ethanol 40% v/v - enoxaparin 1000 U/mL" lock solution to prevent tunnelled catheter infections in chronic hemodialysis patients: a multi-centre, randomized, single blind, parallel group study.

Background: Tunnelled dialysis catheter (TC) infections are a major health complication and are associated with increased antibiotic consumption, hospital stays, health costs and mortality. Experimental data provide evidence that Ethenox, a mixture of enoxaparine 1000 U/mL in 40% v/v ethanol, could be a promising lock solution. The aim of the study is to compare an interdialytic lock solution of Ethenox with reference lock solutions, unfractionated heparin (UFH) or citrate 4% for the prevention of TCI in hemodialysis patients.

Non-tolerability of double-filtration plasmapheresis in antibody-incompatible kidney transplant candidates.

Few studies have reported the use of double-filtration plasmapheresis (DFPP) in antibody-incompatible kidney transplantation. To assess the efficiency and tolerability of DFPP, we prospectively studied four chronic hemodialysis patients from two centers undergoing antibody-incompatible kidney transplantation. DFPP was used for ABO-incompatible transplantation (n = 1), for high human leukocyte antigen (HLA) immunization levels (n = 2) or for the presence of a donor-specific antibody (DSA) against a potential living donor (n = 1).

Prophylaxis versus pre-emptive treatment for prevention of cytomegalovirus infection in CMV-seropositive orthotopic liver-transplant recipients.

This study compared the pre-emptive and the prophylactic strategies used to prevent cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and disease in CMV-seropositive orthotopic liver-transplant recipients and searched for associated predictive factors. Seventy-three orthotopic liver-transplant recipients who had received a transplant before November 2005 were given ganciclovir IV pre-emptively (group I) and 56 recipients who had received a transplant after November 2005 were given prophylactic valganciclovir for 3 months (group II). Demographic and biochemical parameters did not statistically vary between the groups at baseline.

Prospective monitoring of cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, BK virus, and JC virus infections on belatacept therapy after a kidney transplant.

Objectives: Few data regarding viral replication in patients receiving belatacept are available. The aim of this single-center study was to compare the incidence of viral infections (cytomegalovirus, Epstein Barr virus, BK virus, and JC virus), in 62 de novo kidney transplant patients enrolled in the BENEFIT studies, receiving either belatacept (n=42) or cyclosporine (n=20).

Materials And Methods: By means of polymerase chain reaction, belatacept-treated patients were tested for cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, BK virus, and JC virus infections monthly for 36 months, monthly for the first 6 months, and then quarterly for 36 months in cyclosporine-treated patients.

Treatment of hepatitis C virus infection after kidney transplantation.

The prevalence of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection after kidney transplantation (KT) varies a lot from one country to another. In the setting of (powerful) immunosuppression, HCV replication can sharply increase, thereby leading to potential severe HCV-related liver damage such cirrhosis or fibrosing cholestatic hepatitis. In the setting of KT, α-interferon (α-IFN) therapy alone has been associated with a very low sustained virological response (SVR), and a poor tolerance, particularly with regard to the kidney allograft, i.