Excellent Clinical Long-Term Outcomes of Kidney Transplantation From Small Pediatric Donors (Age ≤ 5 Years) Despite Early Hyperfiltration Injury.

Background: The use of small pediatric donors (age ≤ 5 years and body weight < 20kg) for adult transplant recipients is still regarded controversially in terms of early complications, long-term outcomes, and development of hyperfiltration injury due to body size mismatch.

Objective: To investigate long-term outcomes of adult renal allograft recipients receiving a kidney from small pediatric donor (SPD) in terms of kidney function and early features of hyperfiltration injury such as histological changes and proteinuria.

Design: Retrospective, single center study.

Early complications after living donor nephrectomy: analysis of the Swiss Organ Living Donor Health Registry.

Background: We evaluated the prospectively collected data about the incidence of early peri- and postoperative complications, and potential risk factors for adverse outcomes after living kidney donation in Switzerland.

Methods: Peri- and postoperative events were prospectively recorded on a questionnaire by the local transplant teams of all Swiss transplant centres and evaluated by the Swiss Organ Living Donor Health Registry. Complications were classified according to the Clavien grading system.

Mutational landscape of B-cell post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders.

It is currently unclear whether post-transplant diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (PT-DLBCL) display a similar genomic landscape as DLBCL in immunocompetent patients (IC-DLBCL). We investigated 50 post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLDs) including 37 PT-DLBCL samples for somatic mutations frequently observed in IC-DLBCL. Targeted Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) using the Ion Torrent platform and a customized panel of 68 genes was performed on genomic DNA.

Acute Rejection Phenotypes in the Current Era of Immunosuppression: A Single-Center Analysis.

Background: Besides 'definitive rejection', the Banff classification includes categories for 'suspicious for rejection' phenotypes. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and phenotypes of rejection episodes in 316 consecutive renal transplants from 2009 to 2014 grouped into patients without/with pretransplant HLA-DSA (ptDSA, n = 251; ptDSA, n = 65).

Methods: All adequate indication (n = 125) and surveillance biopsies (n = 538) performed within the first year posttransplant were classified according to the current Banff criteria.

Comprehensive phenotypic characterization of PTLD reveals potential reliance on EBV or NF-κB signalling instead of B-cell receptor signalling.

Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD) are a major problem in transplant medicine. So far, the insights into pathogenesis and potentially druggable pathways in PTLD remain scarce. We investigated a cohort of PTLD patients, consisting of both polymorphic (n = 3) and monomorphic (n = 19) B-cell lymphoproliferations.

Influence of IFNL3/4 polymorphisms on the incidence of cytomegalovirus infection after solid-organ transplantation.

Background: Polymorphisms in IFNL3 and IFNL4, the genes encoding interferon λ3 and interferon λ4, respectively, have been associated with reduced hepatitis C virus clearance. We explored the role of such polymorphisms on the incidence of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in solid-organ transplant recipients.

Methods: White patients participating in the Swiss Transplant Cohort Study in 2008-2011 were included.

European renal best practice guideline on the management and evaluation of the kidney donor and recipient.

The purpose of this Clinical Practice Guideline is to provide guidance on evaluation of the kidney donor and transplant recipient as well as on the management of the recipient in the perioperative period. It is designed to provide information and aid decision-making. It is not intended to define a standard of care, and should neither be construed as one nor should it be interpreted as prescribing an exclusive course of management.

A road map for patients with imminent end-stage renal disease.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) represents a relevant medical and financial burden. More than 5% of the population suffers from CKD. There should be an accurately timed evaluation of best renal replacement therapy in all patients with CKD.

Repeat true surveillance biopsies in kidney transplantation.

Background: Protocol biopsies are assigned to fixed points in time after transplantation irrespective of renal function. Usually, it is not known whether there is graft dysfunction at the time of biopsy. This study analyzes repeat protocol biopsies in the absence of any clinical signs of graft dysfunction at the time of biopsy (i.

Morbidity and mortality on chronic haemodialysis: a 10-year Swiss single centre analysis.

Background: Patient survival on chronic haemodialysis varies considerably among different countries and healthcare systems. To date, the survival of Swiss dialysis patients has not been analysed separately.

Methods: We consecutively enrolled 266 patients entering the chronic haemodialysis program of the University Hospital Basel between 01.

Silent recovery of native kidney function after transplantation in a patient with membranous nephropathy.

Recurrence of membranous nephropathy (MN) is frequently seen after transplantation. However, there are no published data about the course of MN in the native kidneys after transplantation. Disease progression in almost all cases is assumed to be the 'natural' course after transplantation.

Comparison of CT angiography with MR angiography in the preoperative assessment of living kidney donors.

Background: The aim of the study was to prospectively compare the diagnostic performance of CT angiography (CTA) with MR angiography (MRA) in the preoperative assessment of living renal donors.

Methods: Forty-eight potential living renal donors (mean 51 years, 29-67 years) underwent multislice CTA and gadolinium-enhanced MRA. Six potential donors were excluded.

ABO blood group-incompatible living donor kidney transplantation: a prospective, single-centre analysis including serial protocol biopsies.

Background: ABO incompatible kidney transplantation using antigen-specific immunoadsorption is increasingly performed but data on outcome, complications and protocol biopsies are still scarce. The present prospective single-centre study was aimed at these issues.

Methods: This was a prospective single-centre cohort study of 10 successive ABO incompatible living donor kidney transplantations at the University Hospital Basel from September 2005 to October 2007.

Cytomegalovirus-specific T-cell responses and viral replication in kidney transplant recipients.

Background: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) seronegative recipients (R-) of kidney transplants (KT) from seropositive donors (D+) are at higher risk for CMV replication and ganciclovir(GCV)-resistance than CMV R(+). We hypothesized that low CMV-specific T-cell responses are associated with increased risk of CMV replication in R(+)-patients with D(+) or D(-) donors.

Methods: We prospectively evaluated 73 consecutive KT-patients [48 R(+), 25 D(+)R(-)] undergoing routine testing for CMV replication as part of a preemptive strategy.

Contribution of early failure to outcome on peritoneal dialysis.

Background: The technique failure rate on peritoneal dialysis (PD) remains high despite technical progress. There are no data concerning the contribution of early failure to outcome on PD.

Aim: To analyze the importance of early treatment failure in PD and to compare early with late failures with respect to reasons and predictors of risk for failure.

Pulmonary infections diagnosed by BAL: a 12-year experience in 1066 immunocompromised patients.

Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is a useful tool in the diagnosis of pulmonary infections in immunocompromised patients. We aimed to compare the spectrum of infectious pulmonary complications diagnosed using BAL in a large consecutive cohort of immunocompromised patients. The diagnostic yield of 1066 BAL specimens was analyzed in 4 different groups of immunocompromised patients (HIV; solid organ transplants; high-dose chemotherapy and/or stem cell transplants; other immunosuppressive therapy) suffering from fever, respiratory symptoms and/or infiltrates on chest X-ray.

Polyomavirus-associated nephropathy in renal transplantation: critical issues of screening and management.

Polyomavirus-associated nephropathy (PVAN) is an emerging disease in renal transplant patients with variable prevalence of 1-10% and graft loss up to 80%. BK virus (BKV) is the primary etiologic agent, but JC virus (JCV) and possibly simian virus SV40 may account for some cases. Intense immunosuppression is viewed as the most important risk factor.

Phylogenetic analysis of Pinguicula (Lentibulariaceae): chloroplast DNA sequences and morphology support several geographically distinct radiations.

The genus Pinguicula is one of the three genera of the carnivorous Lentibulariaceae, comprising approximately 80 species. Phylogeny inference using nucleotide sequences of the chloroplast gene matK and the trnK group II intron, as well as a set of 32 morphological characters revealed five well-supported, major lineages within the genus. These lineages largely reflect radiations in clearly defined geographic regions, whereas most previously recognized sections of the genus are shown to be para- or polyphyletic.

Polyomavirus-associated nephropathy in renal transplantation: interdisciplinary analyses and recommendations.

Polyomavirus-associated nephropathy (PVAN) is an emerging cause of kidney transplant failure affecting 1-10% of patients. As uncertainty exists regarding risk factors, diagnosis, and intervention, an independent panel of experts reviewed the currently available evidence and prepared this report. Most cases of PVAN are elicited by BK virus (BKV) in the context of intense immunosuppression.