The registry of brain deaths in quality control program: evaluation of potentiality of each hospital in Abruzzo and Molise regions.

Quality control procedures in donation and transplantation of organ and tissue, which were started in 2001, are aspects of the activity of Regional Centre for Transplantation. Over the years there has been a significant increase in the number of diagnosed brain deaths that is close to the figure reported in the international literature of 50/60 per million inhabitants (p.m.

Risk factors that can influence kidney transplant outcome.

The survival and function of a kidney transplant are influenced by numerous immunological and nonimmunological factors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of a number of cadaveric donor parameters on transplanted kidney function, and in particular on the occurrence of delayed graft function (DGF) since DGF is one of the most important factors in long-term organ survival. This study looked at 143 patients who underwent kidney transplant of whom 32 displayed DGF.

Organ donation quality control in Abruzzo region (Italy).

Abruzzo is a region in central Italy with a population of 1,262,392. Within this region there are 13 hospitals with intensive care units, four of which have neurosurgical units. The Regional Centre for Transplants in L'Aquila is notified of encephalic deaths in hospitals in Abruzzo and Molise and coordinates organ retrieval and transplantation.

Anti-HLA antibodies in kidney transplanted patients.

Anti-human leukocyte antibodies (HLA) play a central role in graft survival, particularly in kidney transplantation. The presence of preformed donor specific anti-HLA antibodies is always excluded before transplantation by performing crossmatches using current and historic recipient serum samples. Several recent studies have observed a correlation between HLA antibodies and graft rejection.

Waiting list for kidney transplants.

Medical and technological progress have made kidney transplants an effective, alternative therapy to dialysis for patients suffering from chronic kidney failure. Transplantation improves the quality of life of these patients significantly; however, waiting lists are long and this is because of the attitude of the general public to organ donation, not a lack of medical expertise. In fact, the only limiting factor in kidney transplant is the opposition to donation expressed by the deceased or family members.