Antibody-mediated rejection and treatment in pediatric patients: one center's experience.

Objectives: Antibody-mediated rejection is a rare complication that often results in the loss of the kidney graft. Treatment options include plasmapheresis, intravenous immunoglobulin, and use of rituximab.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the data files from 86 pediatric renal transplant patients over the last 5 years.

Acute humoral rejection after kidney transplantation: a report of two cases.

Acute humoral rejection (AHR) should be considered in patients with renal allograft dysfunction that develops at any stage of the post-transplant course. AHR has become increasingly recognized and is now more accurately diagnosed by the use of flow cytometry cross-matching, the identification of C4d deposits shown on renal allograft biopsy, and the assessment of allograft function. Although plasma exchange has been a popular treatment for AHR, other treatment modalities have also been used by transplant centers.

Effect of obesity on inflammatory markers and renal functions.

Aim: To examine the relationship between inflammation criteria and body mass index in otherwise-healthy obese schoolchildren and to evaluate the effect of obesity on renal functions.

Methods: Sixty-five otherwise-healthy obese children (median age 10.8 y, range 7.

Prevalence of zinc deficiency and immune response in short-term hemodialysis.

Zinc is an essential trace element for many biological functions, including immune functions. The mechanism by which zinc may affect the immune system is certainly multifaceted, due to zinc's widespread action on different enzymes, peptides, transcriptional factors and cytokines involved in the various physiological steps of immune development and reactivity. In this study, prevalence of zinc deficiency and alteration in complement system, immunoglobulins and T cell subsets depending on zinc levels were analyzed in short-term hemodialysis patients and compared with healthy controls.

The impact of transient elevation of intra-abdominal pressure on liver regeneration in the rat.

Transient increased intra-abdominal pressure (IIAP) due to carbon dioxide insufflation is suspected to cause a form of ischemia-reperfusion injury. Considering this, a study was designed to assess the effect of transient IIAP on liver regeneration in a rat model. Six groups of animals (each n = 6) were studied.

Relationships between HLA-A, -B, -DQ and -DR antigens and interstitial fibrosis in renal allografts.

Although renal transplant recipients tend to exhibit similar clinical and immunological changes over time, some allograft biopsies show early IF. To evaluate the relationship between HLA antigens and IF in renal allografts, we reviewed for HLA-A, -B, -DQ, and -DR antigens in 88 renal transplant recipients. For each antigen type, we determined the numbers of patients who did and did not possess the antigen.

Effect of simvastatin in the treatment of highly sensitized dialysis patients: the pre and post-renal transplantation follow-up outcomes.

The graft survival rates of sensitized kidney recipients have been shown to be lower than non-sensitized patients. Therefore, panel reactive antibody (PRA) and cross-match determination is accepted as mandatory screening for renal transplantation candidates. Our recent previous study has shown that simvastatin had a significant immunosuppressive effect in PRA-positive and/or crossmatch-positive patients.

Renal transplantation in amyloidosis: effects of HLA matching and donor type on recurrence of primary disease.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of HLA-matching and donor type on recurrence of amyloidosis after renal transplantation. The study includes 30 patients with systemic amyloidosis who received kidney transplants between 1985 and 2001. Donor source and HLA tissue typing of the donor and recipient were evaluated in each case.

Transplant coordination activities in the Başkent University Hospital Network.

Our transplantation center adopted a new model of operation, with 3 affiliated centers of the Başkent University. The aim of this system is to standardize procedures related to organ procurement and transplantation, to increase organ donation, and to improve the quality of services. The transplant team is composed of a transplant coordinator, and transplant clinicians and surgeons.

Panel reactive antibody positivity and associated HLA antibodies in Turkish renal transplant candidates.

Pre- and post-renal transplantation panel reactive antibody (PRA) screening is associated with increased incidence of hyperacute or acute graft rejection and graft loss. This study was designed to find any relationship PRA sensitization and associated human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-specific antibodies in Turkish renal transplant candidates. We included 340 patients who were in the renal transplantation waiting list in the study.

Carbon coating of stents has no effect on inflammatory response to primary stent deployment.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of stent carbon coating on inflammatory response. The authors serially measured plasma concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen, and several cytokines (tumor necrosis factor, interleukin [IL]-1-beta, IL-6, and IL-8) in patients with single-vessel coronary stenosis who underwent primary stent implantation. None of the subjects had inflammatory or infectious disease at the time of the procedure.

Possible association between cockroach allergy and HLA class II antigens.

Background: Susceptibility to the development of allergic diseases is known to be associated with genetic components, as well as environmental factors. Although the genetics of immunoglobulin E, atopy, and asthma are complex, genetic markers are needed to identify populations at risk and to plan intervention studies.

Objective: Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II genes play a major role in the control of immune response.

Triad of malnutrition, inflammation, and atherosclerosis in hemodialysis patients.

Background/aim: As chronic inflammation underlies both atherosclerosis and malnutrition, a possible link between these factors has been suggested in hemodialysis (HD) patients. We designed this study to compare nutritional indices and inflammatory parameters of HD patients with demonstrated atherosclerosis (group I) and HD patients without (group II).

Methods: We included 59 and 57 patients in groups I and II, respectively.

The association of interdialytic weight gain with nutritional parameters and mortality risk in hemodialysis patients.

High interdialytic weight gain (IDWG) is considered as an indicator of noncompliance but could also be interpreted as an index of appetite. This study was designed to investigate the relationship IDWG with malnutrition and mortality risk in hemodialysis (HD) patients through a follow-up of 24 months. We divided HD patients into two groups according to their IDWG as Group I (IDWG < 3% of dry weight/day) (27 patients; age 46.