Tubular dysfunction in renal transplant patients using sirolimus or tacrolimus.

Background: Tubular dysfunction is prevalent among kidney transplant patients using calcineurin inhibitors, but our knowledge of the tubular effects of mTOR inhibitors is more limited.

Methods: 60 kidney transplant outpatients using either the calcineurin inhibitor tacrolimus or the mTOR inhibitor sirolimus were investigated for renal tubular dysfunction. Proximal tubule function was assessed by quantification of albumin and β2-microglobulin, tubular reabsorption of phosphate and fractional excretion of bicarbonate.

Prevalence of occult hepatitis B virus infection in kidney transplant recipients.

In this cross-sectional study, 207 hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-negative kidney transplant recipients were evaluated based on demographic and epidemiological data and on the levels of serological markers of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus infection and liver enzymes. Patients with HBV or human immunodeficiency virus infection were excluded. Sera were analysed for the presence of HBV-DNA.

Effects of early changes in organ dysfunctions on the outcomes of critically ill patients in need of renal replacement therapy.

Introduction: Acute kidney injury usually develops in critically ill patients in the context of multiple organ dysfunctions.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of changes in associated organ dysfunctions over the first three days of renal replacement therapy on the outcomes of patients with acute kidney injury.

Methods: Over a 19-month period, we evaluated 260 patients admitted to the intensive care units of three tertiary-care hospitals who required renal replacement therapy for > 48 h.