Subclinical toxicity of calcineurin inhibitors in repeated protocol biopsies: an independent risk factor for chronic kidney allograft damage.

The purpose of the prospective study was to determine the prevalence of subclinical toxicity of calcineurin inhibitors (CI) in repeated protocol renal allograft biopsies and to assess its impact on the development of chronic graft changes. A total of 424 biopsies were conducted in a cohort of 158 patients; of these biopsies, 158 were in the third week, 142 were in the third month and 124 were in the first year after transplantation. Histological signs of toxicity occurred in the third week in 33 (20.

Significance of HLA nondependent risk factors of chronic transplant nephropathy for the development of endothelial dysfunction after kidney transplantation.

More than 40% of renal allografts show chronic transplant nephropathy (CTN) early after renal transplantation. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in this population. Thus endothelial dysfunction represents an early angiopathy causing CTN and atherosclerosis.

Sonographic findings in borderline changes and subclinical acute renal allograft rejection.

Purpose: A clinically manifested acute rejection is associated with graft dysfunction and with some ultrasound findings. The aim of our study was to determine the potential of ultrasound evaluation in the detection of subclinical acute rejective changes diagnosed in stable grafts by protocol biopsy.

Methods: Gray-scale evaluation, color Doppler imaging (CDI) and power Doppler imaging (PDI) was performed before each of 184 protocol graft biopsies in 77 patients in the third week, third month and first year after transplantation.

Protocol biopsy of donor kidney in renal transplantation.

This review article defines the term marginal (suboptimal) donor of organs and there is a summary of current opinions on the importance of protocol biopsies of kidneys performed in these donors during graft collection. Bioptic examination of kidneys in marginal donors provides information that cannot be obtained in any other way. Most authors engaged in this problem hold the view that evaluation of the extent of involution changes and the decision about the appropriateness of the organ for transplantation cannot be based only on the age criteria and there should always be a biopsy performed in suboptimal donors.

Use of EQUORAL in de novo renal transplant recipients.

This paper presents our experience to date with using a cyclosporine formulation Equoral (IVAX Pharmaceuticals) together with mycophenolate mofetil plus a steroid immunosuppressive regimen in the treatment of de novo renal transplant recipients. Ten cadaveric donor renal transplant recipients of mean age 51.6 years (range 37-66) were followed up over 6 months for the development of rejection attacks and side effects.