Effect of Apheresis for ABO and HLA Desensitization on Anti-Measles Antibody Titers in Renal Transplantation.

Desensitization strategies for ABO-incompatible renal transplants with plasma exchange (PE) or specific immunoadsorption (IA) decrease immunoglobulin levels. After recent measles outbreak and decreasing vaccination rates, we studied the impact of apheresis on anti-measles antibodies. Anti-measles antibodies were measured before desensitization, before transplantation and during followup in 12 patients with ABO incompatibility (2x PE only, 8x IA only, and 2x IA and PE) and 3 patients with donor-specific HLA antibodies (all PE).

Molecular evidence of nosocomial Pneumocystis jirovecii transmission among 16 patients after kidney transplantation.

In recent years, clusters of Pneumocystis jirovecii (formerly Pneumocystis carinii) pneumonia (PCP) among immunocompromised individuals have been reported. Mostly, the source of infections was suspected to be within the clinical settings when transplant recipients and PCP patients shared hospital facilities. We report on a cluster of 16 renal transplant recipients positive for P.

Malacoplakia in a renal transplant recipient.

Malacoplakia is a rare, inflammatory condition characterized histologically by distinct histiocytes with pathognomonic inclusion calcospherules called Michaelis-Gutmann bodies. It most often affects the urinary tract of immunocompromised patients. We describe a case of renal allograft parenchymal malacoplakia in a transplant recipient.

Efficacy and safety of DALI-LDL-apheresis in two patients treated with the angiotensin II-receptor 1 antagonist losartan.

Direct adsorption of lipids (DALI) is the first low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-apheresis technique capable of adsorbing LDL and lipoprotein (a) directly from whole blood. The adsorber consists of negatively charged polyacrylate ligands linked to a Eupergit matrix. Negatively charged ligands give rise to activation of bradykinin, which is rapidly degraded by the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE).

State of the art of low-density lipoprotein apheresis in the year 2003.

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) apheresis is a last-resort treatment for hypercholesterolemic patients resistant to conservative lipid-lowering therapy. In the extracorporeal circuit, LDL, Lp(a) and coagulation factors are selectively eliminated, while the beneficial proteins like high-density lipoprotein, albumin and immunoglobulins are returned to the patient. Clinical effects of LDL apheresis comprise improvement of symptoms like angina and exercise tolerance, reduction of clinical coronary events like unstable angina, need for angioplasty or bypass operation, myocardial infarction and ultimately coronary mortality.