Pre-authorization processes have no effect on patients undergoing knee MRI in a pediatric setting when evaluated by specialists.

OBJECTIVE: Pre-authorization processes are often used by medical insurance companies to reduce costs by managing the utilization of advanced diagnostic imaging, and their impact on patient care is unclear. The purpose of our study is to determine if a pre-authorization process increases the rate of surgically significant abnormal knee MRI and surgical referrals compared with patients referred from pediatric orthopedic specialists who do not undergo a pre-authorization process. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was performed; 124 patients were identified who were referred for knee MRI by a pediatric orthopedist. The study population included patients who underwent an insurance pre-authorization process and the control group consisted of those who did not. The results of the MRI and whether they were deemed surgically significant, in addition to surgical referral, were recorded and compared. RESULTS: The study and control groups showed no statistically significant difference in outcome with regard to surgically significant findings on MRI (p = 0.92) or whether the patient required surgery (p = 0.6). CONCLUSIONS: In this population, there is no difference in the likelihood of an abnormal knee MRI demonstrating surgically significant findings or referral to surgery in patients who did and those who did not undergo an insurance pre-authorization process when patients are referred from a pediatric orthopedic specialist. The insurance pre-authorization process does not appear to have an impact on patient diagnosis and treatment and may unnecessarily add bureaucracy and costs.

Low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol: an independent risk factor for late adverse cardiovascular events in renal transplant recipients.

Long-term kidney transplant graft and patient survival is often limited by cardiovascular (CV) disease. Risk factors for CV disease such as diabetes, hypertension and elevated low-density lipoprotein levels are well documented; however, the impact of low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) has not been defined. We performed a retrospective chart review of 324 consecutive renal transplant recipients from 2001 to 2007 to correlate baseline HDL levels with major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) defined as a composite of new onset CV illness, cerebral vascular events and peripheral vascular disease. A total of 92 MACEs occurred over a total of 1913 patient years of follow-up. Low HDL cholesterol levels were noted in 58.3% of patients. Compared with those with normal HDL levels, a greater percentage of patients with low HDL levels had post-transplant MACEs (20% vs. 60% respectively) and experienced an increased rate of all cause mortality. Sixty-two percent of all MACEs occurred in patients with low HDL levels. In the low HDL group, the odds ratio for experiencing a MACE was 1.92. Therefore, HDL cholesterol may provide an important new therapeutic target to prevent vascular morbidity and mortality following renal transplantation.

Randomized prospective trial of early steroid withdrawal compared with low-dose steroids in renal transplant recipients using serial protocol biopsies to assess efficacy and safety.

BACKGROUND: Corticosteroid therapy after renal transplantation is associated with many adverse effects. Newer immunosuppressive agents may allow for safe and effective reductions in dose or early steroid withdrawal. METHODS: In this prospective, single-center clinical trial, 60 patients were randomized into 2 groups: control patients (n = 28), who received low doses of prednisone throughout, and study patients (n = 32), who were withdrawn from steroids 7 days posttransplant. Patients received a limited course of rabbit antilymphocyte globulin (rALG) induction therapy, tacrolimus (TAC), and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF). Patients were followed for clinical outcomes and renal function. Protocol biopsies were performed at 1, 6, and 12 months. RESULTS: Clinical rejections occurred in 11% of controls and 13% of study patients. Renal function was well maintained and equivalent in both groups. In all, 111 protocol biopsies were performed without complications. Subclinical rejection was noted in only 2 protocol biopsies, and borderline changes were seen in 12 biopsies, all of which were distributed equally between both groups. Unsuspected acute TAC toxicity was seen in 8 biopsies. Protocol biopsies led to changes in therapy in 10% of patients. In both groups, serial protocol biopsies demonstrated increased allograft fibrosis over time, which was significant at 1 year in the steroid withdrawal group. CONCLUSION: The immunosuppressive combination of rALG, TAC, and MMF prevents subclinical rejection and the need for high doses of steroids after transplantation. However, continual low-dose steroid therapy may aid in preventing chronic allograft fibrosis. Protocol biopsies help define the short-term and long-term risks of steroid withdrawal therapy.