Evolution of Pancreas Transplantation At A Single Institution-50+ Years and 2500 Transplants.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the evolution of pancreas transplantation, including improved outcomes and factors associated with improved outcomes over the past 5 decades. BACKGROUND: The world's first successful pancreas transplant was performed in December 1966 at the University of Minnesota. As new modalities for diabetes treatment mature, we must carefully assess the current state of pancreas transplantation to determine its ongoing role in patient care. METHODS: A single-center retrospective review of 2500 pancreas transplants was performed over >50 years in bivariate and multivariable models. Transplants were divided into 6 eras; outcomes are presented for the entire cohort and by era. RESULTS: All measures of patient and graft survival improved progressively through the 6 transplant eras. The overall death-censored pancreas graft half-lives were >35 years for simultaneous pancreas and kidney (SPK), 7.1 years for pancreas after kidney (PAK), and 3.3 years for pancreas transplants alone (PTA). The 10-year death-censored pancreas graft survival rate in the most recent era was 86.9% for SPK recipients, 58.2% for PAK recipients, and 47.6% for PTA. Overall, graft loss was most influenced by patient survival in SPK transplants, whereas graft loss in PAK and PTA recipients was more often due to graft failures. Predictors of improved pancreas graft survival were primary transplants, bladder drainage of exocrine secretions, younger donor age, and shorter preservation time. CONCLUSIONS: Pancreas outcomes have significantly improved over time through sequential, but overlapping, advances in surgical technique, immunosuppressive protocols, reduced preservation time, and the more recent reduction of immune-mediated graft loss.

Long-term Outcomes Following Colectomy and Liver Transplantation for Inflammatory Bowel Disease with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the long-term outcomes of patients with combined primary sclerosing cholangitis/inflammatory bowel disease (PSC-IBD) undergoing both liver transplantation (LT) and total abdominal colectomy (TAC). SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: The fraction of patients with PSC-IBD that require both LT and TAC is small, thereby limiting significant conclusions regarding long-term outcomes. METHODS: Adult and pediatric patients from nine centers from the US IBD Surgery Collaborative who underwent staged LT and TAC for PSC-IBD were included. Long-term outcomes, including survival, were assessed. RESULTS: Among 127 patients, 66 underwent TAC-before-LT, with a median time from TAC to LT of 7.9 yrs, while 61 underwent LT-before-TAC, with a median time from LT to TAC of 4.4 years. Median patient survival post TAC was significantly worse in those undergoing LT-before-TAC (16.0 yrs vs. 42.6 yrs, P=0.007), while post LT survival was not impacted by the order of TAC and LT (21.6 yrs vs. 22.0 yrs, P=0.81). Patients undergoing TAC for medically refractory disease had a higher incidence of recurrent PSC (rPSC) (P=0.02) and biliary complications (0.09) compared to those undergoing TAC for oncologic indications. Definitive TAC reconstruction with either end ileostomy or ileal-pouch anal anastomosis (IPAA) did not impact post-LT or post-TAC outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Long term survival in PSC-IBD was contingent upon progression to LT and was not impacted by the need for TAC. PSC-IBD patients undergoing TAC for medically refractory disease had a higher incidence of rPSC and biliary complications. The use of IPAA in PSC-IBD was a viable alternative to end ileostomy.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy following liver transplantation - a multicenter cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM) is an acute, stress-mediated, reversible cardiomyopathy that occurs in the absence of hemodynamically significant coronary artery disease. We aimed to investigate the characteristics and outcomes of patients who developed TCM following liver transplantation (LT) in a multicenter study. METHODS: Adult patients from six centers across the US who developed TCM according to Mayo Clinic criteria following LT between 2008-2023 were included. Demographics, perioperative and long-term outcomes, and treatment modalities were assessed. RESULTS: Fifty-five patients were included. The center incidence of TCM ranged from 0.1 - 0.5%. The majority were female (54.5%) and Caucasian (87.2%), and median age at transplant was 59 years. The primary etiologies for LT were alcohol-related cirrhosis (49.1%) and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease cirrhosis (21.8%). The median time from LT to TCM diagnosis was 4 days. TCM was associated with a 60.9% reduction in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) from a pretransplant median LVEF of 64.0% to 25.0%. The most common treatment for TCM was diuretics (67.3%) and afterload reduction (54.5%), with only 27.3% of patients requiring vasopressor support. At median follow-up 31.5 months, 1-year and 3-year overall survivals were 86.3% and 69.4%, respectively. Repeat echocardiogram performed at a median of 84 days demonstrated 45/55 patients (81.8%) had recovered LVEF ≥50%. Patients with LVEF recovery to ≥50% had significantly improved overall survival (OS) compared to those without LVEF recovery >50% (106.4 mos vs. 12.2 mos, p=0.001). CONCLUSION: TCM following LT is associated with a significant reduction in LVEF, however the majority of patients recover LVEF to > 50% with minimal perioperative mortality. Importantly, follow-up assessment of LVEF has significant implications as lack of recovery is associated with worse OS.

Hepatic Resection as the Primary Treatment Method for Hepatocellular Carcinoma After Orthotopic Liver Transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Liver transplantation (LT) is the treatment of choice for end-stage liver disease and certain malignancies such as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Data on the surgical management of de novo or recurrent tumors that develop in the transplanted allograft are limited. This study aimed to investigate the perioperative and long-term outcomes for patients undergoing hepatic resection for de novo or recurrent tumors after liver transplantation. METHODS: The study enrolled adult and pediatric patients from 12 centers across North America who underwent hepatic resection for the treatment of a solid tumor after LT. Perioperative outcomes were assessed as well as recurrence free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) for those undergoing resection for HCC. RESULTS: Between 2003 and 2023, 54 patients underwent hepatic resection of solid tumors after LT. For 50 patients (92.6 %), resection of malignant lesions was performed. The most common lesion was HCC (n = 35, 64.8 %), followed by cholangiocarcinoma (n = 6, 11.1 %) and colorectal liver metastases (n = 6, 11.1 %). The majority of the 35 patients underwent resection of HCC did not receive any preoperative therapy (82.9 %) or adjuvant therapy (71.4 %), with resection their only treatment method for HCC. During a median follow-up period of 50.7 months, the median RFS was 21.5 months, and the median OS was 49.6 months. CONCLUSION: Hepatic resection following OLT is safe and associated with morbidity and mortality rates that are comparable to those reported for patients undergoing resection in native livers. Hepatic resection as the primary and often only treatment modality for HCC following LT is associated with acceptable RFS and OS and should be considered in well selected patients.

Iscalimab Combined With Transient Tesidolumab Prolongs Survival in Pig-to-Rhesus Monkey Renal Xenografts.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinically relevant anti-CD40 antibody iscalimab for baseline immunosuppression in a preclinical pig-to-rhesus renal xenograft model. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: CD40/CD40L co-stimulation blockade-based immunosuppression has been more successful than calcineurin-based protocols in prolonging xenograft survival in preclinical models. METHODS: GGTA1 knockout/CD55 transgenic pig kidneys were transplanted into rhesus monkeys (n = 6) receiving an iscalimab-based immunosuppressive regimen. RESULTS: Two grafts were lost early (22 and 26 days) because of ectatic donor ureters with otherwise normal histology. The other recipients survived 171, 315, 422, and 439 days with good renal function throughout the posttransplant course. None of the recipients experienced serious infectious morbidity. CONCLUSIONS: It may be reasonable to evaluate an iscalimab-based immunosuppressive regimen in clinical renal xenotransplantation.

Posttransplant Lymphoproliferative Disease Following Pancreas Transplantation: A 40 Year Single-Center Experience.

BACKGROUND: Chronic immunosuppression following pancreas transplantation carries significant risk, including posttransplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD). We sought to define the incidence, risk factors, and long-term outcomes of PTLD following pancreas transplantation at a single center. METHODS: All adult pancreas transplants between February 1, 1983 and December 31, 2023 at the University of Minnesota were reviewed, including pancreas transplant alone (PTA), simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplants (SPK), and pancreas after kidney transplants (PAK). RESULTS: Among 2353 transplants, 110 cases of PTLD were identified, with an overall incidence of 4.8%. 17.3% were diagnosed within 1 year of transplant, 32.7% were diagnosed within 5 years, and 74 (67.3%) were diagnosed after 5 years. The overall 30-year incidence of PTLD did not differ by transplant type-7.4% for PTA, 14.2% for SPK, and 19.4% for PAK (p = 0.3). In multivariable analyses, older age and Epstein-Barr virus seronegativity were risk factors for PTLD, and PTLD was a risk factor for patient death. PTLD-specific mortality was 32.7%, although recipients with PTLD had similar median posttransplant survival compared to those without PTLD (14.9 year vs. 15.6 year, p = 0.9). CONCLUSIONS: PTLD following pancreas transplantation is associated with significant mortality. Although the incidence of PTLD has decreased over time, a high index of suspicion for PTLD following PTx should remain in EBV-negative recipients.

Adenovirus causing hepatic abscess formation and unexplained fever in adult liver transplant recipients.

Adenovirus infection is commonly associated with self-limited respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses. However, infection in immunocompromised individuals, such as transplant recipients, can cause severe life-threatening illness including pneumonitis, hemorrhagic cystitis, nephritis, hepatitis, and enterocolitis. In orthotopic liver transplant recipients, adenovirus viremia can cause hepatitis leading to marked transaminitis, allograft loss, and death. Although hepatic abscesses mediated by adenovirus have been described in other immunosuppressed patient populations, it has very rarely been described in liver transplant recipients. Here, we report two adult cases of hepatic abscesses following liver transplantation secondary to adenovirus infection and describe the successful treatment of these patients. Adenovirus should be considered as an uncommon etiology of hepatic abscess and unexplained fevers in adults following liver transplantation.

Evaluating living donor kidney transplant rates: Are you reaching your potential?

BACKGROUND: Traditionally, living donor kidney transplant (LDKT) rate has been calculated as a percentage of total kidney transplant volume. We believe this calculation to be inherently flawed because the number of deceased donor kidney transplants has no bearing on the number of LDKT performed. We propose an alternative calculation of LDKT rate as a percentage of the number of new waitlist registrants. METHODS: We evaluated 192 adult transplant centers in the United States with respect to their LDKT rate according to both the traditional and proposed calculations, using data from the scientific registry of transplant recipients between July 2014 and June 2015. RESULTS: The median LDKT rate for every 100 new waitlist registrants was 12.3, compared to 27.9 for every 100 total kidney transplants. Based on our proposed calculation of LDKT rate, 16.7% of transplant centers were misevaluated when compared to the national mean using the traditional method. CONCLUSIONS: A new calculation of LDKT rate based on new waitlist registrants, and not total kidney transplants, is necessary to eliminate the bias associated with the traditional method, allowing for the identification of centers for improvement as well as each individual center's true potential based on their patient demographics.

Donor Lymphocyte Infusion-Mediated Graft-versus-Host Responses in a Preclinical Swine Model of Haploidentical Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation.

We previously described successful hematopoietic stem cell engraftment across MHC barriers in miniature swine without graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) using novel reduced-intensity conditioning regimens consisting of partial transient recipient T cell-depletion, thymic or low-dose total body irradiation, and a short course of cyclosporine A. Here we report that stable chimeric animals generated with these protocols are strongly resistant to donor leukocyte infusion (DLI)-mediated GVH effects. Of 33 total DLIs in tolerant chimeras at clinical doses, 21 failed to induce conversion to full donor hematopoietic chimerism or cause GVHD. We attempted to overcome this resistance to conversion through several mechanisms, including using sensitized donor lymphocytes, increasing the DLI dose, removing chimeric host peripheral blood cells through extensive recipient leukapheresis before DLI, and using fully mismatched lymphocytes. Despite our attempts, the resistance to conversion in our model was robust, and when conversion was achieved, it was associated with GVHD in most animals. Our studies suggest that delivery of unmodified hematopoietic stem cell doses under reduced-intensity conditioning can induce a potent, GVHD-free, immune tolerant state that is strongly resistant to DLI.

Effect of Irradiation on Incidence of Post-Transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorder after Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation in Miniature Swine.

Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) is a major complication of clinical organ and cell transplantation. Conditioning and immunosuppressive regimens that significantly impair T cell immunity, including depleting antibodies and calcineurin inhibitors, increase the risk of PTLD after transplantation. Swine PTLD has been shown to closely resemble human PTLD in morphology, histology, and viral-driven reactivation of B cells. Previously, we reported high incidences of PTLD after hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) in miniature swine recipients conditioned with thymic irradiation (TI) in addition to T cell depletion and cyclosporine A monotherapy after transplantation. Replacement of TI with 100 cGy of total body irradiation resulted in similar numbers of B cells early post-transplantation, greater numbers of T cells at day 0, and markedly decreased incidence of PTLD, suggesting that a threshold number of T cells may be necessary to prevent subsequent B cell proliferation and development of overt PTLD. Results from this large cohort of animals provide insight into the important effect of irradiation and T cell immunity on the incidence of PTLD after HCT and reinforce the pig model as a valuable tool for the study of PTLD and HCT.

Serial transverse enteroplasty in adults with parenteral nutrition dependence: A case series.

BACKGROUND: Serial transverse enteroplasty is used to treat patients with chronic intestinal failure owing to short bowel syndrome. Current literature lacks discussion of its role for other etiologies of intestinal failure and its impact on adult patients' nutrition support needs and quality of life. METHODS: We performed a case series on adults with parenteral nutrition (PN) dependence who underwent serial transverse enteroplasty at Emory University Hospital, a quaternary referral center between 2011 and 2022. Data collected included demographics, operative technique, and preoperative and postoperative PN requirements. A phone survey was administered to evaluate the impact of PN and the operation on quality of life. RESULTS: Ten patients underwent the procedure of interest during the study period. Indications included short bowel syndrome following multiple abdominal operations or intra-abdominal catastrophe and chronic partial bowel obstruction with dysmotility. Bowel length increased by a median of 83%. All patients were discharged home after a median hospital stay of 21 days. At 1-year follow-up, survival was 100%, two (20%) patients fully weaned from PN, three others (30%) reduced PN frequency, and six (60%) decreased their daily parenteral energy requirement. Two additional patients fully weaned from PN by 18 months postoperatively. CONCLUSION: This represents one of the largest case series of serial transverse enteroplasty in adults. Small intestinal length nearly doubled, and PN dependence was reduced in most patients. Given the low morbidity and good quality of life observed in this series, this procedure should be more widely investigated for patients with chronic intestinal failure.

Eliminating financial disincentives to living kidney donation - a call to action.

The incidence of end stage renal disease (ESRD) in the United States (US) is increasing each year. The lone curative treatment for ESRD remains kidney transplantation. Despite the demonstrated medical and economic benefits, living donor kidney transplantation (LDKT) only accounts for a small number of kidney transplantations each year. Direct and indirect costs exist that disincentivize potential living kidney donors from coming forward, such as the cost of travel and lodging, risk of death, potential loss of income due to an extended recovery time, and the inability to donate to a relative in the future if needed. Herein, we advocate for policy changes that make living kidney donation (LKD) a financially neutral process thereby incentivizing increased LDKT and mitigating the kidney donor shortage.

Operative Outcomes for Polycystic Liver Disease: Results of a Large Contemporary Series.

INTRODUCTION: Persistent symptoms of pain, early satiety, dyspnea, and gastrointestinal reflux due to significant liver enlargement are indications for surgical debulking in patients with polycystic liver disease (PCLD) due to the lack of effective medical therapies; however, few data exist on outcomes of surgical intervention for PCLD. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of consecutive patients who underwent operative intervention due to persistent symptoms secondary to PCLD. Preoperative patient characteristics, 30-day postoperative outcomes, and long-term postoperative outcomes, including complications and symptom resolution, were analyzed. RESULTS: We identified 50 patients who underwent hepatic resection for symptomatic PCLD. Nine patients (19%) had concomitant polycystic kidney disease, and 14 (28%) had previously undergone interventions for PCLD management. The overall complication rate was 30%, with 8 patients (16%) experiencing Clavien-Dindo Grade III-V complications and no mortalities. The median relative reduction in liver volume was 41%. At a median follow-up of 2 years, 94% has sustained symptom resolution. CONCLUSIONS: This is among the largest case series exploring PCLD operative outcomes, revealing that surgical intervention for debulking for advanced PCLD is safe and effective for symptom management. Furthermore, patients with PCLD undergoing hepatectomy tolerate significant liver volume loss without evidence of impaired hepatic function.

Surgical management of a giant hepatic metastasis from a cranial meningioma 10 years after resection.

Meningiomas are the most common type of primary brain tumor; they have a low risk for extracranial metastases, which are primarily associated with increased tumor grade. Hepatic metastases from cranial meningiomas are extremely rare, with only a paucity of cases reported in the literature and no standardized approach to management. Herein, we report a case of an incidentally discovered giant (>20 cm) metastatic meningioma to the liver treated with surgical resection 10 years following resection of a low-grade cranial meningioma. This report also highlights the use of (68Ga) DOTATATE PET/CT as the diagnostic imaging modality of choice when evaluating for meningioma metastases. To our knowledge, this report describes the largest hepatic metastasis from a cranial meningioma to undergo surgical resection in the literature.

The MHC-characterized Miniature Swine: Lessons Learned From a 40-Year Experience in Transplantation.

Over the last 40 y, a specialized herd of miniature swine has been intentionally bred to develop lines of animals homozygous for the swine major histocompatibility complex (MHC), which have facilitated transplantation studies across reproducible MHC and minor antigen mismatch barriers. These MHC-characterized miniature swine (Mc-MS) have been used for the study of novel surgical techniques, various approaches to tolerance induction of solid organ and vascularized composite allografts, as well as studies of the immunobiology of allografts and xenografts. Mc-MS possess characteristics that are highly advantageous to these studies, and their continued use will likely continue to play an important role in bridging "bench-to-cage-to bedside" therapies in the field of transplantation. In this review, we highlight the seminal contributions of the Mc-MS model to the field and analyze their role in the broader context of large animal models in transplantation research.

Successful Liver Transplantation from a Deceased Donor After Ethylene Glycol Ingestion: A Case Report and Review of the Literature of Organ Donation from Poisoned Donors.

Despite the increase in deceased organ donation over the past ten years, the gap between patients awaiting transplant and available organs continues to widen. Deceased donors secondary to acute fatal poisonings represent less than 1% of all organ donors. Organs from poisoned donors have largely been discarded due to concerns of toxin transmission and poor organ function as well as the paucity of data that exists regarding this donor population. Here, we report a case of a 40-year-old male who underwent successful liver re-transplantation from a donor who died following ethylene glycol ingestion. To our knowledge this case report is the first to describe successful re-transplantation from an ethylene glycol-poisoned donor. We also provide a comprehensive review of the literature describing organ donation from poisoned donors.

Extracorporeal Liver Support: A Bridge to Somewhere.

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Cellular Immunotherapies in Preclinical Large Animal Models of Transplantation.

Hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplantation and solid organ transplantation remain the only curative options for many hematologic malignancies and end-stage organ diseases. Unfortunately, the sequelae of long-term immunosuppression, as well as acute and chronic rejection, carry significant morbidities, including infection, malignancy, and graft loss. Numerous murine models have demonstrated the efficacy of adjunctive cellular therapies using HSCs, regulatory T cells, mesenchymal stem cells, and regulatory dendritic cells in modulating the alloimmune response in favor of graft tolerance; however, translation of such murine approaches to other preclinical models and in the clinic has yielded mixed results. Large animals, including nonhuman primates, swine, and canines, provide a more immunologically rigorous model in which to test the clinical translatability of these cellular therapies. Here, we highlight the contributions of large animal models to the development and optimization of HSCs and additional cellular therapies to improve organ transplantation outcomes.

Non-invasive imaging for the diagnosis of acute rejection in transplantation: The next frontier.

Acute rejection is a leading cause of organ transplant failure and the most common indication for re-transplantation. Clinically, suspicion of acute rejection is often dependent upon serum laboratory values which may only manifest after organ injury. The gold standard for diagnosis requires an invasive biopsy which can carry serious clinical risks including bleeding and graft loss as well as the possibility of sampling error. The use of noninvasive imaging modalities to monitor transplanted organs is of great clinical value, particularly as a tool for early detection of graft dysfunction or acute rejection. Herein, we provide an overview of the existing literature evaluating noninvasive imaging modalities of solid organ and cellular allografts after transplantation, including both preclinical and clinical studies.