High-urgency kidney transplantation in the Eurotransplant Kidney Allocation System: success or waste of organs? The Eurotransplant 15-year all-centre survey.

BACKGROUND: In the Eurotransplant Kidney Allocation System (ETKAS), transplant candidates can be considered for high-urgency (HU) status in case of life-threatening inability to undergo renal replacement therapy. Data on the outcomes of HU transplantation are sparse and the benefit is controversial. METHODS: We systematically analysed data from 898 ET HU kidney transplant recipients from 61 transplant centres between 1996 and 2010 and investigated the 5-year patient and graft outcomes and differences between relevant subgroups. RESULTS: Kidney recipients with an HU status were younger (median 43 versus 55 years) and spent less time on the waiting list compared with non-HU recipients (34 versus 54 months). They received grafts with significantly more mismatches (mean 3.79 versus 2.42; P < 0.001) and the percentage of retransplantations was remarkably higher (37.5 versus 16.7%). Patient survival (P = 0.0053) and death with a functioning graft (DwFG; P < 0.0001) after HU transplantation were significantly worse than in non-HU recipients, whereas graft outcome was comparable (P = 0.094). Analysis according to the different HU indications revealed that recipients listed HU because of an imminent lack of access for dialysis had a significantly worse patient survival (P = 0.0053) and DwFG (P = 0.0462) compared with recipients with psychological problems and suicidality because of dialysis. In addition, retransplantation had a negative impact on patient and graft outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Facing organ shortages, increasing wait times and considerable mortality on dialysis, we question the current policy of HU allocation and propose more restrictive criteria with regard to individuals with vascular complications or repeated retransplantations in order to support patients on the non-HU waiting list with a much better long-term prognosis.

Recurrent calcinosis in consecutively transplanted kidney grafts.

Repeated renal transplant calcinosis is a rare event. We report a young woman in whom repeated calcinosis was observed in two consecutive renal transplants. Persistent secondary hyperparathyoidism and hyperphosphatemia due to impaired renal function were assumed as the pathogenic factors for calcinosis. Sub-total parathyroidectomy performed shortly after the third transplantation and good function of the renal graft have prevented calcinosis in the third graft for more than five years.

Erythropoietin requirement in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus on maintenance hemodialysis therapy.

Diabetes is known to be a risk factor for the severity of anemia in non-dialyzed patients with renal failure. The aim of this study was to evaluate differences in hemoglobin (Hb) response to erythropoietin (EPO) in diabetic and nondiabetic patients on chronic hemodialysis (CHD). Sixty-four patients on CHD were included in the study: 24 type 2 diabetics (mean age, 59+/-11 years; 10 men, 14 women) and 40 nondiabetics (age, 53+/-14 years; 21 men, 19 women). All patients received a fixed dose of 50 mg ferric saccharate and EPO per week, dosed individually to achieve a target Hb level of 12 g/dl. Hb levels, ferritin, transferrin saturation (TSAT), EPO requirement (IU/kg/week), folic acid, vitamin B12 and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured every two months. Additionally, the incidence of infectious diseases during the observation period of six months was evaluated, and a univariate correlation analysis of CRP and EPO requirements was performed in both groups. Patients with and without diabetes were divided into two groups each: those with normal CRP and those with elevated CRP. The EPO requirements of these groups were compared. Under identical iron substitution the mean Hb level increased more, but not significantly, in non-diabetic patients than in diabetic patients. After 6 months the mean Hb levels were 12.1+/-1.2 versus 11.5+/-1.2 g/dl (NS), although the actual EPO requirement was higher in diabetic than in non-diabetic subjects (244+/-122 versus 183+/-118 IU/kg/week; p<0.05). CRP after 6 months was significantly higher in diabetic than in non-diabetic patients (2.6+/-2.2 versus 1.5+/-1.3 mg/dl; p<0.05), as was the incidence of infectious disease (n/patient/month) (0.24 versus 0.08; p<0.05). The correlation coefficient between CRP and EPO requirements was statistically significant in both diabetic (r=0.547 p<0.01) and non-diabetic subjects (r=0.577; p<0.001). All other laboratory indices were similar in both groups. In the diabetic patients with normal CRP (n=6) the Hb levels achieved after six months were similar to those of non-diabetic patients (n=10) with normal CRP (11.9+/-1.1 versus 12.1+/-1.2%), and the required EPO was comparable. We conclude that the Hb response to EPO is reduced in diabetic patients on CHD. This elevated EPO requirement may be explained by a greater prevalence of infectious diseases, characterized by a significantly higher CRP level, in these patients. Other causes for the elevated EPO requirement could be excluded.

Impact of smoking on progression of vascular diseases and patient survival in type-1 diabetic patients after simultaneous kidney-pancreas transplantation in a single centre.

We evaluated the impact of smoking on the progression of macro-angiopathy as well as patient and graft survival in 35 type-1 diabetic patients with simultaneous kidney-pancreas transplantation (SKPT). According to their smoking history, the patients were divided into smokers (n = 12) and nonsmokers (n = 23). Mean observation period was 80 (12-168) vs. 84 (12-228) months. The prevalence of vascular diseases as well as the incidence of vascular complications during the observation period was evaluated in each group. Graft- and patient survival were calculated. The prevalence of all vascular diseases was higher in the smokers with prior SKPT at the start as also at the end of study; however, the differences were not significant. In addition, the incidence of vascular complications (stroke, myocardial infarction and amputation) during the follow-up period was higher in the smoking group. Taking all vascular complications together (events/patient/year) the difference was significant (0.105 vs. 0.066, P < 0.05). One- and 5-year patient survival was 100% and 75% for smokers vs. 100% and 91% for nonsmokers. One- and 5-year pancreas graft survival at the same time was 100% and 75% in living smokers as well as 100% and 83% in the nonsmokers: We conclude that smoking after SKPT is associated with a progression of macro-angiopathy. Additionally, mortality after SKPT tends to be higher in smoking patients.

[Etiology and prognosis of "internal medicine" acute renal failure in 1981-1990 and 1991-2000--an analysis of 510 cases in a single center]. / Ursachen und Prognose des "internistischen" akuten Nierenversagens während der Jahre 1981-1990 und 1991-2000--Eine Analyse von 510 Fällen in einem Single Zentrum.

Despite advanced techniques of renal replacement therapy as well as improved medical care and control over the last decade, the overall mortality of patients with "internal" nontraumatic acute renal failure (ARF) requiring replacement therapy is still high. In a retrospective study we compared causes of nontraumatic ARF, risk factors for the development of renal failure and mortality rates in patients with nontraumatic ARF, who received hemodialysis therapy from 1981 to 1990 and from 1991 to 2000. 510 patients with nontraumatic ANV requiring hemodialysis were evaluated, 278 patients in 1981-1990 and 232 patients in 1991-2000. In both groups the chronic risk factors for ANV such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, chronic cardiac failure, chronic hepatic failure and pre-existing renal impairment and the causes of a traumatic ARF were compared. In addition, concomitant sepsis and multi-organ failure as prognostic parameters as well as mortality rates dependent on the causes of ARF were evaluated. In the latter period, there was a significant reduction in the prevalence of acute glomerulonephritis (3.0 versus 8.3%, p < 0.05) and acute interstitial nephritis (2.6 versus 7.6%, p < 0.05) as well as acute pancreatitis (1.7 versus 7.6%, p < 0.01) as causes of ARF. On the other hand, the prevalence of drug-induced ARF increased during the latter period (10.8 versus 4.7%, p < 0.05). Other etiologies of nontraumatic ARF did not significantly differ between the two decades. Patients treated from 1991 to 2000 had chronic risk factors for the development of ARF, namely diabetes (14.6 versus 6.8%), coronary artery disease (28.0 versus 9.3%) and pre-existing renal impairment (51.7 versus 17.6%, p < 0.001), more frequently than did patients dialysed from 1981-1990. The prevalence of sepsis and multi-organ failure was approximately the same in both periods. The overall mortality (41.8 versus 44.6%, NS) and mortality secondary to causes of nontraumatic ARF were similar in both periods. In summary: the prevalence of several causes of nontraumatic ARF has changed during the last decades. Furthermore, patients treated in the 90's had chronic risk factors for renal failure, namely diabetes and pre-existing renal impairment as well as coronary artery disease, more frequently than did subjects treated in the preceding time period. The prognosis of the patients has not been significantly improved.