Impact of the pre-transplant histological score on 3-year graft outcomes of kidneys from marginal donors: a single-centre study.

BACKGROUND: The reliability of kidney biopsy as the sole means for assessing kidneys from extended-criteria donors (ECDs) to be allocated to single or dual transplantation is still a matter of debate. METHODS: We compared retrospectively 3 years graft survival and renal function in 44 recipients of a single kidney graft from a marginal donor with good renal function and a Karpinski histological score of ≤ 3 and 56 recipients of a single transplant with a Karpinski score of 4 or 5. The donors' and recipients' characteristics were compared by means of Wilcoxon's rank-sum test and Fisher's exact test, and survival was analysed using the log-rank test and Cox regression survival analysis. RESULTS: The donors with the worse histological scores were slightly younger (68.0 ± 4.74 versus 71.3 ± 4.6 years, P < 0.01) and had a higher glomerular filtration rate (85.8 ± 28.2 versus 76.3 ± 26.53 mL/min, P = 0.013), but there was no difference in serum creatinine levels (0.83 ± 0.24 versus 0.85 ± 0.30 mg/dL, P = 0.381). Three years after transplantation, there was no difference between the two groups in terms of recipient serum creatinine levels (1.94 ± 0.69 versus 1.74 ± 0.49 mg/dL, P = 0.134), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR, 45.6 ± 21.1 versus 51.7 ± 22.0 mL/min, P = 0.331) or the rates of graft loss (27.3 versus 35.7%, P = 0.47), delayed graft function or acute rejection. CONCLUSIONS: In our experience, provided the donor has a normal renal function, a difference in the pre-transplant histological score of kidneys from marginal cadaveric donors do not have a significant influence on the outcome 3 years after transplantation. Our findings might represent a basis for designing a randomized controlled trial of using a higher histological score threshold for the DKT allocation of grafts from ECDs with a normal renal function.

[Free light chains reduction on acute kidney injury in multiple myeloma: critical role of high cut-off membranes]. / Il trattamento del danno renale acuto in corso di mieloma multiplo: ruolo della rimozione delle catene leggere libere con membrane ad elevato cut-off.

We report our experience with five patients, with dialysis dependent AKI and multiple myeloma (MM). Two of them were already suffering from a mild degree of renal insufficiency, one was on follow-up for smouldering MM and two had a relapse of symptomatic MM. Median concentration of the involved FLC (iFLC) was 15104 mg/L (range 1196-24384). All patients underwent three times per week HCO-HD for 6 hour sessions using Theralite 2100 (median 10, range 6-13 sessions) with one having further twelve sessions of 4 hours using SUPRA device (Bellco). In addition, they followed a bortezomib and dexamethasone regimen according to a bi-weekly schedule (3-5 cycles) plus Thalidomide. iFLC concentrations were measured by immunonephelometry in blood at the beginning of each dialysis session. All patients but one, showed a very good partial hematological response. The only exception demonstrated a partial response. iFLCs decreased between 72,8% and 99,7% in a median period of three weeks. After 6 months three patients underwent autologous stem-cell transplantation (ASCT), one of whom repeated the procedure 6 months later. In conclusion, three patients became dialysis independent at the end of the HCO-HD period, one patient became dialysis independent three months later and one remained dialysis dependent. Recovery of renal function in 4 out of 5 patients with a very good hematological response is a consequence of an early and fast removal of the iFLC joined to an efficient therapeutic regimen.

Successful treatment of refractory wart with a topical activated vitamin d in a renal transplant recipient.

Warts are benign proliferations of the skin and mucosa caused by infection with human papillomavirus. They are commonly treated with destructive modalities such as cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen, local injection of bleomycin, electrocoagulation, topical application of glutaraldehyde, and local and systemic interferon-ß therapy. These treatment modalities often cause pain and sometimes scarring or pigmentation after treatment. We herein report a case with a right index finger wart, which was successfully treated with a topical activated vitamin D.