Duodenal Schwannoma as a Rare Association With Membranous Nephropathy: A Case Report.

Membranous nephropathy (MN) associated with malignancies is a well-known entity. However, its association with benign neoplasm is not broadly recognized. A 69-year-old man with recurrent nephrotic syndrome presented with pedal edema and proteinuria of 5 months' duration. Laboratory results showed hypoalbuminemia and hyperlipidemia. Proteinuria was estimated to be protein excretion of 3.5g/d. Studies were negative for viral hepatitis, syphilis, human immunodeficiency virus, autoimmune diseases, and paraproteinemia. Kidney biopsy disclosed MN with negative phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) staining, favoring a secondary form of MN. Computed tomography detected a 7.6-cm duodenal schwannoma. Elective surgical resection was performed. Pathologic study showed that THSD7A (thrombospondin type 1 domain-containing 7A) was positive in both glomeruli and schwannoma. Commonly, secondary MN is related to underlying conditions, including lupus, hepatitis, and neoplasm, and can be medication induced. The risk for developing a concomitant neoplasm among patients with PLA2R-negative MN is up to 12 times higher than in the general population. Most of these neoplasms are malignancies, and the presence of autoantibodies directed at similar tissue targets is hypothesized as the potential mechanism. In our case, THSD7A may be the autoantibody that has linked the schwannoma and the development of MN. Although benign tumors rarely produce renal manifestations, effective treatment may lead to resolution of nephrotic syndrome.

Alemtuzumab induction in deceased donor kidney transplantation.

BACKGROUND: The use of alemtuzumab for induction therapy in kidney transplantation has been increasing. Herein is a report of graft outcomes associated with alemtuzumab induction from the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network/United Network for Organ Sharing database. METHODS: A total of 14,362 deceased donor kidney transplants from 2003 to 2004 received no induction (n=4,364), antithymocyte globulin (ATG; n=4,930), interleukin-2 receptor antagonists (IL-2RA; n=4,378), or alemtuzumab (n=690). Acute rejection within the initial hospitalization, 6 months, and 1 year; graft survival; and rejection-free survival were examined. Graft and rejection-free survival of alemtuzumab recipients maintained with tacrolimus (FK) or cyclosporine (CSA), mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), and steroids versus no calcineurin inhibitors (CNI), MMF, and steroids were compared. RESULTS: Alemtuzumab recipients had less acute rejection during the initial hospitalization (2.3%) than no induction, ATG, and IL-2RA (7.6%, 3.4%, and 4.8%, respectively; P<0.001). There was increased acute rejection at 6 months and 1 year with alemtuzumab (14.5% and 19.2%) compared to no induction (12.7% and 14.8%, P<0.001), ATG (8.2% and 10.2%, P<0.001), and IL-2RA (11.1% and 13.0%, P<0.001) with no difference in adjusted relative risk for graft loss. Alemtuzumab recipients receiving FK or CSA, MMF, and steroids had increased graft (FK/MMF/steroids, P<0.001, CSA/MMF/steroids, P=0.007) and rejection-free survival (FK/MMF/steroids, P<0.001, CSA/MMF/steroids, P=0.006) over 24 months compared to no CNI, MMF, and steroids. CONCLUSIONS: Despite reduced early rejection, acute rejection rates at 6 months and 1 year with alemtuzumab induction exceeded other forms of induction therapy. Maintenance with CNI-based immunosuppression may improve graft and rejection-free survival compared to CNI-free regimens among alemtuzumab recipients.

Hypertension after renal transplant.

Hypertension is common after renal transplant and is associated with adverse graft and patient outcomes. A thorough understanding of the unique factors that operate in renal transplant recipients is essential for the proper evaluation and management of this disorder. In this review, the authors outline the pathogenesis, diagnostic workup, and treatment of hypertension after renal transplant.

Risk factors for development of new-onset diabetes mellitus after kidney transplantation.

BACKGROUND: New-onset diabetes mellitus after kidney transplantation (NODM) is an important co morbid condition that is associated with inferior graft and patient survival. The objective of this study was to identify donor, recipient and transplant factors, and choices of immunosuppression associated with development of NODM using Organ Procurement Transplant Network/United Network of Organ Sharing database (OPTN/UNOS). METHODS: From January 2004 to December 2005, 15,309 adult kidney transplants alone with at least one follow-up report as of March 2006 were identified in the OPTN/UNOS database. Among these, 1,581 patients developed NODM during the follow-up period. We examined the risk factors of NODM using multivariate Cox regression analysis using the time to diagnosis of NODM as a time-varying end point. Other events such as graft loss, patient death, and lost to follow-up were censored. RESULTS: NODM was reported in 10% in our study population with mean follow-up time of 306 days. After adjusting for other known factors, independent factors associated with the development of NODM included recipient age (29% increase of relative risk [RR] for every 10-year age increment), obesity (RR = 1.39 for body mass index [BMI] 25-30 and RR = 1.85 for BMI > 30 vs. BMI < 25), tacrolimus use (RR = 1.50), hepatitis C virus (HCV) positivity (RR = 1.42), and African-American recipients (RR = 1.32). Alemtuzumab was associated with a lower risk of NODM (RR = 0.52). DISCUSSION: Using OPTN/UNOS database, we identified risk factors for development of NODM. Some of these factors are potentially modifiable, including obesity, HCV infection, and the use of tacrolimus. Clinical trials are needed to assess whether modifying these "modifiable risk factors" will indeed prevent NODM.

Vascular access for hemodialysis.

Establishing and maintaining adequate vascular access is essential to providing an appropriate dialysis dose in patients with end-stage renal disease. Complications related to vascular access have a significant role in dialysis-related morbidity and mortality. The National Kidney Foundation Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (K/DOQI) clinical practice guideline for dialysis access was last updated in 2000 and provides a framework for the optimal establishment and maintenance of dialysis access, and treatment of complications related to dialysis access. This paper reviews the 2000 K/DOQI dialysis access guideline as well as updated information published subsequently.

Alemtuzumab induction in kidney transplantation.

The use of alemtuzumab for induction therapy is increasing. 7.6% of antibody induction recipients in 2003 and 9.3% of induction recipients in 2004 received alemtuzumab. Antibody induction, especially T-cell depleting agents, Thymoglobulin and alemtuzumab are very effective in preventing early acute rejection in the initial hospitalization for both deceased and living donor transplants. However, when examining the effect of antibody induction on acute rejection after the initial hospitalization during the first year, alemtuzumab induction was associated with increased odds of acute rejection in deceased donor transplants compared to no antibody induction, IL-2RA, and Thymoglobulin. There was no difference in acute rejection during the first year after initial hospitalization in living donor transplants among all 4 induction groups. Despite lower acute rejection rates with alemtuzumab induction, no difference in graft survival was observed compared to no antibody induction, IL-2RA, and Thymoglobulin over 24 months. We conclude that alemtuzumab is an effective induction agent in kidney transplantation. However, further studies are needed to assess its long-term efficacy and to establish the optimal immunosuppressive regimen that should be maintained when alemtuzumab is used as an induction agent.

Predictors and risk factors for recurrent scleroderma renal crisis in the kidney allograft: case report and review of the literature.

Scleroderma renal crisis (SRC) can lead to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and subsequent need for dialysis and/or renal transplantation. We review all reported cases of renal transplantations in scleroderma patients from PubMed search, present UNOS data on transplant outcomes, and identify predictors for allograft SRC. Of the five cases with recurrent SRC, all developed ESRD within a year of onset of native kidney SRC, whereas none of those who developed ESRD more than 1-2 years after the onset of SRC developed recurrence. Anemia preceded allograft SRC in two cases, pericardial effusion in one, and skin tightening in two others. UNOS data (October 1987-July 2004) documented 260 transplants performed for the renal diagnosis of scleroderma, with a 5-year graft survival rate of 56.7%. The risk for allograft SRC recurrence appears to correlate with early native renal function loss following the onset of SRC. Recurrent SRC in the allograft may be heralded by multiple clinical markers known to be predictive of severe scleroderma, including progression of diffuse skin thickening, new-onset anemia and cardiac complications.