[Liver transplant outcomes in Brno]. / Výsledky transplantací jater v Brne

The first liver transplant in the former Czechoslovakia took place in Brno on 2 February 1983; the patient concerned has lived for more than 30 years with a normally functioning liver and is one of the longest surviving patients after a liver transplant in Europe. The Cardiovascular and Transplantation Surgery Centre (CTSC) in Brno has experienced an increased development in the area of liver transplants since the mid  1990s. At present, about 30 patients a year undergo a transplantation, with 451 liver transplants in total as of 31 December 2012. The primary indication concerns liver cirrhosis of various etiologies, with an increasing number of cases of cirrhosis resulting from hepatitis C. Urgent liver transplants (for acute liver failure or primary dysfunction of first liver graft) amount to 11% of cases. There were 18 retransplants performed as of 31 December 2012, with 50% five year survival. The primary graft dysfunction was present in 7 patients (i.e. 1.5%). The 1 year survival rate of all patients after a liver transplant performed in CTSC is 92%, 5 year survival rate is 80%, and 10 year survival rate is 71%. Currently the parameters such as recipients age, donors age, and transplant waiting time has been statistically increasing; small recipients with a body weight below 70 kg especially have to wait for a significantly longer period of time (waiting median of 178 days). In CTSC Brno 14 combined simultaneous transplants (13 transplants of liver + kidney and one combined simultaneous transplants of liver + heart + kidney in 2005) have been performed as of 31 December 2012.

[Liver transplants in tumours and alcoholic cirrhoses]. / Transplantace jater u tumoru a alkoholických cirhóz.

The treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma requires a multidisciplinary approach; liver transplant is suitable only in the minority of strictly selected patients. The CSTC Brno applies the so  called Milan criteria. As of 31 December 2012 the CSTC Brno performed liver transplants in 16 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhosis, with a five year survival rate of 40% and a 10 year survival after transplant of 20%. It is a paradox that the longest living (30 years) patient of CSTC Brno underwent the transplant for a large fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma, which emphasises the prognostic significance of the tumour histology -  criterion taken into account for practical reasons only in some indication schemes. Liver transplant for cholangiocarcinoma is no longer being carried out in CSTC. Five patients underwent this operation in the past and the longest living one survived for four years after the transplant. Benign liver tumours (adenomatosis, cystadenoma, hemangioma with compression symptoms) are rather rare indications and transplant results are positive. Four patients were transplanted for liver carcinoid, with one patient experiencing recurrence. The most frequent compact indication for liver transplant in CSTC Brno concerns alcoholic cirrhosis (24%, 108 patients); the survival rate of these patients after transplant is very good (81% 5 year survival and 68% 10 year survival). Likewise, efforts are made to select patients with a low risk of alcohol abuse after the transplant, which is, however, not very successful. The recurrence of some kind of alcohol abuse occurred in 26% transplanted patients, while seven died of alcoholic cirrhosis of the graft.

[Anemia and chronic kidney failure]. / Anémie u chronického selhání ledvin.

Anaemia is a common manifestation ofa chronic kidney failure. It is caused by a relative shortage oferythropoetine (EPO) and iron deficite with its metabolism defect. The most important factor in the pathogenesis of iron metabolism defects is hepcidin. Hepcidin maintains the iron homeostasis in the organism. The therapy of renal anaemia is based on the iron substitution and erythropoiesis stimulating agents (ESA) application. The most common reasons for the resistance to ESA are (after iron deficiency) inflammation and malnutrition.

[Kidney failure in a patient with chronic B-lymphocytic leukaemia (B-CLL) with underlying cast nephropathy. The value of free immunoglobulin light chain identification for early diagnosis of this complication]. / Selhání ledvin u pacientky s chronickou B-lymfocytární leukemií (B-CLL) vzniklé na podklade tvorby odlitkových válcu v tubulech ledvin z monoklonálnich volných lehkých retezcu (cast nephropathy). Prínos stanovení volných lehkých retezcu imunoglobulinu pro casnou diagnostiku této komplikace.

We describe a case of an untreated female patient monitored over 8 years for chronic B-lymphocytic leukaemia (B-CLL). Over the 8 years, the patient has gradually developed severe kidney failure, even though the criteria for B-CLL treatment had not been fulfilled. Kidney biopsy revealed renal damage due to lamda free light chains cast nephropathy as well as an infiltration of renal parenchyma with B-CLL cells. It was not before this biopsy that the presence of monoclonal immunoglobulins has been investigated. Immunofixation identified free monoclonal lamda light chains in the serum and urine. Their serum concentration, quantified by densitometry, was 2.6 g/l and urine concentration was 0.5 g/l. A specific evaluation of free light chains in the serum revealed an extremely high concentration of free X light chains, over 4500 mg/l, and normal concentration of K free light chains, 10 mg/l. The aim of this report is to emphasise that monoclonal immunoglobulin may be present in B-CLL as well as other lymphoprolipherative diseases and that it may cause damage to organs, similar to multiple myeloma or monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance. The described case confirms poor prognostic value of monoclonal immunoglobulin free light chains in patients with B-CLL and usefulness of an evaluation of their presence in patients with B-CLL, particularly if the patients have increased creatinine level. The described case also highlights the need for evaluation of the presence of free light chains in the serum of all patients with unclear cause of renal failure.

[Immunoglobulin G4-associated cholangitis]. / Imunoglobulin G4 pozitivní cholangitida.

Autoimmune LgG4- associated cholangitis is a new entity among the liver and biliary tree disorders, classified among the so-called IgG4-related diseases. Even though prognosis of this disease is unclear, this type of sclerosing cholangitis is not being linked to a carcinoma. Clinical and laboratory data differ slightly from the findings associated with the usual primary sclerosing cholangitis and it is mainly the high IgG4 level and hyperbilirubinaemia that supports the diagnosis ofautoimmune disease. Unlike primary sclerosing cholangitis, this disease is not associated with a malignant prognosis and steroids represent an effective treatment. Combination of steroids with azathioprin is a possible alternative in case of a relapse. Patient's response to steroid therapy is a diagnosis-supporting criterion. This disease should always be considered as part of differential diagnosis of primary sclerosing cholangitis, especially when autoimmune aberrations or other autoimmune diseases are present. Long-term evaluations of these patients are so far lacking and thus studies on larger patient samples are required.

[Treatment of AL-amyloidosis--results from one clinic and review of published experience with new agents (bortezomib, thalidomide and lenalidomide) in AL-amyloidosis]. / Lécba AL-amyloidózvy--výsledky jednoho pracoviste a prehled publikovanych zkuseností s novými léky (bortezomibem, thalidomidem a lenalidomidem) u AL-amyloidózy.

PATIENTS: Fifteen patients with light chain deposits in the form of AL-amyloidosis and 2 patients with light chain deposition as amorphous matter (light chain deposition disease) were treated at our clinic as of 1999. Median age at the diagnosis was 63 (34-77) years. The light chain deposition caused: nephrotic syndrome in 12 (70%) patients, renal insufficiency with reduced filtration in 4 (23%) patients, cardiomyopathy in 4 (23%) patients, hepatosplenomegaly in 2 (12%) patients, manifest coagulopathy in 2 (12%) patients, periorbital hematoma in 2 (12%) patients, visceral and somatic neuropathy in 2 (12%) patients. Treatment with high-dose dexamethasone in combination with adriamycin and vincristine (VAD) or cyclophosphamide (CAD orjust CD) was used in 11 patients. In 4 patients, therapy was completed with high-dose chemotherapy and autologous transplantation; complete haematological and organ treatment response was achieved in all 4 patients with remission lasting 113+, 87+, 50, 45+ months. Of the remaining 7 patients in whom high-dose dexamethasone therapy was not completed with high-dose chemotherapy, 3 achieved complete haematological remission (CR) and very good partial remission (VGPR), with 2 patients achieving complete organ treatment response. Organ response in the third patient cannot be assessed due to the short evaluation period. PR with no organ treatment response was achieved in other 2 patients and 2 patients died during the treatment. Therapy with prednisone and alkylating cytostatics was used in 2 patients with serious organ damage, both patients died after a short period of time due to the disease and thus treatment response cannot be evaluated. Combination of thalidomide, dexamethasone and cyclophosphamide (CTD) was used in 4 patients. Two of these patients did not complete full 2 cycles, one for unmanageable thalidomide-associated constipation, the other died. Two patients underwent a total of 5 and 6 cycles of this treatment with PR effect and plateau after the previous decline of monoclonal immunoglobulin concentrations. Treatment combination of bortezomib (Velcade), cyclophosphamide and dexamethasone (VCD) was used in three patients. In one patient (6 completed CTD cycles with the PR result) this combination led to complete haematological remission, complete remission was also achieved in the second patient and the application of 2 CVD cycles led to CR in the third (5 CTD cycles with PR result). Just one of the 3 female patients has been followed up for more than 12 months and so it is possible to evaluate organ treatment response in this patient; nephrotic syndrome ceased, meaning that organ CR has been achieved. CONCLUSION: Early diagnosis (before severe organ damage occurs) enables administration of aggressive treatment (high-dose chemotherapy and autologous transplantation) with the outlook of complete haematological and organ treatment response. New drugs thalidomide and bortezomib further expand treatment armamentarium; according to our limited experience and published information, bortezomib may be considered as very effective and well tolerated agent suitable, in combination, for patients with the diagnosis of AL-amyloidosis.

[Central diabetes insipidus in adult patients--the first sign of Langerhans cell histiocytosis and Erdheim-Chester disease. Three case studies and literature review]. / Centrální diabetes insipidus u dospelých osob--první príznak histiocytózy z Langerhansových bunek a Erdheimovy-Chesterovy choroby. Popis trí prípadu a prehled literatury.

Central diabetes insipidus with an onset in adulthood is very rare. Unlike in children, central diabetes insipidus in adults is more frequently caused by inflammatory processes and neoplastic infiltrations that do not originate from the neuronal tissue than primary neuronal tissue tumours. Rare histiocytic neoplasias (Langerhans cell histiocytosis, xanthogranulomatosis and Erdheim-Chester disease) have a specific affinity to hypothalamus and the pituitary stalk not only in paediatric patients but also when occurring in adults. We describe 3 cases of central diabetes insipidus with an onset in adulthood. Diabetes insipidus was the first sign of Langerhans cell histiocytosis in 2 patients, and it was the first sign of Erdheim-Chester disease in one patient. MR imaging showed pathological infiltration and dilated pituitary stalks in all 3 patients. PET-CT proved useful in differential diagnosis, showing further extracranial pathological changes either on the basis of significant glucose accumulation or on the basis of CT imaging. The Langerhans cell histiocytosis in the first patient has also manifested itself as an infiltration of the perianal area with intensive accumulation of fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) - SUV 8.6 and gingival inflammation indistinguishable from parodontosis. Histology of the perianal infiltrate confirmed Langerhans cell histiocytosis. Infiltration of the pituitary stalk disappeared from the MR image after 4 cycles of 2-chlordeoxyadenosin (5 mg/m2 5 consecutive days). The PET-CT of the 2nd patient showed only borderline accumulation of FDG in the ENT area, while simultaneously performed CT imaging showed cystic restructuring of the pulmonary parenchyma and nodulations consistent with pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis. Bronchoalveolar lavage identified higher number of CD1 and S100 positive elements, consistent, once again, with pulmonary LCH also affecting pituitary stalk and ear canal. The PET-CT of the third patient showed increased activity in the long bones and ilium near the sacroiliac joint. Biopsy of the focus in the ilium confirmed foam histiocyte infiltration immunochemically corresponding to Erdheim-Chester disease. Additional imaging assessments revealed the presence of further signs of the disease. Pituitary infiltrate biopsy in this patient did not elucidate the diagnosis but resulted in complete panhypopituarism. Central diabetes insipidus in adulthood might be the first sign of so far undiagnosed extracranial disease, in our case of histiocytic neoplasias, and PET-CT has an excellent potential to detect extracranial symptoms of these conditions. Therefore, the high-risk pituitary stalk infiltrate biopsy should always be preceded by comprehensive examination aimed at identification of extracranial manifestations of the pituitary gland diseases.

[Complete remission of nephrotic syndrome and improvement of renal function in a patient with light chain deposition disease following high dose chemotherapy with transplantation of autologous haematopoietic stem cells. A case study and review of literature]. / Vymizení nefrotického syndromu a zlepsení funkce ledvin u nemocné s light chain deposition disease po vysokodávkované chemoterapii s autologní transplantací kmenových krvetvorných bunek. Popis prípadu a prehled literatury.

Light chain deposition disease (LCDD) damages most frequently kidneys, and less frequently other organs. The incidence of LCDD is lower than the incidence of AL-amyloidosis. Symmetric swelling of both legs was the first sign of nephrotic syndrome with renal insufficiency in our female patient. Renal biopsy specimen revealed the diagnosis of LCDD. Bone marrow biopsy contained 40% of plasma cells. Bone survey showed no osteolytic changes. These findings confirmed the diagnosis of multiple myeloma (MM) Durie Salmon stage IB with LCDD. The patient was initially treated with 4 cycles of VAD (vinkristine, adriamycine, dexamethasone) chemotherapy with no response. Followed collection of peripheral haematopoietic stem cells and later high dose chemotherapy with reduced dose of melphalan 140 mg/sqm and autologous peripheral haematopoietic stem cells transplantation. Melphalan dose was reduced because of renal insufficiency (serum creatinine 290 micromol/l) before application of conditioning regimen. High dose therapy was complicated by with deterioration of renal function, creatinine increased to 600 micromol/l. Worsening of renal function was most likely caused by nephrotoxicity of melphalan in nephrotic syndrome. This has been previously described in patients with AL-amyloidosis, and nephrotic syndrome who were treated with high dose melphalan. This phenomenon was entitled "post conditioning renal insufficiency". Hypoalbuminemia hypoproteinemia and reduced intravascular volume and renal damage caused by amyloid deposits as well as probably, amorphous non-amyloid deposits of monoclonal immunoglobulin are likely to have contributed to nephrotoxicity of the high dose of melphalan. However, worsening of renal insufficiency was facilitated by the mucositis-associated sepsis. Follow-up examination one month after high dose chemotherapy showed complete remission, that was confirmed by further examinations. In the course of the first year after high dose chemotherapy renal function gradually improved and nephrotic syndrome completely disappeared (complete kidney remission). Proteinuria declined to 2-3 g/24 hours and glomerular filtration slowly improved. Three years after high dose chemotherapy the patient is still in complete remission of multiple myeloma and free of nephrotic syndrome, with slightly increased creatinine (160 micromol/l) that, nevertheless, has had an improving tendency over last 3 years. The present case study illustrates accomplishment of complete haematological remission with high dose chemotherapy followed by autologous haematopoietic stem cells transplantation despite complete resistance of the disease to the standard chemotherapy VAD in a patient with MM and LCDD. We draw the reader's attention to the possibility of nephrotoxic effects of high dose melphalan (post conditioning renal insufficiency) in patients with nephrotic syndrome caused by light chain deposits as AL-amyloid or amorphous light chains deposits (LCDD)and we document the importance of plasma free light chain detection.

[The treatment of renal failure in multiple myeloma]. / Lécba selhání ledvin u mnoholetneho myelomu.

While in some patients, renal failure is the only, isolated sign of multiple myeloma, other patients have further simultaneous symptoms (signs of bone destruction, hypercalcaemia, cytopenia). Therefore, differential diagnosis of renal failure should always include monoclonal gametopathy-associated nephropathy. Renal damage is caused dominantly by free light chains. Elevated early mortality reaches 30% during the first 3 months and complicates treatment of patients with multiple myeloma with renal failure. More serious the renal damage caused by monoclonal immunoglobulin is, less likely is the improvement of renal function following treatment. Early diagnosis at the time when renal impairment is still reversible is extremely important for the patient's prognosis. Treatment regimens with high-dose glucocorticoids form the basis of treatment. Combined treatments with new, highly effective drugs (bortezomib or thalidomide) with high-dose glucocorticoids and an alkylating cytostatic agent, or with doxorubicin, have the fastest onset of action and thus provide the highest likelihood that haematological treatment response will be followed by improved renal function. High-dose chemotherapy is recommended in patients with persisting renal failure, particularly in the subgroup of patients with chemotherapy-sensitive disease; melphalan dose should not exceed 140 mg/m2.

[Kidney damage in multiple myeloma and other monoclonal gammopathies]. / Poskození ledvin pri mnohocetném myelomu a dalsích monoklonálních gamapatliích.

Multiple myeloma typically damages the skeleton in the form of osteolytic lesions or diffuse osteoporosis and causes a decrease in blood production. Renal insufficiency is diagnosed immediately at the onset of illness when establishing diagnosis in up to 20% of patients. Where patients suffer from an advanced form of the illness, it occurs in up to 40%. The predominant cause of damage to the kidneys is the monoclonal light chains. Most frequently, nephropathy is caused by the precipitation of light chains with the Tamm-Horsfall protein in the distal part of the loop of Henle and subsequent tubular ruptures and the creation of fibrous changes in the interstitium. Less frequently, there is clinically serious damage to tubular functions without indication of renal insufficiency. In some patients monoclonal immunoglobulin induces changes in the glomeruli. A rare type of damage is deposits of light chains in the form of AL-amyloid and subsequent nephritic syndrome. A very rare form is the deposition of monoclonal immunoglobulin in the form of amorphous matter (light-chain deposition disease) or in the form of crystals within tissue histiocytes (crystal storing histiocytosis). Both of these disorders cause renal insufficiency and less frequently nephritic syndrome such as AL amyloidosis. With timely and intensive treatment of multiple myeloma, which quickly suppresses the creation of light chains, a significant proportion of patients experience reparative changes and improved kidney function. The benefit of plasmapheresis for patients with severe kidney damage has not been confirmed by randomised studies. At the present time the first positive results are becoming available from tests of the use of pre-emptive haemodialysis with special columns that are permeable for light chains. The aim of the text is to provide information on the various forms of nephropathy whose closer analysis can reveal multiple myeloma and contribute to the timely diagnosis of the cause of the nephropathy.

[Comparison of the QRS score and the left ventricular ejection fraction in patients after acute myocardial infarct]. / Srovnání QRS skóre a ejekcní frakce levé komory srdecní u nemocnych po prestálém akutním srdecním infarktu.

In 90 subjects, mean age 52 +/- 9 years with a first acute myocardial infarction (AIM) the authors evaluated the QRS score by Wagner's method. The assembled values were compared by linear regression with values of the ejection fraction (EF) of the left ventricle (LV), calculated according to Dodge's method from left-sided ventriculography made during the same period (on average 45 +/- 9 days after the development of AIM). For the entire group a correlation r = -0.43 (p less than 0.001) was obtained, for the sub-group of patients with AIM of the anterior wall (n = 44), r = -0.57 (p less than 0.001), correlation was found in patients with AIM of the lower wall (n = 27), r = -0.11 (p greater than 0.1). For the sub-group of patients of the whole group under the age of 60 years incl. (n = 60) the correlation was r = -0.52 (p less than 0.001), in patients above 60 years (n = 22) no correlation was found (r = -0.21, p greater than 0.1) between the QRS score and the EF of the LV. Calculation of the QRS score is a conventient auxiliary method for assessment of the affection in AIM of the anterior wall and in patients under 60 years of age.