Liver Retransplantation in Patients With HIV-1 Infection: An International Multicenter Cohort Study.

Liver retransplantation is performed in HIV-infected patients, although its outcome is not well known. In an international cohort study (eight countries), 37 (6%; 32 coinfected with hepatitis C virus [HCV] and five with hepatitis B virus [HBV]) of 600 HIV-infected patients who had undergone liver transplant were retransplanted. The main indications for retransplantation were vascular complications (35%), primary graft nonfunction (22%), rejection (19%), and HCV recurrence (13%). Overall, 19 patients (51%) died after retransplantation. Survival at 1, 3, and 5 years was 56%, 51%, and 51%, respectively. Among patients with HCV coinfection, HCV RNA replication status at retransplantation was the only significant prognostic factor. Patients with undetectable versus detectable HCV RNA had a survival probability of 80% versus 39% at 1 year and 80% versus 30% at 3 and 5 years (p = 0.025). Recurrence of hepatitis C was the main cause of death in the latter. Patients with HBV coinfection had survival of 80% at 1, 3, and 5 years after retransplantation. HIV infection was adequately controlled with antiretroviral therapy. In conclusion, liver retransplantation is an acceptable option for HIV-infected patients with HBV or HCV coinfection but undetectable HCV RNA. Retransplantation in patients with HCV replication should be reassessed prospectively in the era of new direct antiviral agents.

Early molecular diagnosis of acute Chagas disease after transplantation with organs from Trypanosoma cruzi-infected donors.

Organ transplantation (TX) is a novel transmission modality of Chagas disease. The results of molecular diagnosis and characterization of Trypanosoma cruzi acute infection in naïve TX recipients transplanted with organs from infected deceased donors are reported. Peripheral blood and cerebrospinal fluid samples from the TX recipients of organs from infected donors were prospectively and sequentially studied for detection of T. cruzi by means of kinetoplastid DNA polymerase chain reaction (kDNA-PCR). In positive blood samples, a PCR algorithm for identification of T. cruzi Discrete Typing Units (DTUs) and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) to quantify parasitic loads were performed. Minicircle signatures of T. cruzi infecting populations were also analyzed using restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP)-PCR. Eight seronegative TX recipients from four infected donors were studied. In five, the infection was detected at 68.4 days post-TX (36-98 days). In one case, it was transmitted to two of three TX recipients. The comparison of the minicircle signatures revealed nearly identical RFLP-PCR profiles, confirming a common source of infection. The five cases were infected by DTU TcV. This report reveals the relevance of systematic monitoring of TX recipients using PCR strategies in order to provide an early diagnosis allowing timely anti-trypanosomal treatment.

[Kidney and pancreas transplantation: initial experience at a single transplant center in Argentina]. / Trasplante renopancrático. Experiencia inicial en un centro de trasplante en Argentina.

After more than 10,000 cases reported all over the world until 1998, simultaneous kidney and pancreas transplantation has become a safe clinical practice, and it may probably represent the best treatment available for diabetic patients in end-stage renal disease. Here we present our results after 12 cadaveric pancreas transplants (8 whole organ, and 4 islet transplants), performed on insulin-dependent diabetic patients. Eleven of these patients received a kidney simultaneously, and one of them required a kidney retransplantation. All vascularised pancreatic grafts were positioned intraperitoneally, anastomosed to the iliac vessels, and bladder drained. One year patient, whole pancreas, and kidney survival rates were 86%, 86% and 71%, respectively. All of these patients remain insulin and dialysis-free, the longest for 37 months. Islets for transplantation were obtained from single cadaveric donors. Fresh, unpurified cells were transplanted intraperitoneally by laparoscopy (equivalent islet yields: 3 x 10(5), 4 x 10(5), 1 x 10(6) and 5 x 10(5)). None of the islet recipients resulted insulin-independent but they all reduced daily requirements in about 40%, with better metabolic control (mean HbA1c pretransplant 9.4 +/- 1.8, vs 7.9 +/- 1.6 posttransplant). One kidney graft was lost due to venous thrombosis. Simultaneous kidney and pancreas transplantation offers the diabetic patient in end-stage renal disease a chance of independence both from dialysis and exogenous insulin. Whole pancreas transplantation has better functional outcome than islet transplantation. Nevertheless, for those diabetic patients who do not meet the criteria to receive a vascularised graft, pancreatic cells may still improve carbohydrate metabolism with minor surgical risk.

Trasplante renopancrático. Experiencia inicial en un centro de trasplante en Argentina. / [Kidney and pancreas transplantation: initial experience at a single transplant center in Argentina]

After more than 10,000 cases reported all over the world until 1998, simultaneous kidney and pancreas transplantation has become a safe clinical practice, and it may probably represent the best treatment available for diabetic patients in end-stage renal disease. Here we present our results after 12 cadaveric pancreas transplants (8 whole organ, and 4 islet transplants), performed on insulin-dependent diabetic patients. Eleven of these patients received a kidney simultaneously, and one of them required a kidney retransplantation. All vascularised pancreatic grafts were positioned intraperitoneally, anastomosed to the iliac vessels, and bladder drained. One year patient, whole pancreas, and kidney survival rates were 86

, 86

and 71

, respectively. All of these patients remain insulin and dialysis-free, the longest for 37 months. Islets for transplantation were obtained from single cadaveric donors. Fresh, unpurified cells were transplanted intraperitoneally by laparoscopy (equivalent islet yields: 3 x 10(5), 4 x 10(5), 1 x 10(6) and 5 x 10(5)). None of the islet recipients resulted insulin-independent but they all reduced daily requirements in about 40

, with better metabolic control (mean HbA1c pretransplant 9.4 +/- 1.8, vs 7.9 +/- 1.6 posttransplant). One kidney graft was lost due to venous thrombosis. Simultaneous kidney and pancreas transplantation offers the diabetic patient in end-stage renal disease a chance of independence both from dialysis and exogenous insulin. Whole pancreas transplantation has better functional outcome than islet transplantation. Nevertheless, for those diabetic patients who do not meet the criteria to receive a vascularised graft, pancreatic cells may still improve carbohydrate metabolism with minor surgical risk.

Vigilancia epidemiológica de las infecciones intrahospitalarias: estudios sistematizados de prevalencia (1993-1994) / Epidemiological surveillance in intrahospital infections: systemic studies of prevalence (1993-1994)

A partir de la sistematización de los estudios de prevalencia en 1993, continuamos con la presentación de los datos obtenidos en 1994, en conjunto con los del peíodo anterior. Esto permite tener una visualización gráfica de los resultados obtenidos pudiéndose analizar así sus tendencias. Si bien la metodología básica de los estudios no se ha modificado, a partir de diciembre de 1993 se incorporó al análisis, un sistema subjetivo que permite estratificar el nivel de gravedad de los pacientes y relacionarlo con el riesgo de infección intrahospitalaria. Este modelo fue validado a partir de los estudios de diciembre de 1993, abril y agosto de 1994, evaluándose además su reproducibilidad. El análisis comparativo de los estudios de prevalencia, muestra la persistencia de una proporción elevada de pacientes con acceso vascular (>50 por ciento) y catéter urinario (>20 por ciento), lo que determina un riesgo incrementado de desarrollar infecciones asociadas a estos factores. La tasa de prevalencia de infecciones intrahospitalarias se mantuvo por encima del 10 por ciento...

Vigilancia epidemiológica de las infecciones intrahospitalarias: estudios sistematizados de prevalencia (1993-1994) / Epidemiological surveillance in intrahospital infections: systemic studies of prevalence (1993-1994)

A partir de la sistematización de los estudios de prevalencia en 1993, continuamos con la presentación de los datos obtenidos en 1994, en conjunto con los del peíodo anterior. Esto permite tener una visualización gráfica de los resultados obtenidos pudiéndose analizar así sus tendencias. Si bien la metodología básica de los estudios no se ha modificado, a partir de diciembre de 1993 se incorporó al análisis, un sistema subjetivo que permite estratificar el nivel de gravedad de los pacientes y relacionarlo con el riesgo de infección intrahospitalaria. Este modelo fue validado a partir de los estudios de diciembre de 1993, abril y agosto de 1994, evaluándose además su reproducibilidad. El análisis comparativo de los estudios de prevalencia, muestra la persistencia de una proporción elevada de pacientes con acceso vascular (>50 por ciento) y catéter urinario (>20 por ciento), lo que determina un riesgo incrementado de desarrollar infecciones asociadas a estos factores. La tasa de prevalencia de infecciones intrahospitalarias se mantuvo por encima del 10 por ciento...(AU)

Streptococcus pyomyositis occurring in a patient with dermatomyositis in a country with temperate climate.

We describe a man in whom pyomyositis developed in a temperate climate. Three facts make this case unique. First the pyomyositis developed in someone with underlying dermatomyositis, this being the second reported case to our knowledge. Second, the organism involved was a Streptococcus and not a Staphylococcus as in most cases described, and the course of the disease was acute and not subacute as is usually reported. Finally, contrary to most described cases, surgical drainage was not necessary, probably because of the early diagnosis. Pyomyositis should be considered a possible cause of localized pain in patients with underlying inflammatory muscle disease.