Simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplants in type I and type II diabetic patients with end-stage renal disease: similar 10-year outcomes.

INTRODUCTION: Herein we report 10- to 15-year results of simultaneous pancreas-kidney (SPK) transplants in 135 type I and type II insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) patients. METHODS: Diabetes type was defined by the absence (type I) or presence (type II) of C-peptide. The freedom from dialysis and need for insulin defined graft survival. Patient survival was verified by record review and the Social Security Death Registry. The mean follow-up exceeded 100 months. RESULTS: Type II IDDM present in 28% of the 135 cohort, predominately among African-Americans (AA). The type II group was two-thirds AA (43% of the total AA patients) and 17% of the non-African-American (nAA) group. The difference between the two groups by C-peptide level was significant (P = .001). Type II patients had a higher body mass index, were slightly older at the onset of DM, but had similar duration of IDDM before ESRD. At 5 and 10 years, pancreas survival for type 1 DM was 71% and 49%; for type II DM it was 67% and 56% (P = .52). Kidney survival for type I DM was 77% and 50%; for type II it was 72% and 56% (P = .65). Patient survival for type I DM was 85% and 63%; for type II DM it was 73% and 70% (P = .98). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the outcomes of SPK transplants are equivalent regardless of diabetes type. Accordingly, the decision whether to perform pancreas transplants in diabetic recipients of kidney allografts should be based on general acceptance criteria not diabetes type.

Kidney transplants in African Americans and non-African Americans: equivalent outcomes with living but not deceased donors.

BACKGROUND: The outcome differences between ethnic groups after kidney transplantation have led to the characterization of African Americans (AA) as having high immune risk. Several multicenter clinical trials have reported better outcomes when AA receive higher doses of immunosuppression (I/S), suggesting pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) differences. However, the donor source has not been cited as an risk factor for outcome. METHODS: Patient and graft survival rates of 469 AA were compared with 308 non-African Americans (nAA) who received kidney transplants between January 1, 1995 and December 31, 2002, and were followed-up through December 31, 2003. Gender, age, and I/S protocol were not different between the groups. Based on outcomes, open and laparoscopic donor groups were combined for analysis. Deceased donor kidneys comprised 49% of the AA kidneys but only 32% of the nAA kidneys (P < .000). Kaplan-Meier survival statistics were used for both patient and graft survival. RESULTS: Patient survival rates for AA compared with nAA at 1, 3, 5, and 7 years were not statistically different for living (log rank statistic, 1 df, P = .56) versus deceased donor kidneys (log rank statistic, 1 df, P = .15). Kidney graft survival rates for AA compared with nAA at 1, 3, 5, and 7 years for living donor were similar (log rank statistic, 1 df, P = .493), but significantly different for deceased donor kidneys (log rank statistic, 1 df, P = .026). CONCLUSIONS: The majority of living donation occurred between ethnically similar donor-recipient pairs, whereas deceased donors tended to be nAA. The difference demonstrated by donor source suggests that antigens may be more dissimilar or uniquely different between ethnic groups.

Successful long-term kidney-pancreas transplants regardless of C-peptide status or race.

BACKGROUND: We have previously shown that our patient population of 60% minority races has end-stage renal disease primarily as a result of diabetes mellitus and hypertension. It therefore was logical to explore the restoration of normal insulin production and renal function by simultaneous pancreas-kidney (SPK) transplantation, without regard to race. This study represents new analyses integrating race with C-peptide status and reports the outcome of 136 SPK transplantations performed over the last 10 years. RESULTS: Of the 49 African-Americans with diabetes mellitus and end-stage renal disease, 60% were type I and 40% were type II, based on C-peptide levels. In comparison, only 16% of Caucasians were type II. The average age at onset of diabetes mellitus was 15.7 years for type I compared with 20.7 years for type II (P>0.05). The actuarial 10-year survival rates for the 136 SPKs were 91.79% (patient), 85.07% (pancreas), and 83.58% (kidney). The type I and type II survival rates were similar in the two diabetic groups. CONCLUSIONS: The data strongly suggest that pretransplant C-peptide status does not influence the outcome of SPK transplantation in patients with renal failure from diabetes mellitus. SPK transplants should be offered to all suitable diabetic patients with renal failure regardless of C-peptide status or race.

Is laparoscopic donor nephrectomy the new criterion standard?

HYPOTHESIS: The posttransplantation renal function outcomes between consecutive open donor and laparoscopic donor nephrectomies (LDNs) are similar and affect living donation. DESIGN: Using the medical records of renal living donor-recipient pairs, 36 consecutive open donor nephrectomies were compared with the subsequent 100 LDNs. Data collected on donor characteristics included demographics (age, race, sex, weight, and height), renal vascular and ureteral anatomical features, surgical information (blood loss, number of blood transfusions, operating time, warm ischemia time, and renal injury), complications, and length of hospital stay. Recipients' data also included renal function information (serum creatinine level on postoperative days 7 and 30) and ureteral complications during the initial hospital stay. SETTING: A not-for-profit tertiary care teaching hospital in a metropolitan area. PATIENTS: Adults who had end-stage renal disease and received a living donation kidney. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Operative time, warm ischemia time, blood loss, and posttransplantation serum creatinine level. RESULTS: Patient characteristics were not significantly different between the open donor nephrectomy and LDN groups. No right kidney LDNs were done because of the shortness of the right renal vein; and, after the initial experience, left kidneys with more than 2 arteries were excluded. Warm ischemia time was recorded only for LDN, and it was found that a warm ischemia time of 10 minutes or longer was associated with difficulty in extraction and was uniformly associated with elevated mean serum creatinine levels on postoperative day 7. CONCLUSIONS: The length of hospital stay was decreased and cosmetic result enhanced. The number of living donors has increased from 28 in 1997 to 53 in 1998 and to 63 in 1999 at our institution. The length of hospital stay, incidence of complications, and comparable kidney quality indicate that LDN should be the initiating procedure for most patients.

Ablating the ischemia-reperfusion injury in non-heart-beating donor kidneys.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to determine if allopurinol (AL) and/or trifluoperazine (TFP) added to the Belzer machine preservation solution (MPS) improves the function of non-heart-beating donor (NHBD) canine kidneys. METHODS: Anesthetized canines underwent bilateral dissection of the renal vessels, obtaining baseline flow. After removing one kidney (heart-beating donor [HBD]), the dog was exsanguinated. After remaining in situ for 120 min (30-min warm ischemia time, 90-min cold ischemia time), the second kidney was removed (NHBD), flushed, biopsied, and weighed. The kidneys were machine-perfused separately for 20 hr, and pressure, flow, and resistance were measured serially. The kidneys were randomly assigned to a perfusate group (G): G1=MPS, G2=MPS+TFP, G3=MPS+AL, and G4=MPS+TFP+AL. Kidneys were implanted separately into a single recipient dog. Flow, resistance, and urine output were measured serially for 4 hr. Blood and urine samples and kidney biopsies were then obtained. All measurements were standardized to 100 g of kidney weight. RESULTS: HBD kidneys functioned better than NHBD kidneys in all groups, as expected. Although perfusate G1 was the most effective solution for HBD kidneys, the TFP additive (perfusate G2) more effectively reversed the vasospastic effects of ischemia/reperfusion for NHBD than the MPS solution (G1) with or without other additives. In HBD kidneys, the addition of AL resulted in the best creatinine clearance; however, AL was less effective than MPS alone in NHBD kidneys. TFP+AL together were completely ineffective in preserving renal function, regardless of whether the kidneys were from HBD or NHBD. CONCLUSIONS: MPS+TFP more effectively protected renal function against reperfusion injury in the NHBD than MPS alone, AL, or AL+TFP. AL exerts a salutary effect on creatinine clearance in HBD but not in the NHBD. The TFP and AL combination should not be used together with the MPS in machine preservation of kidneys.

Long-term graft survival after transplantation with kidneys from uncontrolled nonheartbeating donors.

BACKGROUND: Notwithstanding the widely acknowledged organ-donor shortage coupled with the expanded waiting list for organs, many transplant programs have been reluctant to use kidneys from nonheartbeating donors. Some reasons expressed by those programs include a higher rate of delayed graft function, additional dialysis requirements, more medication usage, and inferior graft survival rates. To refute the common misperceptions, we reviewed our 4-year experience with 31 nonheartbeating donor kidneys recovered from uncontrolled donors (Maashticht classification) at our institution. METHODS: After cardiac arrest and declaration of death, all donors underwent intravascular and intraperitoneal cooling. Immediately after bilateral en bloc nephrectomy, kidneys were placed on the Waters MOX pulsatile preservation machine. Preservation parameters were monitored hourly, using pharmacologic agents (Stelazine, dexamethasone, Humulin R) as indicated by those parameters. RESULTS: The nonheartbeating donors ranged in age from 15 to 53 years, 83% were males, and 60% of deaths were caused by trauma. For the 21 recovered and transplanted at our center, delayed graft function occurred with 16 kidneys; there was no primary nonfunction. There was no obvious correlation between functional status and donor age. It was noted that the immediate-function kidneys had shorter warm ischemia and total preservation times compared with the delayed graft function group. Nineteen of the 21 grafts continue to function. All patients are surviving. CONCLUSIONS: This series suggests that to obtain excellent results with nonheartbeating donor kidneys certain principles should be followed: use machine preservation to resuscitate and evaluate viability, choose immunologically low-risk recipients, avoid immediate exposure to immunophilin antagonists, and perform biopsy frequently for allograft dysfunction to exclude low-grade rejection.

Hyperacute rejection from antibody against class II HLA antigens.

The clinical significance of anti-B-cell antibodies in kidney and pancreas transplantation remains unresolved. Here, we report an isolated hyperacute rejection of the kidney, but not the pancreas, during a simultaneous kidney-pancreas (SKP) transplant. The hyperacute rejection was due to IgG antibodies directed against class II antigens expressed on B-cells. Antibodies directed against class II antigens are generally not thought to produce hyperacute rejection, since class II antigens allegedly are minimally expressed on vascular endothelium in the kidney. The pancreas was spared and continues to function normally, suggesting that class II antigens were not strongly expressed in this pancreas. The differential susceptibility to B-cell antibodies of the two transplanted organs is noteworthy and should call attention to the danger from IgG antibodies to class II antigens in kidney transplantation.

Successful long-term kidney-pancreas transplants in diabetic patients with high C-peptide levels.

BACKGROUND: Pancreas transplants are rarely done in type 2 (noninsulin dependent) diabetic patients. Most researchers believe that in type 2 diabetic patients, peripheral insulin resistance plays a central role and also is associated with relative insulin deficiency or an insulin secretory defect. This suggests that in patients receiving transplants, the new beta cells will be overstimulated, leading to beta cell "exhaustion" and graft failure. METHODS: Early in our experience, simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplant candidates were selected using only clinical criteria for type 1 diabetes, i.e., early onset of diabetes and rapid onset of insulin use. Pretransplant sera were available for C-peptide analysis in 70 of 94 of those patients. Forty-four percent (31/70) were African American (AA). RESULTS: Thirteen patients (12 AA) with a nonfasting C-peptide level >1.37 ng/ml were identified. In these patients with high C-peptide levels, pancreas and kidney survival rates were 10O%. The results did not differ statistically from the low C-peptide group (< or =1.37 ng/ ml). There were no differences between patient and pancreas-kidney survival rates when the patients were separated into AA and non-AA groups. The follow-up was 1-89 months, with a mean of 45.5 months. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term pancreas graft function is attainable and beta cell "exhaustion" does not occur in patients with high preoperative C-peptide (>1.37 ng/ ml) levels. AA and non-AA patients have equivalent long-term patient, kidney, and pancreas-kidney graft survival rates.

Donor hepatitis C virus status does not adversely affect short-term outcomes in HCV+ recipients in renal transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Recipient hepatitis C virus (HCV) seropositivity has been associated with inferior outcomes in renal transplantation (RTx). We sought to determine whether donor HCV+ status influenced the incidence of rejection, liver dysfunction, and graft survival in HCV+ recipients. METHODS: We reviewed 44 HCV+ recipients (R+) receiving RTx from HCV+ (D+) and HCV- (D-) donors between February 1991 and September 1996. All patients were followed to the end of the study period (mean=36 months, range=12-60 months). We compared the R+ group with a demographically matched cohort of 44 HCV- recipients (R-). RESULTS: Of the 44 R+, 25 (57%) had a total of 48 rejection episodes. Among the 44 R-, 32 (73%) had 58 rejection episodes (P>0.1). Within the R+ group, 28 were D+/R+; of these 14 (50%) had 27 rejection episodes, whereas among the 16 D-/R+, 11 (68%) had 21 rejection episodes (P>0.3). Graft and patient survival was similar in both the groups (86.4% and 91%, respectively). Liver dysfunction was slightly increased in the R+ group (4/44 vs. 0/44, P>0.1), with one death due to liver failure in this group. CONCLUSION: Donor HCV+ status had no influence on outcomes in HCV+ recipients after kidney transplantation in the short term. The incidence of rejection, graft loss, and mortality was comparable between the D+/R+ and D-/R+ groups. Furthermore, rejection, graft loss, and death were identical in R+ and R-groups throughout the 5-year study period. We therefore conclude that HCV+ recipients can safely receive kidney transplants without concern about donor HCV status or fear of adverse events from their own HCV+ status.

A rapid organ recovery program for non-heart-beating donors.

We report a successful method for rapid organ recovery from the non-heart-beating donor, which can open a new resource of organs for transplantation. The RORP is not controversial, is simple in design and execution, and results in kidneys that are viable for transplantation. Special personnel and equipment are needed but are easily incorporated in the overall budget of an OPO or donor hospital. Clearly more research is needed to rebuild ischemically damaged cells ex vivo and to develop new agents/methods to minimize the reperfusion response. When these processes are better understood and managed, the full potential of the NHBD as a donor resource will be fully achieved. We agree with others that the donor shortage could be entirely relieved by routine organ recovery from NHBD trauma victims.

Selection of a standard hospital mattress: data-based decision making.

By means of a scientific method, standard hospital mattresses were evaluated for pressure-relieving properties and patient comfort. Vendors' written materials and product demonstrations led to the initial selection of seven mattresses. On the basis of findings from a survey of staff nurses and environmental services and pressure readings obtained with three healthy volunteers, three mattresses were selected for intensive evaluation. Eighteen mattresses (six of each type) were placed in six clinical care units; at 2-week intervals, interface pressure readings (occipital, sacral, and heel) were performed on patients by means of a computerized measurement system. Caregiver and patient questionnaires (n = 100) were analyzed for clinical significance and patients' responses. We conclude that there are no significant differences among the three mattresses tested in pressure-reducing capabilities, nursing functions, or patient comfort.

Factors related to graduate nursing faculty scholarly productivity.

Department-level measures of productivity were constructed using information reported by 180 nursing deans of schools with graduate (master's and doctoral) programs. Productivity was calculated three ways: total (net), publications, and grants. The scores for each school were derived from nine categories of faculty scholarly activities. The following variables were examined for their contribution to productivity: three measures of environmental support, budgeted and doctorally prepared faculty, students (master's, doctoral), all graduate students-faculty ratio, scholarship time, and private faculty offices. The regressions of log-transformed variables yielded R2 = .59 for total (net) productivity, .54 for publications, and .50 for grants productivity.

Nursing deans: management of fiscal and human resources in graduate programmes.

This study of deans of graduate programmes in nursing found that two-thirds of them had discretionary funds and 'seed' money for faculty scholarly endeavours. Both 'seed' money and 'release' time were associated with faculty productivity. A small number reported that they could carry 'hard' dollars across fiscal years. Differences among institutions by the nine Carnegie categories were found.