Kidney transplantation in hereditary coproporphyria using tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil: a case report.

BACKGROUND: The porphyrias are a group of disorders of the heme biosynthesis pathway that may present with acute life-threatening attacks, commonly exacerbated by a wide variety of medications. Many newer immunosuppressive medications, which are in use following kidney transplantation, have not been fully explored in acute porphyrias. CASE REPORT: A 53-year-old woman received a kidney from a deceased donor, after being on hemodialysis for 4 years. Hereditary coproporphyria was diagnosed at age 19 years. We administered tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil and steroid immunosuppression. In the immediate post-transplant periods she displayed abdominal pain and transient uroporphyrin elevation in parallel with slightly elevated (15 ng/mL) tacrolimus concentrations. As the target tacrolimus level was achieved, these findings disappeared. CONCLUSIONS: Tacrolimus, mycophenolate- mofetil, and steroid therapy for hereditery coproporphyri was safe, in the long term.

Examination of carbohydrate metabolism parameters after simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation.

End-stage renal failure, a frequent complication of type 1 diabetes mellitus, requires renal replacement therapy. Our team examined the laboratory parameters of carbohydrate metabolism in 18 patients with type 1 diabetes at 10 to 89 months after simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation. We compared these results with those of 17 patients with type 1 diabetes who had formerly received kidney-alone transplantations, and were undergoing insulin treatment, as well as with those of 16 metabolically healthy controls. The hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and blood glucose levels of the pancreas-kidney transplant recipients were within the normal ranges, not differing significantly from those of the healthy controls. In contrast, the HbA1c and glucose levels were significantly elevated among kidney transplanted diabetic subjects. However, fasting and 2-hour insulin levels of pancreas-kidney transplant patients were significantly higher than those of the controls, indicating insulin resistance. According to these results, the insulin secretion by the pancreas graft sufficiently compensated for insulin resistance. Thus 10 to 89 months after successful pancreas-kidney transplantation, carbohydrate metabolism by type 1 diabetic patients was well controlled without antidiabetic therapy.

Role of early systemic inflammatory response in simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation.

Pancreas grafts are susceptible to surgical complications mostly related to exocrine secretions and the low microcirculatory blood flow through the gland. During simultaneous kidney-pancreas transplantation, the systemic response depends on reperfusion of two organs acute graft pancreatitis, immunotherapy, coagulopathy, bleeding, and other factors. We performed a retrospective review of 10 adult simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplant patients to evaluate progression of early postoperative inflammation in the absence of infection. All patients were treated with four-drug therapy. We performed analyses of procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein, serum creatinine, amylase, and lipase levels over the first 5 postoperative days. Relatively high peak PCT levels (maximum 130 ng/mL) were reached within 24 to 48 hours postoperatively followed by a moderate decrease. Consistent with this observation, the serum creatinine, amylase, and lipase levels decreased continuously to normal concentrations within the first week. The increased PCT levels seemed depend upon the surgical procedure and intraoperative events. PCT was superior to C-reactive protein to discriminate infection from inflammation in this setting. The dynamics of PCT levels, rather than absolute values, seemed to be important. Lack of a decrease in PCT levels after the peak, suggested an infectious complication or the development of sepsis. Monitoring and assessment of PCT levels may help in early recognition of infection and institution of therapy.

Incisional hernia after simultaneous pancreas kidney tranplantation: a single-center experience from Budapest.

INTRODUCTION: The occurrence of postoperative incisional hernia is more frequent after simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation compared with other transplanted parenchymal organs. These complications are especially dangerous in this patient population, because they can compromise the survival of the transplanted organ. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of a series of adult patients with incisional herniae after 23 consecutive simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantations between January 2004 and June 2010 seeking to identify risk factors. All 23 patients had a body mass index (BMI) of <25. All surgeons used a similar technique, including a median incision with an intraperitoneal approach, and systemic venous and enteric drainage methods and a layered fascial closure. All combined pancreas-kidney transplant recipients received induction with thymoglobulin and maintenance therapy with sirolimus, reduced-dose cyclosporine and corticosteroids. RESULTS: An incisional hernia repair was performed in 8/23 patients (34.8%). Four reoperations were required in this group (50%), due to hemoperitoneum (n=2), intra-abdominal abscess (n=1), and venous thrombosis (n=1). The mean elapsed time between transplantation and hernioplasty was 24.5 months (range, 8-51). There was no significant difference in age, gender, BMI, dialysis modality, or operative time among affected compared with the other members of the group. CONCLUSION: Despite lack of obesity we observed a relatively higher rate of postoperative herniase, possibly owing to the side effects of a thymoglobulin-sirolimus combination.

Laurence-Moon-Bardet-Biedl syndrome for kidney transplantation at the age of 57 years.

Laurence-Moon-Bardet-Biedl syndrome represents a very rare indication for kidney transplantation. Previous reports mention only pediatric organ recipients with this diagnosis. We present the case of a Caucasian male patient who underwent a cadaveric renal transplantation at the age of 57 years. Our patient had an uneventful immediate postoperative course; however, 4 months after the operation he suffered pneumonia and cytomegalovirus infection. He recovered fully and had an episode of acute cholecystitis. At the time of the laparoscopic cholecystectomy we also laparoscopically removed his Tenckhoff catheter, a procedure he could not undergo for more than a year because of a chronic scabies infection. Now, 18 months after his transplantation he is fully rehabilitated with a serum creatinine of 90 micromol/L. In selected cases even in older age kidney transplantation could offer a higher quality of life for this mentally retarded, blind population.

Papillary microcarcinoma of the thyroid gland in renal transplant patients.

Among organ transplant recipients there is a world wide increase in the number of de novo tumors as well as a decrease in the time of the first appearance after the transplantation. Between 1973 and the 31st of August 1999 1709 cadaver renal allograft transplantations were performed in our Department. Four thyroid cancers were detected among the renal transplanted patients. Two of them proved to be papillary microcarcinomas. Although the elevated risk of thyroid cancers is well established in the literature papillary microcarcinomas have never been reported before in an immunosuppressed patient. Authors highlight that the thyroid gland should always be carefully checked in organ transplant recipients, since better survival might be achieved even in the immunosuppressed population. Metastatic tumor is relatively benign which is in correlation with the literature, but there has been little experience in organ transplanted patients so far.

Magnetic resonance imaging-guided focused ultrasound synovectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the feasibility of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided high power focused ultrasound (FUS) to perform synovectomy noninvasively. METHODS: Five New Zealand white male rabbit knees with experimentally induced arthritis underwent MRI-guided thermal surgery by high power (60 W/10 s) sonication. Evidence of tissue coagulation was monitored during the procedure and confirmed by gross and microscopic evaluation and MRI. RESULTS: Partial synovectomy was performed in five animals. Necrotized synovial tissue was observed on gross and microscopic evaluation. Visible signal intensity alterations including high signal intensity on T2-weighted (T2W) images and lack of contrast-enhancement on T1-weighted (T1W) post-contrast, post-sonication images were characteristic and reproducible. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate the ability of high power sonication to destroy synovial tissue in vivo.

Influence of heterotopic ossification of the hip on bone densitometry: a study in spinal cord injured patients.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate (1) the magnitude of falsely elevated bone density results caused by heterotopic ossification (HO) around the hip and (2) effect of age of patients when the measurement was taken, age of patients at injury, and age of injury (time since event) to the prevalence of HO. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We blindly analyzed plain radiographs of the hip [(obtained within 1 month of dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA)] in 107 spinal cord injured (SCI) patients for HO and matched the result to the three regions of interest (ROI): the femoral neck, Ward's triangle, and the trochanter. The influence of HO on bone densitometric values was determined by the analysis of variance (ANOVA) and post-hoc analysis. RESULTS: Nineteen (18%) patients had HO; overlying the femoral neck (79%), trochanter (74%) and Ward's triangle (37%), respectively. Significant elevation of densitometric values (P < 0.05 or less) was observed in a various magnitude at each ROI, with the greatest elevation at Ward's triangle. The prevalence of HO was high when the patients were injured at age range of 20-39 years. CONCLUSIONS: HO around the hip can cause significantly elevated bone densitometry results at all ROIs, which can obscure underlying osteoporosis, leading to underestimation of fracture risk. Determination of bone density in this region with corresponding plain radiographs would be of help. In SCI patients, prevalence of HO was high when the age of patients at injury was 20-39 years.

Effect of diet and fluvastatin treatment on the serum lipid profile of kidney transplant, diabetic recipients: a 1-year follow up.

The effect of a cholesterol-lowering diet and subsequent fluvastatin treatment (Lescol, Novartis; 20 mg/day) on serum lipids and lipoproteins was investigated in 21 diabetic patients (eight women, 13 men, age range 31-63 years, BMI 25.9 +/- 4.5 kg/m2) who had undergone successful kidney transplantation. A cholesterol-lowering diet followed for 8 weeks had apparently no effect on serum lipid concentrations. Fluvastatin applied afterwards for 12 months significantly decreased the total cholesterol, triglyceride and LDL cholesterol levels from 7.7 +/- 0.94, 2.84 +/- 0.85 and 4.87 +/- 1.05 mmol/l to 6.40 +/- 0.74, 2.64 +/- 0.86 and 3.52 +/- 0.69 mmol/l, P < 0.001, < 0.05 and < 0.001, respectively, while the level of HDL cholesterol increased from 1.12 +/- 0.28 to 1.52 +/- 0.39 mmol/l, P < 0.001. Serum concentration of lipoprotein(a) remained unchanged. The serum level of apolipoprotein-A1 increased from 1.52 +/- 0.28 to 1.83 +/- 0.29 mmol/l (P < 0.01) and that of lipoprotein-B decreased from 1.37 +/- 0.20 to 1.20 +/- 0.36 mmol/l (P < 0.05). These maximum changes were achieved by the 12th week of fluvastatin treatment, and no further significant change was observed in the remaining part of the year. The other parameters that could have influenced lipid metabolism (doses of diuretics and steroid, daily dose and serum level of cyclosporin, kidney function, degree of proteinuria, HbA1c, etc.) remained unchanged throughout the study. Thus, the improvement in lipid concentrations can be ascribed exclusively to fluvastatin. No side effects were observed during the 1-year follow up. Liver enzymes and CPK remained within the normal reference limits. Fluvastatin proved to be an effective and safe drug for treating the dyslipidaemia of transplanted patients receiving steroid cyclosporin immunosuppression.

Detection of ankle effusions: comparison study in cadavers using radiography, sonography, and MR imaging.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare radiography, sonography, and MR imaging in revealing ankle effusions in cadaveric specimens. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Known quantities of saline solution were instilled in increments into the ankle joints of three cadaveric specimens. Imaging was completed after each injection with the ankle in dorsiflexion, plantar flexion, and a neutral position. Imaging included radiography, sonography, and MR imaging. Three observers who were aware of possible joint fluid evaluated the images by consensus and determined the presence or absence of joint effusion. RESULTS: MR imaging revealed 1 ml of fluid within the anterior recess of the ankle in a neutral position and in plantar flexion and within the posterior recess in dorsiflexion. Sonography revealed 2 ml of fluid within the anterior recess in a neutral position and in plantar flexion. Radiography revealed 5 ml of fluid within the anterior recess in a neutral position. CONCLUSION: MR imaging, sonography, and lateral radiography, in order of decreasing sensitivity, revealed ankle effusion. The power to reveal with each technique is influenced by the precise position of the ankle.

Association of gastrocnemius tendon calcification with chondrocalcinosis of the knee.

OBJECTIVE: Chondrocalcinosis of the knee is a common radiological finding in the elderly. However, visualization of chondrocalcinosis may be difficult in patients with advanced cartilage loss. The purpose of this study was to determine sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of gastrocnemius tendon calcification that might serve as a radiographic marker of chondrocalcinosis in patients with painful knees. DESIGN AND PATIENTS: We prospectively evaluated 37 knee radiographs in 30 consecutive patients (29 men, 8 women; mean age 67 years, age range 37-90 years) with painful knees who had radiographic evidence of chondrocalcinosis. The frequency of fibrocartilage, hyaline cartilage, and gastrocnemius tendon calcification was determined. For a control group, we evaluated knee radiographs in 65 consecutive patients with knee pain (54 men, 11 women; mean age 59 years, age range 40-93 years) who had no radiological signs of chondrocalcinosis. The frequency of gastrocnemius tendon calcification in the control group was determined. RESULTS: Gastrocnemius tendon calcification was 41% sensitive, 100% specific, and 78% accurate in predicting chondrocalcinosis. The gastrocnemius tendon was calcified on 15 of 37 (41%) radiographs in the experimental group and on 0 of 67 radiographs in the control group. In the chondrocalcinosis group, 23 (62%) had posterior hyaline cartilage calcification, 14 (38%) had anterior hyaline cartilage calcification, 31 (84%) had medial meniscus calcification, and 36 (97%) had lateral meniscus calcification. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that gastrocnemius tendon calcification is an accurate radiographic marker of chondrocalcinosis in patients with knee pain.

Nodal osteoarthritis and gout: a report of four new cases.

Recently gout has been recognized as a cause of inflammation in patients with nodal osteoarthritis. We reviewed the clinical data and radiographs of four patients with known osteoarthritis of the interphalangeal joints of the hands who developed gout. Radiographic changes of osteoarthritis in the affected interphalangeal joint were present in all four patients. In our cases, radiographic findings were typical of gout in one patient, including the presence of large eccentric soft tissue masses and periarticular erosions. In three patients, radiographic findings were non-specific, including only a small eccentric nodule in one patient, diffuse soft tissue swelling in a second, and a large calcified soft tissue mass with bony erosions in a third. Whenever a patient with inter-phalangeal joint osteoarthritis presents with an acute episode of inflammation the possibility of gout should be considered. Recognition of gout will allow the timely initiation of appropriate therapy.

Therapy with pulsed electromagnetic fields in aseptic loosening of total hip protheses: a prospective study.

Aseptic loosening is the most common problem of hip arthroplasties, limiting its long term success. We report a study of pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) treatment in 24 patients with this complication. At the end of treatment, six months and one year later, pain and hip movements improved significantly with the exception of flexion and extension. There was significant improvement in both isotope scans and ultrasonography, but not in plain X-ray. The decreased pain and improved function suggest that PEMF is effective in improving symptoms of patients with loose hip replacement. No improvement, however, can be expected in patients with severe pain due to gross loosening.

Ultrasound-guided aspiration in suspected sepsis of resection arthroplasty of the hip joint.

The authors described 17 patients who had had resection arthroplasty of the hip and who were suspected of having an infection. The resection arthroplasties had been performed for previous infection. All the patients were studied by ultrasonography to detect effusion in the pseudoarticular space. Thirteen of the 17 patients were found to have an effusion by ultrasonography. Fluid was obtained in 9 of the 13 patients by ultrasonographic-guided aspiration. The mean aspirated volume was 3 ml (range 1-25 ml). Five of the 9 aspirates proved to be septic. The echopattern in all but one of those five with sepsis was nonechofree. Of four other patients in whom it was not possible to aspirate fluid lavage of the pseudoarticular space one yielded a positive culture. The role of ultrasonography in the diagnosis and management of patients who have undergone resection arthroplasty of the hip and who are suspected of having an infected pseudoarticular space is discussed.

Nocturnal pain correlates with effusions in diseased hips.

Thirty-five of 50 patients with different hip joint disease had sonographic evidence of joint effusion. Arthrocentesis confirmed effusions in 30 of these 35 patients. Thirty-two of the 35 patients had nocturnal pain. Both nocturnal pain and sonographic evidence of effusion decreased after aspiration (15 patients) and aspiration and injection of corticosteroids (15 patients). In a further group of 61 patients who subsequently had Charnley arthroplasties, 35 had positive sonograms before operation. Of these, 25 had effusions confirmed at operation, the remaining 10 having synovitis and capsule thickening. Again a correlation was found with nocturnal pain. The sensitivity of sonography in detecting hip joint effusion was 92% with a specificity of 70%. Nocturnal pain had a lower sensitivity, 85%, but higher specificity, 94%.

Ultrasonography after hip arthroplasty.

Ultrasonography was performed in 55 patients who had total Charnley hip arthroplasties. Effusions were identified in 19 patients and confirmed in all but 3 by arthrocentesis or at surgery. Aspirations were performed in 5 and demonstrated infection in 2. It is concluded that ultrasound is a valuable noninvasive method for assessing painful hip arthroplasty. It can demonstrate the presence of effusion, which should be aspirated to exclude infection.

[Determination of paracetamol in urine by liquid chromatography]. / Paracetamol meghatározása vizeletböl folyadékkromatográfiával.

Since the biotransformation of paracetamol (Acetaminophen) is practically confined to conjugation, the quantitative determination of paracetamol excretion may provide important information on phase II of the drug metabolism. We elaborated a simple and rapid liquid chromatographic method for the assessment of paracetamol and its conjugated metabolites in the urine to be available for routine use in the clinicopharmacological laboratory. The persons involved in the trial were administrated 500 mg of paracetamol to be taken on an empty stomach in the morning. Subsequently, their urine was collected for 8 hours. The so-called free paracetamol of unchanged form excreted into the urine was measured from this 0 to 8 hours' urine fraction, then, after treating it with beta-glucuronidase/arysulphatase enzyme, the total amount of paracetamol released from the conjugate, as well as that of the existing free paracetamol, the so-called total paracetamol were determined. The urine extracts containing paracetamol obtained by ethylacetate, at pH 10, and dried under nitrogen stream were analysed by HPLC on an ODS column in an eluent of methanol and water mixture (3:7, v/v) in the presence of 3-acetaminophenol internal standard. The flow rate was 1 ml/min, the detection wavelength was 254 nm.