[Acute hemolytic transfusion reaction]. / Akutna transfuziona hemolizna reakcija.

Alloogenous blood and/or corresponding haemoproduct transfusion is an efficient and relatively safe supportive treatment. Despite the fact that pre transfusion investigation of both patients and donors ensure high degree of safety of this type of treatment, occurrence of adverse haemotherapy effects is possible and often unpredictable. Acute haemolytic transfusion reaction occur as a consequence of immune conflict between red blood cell membrane agents and specific antibodies present in plasma. Since it is impossible to completely avoid the occurrence of transfusion reactions, wherein acute transfusion haemolytic reaction present a serious, possibly life threatening complication, it is an imperative to continue to improve the knowledge on pathogenesis mechanisms leading to complications associated with these reaction and to define the most efficient therapeutical modalities.

[Peritoneal dialysis and kidney transplantation]. / Peritoneumska dijaliza i transplantacija bubrega.

The results of pretransplantation preparation of patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis program before the kidney transplantation at our clinic have been presented. Residual kidney function, and bladder function, respectively, as well as the incidence of the hepatotropic viruses B and C infections and cytotoxic antibodies percentage following blood transfusion have been particularly analyzed. Obtained results have been correlated with those found in 40 patients on hemodialysis and to whom kidneys were transplanted at our clinic. Satisfactory bladder function, the absence of urologic posttransplantation complications, non-existence of hepatotropic viral infections and cytotoxic antibodies resulted in an introduction of a new strategy based on the peritoneal dialysis as the first method of the dialysis treatment prior to kidney transplantation.

[Use of mycophenolate mofetil in kidney transplantation]. / Primena mikofenolat mofetila kod transplantacije bubrega.

Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is a new immunosuppressive agent for the prevention of renal allograft rejection. MMF is a prodrug of mycophenolic acid (MPA), a fermentation product of several Penicillium species of fungus. MPA acts at a late stage in T and B lymphocyte proliferation by selective, uncompetitive and reversible inhibition of inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase, a key enzyme in the de novo pathway of purine nucleotide synthesis. The three large studies individually and the combined (pooled) 1-year patient efficacy data have shown that MMF, given in combination with cyclosporine and corticosteroids, significantly reduces the incidence of acute rejection episodes (by 50%), without detectable difference in patient mortality. Analysis of secondary efficacy endpoints revealed that patients treated with MMF required less additional immunosuppressive therapy for treatment of acute rejection episodes and showed better renal function. In another studies, the efficacy of MMF in the treatment of first acute rejection episodes and in the treatment of refractory, acute, cellular renal transplant rejections has been shown. The principal adverse events associated with MMF administration included diarrhea, vomiting, leukopenia and a higher frequency of certain types of infections. The efficacy of MMF for the treatment of chronic allograft nephropathy is controversial. The ability of MMF to reduce the occurrence of acute rejection episodes and improve allograft function may have significant implications for promoting the long-term survival of renal allografts, but we need long-term observations to prove this benefit.

[Replacement of mycophenolate mofetil with azathioprine in patients with renal transplants]. / Zamena mikofenolat mofetila azatioprinom kod bolesnika sa presadjenim bubregom.

Numerous clinical studies demonstrated that mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) was significantly more effective in prevention of acute rejection episodes than azathioprine. Since the data supporting the long-term benefits of MMF therapy are not available, and considering the high cost of this therapy, we examined the safety of conversion from MMF to azathioprine in renal transplant patients. In 12 renal transplant patients (4 cadaveric and 8 living related donors) on triple immunosuppressive therapy (prednisone/MMF/cyclosporine) conversion from MMF to azathioprine was done after the first six to twelve post-transplant months. The majority of patients were in the low immunological risk of transplantation, and 7 (58.3%) received antithymocite globulin due to the delayed graft function. The mean follow-up period after the conversion to azathioprine was 6.4 months (range 3-12 months). Acute rejection episode was noticed only in one patient 8 months after the conversion following acute graft pyelonephritis. In all other patients graft function remained unchanged. We have concluded that the conversion from MMF to azathioprine in renal transplant patients on triple immunosuppressive therapy is safe and without detrimental effects on short-term allograft function. Long-term follow-up studies on larger number of patients are needed to confirm these observations.

[Use of mycophenolate mofetil in patients with a transplanted kidney and cyclosporin nephrotoxicity]. / Primena mikofenolat mofetila kod bolesnika sa presadjenim bubregom i ciklosporinskom nefrotoksicnoscu.

Cyclosporine (CsA) nephrotoxicity is an important problem in renal transplant recipients, which can influence long-term graft survival. The safety of conversion from CsA to azathioprine (AZA) remains controversial and can result in higher incidence of acute rejection. Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is a new immunosuppressive agent superior to AZA in the prevention of acute rejection. Five patients with cyclosporine nephrotoxicity were converted from CsA/AZA/prednisolon to MMF/prednisolon protocol. All patients had low immunological risk and 4 out of 5 patients received antithymocyte globulin before conversion as the induction therapy or as the treatment for acute rejection. Mean follow-up after conversion was 16.8 months (range 4-32 months). No patient experienced acute rejection during follow-up period. The mean serum creatinine concentration decreased from 219 +/- 44.18 (range 168-280) to 122.6 +/- 48.02 mumol/l (range 72-187 mumol/l) (p = 0.002). Arterial hypertension improved after CsA withdrawal in 20% of patients. We have concluded that, in selected patients with cyclosporine nephrotoxicity, CsA withdrawal with concomitant use of MMF is safe and effective in the improvement of graft function and arterial hypertension.

[Acute transfusion-related lung injury]. / Akutno ostecenje pluca izazvano transfuzijom (transfusion related acute lung injury--TRALI).

Transfusion Related Acute Lung Injury (TRALI) is the most serious, potentially lethal, transfusion reaction caused by anti leukocyte antibodies carried passively into recipient's circulation by transfused haemoproduct. It is manifested most frequently within first four hours after transfusion of allogenous haemoproduct containing anti leukocyte antibodies. It is characterized with symptoms and signs of acute respiratory distress syndrome. This rare, but severe transfusion reaction with mortality rate of around 10% is often misdiagnosed, since TRALI signs are assigned to other clinical conditions. Thus, an education for timely recognition and urgent care of TRALI should be initiated.

[Outcome of kidney transplantation in patients on peritoneal dialysis]. / Ishod transplantacije bubrega kod bolesnika na peritoneumskoj dijalizi.

The initial experience suggested that kidney transplantation could be hazardous for patients on peritoneal dialysis due to the high risk of peritonitis and a possible high incidence of acute rejection. In this paper we have presented our experience with kidney transplantation in these patients. During the last four years kidney transplantation was performed in 9 patients on peritoneal dialysis. The average time spent on peritoneal dialysis was 20.6 +/- 7.6 months. In all patients peritoneal catheter was removed during the surgery. During the posttransplantation period a triple immunosuppressive therapy including steroids, cyclosporin and azathioprineor mycophenolate mofetil was administered in all patients. In comparison to patients on hemodialysis no significant difference in the incidence of acute rejection episodes, delayed graft function, graft arterial thrombosis and graft function recovery was observed. Patients on peritoneal dialysis had significantly greater and longer wound drainage in comparison to patients on hemodialysis. It was concluded that peritoneal dialysis had no negative influence on short-term outcome of kidney transplantation.

[Analysis of a 4-year follow-up of the results of kidney transplantation from living related donors]. / Analiza cetvorogodiznjeg pracenja rezultata transplantacije bubrega od zivog srodnog davaoca.

The aim was to present a four-year experience in living related kidney transplantation. A total of 43 patients (9 females and 34 males) were enrolled in this study. The standard triple immunosuppressive therapy (steroids, azathioprine and cyclosporine) was administered in 19 (44.1%) patients, and in 20 (46.5%) mycophenolate mophetil in daily dose of 2 g instead of azathioprine. In 5 (14.2%) patients with high immunological risk and delayed graft function was administered antithymocite globulin in duration of 7-14 days, prophylactically. In 3 (6.97%) patients graft loss was caused by vascular complications and in 1 (2.32%) by infection as the complication. During the first post-transplantation year acute rejection was noticed in 8 (34.7%) patients and in 3 (37.5%) it was steroid resistant. The graft loss was never caused by acute rejection. Six-months graft survival was noticed in 91.1% patients and one-year graft survival in 88.4% patients. One-year patient survival was 100%. Short term results in living related kidney transplantation are excellent and nowadays, due to improvement in immunosuppressive therapy, the success in this type of kidney transplantation is mainly limited by surgical and infective complications.

[Use of leukocyte-depleted blood in patients treated with hemodialysis]. / Primena deleukocitovane krvi kod bolesnika lecenih hemodijalizama.

Red cells depleted of white cells can prevent febrile nonhemolytic transfusion reactions and may reduce or delay alloimmunization of HLA antigens and the transfusion of various viruses. Twenty-three patients maintained on hemodialysis who had febrile nonhemolytic transfusion reactions were analysed between 1976 and 1994. This reaction was first noticed in patients diagnosed with chronic glomerulonephritis approximately after receiving 7.5 transfusions. The patients were treated with washed red cells from 1976 to 1988 and from this period to 1994 tewy were treated with filtered red cells via Sepacell R500-A. With the use of these preparations, the febrile nonhemolytic reaction was eliminated. The latest advances in transfusiology include the preparation of all blood components without leukocytes.

[Nephrotoxicity of radiographic contrast media]. / Nefrotoksicnost radiografskih kontrastnih sredstva.

The widespread use of radio-opaque contrast media continues to be a common cause of renal injury in patients admitted to hospital. Renal damage after intravascular contrast media is seen clinically as an acute reduction of glomerular filtration rate varying from a relatively transient, asymptomatic course to the development of oliguric acute renal failure. Preexisting renal insufficiency and/or other risk factors such as diabetes mellitus, dehydration, paraproteinemia, hyperuricaemia, hypoalbuminaemia, and congestive heart failure, may increase the risk of nephrotoxicity and enhance renal damage. At the Institute for Kidney Disease Zvezdara University Medical Centre, Belgrad, we observed three patients who had renal damage after intravascular contrast media during 1993. All of the patients had various risk factors, particularly baseline renal insufficiency. In order to prevent or minimize renal failure after intravascular contrast media application, the authors recommended preventive measures including identification of risk patients, minimizing contrast volume and hydration.