Basiliximab: efficacy and tolerability in adults and children.

UNLABELLED: An open, single arm, prospective clinical trial to assess the efficacy and safety of basiliximab (Simulect) combined with cyclosporine microemulsion (Neoral), steroids, and azathioprine was performed in four centers in Chile, two adult and two pediatric. The 23 patients who were enrolled were followed for 12 months. There were four acute rejection episodes (three adults and one child) and three graft losses (two adults and one child) during the study. Renal function in both adult and pediatric patients at 6 and 12 months was good. Basiliximab was well tolerated. The incidence of infections was low, with only one CMV infection. There were no deaths. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of acute rejection episodes among renal allograft recipients treated with basiliximab is low, showing that the drug is well tolerated. In particular the number of CMV infections is extremely low.

Neoral de novo: experiencia preliminar en transplante renal / Novo neoral: preliminary experience in renal transplantation

Se realizó un estudio retrospectivo comparativo entre 2 grupos de enfermos sometidos a un transplante renal en el Hospital Clínico de la Universidad Católica. El estudio incluye la serie de los últimos 12 enfermos que recibieron terapia inmunosupresora con Ciclosporina nueva formulación (Neoral R) y un grupo de control constituido por 11 enfermos con Sandimmun, comparables en histocompatibilidad, isquemia y características generales. El objetivo es estudiar el tiempo que demoran ambas formulaciones de Ciclosporina en alcanzar el rango terapéutico óptimo, la dosis necesaria para alcanzar estos niveles, la repercusión en relación a la función renal y la frecuencia de rechazo. En ambos grupos no hubo diferencias significativas en la fecha de inicio de la Ciclosporina, sin embargo el rango terapéutico óptimo en el grupo que usó Neoral, se alcanzó el día 14 y en el grupo con Sandimmun éste se logró en el día 25 (p = 0,025). La dosis necesaria para alcanzar este rango terapéutico fue similar en ambos grupos (6,2 y 6,8 mg/Kg) (NS). El haber alcanzado una dosis terapéutica en forma más rápida, no afectó la función renal, ya que ambos grupos tuvieron curvas de creatinina similares. La frecuencia de rechazo fue mayor en el grupo tratado con Sandimmun (45 por ciento), en relación a un 9 por ciento del grupo de Neoral (p = 0.042)

Heterophile antibodies in the serum of children with nephrotic syndrome.

Serum of children with the nephrotic syndrome contained high titers of a (19S) IgM antibody against sheep, horse, guinea pig, rat, and rabbit red blood cells but not against cow red blood cells. There was high correlation between high titers of antisheep antibodies and active nephrotic syndrome in the children with minimal change nephrotic syndrome. The antibody differed from the Paul-Bunnell antibody found in patients with infectious mononucleosis and from the anti-Forssman, Hangautziu-Deicher antibody found in patients with horse serum sickness. Rabbit red blood cells completely absorbed the antibody, but horse or guinea pig red blood cells removed only the anti-Forssman activity.

Prolonged nitroprusside and intermittent hemodialysis as therapy for intractable hypertension.

Nitroprusside was used with intermittent hemodialysis over a 26-day period in a 6-year-old boy with intractable hypertension. Hemodialysis effectively removed thiocyanate from the blood, thus preventing its accumulation and subsequent toxic manifestations. Prolonged nitroprusside infusion maintained arterial blood pressure at acceptable levels until the patient became responsive to other antihypertensive therapy.