Attitude to nephrolithiasis in the potential living kidney donor: a survey of the German kidney transplant centers and review of the literature.

Living donor kidney transplantation (LD-KTX) is increasing worldwide. With the prevalence of urolithiasis ranging between 4% and 15%, the number of donors with current nephrolithiasis or a history of the disease will increase as well. A questionnaire was sent to all German centers with LD-KTX programs (urologists and general surgeons). Answers were compared for differences between urological and surgical kidney transplant centers. Response rate was 74%. Nephrolithiasis at the time of KTX is an exclusion criterion at 36% of the German centers (58% urological/19% surgical, chi(2) = 4.65, p = 0.03, Fishers exact p = 0.05), 96% of the centers accept kidney donors with a history of nephrolithiasis. The length of the stone-free episode is regarded as relevant by 42% of all centers (58% urological vs. 32% surgical centers, p = ns). Stone composition is a criterion for 54% of centers (66% vs. 44%, p = ns). More than half of the centers accept a history of cystine stones, almost all centers of struvite and urate stones. Donors with current nephrolithiasis were less commonly accepted by urologists than by general surgeons. For almost all centers history of nephrolithiasis does not preclude living kidney donation. Stone composition proved to be of little relevance for decision making.

Steroid- and calcineurin inhibitor free immunosuppression in kidney transplantation: state of the art and future developments.

Owing to the increasing disparity of organ demand and organ supply the search for optimal immunosuppressive strategies has become a central issue in kidney transplantation (KTX). In the focus today are modifications of the use of calcineurin-inhibitors (CNIs, Cyclosporine A/Tacrolimus) and steroids, as they are nephrotoxic and promote cardiovascular risk factors like arterial hypertension, hyperlipidemia and diabetes mellitus. These modifications can either be withdrawal or avoidance of these substances in combination with new and/or established immunosuppressants. Because about half of all KTXs are performed by or with the help of urologists' knowledge of modern immunosuppressive regimens is crucial also for urologists. We performed a literature research (PubMed, DIMDI, medline) for CNI- and steroid-sparing protocols and studies to elucidate their influence on graft-function and graft- and patient-survival. New substances and actual studies were also evaluated. Several published reports on CNI- and steroid-sparing protocols after KTX exist, including withdrawal, reduction or avoidance. The time of reduction seems to be crucial: an initially increased immune response should be counterbalanced by an initially intensified immunosuppression. Therefore, late steroid withdrawal seems to be safer than early withdrawal especially in Cyclosporine-based immunosuppression. Steroid avoidance also seems feasible on a CNI based regimen, especially in context with induction therapy. Withdrawal or avoidance of CNIs seems feasible with mycophenolate acid and/or induction therapy with IL 2-receptor antibodies as co-immunosuppressants. This is of interest in grafts with deteriorating function or from donors with extended criteria. Also, CNI- and steroid-free immunosuppression can be successfully performed with new immunosuppressants but results are yet premature. CNI- and/or steroid reduction, withdrawal or even avoidance is feasible. As long-term graft function is the goal of KTX and as more kidneys from donors with extended criteria are transplanted "tailored immunosuppression" will replace standards in the future.

Laparoscopic anatrophic nephrolithotomy.

Management of staghorn calculi is still a challenge. To combine the surgical principles of treatment with the minimal invasive access we performed a laparoscopic anatrophic nephrolithotomy in a female patient successfully. Patient was discharged free of stone on fifth postoperative day. No complications occurred.