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Revisiones-Ciencias Básicas-Molecular, Bioquímica, Metabolismo & Genética *** Reviews-Basic Sciences-Molecular, Biochemistry, Metabolism & Genetics

 

TRASPLANTE RENAL *** RENAL TRANSPLANTATION

(Conceptos / Keywords: Renal-Kidney transplantation; Kidney donation-procurement; etc).

 

Enero / January 2001 --- Marzo / March 2004

 

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Enlace / Link

 

[1]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Interleukin-2 receptor monoclonal antibodies in renal transplantation: meta-analysis of randomised trials.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - British Medical J (BMJ). Acceso gratuito al texto completo.

      ●● Enlace a la Editora de la Revista http://bmj.com/search.dtl 

      ●● Cita: British Medical J. (BMJ): <> 2003 Apr 12;326(7393):789.

      ●● Enlace al texto completo (gratuito o de pago) 1136/bmj.326.7393.789

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Adu D; Cockwell P; Ives NJ; Shaw J; Wheatley K

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department of Nephrology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, B15 2TH. dwomoa.adu@uhb.nhs.uk

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of interleukin-2 receptor monoclonal antibodies on acute rejection episodes, graft loss, deaths, and rate of infection and malignancy in patients with renal transplants. DESIGN: Meta-analysis of published data. DATA SOURCES: Medline, Embase, and Cochrane library for years 1996-2003 plus search of medical editors’ trial amnesty and contact with manufacturers of the antibodies. SELECTION OF STUDIES: Randomised controlled trials comparing interleukin-2 receptor antibodies with placebo or no additional treatment in patients with renal transplants receiving ciclosporin based immunosuppression. RESULTS: Eight randomised controlled trials involving 1871 patients met the selection criteria (although only 1858 patients were analysed). Interleukin-2 receptor antibodies significantly reduced the risk of acute rejection (odds ratio 0.51, 95% confidence interval 0.42 to 0.63). There were no significant differences in the rate of graft loss (0.78, 0.58 to 1.04), mortality (0.75, 0.46 to 1.23), overall incidence of infections (0.97, 0.77 to 1.24), incidence of cytomegalovirus infections (0.81, 0.62 to 1.04), or risk of malignancies at one year (0.82, 0.39 to 1.70). The different antibodies had a similar sized effect on acute rejection (test for heterogeneity P=0.7): anti-Tac (0.37, 0.16 to 0.89), BT563 (0.37, 0.1 to 1.38), basiliximab (0.56, 0.44 to 0.72), and daclizumab (0.46, 0.32 to 0.67). The reduction in acute rejections was similar for all ciclosporin based immunosuppression regimens (test for heterogeneity P=1.0). CONCLUSIONS: Adding interleukin-2 receptor antibodies to ciclosporin based immunosuppression reduces episodes of acute rejection at six months by 49%. There is no evidence of an increased risk of infective complications. Longer follow up studies are needed to confirm whether interleukin-2 receptor antibodies improve long term graft and patient survival.

 

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[2]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Interleukin 2 receptor antagonists for renal transplant recipients: a meta-analysis of randomized trials.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Transplantation 2004 Jan 27;77(2):166-76.

      ●● Enlace al texto completo (gratuito o de pago) 1097/01.TP.0000109643.32659.C4

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Webster AC; Playford EG; Higgins G; Chapman JR; Craig JC

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Cochrane Renal Group, Centre for Kidney Research, Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, NSW, Australia.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - BACKGROUND: Interleukin 2 receptor antagonists (IL-2Ra) are increasingly used to treat renal transplant recipients. This study aims to systematically identify and summarize the effects of using IL-2Ra as induction immunosuppression, as an addition to standard therapy, or as an alternative to other antibody therapy. METHODS: Databases, reference lists, and abstracts of conference proceedings were searched extensively to identify relevant randomized controlled trials in all languages. Data were synthesized using the random effects model. Results are expressed as relative risk (RR), with 95% confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS: A total of 117 reports from 38 trials involving 4,893 participants were included. When IL-2Ra were compared with placebo (17 trials; 2,786 patients), graft loss was not significantly different at 1 year (14 trials: RR 0.84; CI 0.64-1.10) or 3 years (4 trials: RR 1.08; CI 0.71-1.64). Acute rejection was significantly reduced at 6 months (12 trials: RR 0.66; CI 0.59-0.74) and at 1 year (10 trials: RR 0.67; CI 0.60-0.75). At 1 year, cytomegalovirus infection (7 trials: RR 0.82; CI 0.65-1.03) and malignancy (9 trials: RR 0.67; CI 0.33-1.36) were not significantly different. When IL-2Ra were compared with other antibody therapy, no significant differences in treatment effects were demonstrated, but IL-2Ra had significantly fewer side effects. CONCLUSIONS: Given a 40% risk of rejection, seven patients would need treatment with IL-2Ra in addition to standard therapy, to prevent one patient from undergoing rejection, with no definite improvement in graft or patient survival. There is no apparent difference between basiliximab and daclizumab.

 

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[3]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - A meta-analysis from the Cochrane Library reviewing interleukin 2 receptor antagonists in renal transplantation.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Transplantation 2004 Jan 27;77(2):165.

      ●● Enlace al texto completo (gratuito o de pago) 1097/01.TP.0000112919.54256.8D

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Morris PJ; Monaco AP

 

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[4]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Renal transplantation: can we reduce calcineurin inhibitor/stop steroids? Evidence based on protocol biopsy findings.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - J Am Soc Nephrol. Acceso gratuito al texto completo a partir de 1 año de la fecha de publicación.

      ●● Enlace a la Editora de la Revista http://www.jasn.org/ 

      ●● Cita: Journal of the American Society of Nephrology: <> 2003 Mar;14(3):755-66.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Gotti E; Perico N; Perna A; Gaspari F; Cattaneo D; Caruso R; Ferrari S; Stucchi N; Marchetti G; Abbate M; Remuzzi G

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department of Medicine and Transplantation, Ospedali Riuniti di Bergamo, Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research, Italy.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - How to combine antirejection drugs and which is the optimal dose of steroids and calcineurin inhibitors beyond the first year after kidney transplantation to maintain adequate immunosuppression without major side effects are far from clear. Kidney transplant patients on steroid, cyclosporine (CsA), and azathioprine were randomized to per-protocol biopsy (n = 30) or no-biopsy (n = 29) 1 to 2 yr posttransplant. Steroid or CsA were discontinued or reduced on the basis of biopsy to establish effects on drug-related complications, acute rejection, and graft function over 3 yr of follow-up. Serum creatinine, GFR (plasma clearance of iohexol), RPF (renal clearance of p-aminohippurate), CsA pharmacokinetics, and adverse events were monitored yearly. At the end, patients underwent a second biopsy. Per-protocol biopsy histology revealed no lesions (n = 5, steroid withdrawal), CsA nephropathy (n = 13, CsA discontinuation/reduction), or chronic rejection (n = 12, standard therapy). Reducing the drug regimen led to overall fewer side effects related to immunosuppression as compared with standard therapy or no-biopsy. Steroids were safely stopped with no acute rejection or graft loss. Complete CsA discontinuation was associated with acute rejection in the first four patients. Lowering CsA to low target CsA trough (30 to 70 ng/ml) never led to acute rejection or major renal function deterioration. Biopsy patients on conventional regimen had no acute rejection, one graft loss, no significant change in GFR, and significant RPF decline. No-biopsy controls: no acute rejection, one graft loss, significant decline of GFR and RPF. By serial biopsy analysis, severe lesions did not develop in patients with steroid discontinuation in contrast to patients on standard therapy over follow-up. CsA reduction did not adversely affect histology. Per-protocol biopsy more than 1 yr after kidney transplantation is a safe procedure to guide change of drug regimen and to lower the risk of major side effects.

 

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[5]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Regulatory T cells in kidney transplant recipients: active players but to what extent?

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - J Am Soc Nephrol. Acceso gratuito al texto completo a partir de 1 año de la fecha de publicación.

      ●● Enlace a la Editora de la Revista http://www.jasn.org/ 

      ●● Cita: Journal of the American Society of Nephrology: <> 2003 Jun;14(6):1706-8.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Zhai Y; Kupiec-Weglinski JW  N. Ref:: 20

 

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[6]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Interleukin 2 receptor antagonists for kidney transplant recipients.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2004;1:CD003897.

      ●● Enlace al texto completo (gratuito o de pago) 1002/14651858.CD003897.pub2

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Webster A; Playford E; Higgins G; Chapman J; Craig J

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Centre for Kidney Research, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Locked Bag 4001, Westmead, NSW, AUSTRALIA, 2145.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - BACKGROUND: Interleukin 2 receptor antagonists (IL2Ra) are used as induction therapy for prophylaxis against acute rejection in kidney transplant recipients. Use of IL2Ra has increased steadily, with 38% of new kidney transplant recipients in the United States, and 23% in Australasia receiving IL2Ra in 2002. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to systematically identify and summarise the effects of using an IL2Ra, as an addition to standard therapy, or as an alternative to other antibody therapy. SEARCH STRATEGY: The Cochrane Renal Group’s specialised register (June 2003), the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register (in The Cochrane Library issue 3, 2002), MEDLINE (1966-November 2002) and EMBASE (1980-November 2002). Reference lists and abstracts of conference proceedings and scientific meetings were hand-searched from 1998-2003. Trial groups, authors of included reports and drug manufacturers were contacted. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in all languages comparing IL2Ra to placebo, no treatment, other IL2Ra or other antibody therapy. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Data was extracted and quality assessed independently by two reviewers, with differences resolved by discussion. Dichotomous outcomes are reported as relative risk (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). MAIN RESULTS: One hundred and seventeen reports from 38 trials involving 4893 participants were included. Where IL2Ra were compared with placebo (17 trials; 2786 patients), graft loss was not significantly different at one (RR 0.83, 95% CI 0.66 to 1.04) or three years (RR 0.88, 95% CI 0.64 to 1.22). Acute rejection (AR) was significantly reduced at six months (RR 0.66, 95% CI 0.59 to 0.74) and at one year (RR 0.67, 95% CI 0.60 to 0.75). At one year, cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection (RR 0.82, 95% CI 0.65 to 1.03) and malignancy (RR 0.67, 95% CI 0.33 to 1.36) were not significantly different. Where IL2Ra were compared with other antibody therapy no significant differences in treatment effects were demonstrated, but adverse effects strongly favoured IL2Ra. REVIEWER’S CONCLUSIONS: Given a 40% risk of rejection, seven patients would need treatment with IL2Ra to prevent one patient having rejection, with no definite improvement in graft or patient survival. There is no apparent difference between basiliximab and daclizumab. IL2Ra are as effective as other antibody therapies and with significantly fewer side effects

 

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[7]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Potential role of major histocompatibility complex class II peptides in regulatory tolerance to vascularized grafts.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Transplantation 2004 Jan 15;77(1 Suppl):S35-7.

      ●● Enlace al texto completo (gratuito o de pago) 1097/01.TP.0000106472.91343.8D

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - LeGuern C

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Transplantation Biology Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02129, USA. leguern@helix.mgh.harvard.edu

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - The inactivation of persisting T lymphocytes reactive to self- and non-self-antigens is a major arm of operational immune tolerance in mammals. Silencing of such T cells proceeds mostly by means of suppression, a process that is mediated by regulatory T-cell subsets and especially by CD4(+)CD(25high) regulatory T cells (Treg). Although Treg activation and ensuing suppressive activity appear to be major histocompatibility complex class II dependent, the fine specificity of Treg T-cell receptors has not yet been elucidated. Recent data from the author’s laboratory on a class II gene therapy induction of tolerance to allogeneic kidney grafts suggest that class II peptides are involved as generic signals for Treg activation. A brief compilation of results that would support this hypothesis is discussed in the present article.  N. Ref:: 31

 

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[8]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Transcriptional regulation of inflammatory genes before transplantation: a role for hypoxia inducible factor-1alpha?

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Transplantation 2003 Feb 27;75(4):437-8.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Koo DD; Fuggle SV

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Nuffield Department of Surgery, University of Oxford, Oxford Transplant Centre, United Kingdom.  N. Ref:: 5

 

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[9]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Complement and the kidney.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - J Immunol. Acceso gratuito al texto completo a partir de 1 año de la fecha de publicación.

      ●● Enlace a la Editora de la Revista http://www.jimmunol.org/ 

      ●● Cita: J. of Immunology: <> 2003 Oct 1;171(7):3319-24.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Quigg RJ

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Section of Nephrology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA. rqigg@medicine.uchicago.edu  N. Ref:: 94

 

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[10]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - The economic value of valacyclovir prophylaxis in transplantation.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - J Infect Dis. Acceso gratuito al texto completo a partir de los 2 años de la publicación;  - http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/ 

      ●● Cita: J. of Infectious Diseases: <> 2002 Oct 15;186 Suppl 1:S116-22.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Squifflet JP; Legendre C

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - University Clinic Saint Luc, 1200 Brussels, Belgium. Jean-Paul.Squifflet@chir.ucl.ac.be

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and disease, with its extensive direct and indirect consequences, adds considerably to the cost of patient management in both solid organ and bone marrow transplantation. Antiviral prophylaxis for CMV infection can offer cost advantages over preemptive therapy and “wait-and-treat” approaches. Valacyclovir has demonstrated efficacy for CMV prophylaxis in renal, heart, and bone marrow transplantation and is cost-effective when compared with placebo in renal transplant recipients at high risk of CMV infection. In reducing CMV infection and disease, valacyclovir prophylaxis appears to be associated with reductions in indirect effects of CMV (acute graft rejection, other opportunistic infections) and, if these effects are considered, the potential exists for even greater savings to be made with valacyclovir therapy. Benefits of valacyclovir in transplantation extend beyond CMV to other herpesviruses and may be increased in some clinical situations by prolonging prophylaxis beyond 3 months.  N. Ref:: 32

 

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[11]

- Castellano -

TÍTULO / TITLE:Polimorfismo del receptor de la vitamina D y enfermedad osea postrasplante renal. Polymorphism of the vitamin D receptor and bone disease after renal transplantation.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Nefrologia. Acceso gratuito al texto completo.

      ●● Enlace a la Editora de la Revista http://www.aulamedica.es/nefrologia/ 

      ●● Cita: Nefrologia: <> 2001;21 Suppl 1:56-60.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Torres A; Barrios Y; Salido E

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Servicio de Nefrologia y, Hospital Universitario de Canarias, Instituto Reina Sofia de Investigacion Nefrologica, Tenerife, España. atorres@ull.es  N. Ref:: 29

 

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[12]

- Castellano -

TÍTULO / TITLE:La influencia de los factores geneticos en la patogenesis de dislipidemias posteriores al trasplante renal. The effect of genetic factors on the pathogenesis of the dyslipidemias following kidney transplantation.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Rev Invest Clin. Acceso gratuito al texto completo.

      ●● Enlace a la Editora de la Revista http://www.imbiomed.com/ 

      ●● Cita: Revista de Investigacion Clinica: <> 2002 Sep-Oct;54(5):472-3.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Lerman Garber I

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Departamento de Endocrinologia y Metabolismo, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Medicas y Nutricion Salvador Zubiran. lerman@netservice.com.mx  N. Ref:: 11

 

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[13]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - A benefit-risk assessment of basiliximab in renal transplantation.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Drug Saf. Acceso gratuito al texto completo.

      ●● Enlace a la Editora de la Revista http://www.csmwm.org/ 

      ●● Cita: Drug Safety: <> 2004;27(2):91-106.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Boggi U; Danesi R; Vistoli F; Del Chiaro M; Signori S; Marchetti P; Del Tacca M; Mosca F

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Division of General Surgery and Transplants, Department of Oncology, Transplants and Advanced Technologies in Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy. uboggi@med.unipi.it

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Interleukin-2 (IL-2) and its receptor (IL-2R) play a central role in T lymphocyte activation and immune response after transplantation. Research on the biology of IL-2R allowed the identification of key signal transduction pathways involved in the generation of proliferative and antiapoptotic signals in T cells. The alpha-chain of the IL-2R is a specific peptide against which monoclonal antibodies have been raised, with the aim of blunting the immune response by means of inhibiting proliferation and inducing apoptosis in primed lymphocytes. Indeed, basiliximab, one of such antibodies, has proved to be effective in reducing the episodes of acute rejection after kidney and pancreas transplantation. The use of basiliximab was associated with a significant reduction in the incidence of any treated rejection episodes after kidney transplantation in the two major randomised studies (placebo 52.2% vs basiliximab 34.2% at 6 months, European study; placebo 54.9% vs basiliximab 37.6% at 1 year, US trial). Basiliximab and equine antithymocyte globulin (ATG) administration resulted in a similar rate of biopsy-proven acute rejection at 6 months (19% for both) and at 12 months (19% and 20%, respectively). The use of basiliximab appears not to be associated with an increased incidence of adverse events as compared with placebo in immunosuppressive regimens, including calcineurin inhibitors, mycophenolate mofetil or azathioprine and corticosteroids, and its safety profile is superior to ATG. Moreover, a similar occurrence of infections is noted in selected studies (65.5% after basiliximab vs 65.7% of controls), including cytomegalovirus infection (17.3% vs 14.5%), and cytokine-release syndrome is not observed. Finally, economic analysis demonstrated lower costs of overall treatment in patients treated with basiliximab. Therefore, the use of basiliximab entails a very low risk, allows safe reduction of corticosteroid dosage and reduces the short- and mid-term rejection rates. However, the improvement in the long-term survival of kidney grafts in patients treated according to modern immunosuppressive protocols is still to be demonstrated. These conclusions are based on a systematic review of the scientific literature, indexed on Medline database, concerning the mechanism of action, therapeutic activity, safety and pharmacoeconomic evaluation of basiliximab in renal transplantation.  N. Ref:: 62

 

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[14]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Renal transplantation in HBsAg+ patients: is lamivudine your “final answer”?

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - J Clin Gastroenterol 2003 Jul;37(1):9-11.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Fontana RJ  N. Ref:: 30

 

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[15]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Current treatment strategies in ANCA-positive renal vasculitis-lessons from European randomized trials.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Nephrol Dial Transplant. Acceso gratuito al texto completo a partir de los 2 años de la fecha de publicación.

      ●● Enlace a la Editora de la Revista http://ndt.oupjournals.org/ 

      ●● Cita: Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation: <> 2003 Jul;18 Suppl 5:v2-4.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Tesar V; Rihova Z; Jancova E; Rysava R; Merta M

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - First Medical Department, First Medical Faculty, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic. tesar@beba.cesnet.cz

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-positive renal vasculitis is the most common cause of rapidly progressive (crescentic) glomerulonephritis. Its life-threatening natural course may be modified substantially by current treatment modalities. The European Vasculitis Study Group (EUVAS) developed a subclassification of ANCA-positive vasculitides based on the disease severity at presentation, and have organized (so far) two waves of clinical trials. The first wave of randomized clinical trials had the aim of optimizing the existing therapeutic regimens; the second wave concentrated on testing some newer therapeutic approaches. Here, the design and available results of the first wave and the design of some second wave trials are reviewed briefly. The potential of the new targeted approaches (e.g. anti-tumour necrosis factor therapy) is also briefly mentioned.  N. Ref:: 9

 

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[16]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor antagonists in the treatment of hypertension after renal transplantation.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Nephrol Dial Transplant. Acceso gratuito al texto completo a partir de los 2 años de la fecha de publicación.

      ●● Enlace a la Editora de la Revista http://ndt.oupjournals.org/ 

      ●● Cita: Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation: <> 2001;16 Suppl 1:117-20.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Holgado R; Anaya F; Del Castillo D

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Servicio de Nefrologia, Hospital Reina Sofia, 14012 Cordoba, España.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Hypertension is highly prevalent after renal transplantation and has been associated with lower graft survival. Optimum management of post-transplant hypertension remains to be defined. Losartan, a potent, orally active and selective non-peptide blocker of the angiotensin subtype 1 receptor, could represent a useful drug for treating post-transplant hypertension. Recently, a prospective study of 12 weeks treatment with losartan has showed a satisfactory control of arterial hypertension associated with a decrease in proteinuria in this high-risk group of renal transplant patients. A retrospective study was performed to review the role of losartan as a renoprotective agent (evaluating blood pressure and proteinuria) in renal transplant recipients in a long-term follow-up. A total of 150 transplant recipients were included in the study. None of the patients had a serum creatinine >3 mg/dl, or suspected renal artery stenosis, or other severe concomitant diseases. The indication for losartan therapy was hypertension, proteinuria and/or post-transplant erythrocytosis. The values of blood pressure, results of fasting haematology, blood chemistry and total proteinuria in 24-h urine samples were recorded at the time of initiation of losartan therapy, 6 and 3 months before the start, and at 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months thereafter. A tendency analysis by linear regression comparing two slopes before and after treatment was realized. A decrease in mean blood pressure and proteinuria, from 106.7+/-0.9 to 98.2+/-2.1 mmHg and from 1253.9+/-188 to 91.2+/-33.7 mg/24 h, P<0.05, respectively, was observed after introduction of losartan. A progressive increase in creatinine clearance was observed after the third month of losartan treatment. No significant changes were seen in haematocrit or serum potassium levels. We can conclude that a progressive decrease in mean arterial pressure associated with a decrease in proteinuria was observed during long-term follow-up. Based on the capacity of losartan to improve renal function, this drug could be decisive for the treatment and prevention of chronic allograft nephropathy.  N. Ref:: 32

 

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[17]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Calcineurin-free protocols with basiliximab induction allow patients included in “old to old” programs achieve standard kidney transplant function.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Transplant Proc 2003 Jun;35(4):1326-7.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Emparan C; Laukotter M; Wolters H; Dame C; Heidenreich S; Senninger N

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department of Surgery, Division of Transplantation, Uniklinikum Munster, Munster, Germany. cemparan@teleline.es

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - INTRODUCTION: The EuroTransplant “old to old” program establishes that patients older than 60 years can receive offers of organs from donors older than 60 years. The compromised function of these organs makes it a priority to preserve their initial kidney function. HYPOTHESIS: Calcineurin-sparing protocols using anti-IL-2 receptor (IL-2R) antibody induction (Simulect) may benefit initial kidney function in these patients, as assessed by the rates of delayed graft function and of rejection during the first month after transplant. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A cohort of 15 consecutive elderly patients were prospectively compared with 30 cadaveric kidney transplants in younger recipients. Study patients were induced with Simulect (20 mg, 30 minutes before reperfusion and 4 days after transplantation) and steroids, delaying the introduction of CsA until the serum creatinine was below 3 mg/dL. The other cohort of patients were immunosuppressed with tacrolimus (trough 8 to 12), mycophenolats mofetil (MMF, 1 g/d), and an identical taper of steroids. The analysis compared donor and recipient ages, mean cold ischemic time, incidence of initial kidney function (diuresis in the first 24 h) serum creatinine levels, glomerular filtration rate (GFR), number of dialysis sessions, and rejection rate in the two groups. RESULTS: Except for the donor and recipient ages (72 vs 54 in donors, and 67 versus 52 years in recipients), no significant differences were observed between the groups among the rates of acute rejection (6.6% vs 13.2%), delayed graft function (13.2% required dialysis), or infection (6.6%). Within 1 month all 45 grafts showed primary function with equal creatinine levels (mean 1.65). CONCLUSIONS: Calcineurin-free protocols using IL-2 therapy as the initial suppression allow patients in the “old to old” ET program to display equal results to cadaveric kidney transplants with initial treatment with calcineurin antagonists.

 

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[18]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - ACE inhibitors and AII receptor antagonists in the treatment and prevention of bone marrow transplant nephropathy.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Curr Pharm Des 2003;9(9):737-49.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Moulder JE; Fish BL; Cohen EP

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department of Radiation Oncology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA. jmoulder@its.mcw.edu

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Radiation nephropathy has emerged as a major complication of bone marrow transplantation (BMT) when total body irradiation (TBI) is used as part of the regimen. Classically, radiation nephropathy has been assumed to be inevitable, progressive, and untreatable. However, in the early 1990’s, it was demonstrated that experimental radiation nephropathy could be treated with a thiol-containing ACE inhibitor, captopril. Further studies showed that enalapril (a non-thiol ACE inhibitor) was also effective in the treatment of experimental radiation nephropathy, as was an AII receptor antagonist. Studies also showed that ACE inhibitors and AII receptor antagonists were effective in the prophylaxis of radiation nephropathy. Interestingly, other types of antihypertensive drugs were ineffective in prophylaxis, but brief use of a high-salt diet in the immediate post-irradiation period decreased renal injury. A placebo-controlled trial of captopril to prevent BMT nephropathy in adults is now underway. Since excess activity of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) causes hypertension, and hypertension is a major feature of radiation nephropathy; an explanation for the efficacy of RAS antagonism in the prophylaxis of radiation nephropathy would be that radiation leads to RAS activation. However, current studies favor an alternative explanation, namely that the normal activity of the RAS is deleterious in the presence of radiation injury. On-going studies suggest that efficacy of RAS antagonists may involve interactions with a radiation-induced decrease in renal nitric oxide activity or with radiation-induced tubular cell proliferation. We hypothesize that while prevention (prophylaxis) of radiation nephropathy with ACE inhibitors, AII receptor antagonists, or a high-salt diet work by suppression of the RAS, the efficacy of ACE inhibitors and AII receptor antagonists in treatment of established radiation nephropathy depends on blood pressure control.  N. Ref:: 108

 

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[19]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - European best practice guidelines for renal transplantation. Section IV: Long-term management of the transplant recipient. IV.3.1 Long-term immunosuppression. Late steroid or cyclosporine withdrawal.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Nephrol Dial Transplant. Acceso gratuito al texto completo a partir de los 2 años de la fecha de publicación.

      ●● Enlace a la Editora de la Revista http://ndt.oupjournals.org/ 

      ●● Cita: Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation: <> 2002;17 Suppl 4:19-20.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - GUIDELINES: A. In order to reduce or avoid long-term serious adverse effects of corticosteroids, such as bone fractures, diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, osteoporosis and eye complications, steroid withdrawal should be considered. B. Steroid withdrawal is safe only in a proportion of graft recipients and is recommended only in low-risk patients. The efficacy of the remaining immunosuppression should be considered. C. After steroid withdrawal, graft function has to be monitored very carefully because of the risk of a delayed but continuous loss of function due to chronic graft dysfunction. In the case of functional deterioration or dysfunction, steroids should be re-administered. D. Cyclosporine withdrawal might be considered in order to ameliorate nephrotoxicity, arterial hypertension, lipid disorders and hypertrichosis. This can be carried out with no significant long-term risk of progressive graft loss. The efficacy of the remaining immunosuppression should be considered. After cyclosporine withdrawal, careful monitoring for acute rejection is recommended.

 

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[20]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Angiopoietin growth factors and Tie receptor tyrosine kinases in renal vascular development.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Pediatr Nephrol 2001 Feb;16(2):177-84.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Woolf AS; Yuan HT

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Nephro-Urology Unit, Institute of Child Health, University College London, UK. a.woolf@ich.ucl.ac.uk

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) is a secreted growth factor which binds to and activates the Tie-2 receptor tyrosine kinase. The factor enhances endothelial cell survival and capillary morphogenesis, and also limits capillary permeability. Ang-2 binds the same receptor but fails to activate it: hence, it is a natural inhibitor of Ang-1. Ang-2 destabilises capillary integrity, facilitating sprouting when ambient vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels are high, but causing vessel regression when VEGF levels are low. Tie-1 is a Tie-2 homologue but its ligands are unknown. Angiopoietin and Tie genes are expressed in the mammalian metanephros, the precursor of the adult kidney, where they may play a role in endothelial precursor growth. Tie-1-expressing cells can be detected in the metanephros when it first forms and, based on transplantation experiments, these precursors contribute to the generation of glomerular capillaries. During glomerular maturation, podocyte-derived Ang-1 and mesangial-cell-derived Ang-2 may affect growth of nascent capillaries. After birth, vasa rectae acquire their mature configuration and Ang-2 expressed by descending limbs of loops of Henle would be well placed to affect the growth of this medullary microcirculation. Finally, preliminary data implicate angiopoietins in deregulated vessel growth in Wilms’ kidney tumours and in vascular remodelling after nephrotoxicity.  N. Ref:: 64

 

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[21]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Early prognosis of the development of renal chronic allograft rejection by gene expression profiling of human protocol biopsies.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Transplantation 2003 Apr 27;75(8):1323-30.

      ●● Enlace al texto completo (gratuito o de pago) 1097/01.TP.0000068481.98801.10

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Scherer A; Krause A; Walker JR; Korn A; Niese D; Raulf F

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research/Transplantation, Novartis Pharma AG, Basel, Switzerland.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - BACKGROUND: Chronic allograft rejection (CR) is the major cause of failure of long-term graft survival and is so far irreversible. Early prognosis of CR by molecular markers before overt histologic manifestation would be a valuable aid for the optimization of treatment regimens and the design of clinical CR trials. Oligonucleotide microarray-based approaches have proven to be useful for the diagnosis and prognosis of a variety of diseases and were chosen for the unbiased identification of prognostic biomarkers. METHODS: Renal allograft biopsies were taken at month 6 posttransplantation (PT) from two groups who were, at that time, healthy recipients: one group developed CR at month-12 PT, the other group remained healthy. Gene expression profiles from the two groups at month-6 PT biopsies were analyzed to identify differentially expressed genes with prognostic value for CR development at month 12. RESULTS: A set of 10 genes was identified that showed differential expression profiles between the two patient groups and had a complete separation of the 15% to 85% quantile range for each individual gene. This set of genes was sufficient to allow the correct prediction of the occurrence or nonoccurrence of CR in 15 of 17 (88%) patients using cross-validation (occurrence for a patient was predicted on the basis of the other patients’ data only). In addition, a correct prediction could be made that a recipient with a normal biopsy 12 months PT developed CR within the following 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: Identified expression patterns seem to be highly prognostic of the development of renal CR.

 

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[22]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Calcium metabolism and skeletal problems after transplantation.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - J Am Soc Nephrol. Acceso gratuito al texto completo a partir de 1 año de la fecha de publicación.

      ●● Enlace a la Editora de la Revista http://www.jasn.org/ 

      ●● Cita: Journal of the American Society of Nephrology: <> 2002 Feb;13(2):551-8.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Torres A; Lorenzo V; Salido E

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Nephrology Section and Research Unit, University Hospital of the Canary Islands, Instituto Reina Sofia de Investigacion, Tenerife, España. atorres@ull.es  N. Ref:: 59

 

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[23]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - The impact of impaired insulin release and insulin resistance on glucose intolerance after renal transplantation.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Clin Transplant 2002 Dec;16(6):389-96.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Hjelmesaeth J; Hagen M; Hartmann A; Midtvedt K; Egeland T; Jenssen T

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department of Medicine, Section of Nephrology, Oslo, Norway. joran@online.no

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - The current knowledge of the pathogenesis of post-transplant glucose intolerance is sparse. This study was undertaken to assess the relative importance of insulin secretion (ISec) and insulin sensitivity (IS) in the pathogenesis of post-transplant diabetes mellitus (PTDM), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and impaired fasting glucose (IFG) after renal transplantation. An oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed in 167 non-diabetic recipients 10 wk after renal transplantation. Fasting, 1-h and 2-h insulin and glucose levels were used to estimate the insulin secretory response and IS. One year after transplantation 89 patients were re-examined with an OGTT including measurements of fasting and 2 h glucose. Ten weeks after transplantation the PTDM-patients had significantly lower ISec and IS than patients with IGT/IFG, who again had lower ISec and IS than those with normal glucose tolerance (NGT). One year later, a similar difference in baseline ISec was observed between the three groups, whereas baseline IS did not differ significantly. Patients who improved their glucose tolerance during the first year, were mainly characterized by a significantly greater baseline ISec, and they received a significantly higher median prednisolone dose at baseline with a subsequent larger dose reduction during the first year, than the patients who had their glucose tolerance unchanged or worsened. In conclusion, both impaired ISec and IS characterize patients with PTDM and IGT/IFG in the early course after renal transplantation. The presence of defects in insulin release, rather than insulin action, indicates a poor prognosis regarding later normalization of glucose tolerance.  N. Ref:: 29

 

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[24]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Basiliximab: a review of its use as induction therapy in renal transplantation.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Drugs 2003;63(24):2803-35.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Chapman TM; Keating GM

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Adis International Limited, Auckland, New Zealand. demail@adis.co.nz

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Basiliximab (Simulect), a chimeric (human/murine) monoclonal antibody, is indicated for the prevention of acute organ rejection in adult and paediatric renal transplant recipients in combination with other immunosuppressive agents.Basiliximab significantly reduced acute rejection compared with placebo in renal transplant recipients receiving dual- (cyclosporin microemulsion and corticosteroids) or triple-immunotherapy (azathioprine- or mycophenolate mofetil-based); graft and patient survival rates at 12 months were similar. Significantly more basiliximab than placebo recipients were free from the combined endpoint of death, graft loss or acute rejection 3 years, but not 5 years, after transplantation.The incidence of adverse events was similar in basiliximab and placebo recipients, with no increase in the incidence of infection, including cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. Malignancies or post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders after treatment with basiliximab were rare, with a similar incidence to that seen with placebo at 12 months or 5 years post-transplantation. Rare cases of hypersensitivity reactions to basiliximab have been reported.The efficacy of basiliximab was similar to that of equine antithymocyte globulin (ATG) and daclizumab, and similar to or greater than that of muromonab CD3. Basiliximab was as effective as rabbit antithymocyte globulin (RATG) in patients at relatively low risk of acute rejection, but less effective in high-risk patients. Numerically or significantly fewer patients receiving basiliximab experienced adverse events considered to be related to the study drug than ATG or RATG recipients. The incidence of infection, including CMV infection, was similar with basiliximab and ATG or RATG.Basiliximab plus baseline immunosuppression resulted in no significant differences in acute rejection rates compared with baseline immunosuppression with or without ATG or antilymphocyte globulin in retrospective analyses conducted for small numbers of paediatric patients. Limited data from paediatric renal transplant recipients suggest a similar tolerability profile to that in adults. Basiliximab appears to allow the withdrawal of corticosteroids or the use of corticosteroid-free or calcineurin inhibitor-sparing regimens in renal transplant recipients.Basiliximab did not increase the overall costs of therapy in pharmacoeconomic studies.CONCLUSION: Basiliximab reduces acute rejection without increasing the incidence of adverse events, including infection and malignancy, in renal transplant recipients when combined with standard dual- or triple-immunotherapy. The overall incidence of death, graft loss or acute rejection was significantly reduced at 3 years; there was no significant difference for this endpoint 5 years after transplantation. Malignancy was not increased at 5 years. The overall efficacy, tolerability, ease of administration and cost effectiveness of basiliximab make it an attractive option for the prophylaxis of acute renal transplant rejection.  N. Ref:: 85

 

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[25]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Pharmacokinetics of tacrolimus-based combination therapies.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Nephrol Dial Transplant. Acceso gratuito al texto completo a partir de los 2 años de la fecha de publicación.

      ●● Enlace a la Editora de la Revista http://ndt.oupjournals.org/ 

      ●● Cita: Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation: <> 2003 May;18 Suppl 1:i12-5.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Undre NA

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Fujisawa GmbH, Neumarkter Str. 61, D-81673 Munich, Germany. nas.undre@fujisawa.de

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - This paper reviews the pharmacokinetics of tacrolimus, with special reference to its combination with adjunctive immunosuppressants. Oral bioavailability of tacrolimus, which is variable between patients, averages approximately 25%. This is largely due to extrahepatic metabolism of tacrolimus in the gastrointestinal epithelium. Nevertheless, intra-patient variability is low, as evidenced by the small number of dose changes required to maintain patients within the recommended tacrolimus target levels. Tacrolimus is distributed extensively in the body with most partitioned outside the blood compartment. Concentrations of tacrolimus in blood are used as a surrogate marker of clinically relevant concentration of the drug at the site(s) of action. Convenient whole-blood sampling within a +/-2-h window around 12 h post-dose (C(min)) is highly predictive of systemic exposure to tacrolimus and is thus used to optimise therapy. Sampling at other time-points offers no advantage over C(min) monitoring. The interactions of tacrolimus with other immunosuppressive agents are well characterized. After cessation of concomitant corticosteroid treatment, exposure to tacrolimus increases by approximately 25%. In contrast, there is no pharmacokinetic interaction between mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and tacrolimus. Therefore, systemic exposure to the active metabolite of MMF, mycophenolic acid, is higher with MMF-tacrolimus combination than with MMF-cyclosporin combination. Therefore, 1 g/day MMF may be an adequate maintenance dose in tacrolimus-based regimens. Co-administration of tacrolimus and sirolimus, while having no effect on exposure to sirolimus, results in reduced exposure to tacrolimus at sirolimus doses of 2 mg/day and above. In conclusion, tacrolimus levels should be monitored when sirolimus is co-administered at doses >2 mg/day and after cessation of corticosteroid treatment.  N. Ref:: 13

 

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[26]

- Castellano -

TÍTULO / TITLE:La enfermedad linfoproliferativa difusa postrasplante renal y su relacion con el virus Epstein-Barr. Experiencia de un centro. Diffuse lymphoproliferative disease after renal transplantation and its relation with Epstein-Barr virus. Experience at one center.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Nefrologia. Acceso gratuito al texto completo.

      ●● Enlace a la Editora de la Revista http://www.aulamedica.es/nefrologia/ 

      ●● Cita: Nefrologia: <> 2002;22(5):463-9.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Franco A; Jimenez L; Aranda I; Alvarez L; Gonzalez M; Rocamora N; Olivares J

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Servicio de Nefrologia Hospital General Alicante Maestro Alonso, 109 03010 Alicante. franco_ant@gva.es

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD) are a group of heterogeneous lymphoid proliferations in chronic immunosuppressed recipients which appear to be related to Epstein Barr Virus (EBV). Receptor EBV seronegativity, use of antilymphocyte antibodies and CMV disease have been identified as risk factors that may tigger development of PTLD. We have studied the incidence of PTLD and its relationship with EBV in 588 adult renal transplant recipients who were transplanted in our hospital from 1988 to 2001. We have also evaluated the diagnostic and therapeutic methods used, the risk factors and outcome of the patients who developed PTLD. We identified 8 recipients (4 males and 4 females), range from 18 to 67 years (mean age 45.6 years) with a median time between grafting and PTLD of 4.1 years (0.1-7 years), who developed PTLD (1.3%). Only 1 patient received OKT3 and had CMV disease, two of them (25%) had been treated with hight doses of prednisolone, another was EBV seronegative, but the rest of them (50%) had no risk factors. Two patients were diagnosed at autopsy, the diagnosis of 5 was based on the histology of biopsy and the last one by CT scans of chest-abdomen and cytology. The presence of EBV in the lymphoproliferative cells was assessed in 5 out of the 7 studied patients (71.4%). The outcome of our recipients was poor. Five out of 8 patients died shortly after diagnosis as a direct consecuence of PTLD and another of an infectious complication of the treatment (75%). The 2 patients alive started dialysis and 1 of them died 2 years later of a non-related cause. In conclusion, PTLD is a relatively frequent disease with a poor prognosis in renal transplant patients. It seems to have a close relationship with EBV and can develop in the absence of the classical risk factors.  N. Ref:: 18

 

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[27]

TÍTULO / TITLE: