The increasing use and availability of renal transplantation has resulted in a demand for noninvasive methods to study possible complications. One of the most serious adverse reactions is acute rejection, a possibly reversible cause of transplant failure if treated promptly. Sixty-six donors and recipients were evaluated by duplex Doppler examination of intrarenal arteries. A simplified formula, resistive index(RI) ([peak systolic frequency shift-lowest diastolic frequency shift]/[peak systolic frequency shift]), were used to diagnose rejection. All RI values of donors were within normal limit. RI values of recipients were not significantly different according to the number of renal artery and the ischemic time during operation. With a RI greater than 0.90, a 100% positive predictive value was obtained for the diagnosis of acute rejection. A 88% positive predictive value of acute rejection was obtained with a RI greater than 0.80. A value less than 0.70 was unlikely to be rejection(negative predictive value, 95%). The results suggest that the duplex Doppler examination and the resistive index obtained by simple analysis of the wave form would be used as a valuable noninvasive method for the detection of acute renal transplant rejection. The findings of Doppler examination are not necessarily pathognomonic for one specific process, but they can aid the clinician in deciding the kind of treatment necessary and the need for biopsy.
Arteries ; Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Graft Rejection ; Humans ; Kidney Transplantation* ; Renal Artery ; Tissue Donors

Even with improved immunosuppressive therapies, graft rejection remains the major cause of failure. Renal biopsy is the most sensitive tool and gold standard for the diagnosis of rejection and other causes of graft dysfunction. Because of the large number of conditions that can affect the allograft, sometimes in combination, renal transplantation pathology is one of the most challenging areas for the renal pathologist. The major causes of allograft dysfunction include rejection, postoperative acute tubular necrosis, perfusion injury, drug toxicity, obstruction, major vascular occlusion, infection, allergic interstitial nephritis, recurrent or de novo glomerular disease, and post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease. The criteria for grading rejection by the Banff 97 schema and the new concept of acute antibody-mediated rejection are introduced.
Allografts ; Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions ; Graft Rejection ; Kidney Transplantation* ; Necrosis ; Nephritis, Interstitial ; Pathology* ; Perfusion ; Transplants

In order to evaluate risk factors (sex, age, preoperative diagnoses, graft size, neovascularization of the recipient cornea, bilaterality, history of the previous graft failure, doner corneal preservation method, phakic status, glaucoma and enucleation time after death) influencing graft rejection, we reviewed 96 eyes underwent penetrating keratoplasty at the Chonnam University Hospital from May 1992 to December 1995, retrospectively. The rate of the graft rejection in penetrating keratoplasty was 34.3% (33 eyes). In detail, graft rejection occurred in 16 eyes(47%) among 34 vascularized corneas of recipient(R=18.0, P=0.000), 23 eyes(69.7%) among 33 vascularized orneas of donor side after operation (R=0.3, P=0.010), 5 eyes(35.7%) among 14 bilateral grafts, 4 eyes (57.1%) among 7 eyes having a history of graft failure, 6 eyes(40.0%) among 15 aphakic eyes(R=3.84, P=0.033), and 14 eyes among 32 eyes enucleated longer than 6 hours after death (R=10.1, P=0.002). In contrast, graft rejection occurred in 13 eyes (76.5%) among 17 postoperative glaucomatous eyes and in 20 eyes (25.3%) among 79 postoperative non-glaucomatous eyes, there was no statistically significant difference between two groups(P>0.05). These results suggest that neovascularzation of the either donor or recipient cornea, aphakic status of the recipient eyes, and enucleation time longer than 6 hours after death are high risk factors for graft rejection.
Cornea ; Diagnosis ; Glaucoma ; Graft Rejection* ; Humans ; Jeollanam-do ; Keratoplasty, Penetrating* ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants*

Intestinal transplantation has been established as a treatment option for patients that suffer from intestinal failure with complications from total parenteral nutrition. It is still rapidly evolving and just reached a landmark of 1, 000 cases worldwide. Intestinal allografts can be transplanted as isolated, combined with the liver or as a part of a multivisceral allograft. Tacrolimus-based immunosuppression regimens have been used universally with improved outcomes. Clinical outcome in intestinal transplantation has improved significantly over time, impacted by refinement of surgical technique and novel immunosuppression. However rejection, infection, and technical complications still remain the most difficult barrier to improve patient and graft survival.
Acute Disease ; Graft Rejection/diagnosis ; Humans ; Immunosuppression ; Intestines/*transplantation ; Nutritional Support ; Organ Transplantation/methods ; Postoperative Care ; Viscera/*transplantation

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the feasibility of MR diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in diagnosis of acute rejection after renal transplantation.

METHODSSixty-nine patients who underwent renal transplantation were enrolled in the study. According to the clinical features and renal biopsy, 26 patients were designated in rejection group and 43 in non-rejection group. Patients in non-rejection group underwent MR DWI scan at 2 to 3 weeks after operation, and those in rejection group underwent scan at 5 d before or after renal biopsy. Then the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of transplanted kidneys were measured with high diffusion sensitivity gradient factors (b values).

RESULTSPatients with acute rejection had significantly lower ADC (P <0.04) than non-rejection patients with all the different b values (b=200, 400, 600, 800, 1,000 s/mm(2)). The ROC curves showed that sensitivity and specificity were best when b value was 800 s/mm(2).

CONCLUSIONDWI is a potential and reliable non-invasive method for the diagnosis of the acute rejection after renal transplantation.

Acute Disease ; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Female ; Graft Rejection ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Kidney ; physiopathology ; Kidney Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Male ; Sensitivity and Specificity

graft survival following primary penetrating keratoplasty (PK) with imported donor corneas.METHODS: The eyes of patients who underwent primary PK with imported donor corneas were classified retrospectively into two groups according to a donor-age cutoff of 65 years. Primary outcome measures were rejection-free graft survival and graft survival. Cox proportional hazard regression analysis was used to assess the factors affecting graft survival. Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method, while differences between groups were examined using a log-rank test. A subgroup analysis of low- and high-risk eyes according to preoperative diagnosis was also performed.RESULTS: A total of 140 eyes from 138 patients (age, 58 ± 18 years) were enrolled. Cox regression analysis revealed that the donor age of 65 years or older group presented an increased risk of both graft rejection and failure. Survival analysis revealed that rejection-free graft survival and graft survival rates were higher in eyes in the donor age of less than 65 years group. Finally, in the subgroup analysis, both rejection-free graft survival and graft survival rates were significantly higher in the donor age of less than 65 years group than in the donor age of 65 years or older group, but only in the low-risk subgroup.CONCLUSIONS: Donor age may correlate with graft survival in primary PK performed with imported donor corneas. Donor age could be a considerable factor in primary PK with imported donor corneas, especially in preoperatively low-risk patients.]]>
Cornea ; Corneal Transplantation ; Diagnosis ; Graft Rejection ; Graft Survival ; Humans ; Keratoplasty, Penetrating ; Methods ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants

No abstract available.
Cytomegalovirus Infections/diagnosis/*etiology ; Graft Rejection/diagnosis/etiology ; Humans ; Kidney Transplantation/*adverse effects ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nephritis, Interstitial/diagnosis/*etiology ; Ureteral Obstruction/diagnosis/*etiology

Antibodies ; immunology ; Antibody Formation ; Complement C4b ; immunology ; pharmacology ; Diagnosis ; Graft Rejection ; diagnosis ; immunology ; Humans ; Kidney Transplantation ; immunology ; Peptide Fragments ; immunology ; pharmacology ; Transplantation, Homologous ; immunology

BACKGROUND: Differentiation of viral hepatitis from acute cellular rejection (ACR) after liver transplantation can be difficult because of overlapping histological features. Here we investigated clinicopathologic characteristics of 311 liver allograft biopsies and searched for characteristic histopathological features that would facilitate the differential diagnosis between hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and ACR. METHODS: A retrospective clinicopathologic examination of 311 liver allograft biopsies consisting of clinically proven ACR or HBV infection was performed. Immunohistochemical staining for HBcAg and HBsAg was done for 64 allograft biopsies showing HBV infection. RESULTS: Moderate to severe bile duct damage, diffuse centrilobular necrosis and centrilobular inflammation (p<0.000, for each) were more frequently observed in cases of ACR, whereas diffuse acidophilic bodies and spotty necrosis (p<0.000, for each) were more prevalent in cases of HBV infection. Immunopositivity for HBcAg (n=60, 93.8%) was higher than that for HBsAg (n=14, 21.9%) CONCLUSIONS: The presence of moderate to severe bile duct damage, diffuse centrilobular necrosis and centrilobular inflammation was a characteristic feature of ACR, whereas diffuse distribution of acidophilic bodies or spotty necrosis was the only characteristic feature of HBV infection. HBcAg was a more sensitive immunohistochemical marker than HBsAg for detecting HBV infection in liver allograft biopsies.
Bile Ducts ; Biopsy ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Graft Rejection ; Hepatitis ; Hepatitis B ; Hepatitis B Core Antigens ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Hepatitis B virus ; Inflammation ; Liver ; Liver Transplantation ; Necrosis ; Rejection (Psychology) ; Retrospective Studies ; Transplantation, Homologous

Acute antibody-mediated rejection is the major cause of graft failure in the early stage of kidney transplantation. Preoperative treatment and early diagnosis of acute rejection is very important to prevent graft loss in sensitized patients. High panel reactive antibody (PRA) means a likelihood of acute rejection, and the recipient of high PRA needs adequate pretreatment for kidney transplantation. However, there is not sufficient time and chances for desensitization in deceased kidney transplants. We report a successful renal transplant outcome in a 47-year-old-woman with high PRA levels (Class I 97.5%, Class II 36.7%). The cross match was negative on the CDC (ELISA) and flowcytometric methods. Plasma exchange was performed on the recipient before transplantation (fresh frozen plasma replacement, 1.3 plasma volume) and immediately after plasma exchange she was given 200 mg of rituximab. She received basiliximab and methyl prednisolone induction therapy and was maintained on steroids, mycophenolate mofetil, and tacrolimus. Graft function was normal immediately after transplantation, but decreased urinary output and elevated serum creatinine was noted on POD 5. On POD 6, a graft biopsy revealed acute cellular rejection (Type IIa) and antibody-mediated rejection (Type II). On 9~13 days after transplantation, additional plasma exchange was performed every other day, and steroid pulse therapy was performed 3 times. After normalization of urinary output and serum creatinine, the patient was discharged and is being followed up on. In conclusion, immunologically careful preparation and pretransplant treatment may be needed on the negative cross match in cadaveric kidney recipients with high levels of PRA.
Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived ; Biopsy ; Cadaver ; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.) ; Creatinine ; Early Diagnosis ; Graft Rejection ; Humans ; Immunization ; Kidney ; Kidney Transplantation ; Mycophenolic Acid ; Plasma ; Plasma Exchange ; Prednisolone ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; Rejection (Psychology) ; Rituximab ; Steroids ; Tacrolimus ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants