Background: The number of organ transplants in South Korea has increased, with a notable rise in living donor transplants. Ensuring their long-term health and well-being is critical to address potential complications and maintain the success of the transplant programs. Methods: A diverse advisory panel, including transplant experts and coordinators, was established to evaluate the follow-up care for living donors. The panel reviewed the results of a brief survey of donors regarding their donation experience, follow-up programs, guidelines, and policies from South Korea and other countries, aiming to identify best practices and recommend improvements. Results: The study found that follow-up care for living donors in South Korea is inconsistent and lacks standardization. Significant variability exists in follow-up practices across different institutions, and comprehensive data on donor health pre- and post-donation are scarce. The need for continuous, systematic follow-up, encompassing both medical and psychological support, is emphasized to ensure donor well-being. Conclusion Improving follow-up care for living donors is essential. Establishing a national registry and increasing donor advocacy teams are meaningful steps to enhance donor care, ensure long-term health, and maintain ethical standards in organ donation.

Background: The number of organ transplants in South Korea has increased, with a notable rise in living donor transplants. Ensuring their long-term health and well-being is critical to address potential complications and maintain the success of the transplant programs. Methods: A diverse advisory panel, including transplant experts and coordinators, was established to evaluate the follow-up care for living donors. The panel reviewed the results of a brief survey of donors regarding their donation experience, follow-up programs, guidelines, and policies from South Korea and other countries, aiming to identify best practices and recommend improvements. Results: The study found that follow-up care for living donors in South Korea is inconsistent and lacks standardization. Significant variability exists in follow-up practices across different institutions, and comprehensive data on donor health pre- and post-donation are scarce. The need for continuous, systematic follow-up, encompassing both medical and psychological support, is emphasized to ensure donor well-being. Conclusion Improving follow-up care for living donors is essential. Establishing a national registry and increasing donor advocacy teams are meaningful steps to enhance donor care, ensure long-term health, and maintain ethical standards in organ donation.

Background: and Purpose Treatments for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) such as eculizumab, ravulizumab, satralizumab, and inebilizumab have significantly advanced relapse prevention, but they remain expensive. Rituximab is an off-label yet popular alternative that offers a cost-effective solution, but its real-world efficacy needs better quantification for guiding the application of newer approved NMOSD treatments (ANTs). This study aimed to determine real-world rituximab failure rates to anticipate the demand for ANTs and aid in resource allocation. Methods: We conducted a nationwide retrospective study involving 605 aquaporin-4-antibody-positive NMOSD patients from 22 centers in South Korea that assessed the efficacy and safety of rituximab over a median follow-up of 47 months. Results: The 605 patients treated with rituximab included 525 (87%) who received continuous therapy throughout the follow-up period (median=47 months, interquartile range=15–87 months). During this period, 117 patients (19%) experienced at least 1 relapse. Notably, 68 of these patients (11% of the total cohort) experienced multiple relapses or at least 1 severe relapse.Additionally, 2% of the patients discontinued rituximab due to adverse events, which included severe infusion reactions, neutropenia, and infections. Conclusions This study has confirmed the efficacy of rituximab in treating NMOSD, as evidenced by an 87% continuation rate among patients over a 4-year follow-up period. Nevertheless, the occurrence of at least one relapse in 19% of the cohort, including 11% who experienced multiple or severe relapses, and a 2% discontinuation rate due to adverse events highlight the urgent need for alternative therapeutic options.

Background: and Purpose Treatments for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) such as eculizumab, ravulizumab, satralizumab, and inebilizumab have significantly advanced relapse prevention, but they remain expensive. Rituximab is an off-label yet popular alternative that offers a cost-effective solution, but its real-world efficacy needs better quantification for guiding the application of newer approved NMOSD treatments (ANTs). This study aimed to determine real-world rituximab failure rates to anticipate the demand for ANTs and aid in resource allocation. Methods: We conducted a nationwide retrospective study involving 605 aquaporin-4-antibody-positive NMOSD patients from 22 centers in South Korea that assessed the efficacy and safety of rituximab over a median follow-up of 47 months. Results: The 605 patients treated with rituximab included 525 (87%) who received continuous therapy throughout the follow-up period (median=47 months, interquartile range=15–87 months). During this period, 117 patients (19%) experienced at least 1 relapse. Notably, 68 of these patients (11% of the total cohort) experienced multiple relapses or at least 1 severe relapse.Additionally, 2% of the patients discontinued rituximab due to adverse events, which included severe infusion reactions, neutropenia, and infections. Conclusions This study has confirmed the efficacy of rituximab in treating NMOSD, as evidenced by an 87% continuation rate among patients over a 4-year follow-up period. Nevertheless, the occurrence of at least one relapse in 19% of the cohort, including 11% who experienced multiple or severe relapses, and a 2% discontinuation rate due to adverse events highlight the urgent need for alternative therapeutic options.

Background: The number of organ transplants in South Korea has increased, with a notable rise in living donor transplants. Ensuring their long-term health and well-being is critical to address potential complications and maintain the success of the transplant programs. Methods: A diverse advisory panel, including transplant experts and coordinators, was established to evaluate the follow-up care for living donors. The panel reviewed the results of a brief survey of donors regarding their donation experience, follow-up programs, guidelines, and policies from South Korea and other countries, aiming to identify best practices and recommend improvements. Results: The study found that follow-up care for living donors in South Korea is inconsistent and lacks standardization. Significant variability exists in follow-up practices across different institutions, and comprehensive data on donor health pre- and post-donation are scarce. The need for continuous, systematic follow-up, encompassing both medical and psychological support, is emphasized to ensure donor well-being. Conclusion Improving follow-up care for living donors is essential. Establishing a national registry and increasing donor advocacy teams are meaningful steps to enhance donor care, ensure long-term health, and maintain ethical standards in organ donation.

Background: and Purpose Treatments for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) such as eculizumab, ravulizumab, satralizumab, and inebilizumab have significantly advanced relapse prevention, but they remain expensive. Rituximab is an off-label yet popular alternative that offers a cost-effective solution, but its real-world efficacy needs better quantification for guiding the application of newer approved NMOSD treatments (ANTs). This study aimed to determine real-world rituximab failure rates to anticipate the demand for ANTs and aid in resource allocation. Methods: We conducted a nationwide retrospective study involving 605 aquaporin-4-antibody-positive NMOSD patients from 22 centers in South Korea that assessed the efficacy and safety of rituximab over a median follow-up of 47 months. Results: The 605 patients treated with rituximab included 525 (87%) who received continuous therapy throughout the follow-up period (median=47 months, interquartile range=15–87 months). During this period, 117 patients (19%) experienced at least 1 relapse. Notably, 68 of these patients (11% of the total cohort) experienced multiple relapses or at least 1 severe relapse.Additionally, 2% of the patients discontinued rituximab due to adverse events, which included severe infusion reactions, neutropenia, and infections. Conclusions This study has confirmed the efficacy of rituximab in treating NMOSD, as evidenced by an 87% continuation rate among patients over a 4-year follow-up period. Nevertheless, the occurrence of at least one relapse in 19% of the cohort, including 11% who experienced multiple or severe relapses, and a 2% discontinuation rate due to adverse events highlight the urgent need for alternative therapeutic options.

Background: The number of organ transplants in South Korea has increased, with a notable rise in living donor transplants. Ensuring their long-term health and well-being is critical to address potential complications and maintain the success of the transplant programs. Methods: A diverse advisory panel, including transplant experts and coordinators, was established to evaluate the follow-up care for living donors. The panel reviewed the results of a brief survey of donors regarding their donation experience, follow-up programs, guidelines, and policies from South Korea and other countries, aiming to identify best practices and recommend improvements. Results: The study found that follow-up care for living donors in South Korea is inconsistent and lacks standardization. Significant variability exists in follow-up practices across different institutions, and comprehensive data on donor health pre- and post-donation are scarce. The need for continuous, systematic follow-up, encompassing both medical and psychological support, is emphasized to ensure donor well-being. Conclusion Improving follow-up care for living donors is essential. Establishing a national registry and increasing donor advocacy teams are meaningful steps to enhance donor care, ensure long-term health, and maintain ethical standards in organ donation.

Background: Intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) instillation is the most effective treatment for reducing intravesical recurrence in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). However, due to the recent global shortage of BCG, there is an increasing need for alternative treatments. This study aimed to retrospectively compare the outcomes of patients treated with intravesical gemcitabine instillation and BCG instillation as initial treatment options for NMIBC. Methods: Seventy-eight patients with NMIBC who underwent transurethral resection of bladder tumors between January 2022 and September 2023 were reviewed. Of these, 42 patients received intravesical gemcitabine instillation, and 36 patients received BCG instillation. Recurrence-free survival (RFS) was analyzed, along with tumor multiplicity, grade, T stage, size, and bladder storage time after instillation, which could influence RFS. Results: The mean follow-up period was 18.7 months for the gemcitabine group and 20.6 months for the BCG group. Recurrence occurred in 46.15% of patients (52.38% in the gemcitabine group and 38.92% in the BCG group). Tumor characteristics, including multiplicity, grade, stage, and size, were not significantly different between the two groups. The mean RFS was 15.92 months in the gemcitabine group and 19.84 months in the BCG group, with no statistically significant difference (p=0.397). However, gemcitabine instillation caused more severe bladder irritation, with shorter bladder storage time. Conclusions Intravesical gemcitabine and BCG instillation yielded comparable RFS outcomes. However, gemcitabine led to more severe bladder irritation, highlighting the need for further studies to optimize its application.

Background: Intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) instillation is the most effective treatment for reducing intravesical recurrence in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). However, due to the recent global shortage of BCG, there is an increasing need for alternative treatments. This study aimed to retrospectively compare the outcomes of patients treated with intravesical gemcitabine instillation and BCG instillation as initial treatment options for NMIBC. Methods: Seventy-eight patients with NMIBC who underwent transurethral resection of bladder tumors between January 2022 and September 2023 were reviewed. Of these, 42 patients received intravesical gemcitabine instillation, and 36 patients received BCG instillation. Recurrence-free survival (RFS) was analyzed, along with tumor multiplicity, grade, T stage, size, and bladder storage time after instillation, which could influence RFS. Results: The mean follow-up period was 18.7 months for the gemcitabine group and 20.6 months for the BCG group. Recurrence occurred in 46.15% of patients (52.38% in the gemcitabine group and 38.92% in the BCG group). Tumor characteristics, including multiplicity, grade, stage, and size, were not significantly different between the two groups. The mean RFS was 15.92 months in the gemcitabine group and 19.84 months in the BCG group, with no statistically significant difference (p=0.397). However, gemcitabine instillation caused more severe bladder irritation, with shorter bladder storage time. Conclusions Intravesical gemcitabine and BCG instillation yielded comparable RFS outcomes. However, gemcitabine led to more severe bladder irritation, highlighting the need for further studies to optimize its application.

Background: Intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) instillation is the most effective treatment for reducing intravesical recurrence in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). However, due to the recent global shortage of BCG, there is an increasing need for alternative treatments. This study aimed to retrospectively compare the outcomes of patients treated with intravesical gemcitabine instillation and BCG instillation as initial treatment options for NMIBC. Methods: Seventy-eight patients with NMIBC who underwent transurethral resection of bladder tumors between January 2022 and September 2023 were reviewed. Of these, 42 patients received intravesical gemcitabine instillation, and 36 patients received BCG instillation. Recurrence-free survival (RFS) was analyzed, along with tumor multiplicity, grade, T stage, size, and bladder storage time after instillation, which could influence RFS. Results: The mean follow-up period was 18.7 months for the gemcitabine group and 20.6 months for the BCG group. Recurrence occurred in 46.15% of patients (52.38% in the gemcitabine group and 38.92% in the BCG group). Tumor characteristics, including multiplicity, grade, stage, and size, were not significantly different between the two groups. The mean RFS was 15.92 months in the gemcitabine group and 19.84 months in the BCG group, with no statistically significant difference (p=0.397). However, gemcitabine instillation caused more severe bladder irritation, with shorter bladder storage time. Conclusions Intravesical gemcitabine and BCG instillation yielded comparable RFS outcomes. However, gemcitabine led to more severe bladder irritation, highlighting the need for further studies to optimize its application.