BACKGROUND The microbial metabolite Trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) has been linked to adverse cardiovascular outcome and mortality in the general population. OBJECTIVE To assess the contribution of TMAO to inflammation and mortality in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients ranging from mild-moderate to end-stage disease and 1) associations with glomerular filtration rate (GFR) 2) effect of dia...

The complement system is involved in several renal diseases and in renal transplantation (RTx). The authors review the complement cascade and its involvement in innate and adaptive immunity in the field of RTx. The complement cascade is involved in several steps of RTx: ischaemia—reperfusion injury (IRI), T cell-mediated acute rejection (TMR), antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR), and progressive...

INTRODUCTION ABO-incompatible (ABOi) renal transplantation (RTx) from living donors is an established procedure to expand the donor pool for patients with end stage renal disease. Immunoadsorption (IA) is a standard procedure for the removal of preformed antibodies against the allograft. In this study, antigen-specific and non-antigen-specific IA in ABOi RTx were compared. PATIENTS AND METHOD...

BACKGROUND Kidney transplantation (RTx) leads to amelioration of endothelial function in patients with advanced renal failure. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) may play a key role in this repair process. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of RTx and immunosuppressive therapy on the number of circulating EPCs. METHODS We analyzed 52 RTx patients (58±13 years; 33 males, mean ±...

BACKGROUND In a randomized study, we observed a higher incidence of biopsy-proven acute rejection with pre-emptive valganciclovir therapy as compared with valacyclovir prophylaxis for prevention of cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease after renal transplantation (RTx). Persistence of the virus within the allograft could stimulate the alloimmune response. The aim of our study was to evaluate intragraft...

BACKGROUND Post-transplant diabetes mellitus (PTDM) is a common metabolic complication in kidney allograft recipients, significantly contributing to the elevated cardiovascular morbidity after renal transplantation and increased risk of chronic transplant dysfunction. The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the factors influencing PTDM development. Under particular consideration we...

A decrease in bone mineral density (BMD) is a major complication of renal transplantation (RTx), predominantly occurring within the first 6 mo after RTx. The most important causative factor is the use of corticosteroids, but persisting hyperparathyroidism and abnormalities in vitamin D metabolism play a role too. This study examines the effect of treatment with calcium and active vitamin D on t...

OBJECTIVE Despite many efforts to prevent ureteric stenosis in a transplanted kidney, this complication occurs in 3-5% of renal transplant recipients. Balloon dilatation (BD) is a possible minimally invasive approach for treatment, but reports to date refer only to the antegrade approach; we analysed our experience with retrograde BD (RBD) and reviewed previous reports. PATIENTS AND METHODS F...

BACKGROUND Members of the European Society of Paediatric Nephrology (ESPN) initiated a study of the demography and policy of paediatric renal care among European countries at the end of the 20th century. METHODS A questionnaire was mailed to the presidents of each of 43 national renal paediatric societies or working groups in Europe. Data on each country's population, income as reflected by i...

IntroductionTrichosporonosis and complications at the aorto-allograft anastomosis are rare after cardiac transplantation (CTx). We report a case of Trichosporon endocarditis mycotic pseudoaneurysm.Case ReportA 51 year old female with dilated cardiomyopathy adult polycystic kidney disease underwent bilateral nephrectomy was listed for renal transplant (RTx). While waiting, her status progressed ...