by Gerald Schlaf  , Jakob Kehlen  , Anja Wahle  , Diana Mauer  and Wolfgang Altermann

Received: 26 January 2021;  Published: 02 June 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2102142

The specification of anti-human leukocyte antigen (HLA) antibodies is an important task for patients awaiting kidney allografts. Especially the patients immunized in previous transplantations, transfusions, or pregnancies must be carefully observed, since grafting patients with HLA antigens/phenotypes recognized by their pre-formed antibodies are the main cause of harmful hyperacute and acute rejection. The complement-dependent lymphocytotoxicity-based de facto (physical) crossmatching (CDC-CM) has thus been implem [...]

by Amy Spallone  and Marion Hemmersbach-Miller

Received: 29 January 2021;  Published: 02 May 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2102141

Donor-derived infections (DDI) are an infrequent event in solid organ transplant (SOT) due to advances in screening recommendations, prophylaxis, and surveillance of common infections. However, unexpected pathogen transmission can still occur when a donor is not known to be infected prior to organ procurement, which can lead to significant morbidity and mortality in the organ recipient. Solid organ donors with central nervous system (CNS) pathogens are an uncommon but deadly source of unexpected DDI. Clinically rec [...]

by Michael F Knoll  , Carmela A Knoll  , Rita Bottino  , Suzanne Bertera  and Massimo Trucco

Received: 12 January 2021;  Published: 25 March 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2101140

Clinical islet transplantation was first realized over four decades ago at the University of Minnesota. Autologous islet transplantation is now widely recognized as a treatment to prevent diabetes in patients after pancreas excision and is offered at major transplant centers throughout the United States and the world. Type 1 diabetes represents a much larger demographic in which islet transplantation may benefit patients. Allogeneic islet transplantation can now offer similar outcomes to pancreas transplantation in [...]

by Nidhi Sharma  and Yvonne Efebera

Received: 26 October 2020;  Published: 25 March 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2101139

Graft-versus host disease is one of the major causes of death in patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Major contributing factors to severity of graft-versus host disease include HLA mismatch, conditioning regimen intensity, age of donor and recipient, source of stem cell, and donor type. Strategies and clinical trials are ongoing to reduce the incidence of graft-versus host disease, and to improve on the survival outcome of patients with graft-versus host disease, Research efforts [...]

by Plamen Mihaylov  , Burcin Ekser  , Daiki Soma  , Andrew Lutz  , Jonathan Fridell  and Chandrashekhar A. Kubal

Received: 04 January 2021;  Published: 11 March 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2101138

One of the most feared complications in liver transplantation is hepatic arterial thrombosis (HAT). The incidence of HAT in liver transplantation varies from 1.2% and 8%. One of the risk factors for this complication is anatomical complexity of hepatic arterial system. The focus of this short communication is to show our approach in dealing with aberrant left hepatic artery in settings of liver transplantation. This is a single center experience. Between January 2016 and June 2019, we procured and transplanted 357 [...]

by Siva Mahendran  , Paramit Chowdhury  , Ronan Breen  , Grainne d’Ancona  and Heather J. Milburn

Received: 14 August 2020;  Published: 08 March 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2101137

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have an increased risk of developing tuberculosis (TB) compared to those with normal renal function. The reasons for this are well described, but include impaired cellular immunity, a high incidence of co-morbid conditions as well as the concomitant use of immunosuppressive medications. Ethnicity as well as socio-economic factors also prevail. Expert guidelines recommend TB chemoprophylaxis in renal transplant recipients deemed at high risk – invariably those from ethnic m [...]

by Patrick Hagen  , Shruti Singh  , Shuai Qin  , Loredana Campo  , William Adams  , Stephanie Tsai  , Nasheed Hossain  , Scott E Smith  and Patrick J Stiff

Received: 04 November 2020;  Published: 07 February 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2101136

Allogeneic stem cell transplantation remains the only curative option for many hematological malignancies. Umbilical cord blood (UCB) is an alternate donor source with potentially increased morbidity in elderly patients. We evaluated outcomes in alternate donor sources, prior to the initiation of haploidentical transplantation at our institution, of matched unrelated donor (MUD) and UCB in elderly patients (mean age 64, range 60-75). One hundred and eighty-four patients were included (MRD: 57; MUD: 69; UCB: 58). Th [...]

by M Wehming  , A Briem-Richter  , R Ganschow  , F Brinkert  , B Winkler  , L Fischer  and Enke Grabhorn

Received: 07 June 2020;  Published: 25 January 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2101135

Some malignancies such as hepatoblastoma may be an indication for liver transplantation (LT) or some, for example, post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) may develop after successful LT. An immunosuppressive therapy after LT can promote the recurrence of the primary malignancy. The mammalian target-of-rapamycin inhibitors (mTORi) are immunosuppressive agents with anti-tumor properties. We examined the impact of everolimus (EVL) together with calcineurin inhibitors on allograft outcome and patient surviv [...]

by Olivia C Smibert  , Joseph S Doyle  , Adam WJ Jenney  , David Pilcher  , Miranda A Paraskeva  , Glen P Westall  and Greg I Snell

Received: 16 September 2020;  Published: 13 January 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2101134

Since 2018 The American Society of Transplant has recommended that Hepatitis C Virus seropositive positive, non-viremic donors (HCVAb+/NAT-) be considered non-infectious and safe for transplantation. This report describes clinical outcomes and HCV serological and virological outcomes following lung transplantation (LTx) utilizing such donors. This retrospective cohort study describes seven HCVAb+/NAT- donors used for bilateral LTx. Donor information was sourced from the national organ donation service and recipient [...]

by Anis Chaba  , Julie Oniszczuk  , Manon Dekeyser  and Antoine Durrbach

Received: 30 August 2020;  Published: 11 January 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2101133

Kidney transplantation has become the preferred treatment option in end-stage chronic renal failure as it provides significant improvements over dialysis in terms of both quality and duration of life. Even after several randomized studies conducted in the last 20 years, the combination of CNI, MMF, and steroids continues to be considered the gold standard for kidney transplantation. However, novel molecules aimed at minimizing renal and cardiovascular toxicity, particularly with CNI sparing, are being identified. T [...]