1/389. Acute torsion of the renal transplant after combined kidney-pancreas transplant. BACKGROUND: Surgical complications after combined kidney and pancreas transplantation are a major source of morbidity and mortality. Complications related to the pancreas occur with greater frequency as compared to renal complications. The occurrence in our practice of two cases of renal infarction resulting from torsion about the vascular pedicle led to our retrospective review of similar vascular complications after combined kidney and pancreas transplantation. methods: charts were reviewed retrospectively, and two patients were identified who experienced torsion about the vascular pedicle of an intra-abdominally placed renal allograft. RESULTS: Two patients who had received combined intraperitoneal kidney and pancreas transplantation presented at 16 and 11 months after transplant, respectively, with abdominal pain and decreased urine output. One patient had radiological documentation of abnormal rotation before the graft loss; unfortunately, the significance of this finding was missed. Diagnosis was made in both patients at laparotomy, where the kidneys were infarcted secondary to torsion of the vascular pedicle. Both patients underwent transplant nephrectomy and subsequently received a successful second cadaveric renal transplant. CONCLUSIONS: The mechanism of this complication is a result of the intra-abdominal placement of the kidney, length of the vascular pedicle, excess ureteral length, and paucity of adhesions secondary to steroid administration. These factors contribute to abnormal mobility of the kidney. Technical modifications such as minimizing excess ureteral length and nephropexy may help to avoid this complication. ( info) |
2/389. cyclosporine disposition and long-term renal function in a 500-pound kidney transplant recipient. Patient size has been suggested as a risk factor in kidney transplantation. We have followed a recipient of a cadaver kidney who became massively obese (232 kg, 511 lbs) 5 years posttransplantation. He has maintained stable renal function with no rejection episodes and at 5 years has a measured serum creatinine of 2.2 mg/dL, creatinine clearance 42 mL/min, and urinary protein excretion of 320 mg/24h. Both oral and intravenous cyclosporine (Sandimmune) pharmacokinetic studies were done on a steady-state dose of 150 mg, which represents 0.65 mg/kg per dose. The patient exhibited very high bioavailability, F = 95%, and an oral elimination T1/2 of over 21 hours. These data confirm that stable cyclosporine delivery in very obese recipients can be sustained by dosing normalized to the ideal body weight and trough level monitoring. ( info) |
| Emphysematous pyelonephritis is a rare, often severe infection of one or both kidneys that is most often caused by bacterial infection. Surgical intervention is often necessary. We describe a case of a diabetic patient with bilateral emphysematous pyelonephritis caused by candida infection that was treated conservatively. Renal function recovered almost completely in spite of giving a potential nephrotoxic drug for 6 weeks. ( info) |
4/389. Primary hepatic carcinoid in a renal transplant patient. There seems to be a world-wide increase in the incidence of tumors among immunosuppressed patients. Of 1350 renal allografts transplanted in the past 23 years at the Department of Transplantation and Surgery, 56 cases were malignant tumors. The case of a 58-year-old female patient is reported, with disseminated primary carcinoid in the liver detected 86 days after renal transplantation. According to the literature only 39 patients with primary liver carcinoids have been reported until 1997, but this is the first where the carcinoid developed in an immunosuppressed patient. The rapid progression of the carcinoid could be associated with the immunosuppression. ( info) |
5/389. Severe cutaneous hypersensitivity requiring permanent icodextrin withdrawal in a CAPD patient. We report a case of severe cutaneous hypersensitivity to icodextrin occurring in a CAPD diabetic patient. Icodextrin withdrawal was necessary to achieve cutaneous recovery. Although rare, this adverse event should be kept in mind. ( info) |
6/389. Successful living related simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplant between identical twins. Simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplant from living donors has been recently proposed as an effective therapeutic option in selected uremic patients with type I diabetes. We report the first simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplant performed between identical twins. Posttransplant, the recipient has been maintained on low dose cyclosporine to avoid recurrent auto-immune insulitis. At the 1-year follow-up, both donor and recipient are well with normal renal function and excellent glucose control. Simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplant between identical twins can be performed successfully using cyclosporine to prevent recurrent auto-immune insulitis. ( info) |
7/389. Effect of camostat mesilate on urinary protein excretion in three patients with advanced diabetic nephropathy. Effective treatment has not yet been established for patients with persistent proteinuria and hypoproteinemia related to advanced diabetic nephropathy. We report three patients with diabetic nephropathy presented with the nephrotic syndrome who showed a marked decrease in proteinuria following the administration of camostat mesilate, a protease inhibitor. Each patient was resistant to treatment with an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor and a platelet-aggregation inhibitor. Camostat mesilate, 600 mg/day, orally, caused a marked decrease in urinary protein excretion after the 7th consecutive day of drug administration. There were no serious adverse effects. Its mechanism of action in this respect is not known. Camostat mesilate thus merits clinical trials in the treatment of nephrotic syndrome related to diabetic nephropathy. ( info) |
8/389. Successful obstetric outcome after simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplantation. A 34-year-old woman became pregnant two years after having a simultaneous pancreas and kidney (SPK) transplantation, necessitated by type 1 diabetes and end-stage renal disease. The pregnancy was uneventful until 30 weeks' gestation, when she developed pancreatitis and a worsening of mild hypertension. A healthy 1700 g boy was delivered by caesarean section at 34 weeks' gestation. This is the first report of a successful pregnancy after SPK transplantation in australia. ( info) |
9/389. nesidioblastosis, myelodysplastic syndrome and nodular diabetic glomerulosclerosis in an elderly nondiabetic woman: an autopsy report. nesidioblastosis as the cause of hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia in an adult is rare. We report here an additional case of nesidioblastosis, which resulted in fatal hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia in a 72-year-old woman with an underlying myelodysplastic syndrome. The diagnosis of nesidioblastosis was established only after post-mortem examination with a careful exclusion of minute insulinoma. To our surprise, the renal pathology disclosed typical diabetic nodular glomerulosclerosis in the same patient who had no previous history of diabetes mellitus (DM). nesidioblastosis has been reported to cause 'reversal' of Type 1 DM and insulinoma causing 'reversal' of Type 2 disease. We therefore hypothesize that our patient might have had an undiagnosed DM in the past, which resulted in the typical diabetic nodular glomerulosclerosis. The nesidioblastosis caused a 'reversal' of DM and even the ultimate development of hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia. ( info) |
| Emphysematous pyelonephritis (EP), a rare necrotizing infection of the upper urinary tract, is a life-threatening complication of patients with diabetes mellitus. A case of EP is described where the diagnosis was delayed for 36 h and the patient died notwithstanding aggressive medical and surgical intervention. The demonstration of gas in the renal structures is pathognomonic of EP. Because early diagnosis and aggressive medical and surgical management is imperative for recovery, we recommend plain abdominal radiographs as a minimal screening tool for all diabetic patients who present to hospital with a presumptive pyelonephritis. The diagnosis should also be considered in patients who failed appropriate medical therapy. ( info) |