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Impact of adult living donor liver transplantation on waiting time survival in candidates listed for liver transplantation.

Studies comparing adult living donor liver transplantation to deceased donor liver transplantation have focused on post-transplant survival. Our aim was to focus on the impact of living donor liver transplant on waiting time mortality and overall mortality. We analyzed the affect of living donor liver transplantation on waiting time mortality and overall mortality (from listing until last follow up) in a cohort of 116 transplant candidates. Fifty-eight candidates who had individuals present as potential living donors (volunteer group) were matched by MELD score to 58 liver transplant candidates who did not have individuals present as a potential living donor (no volunteer group). Twenty-seven percent of candidates in the no volunteer group and 62% of candidates in the volunteer group underwent liver transplantation, p = 0.0003. One-year waiting list mortality for the volunteer group and no volunteer group was 10% and 20%, respectively, p = 0.03. Patient survival from the time of listing to last follow up was similar between the two groups. In our study group, living donor liver transplantation is associated with a higher rate of liver transplantation and lower waiting time mortality. In the era of living donor liver transplantation, estimates of patient survival should incorporate waiting time mortality.

Female↗

A morphological and functional evaluation of transplanted isolated encapsulated hepatocytes following long-term transplantation in Gunn rats.

In this study we investigated the fate of microencapsulated hepatocytes following long-term (6 months) transplantation in Gunn rats. Isolated hepatocytes were microencapsulated with a collagen matrix within an alginate-poly L-lysine composite membrane. Isolated, encapsulated hepatocytes (IEH) or free (unencapsulated) isolated hepatocytes were intraperitoneally transplanted into homozygous Gunn rats that exhibit congenital hyperbilirubinemia. Control Gunn rats received empty microcapsules. Total serum bilirubin was measured at weekly intervals for one month post-IEH transplantation, every two weeks for the next month, and monthly thereafter for up to six months. IEH samples were biopsied from the Gunn rats at monthly intervals and analyzed by light and electron microscopy. A significant (p < 0.01) decrease in total serum bilirubin was observed in IEH transplanted animals during the first month of transplantation. Thereafter, total serum bilirubin levels gradually returned to pre-transplantation levels. A mild, transient decrease in total serum bilirubin was seen in animals transplanted with free (unencapsulated) hepatocytes. No decrease in total serum bilirubin levels was seen in the Gunn rats transplanted with control (empty) microcapsules. Transplanted IEH retained its normal ultrastructure for up to one month and intact microcapsules showed no evidence of hepatocyte rejection, at this time. Degenerative changes observed in the IEH beginning at 2 months post-transplantation, suggests that repeated transplantations may be necessary for long-term effectiveness of IEH therapy.

Animals↗

Varicella in the first year after renal transplantation: a report of the North American Pediatric Renal Transplant Cooperative Study (NAPRTCS).

Prior reports document that children with renal transplants are at risk of severe varicella, with a 5-25% mortality rate. We have examined the current incidence and mortality of varicella requiring hospitalization in pediatric patients in the first year after kidney transplantation through a multi-center retrospective cohort study. Data from the North American Pediatric Renal Transplant Cooperative Study (NAPRTCS) for 2320 pediatric patients who received renal transplants between 1987 and 1993 and were followed until 1995 were examined. Varicella requiring hospitalization in the first post-transplant year occurred in 44 children. Characteristics of the patients who developed varicella were compared to the rest of the NAPRTCS cohort using chi-square analysis. Kaplan-Meier estimates of graft survival were used to compare graft survival in varicella patients and other NAPRTCS patients. Varicella patients tended to be younger (p=0.09) and more often male (p=0.07, chi-square) than other NAPRTCS patients. None of the 44 patients with varicella in their first post-transplant year died from this infection. The number of episodes of acute rejection per transplant and the time to first rejection was not different in patients with varicella compared to the other NAPRTCS patients. Five-year graft survival was not different for varicella cases when compared to other NAPRTCS patients with grafts surviving at least 6 months post-transplant. We conclude that the mortality rate of patients hospitalized with varicella in the first post-transplant year and the risk of subsequent graft dysfunction may be significantly lower than previously described. However, varicella remains a significant cause of potentially avoidable hospitalization in the first post-transplant year. Further study of the safety and efficacy of varicella vaccination in children with renal insufficiency and those post-transplant is warranted.

Adolescent↗

Use of transplant status codes to monitor access to kidney transplantation.

The kidney transplantation process involves a series of steps related to interest in transplantation, medical suitability, pretransplant workup, and eventual transplantation. We developed transplant status codes to monitor the progress of dialysis patients in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and Illinois as they move through these steps. Of the first 2,137 dialysis patients monitored with these new codes, 29% were interested in receiving a transplant, 31% were medically suitable to receive a kidney transplant, 15% had completed a pretransplant workup, 13% were on a cadaveric transplant waiting list, and 2% were awaiting a living-related transplant. Examination of these steps by gender showed differences in interest (men 32% v women 26%, P =.01) and medical suitability (men 33% v women 28%, P =.01). The proportion of patients successfully completing each step differed across facilities. In conclusion, transplant status codes are a useful method to monitor access to transplantation. As part of a facility-specific quality improvement program, such codes may be used to develop targeted interventions to help patients move through the transplant process as expeditiously as possible.

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, U.S.↗

[The results of kidney transplantation from very young paediatric cadaveric donors to adult recipients in Czech Republic in the years 1994-2001 (retrospective study of the Czech transplant centres)].

The results of kidney transplantation from very young paediatric cadaveric donors up to five years, which were transplanted to adult recipients, are evaluated in the first retrospective study of all Czech transplantcentres. In general, 42 of these transplantations were carried out during 1994-2001. In 28 cases single kidney was transplanted, in 14 cases en bloc graft of both children kidneys was transplanted. The reasons of kidney failure by recipients are usual (in 42.9% glomerulonephritis). An average age of the donors was 34.7 months (median 39 months). An average age of the recipients during transplantation was 42.6 years (median 43.5 years). All the kidneys were placed into retroperitoneum. As long as only single kidney was transplanted, the rules, already propagated by Salvatiera in 1970, were respected. At the transplantation of en bloc graft, Kinne's method with possible vessels elongation of the graft and with uretero-uretero anastomoses (in so called Ostrava modification) was used. The higher occurrence of the primary graft non-function (as 50% losses of all grafts) was confirmed in the study. Its reason was an acute thrombosis of vessels or rotation of graft stem. One-, three- and five-years patients and grafts survival were 97.6-90.5-90.5% and 76.2-73.8-73.8% actually. Patients survival are very good while grafts survival are average, momentarily a bit worse than national data published by the Czech Transplant Society, which determines one-, three- and five-years grafts survival with 90.3-82.9-75.5% and 79.1-71.1-65% actually. The kidney transplantation from paediatric cadaveric donors to adult recipients is acceptable under present allocated criteria, in case that some principles are kept. The study confirms the international experiences about rather higher incidence of surgical complications and primary graft non-function. In conclusion, some general references for reduction of complications, as well as for improvement of these transplantation results are introduced.

Adult↗

Transplant tourism and the Iranian model of renal transplantation program: ethical considerations.

Currently, the buying and selling of kidneys through "transplant tourism" is occurring at an increasing rate, both in developed and developing countries. Since 1988, Iran has adopted a compensated and regulated living-unrelated donor renal transplant program, and by providing financial incentives to volunteer living donors, has eliminated the renal transplant waiting list. In the Iranian model of renal transplantation program, regulations have been put in place to prevent transplant tourism. Foreigners are not allowed to undergo renal transplantation from Iranian living-unrelated donors. They also are not permitted to volunteer as kidney donors for Iranian patients. A study at the transplant unit of Hashemi Nejad Kidney Hospital in Tehran, Iran, showed that of 1881 renal transplant recipients, 19 (1%) were Afghani or Iraqi refugees, 11 (0.6%) were other foreign nationals, and 18 (0.9%) were Iranian immigrants. Renal transplantations seemed ethically acceptable to all refugees and foreign nationals. However, transplantation of Iranian immigrants who had been residing abroad for years constituted true transplant tourism.

Delivery of Health Care↗

Comparison of outcomes of double and single lung transplantation for obstructive lung disease. The Toronto Lung Transplant Group.

Single lung transplantation has recently been applied with success in patients with obstructive lung disease. Such patients were previously managed by bilateral pulmonary transplantation. Between November 1986 and January 1990, 18 patients underwent transplantation for obstructive lung disease in our center. Eleven double lung transplants and seven single lung transplants were performed in patients having a mean age of 43.4 and 44.1 years, respectively. Operative death occurred in two of 11 double lung transplantations and one of seven single lung transplantations. Each patient underwent preoperative and 3-month postoperative pulmonary function tests, arterial blood gas analyses, nuclear lung scans, and 6-minute walk tests. There was no difference in the preoperative values for any of these parameters. Double lung recipients had significantly higher forced expiratory volume in 1 second and forced vital capacity than single lung recipients. However, the ratios of forced expiratory volume in 1 second to vital capacity were not different. Arterial oxygen and carbon dioxide tension were not different between the two procedures. Whereas double lung transplantations caused a slight preponderance of perfusion to the right lung, the transplanted lung in single lung recipients received a mean of 79.5% +/- 12.3% of predicted flow and only 61.6% +/- 5.0% of predicted ventilation. Three-month 6-minute walk distances were markedly improved in both groups, with double lung recipients achieving 573.0 +/- 44.7 m in comparison with the 528.0 +/- 43.0 m achieved by the single lung recipients. Single lung transplantation is a satisfactory option in patients with obstructive lung disease and might offer significant advantages to the older patient population, in which risk of double lung transplantation is high.

Adult↗

Right and left ventricular performance after single and double lung transplantation. The Toronto Lung Transplant Group.

Twelve single lung and nine double lung transplant recipients were studied before transplantation and at 3 months and 1 year after transplantation with serial right and left ventricular radionuclide angiograms. The resting right ventricular ejection fraction increased in the double lung recipients from 31% +/- 5% before transplantation to 43% +/- 11% at 3 months after transplantation (p less than 0.05) and then remained stable to 1 year. The single lung recipients also demonstrated a significant rise in ejection fraction from 25% +/- 11% before transplantation to 36% +/- 12% at 3 months after transplantation. Again, this remained stable to 1 year. The exercise right ventricular ejection fraction also showed a significant posttransplantation rise in the double lung recipients (p less than 0.005) that remained stable to 1 year. In the single lung recipients a trend was seen for a rise in the exercise right ventricular ejection fraction that did not reach statistical significance by 1 year after transplantation. Neither group had a significant change in rest or exercise left ventricular ejection fraction. The systemic blood pressure increased significantly by 1 year after transplantation in both groups. The heart rate increase with exercise at 3 months after transplantation was significantly greater in the single lung group (42 +/- 13 beats/min) than in the double lung group (14 +/- 13 beats/min) (p less than 0.005). These data indicate that a significant improvement in right ventricular function occurs after single and double lung transplantation.

Adult↗

[Transplantation of the kidney at the medical school in Novi Sad--3 years' experience of an interdisciplinary transplantation team].

The interdisciplinary transplant team on Medical faculty--Novi Sad is formed at the beginning of the 1986, and first successfully cadaver binephrectomy was performed in April 1986, and kidneys was transported in Transplant Centre in Belgrade. The first human renal transplantation with cadaveric kidney was performed 20, May 1986, and result was excellent. The first human renal transplantation with living related kidney was performed 27, Sept 1986, and result also was excellent. During the last three years our transplant team performed 32 renal transplantations. cadaveric kidney transplantations - 25 living-related kidney transplantation - 6 kidney autotransplantation - 1 Our Concept and organisation of interdisciplinary transplant team in Medical Faculty--Novi Sad is the very efficacy model of organisation and at the same time the cheapest solution. In this paper we discuss our organization of human renal transplantation, and technique of donor-neprectomy (cadaveric and living-related) and cold perfusion of kidney with Collins solution. Our rules for implantation are shown as the Algorythm. At the end of this paper we present our results, based on three year's experience and list of the members of our interdisciplinary transplant team.

Humans↗

Kidney transplantation in the northwest region of England--experience of 1,132 transplants in 21 years.

1. In more than 1,100 kidney transplants performed at a single center in 21 years a conservative approach to immunosuppressive therapy and HLA antigen matching has ensured high survival rates after both short- and long-term follow-up. 2. Retransplantation has been carried out in 16.6% of patients with transplant survival rates not differing significantly from those in first transplant recipients. 3. Living-related donor transplants accounted for only 7.9% of cases since 1982 and transplant survival was no different from HLA-A,B,DR-identical cadaver donor transplants. 4. Pretransplant blood transfusions were given to over 98% of recipients since 1982 and transplant survival in such CsA-treated patients was 10% higher than in the few nontransfused recipients. 5. By adopting a meticulous policy of pretransplant cytotoxic antibody screening and HLA antibody definition followed by careful pretransplant crossmatching using all available patient sera, accelerated transplant rejection has largely been avoided. 6. Monitoring of posttransplant recipient sera has shown that the appearance of cytotoxic antibodies leads to transplant failure and these antibodies are usually directed against HLA antigens mismatched between donor and recipient. 7. Matching for HLA antigens has a striking positive effect on transplant survival with more than 30% difference between the no mismatch and no match groups. Positive HLA matching effects on transplant survival were found in retransplants, highly sensitized recipients, male and female recipients, all ABO blood groups, and after long-term (20 years) follow-up.

Adolescent↗

Heart transplantation in Spain: the Spanish National Registry of Heart Transplantation (1984-1992).

The first heart transplantation in Spain was performed in 1984. Since then, 950 patients had undergone heart transplantation in our country as of December 1992. Data from all these 950 patients have been reported to the Spanish National Registry of Heart Transplantation since its inception in 1989. Follow-up is complete for all patients. Mean age of recipients was 46 +/- 14 years; 86% were male patients. Almost 50% of all heart transplant procedures were performed in 1991 (232 patients, 6 per million persons) and 1992 (254 patients, 6.6 per million). Twelve centers have performed heart transplantations in Spain. Of the 950 procedures, 907 (95%) have been orthotopic, 6 (0.6%) heterotopic, 16 (1.7%) heart-lung transplantations, and 21 (2.7%) retransplantations. Mortality on waiting list was 8% in 1991 and 5.2% in 1992. Idiopathic (47%) and ischemic (37%) cardiomyopathy were the two main causes leading to transplantation. Mean recipient age has increased from 38 years in 1985 to 50 in 1992; 50% of all patients who underwent transplantation in 1992 were older than 50 years of age, with 11% older than 60 years of age. Actuarial survival was 74% at 1 year and 63% at 6 years, which is similar to that of the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation Registry. One-year survival increased from 61% for patients receiving transplants in 1985 to 77% for those who received transplants in 1992. One-month mortality decreased from 23% in 1985 to 12% in 1992.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Actuarial Analysis↗

Bone marrow transplantation for chronic myeloid leukemia: long-term results. Chronic Leukemia Working Party of the European Group for Bone Marrow Transplantation.

The data on 1480 bone marrow transplants for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), performed between 1979 and 1990 were reported to the registry of the European Group for Bone Marrow Transplantation (EBMT). Of these, 1082 patients were transplanted in first chronic phase, 88 in subsequent chronic phase, 251 in accelerated phase and 59 during blast crisis. For these four disease stages leukemia-free survival (LFS) at 5 years is 39%, 22%, 22% and 0%, respectively. A more detailed analysis was performed for 947 patients receiving a first transplant in first chronic phase of their disease from an HLA-identical sibling donor. Survival at 8 years is 47%. At 5 years, relapse incidence (RI) is 33% and the transplant-related mortality rate (TRM) is 42%. The major prognostic factors are patient age (LFS, TRM), T cell depletion (LFS, RI), time from diagnosis to transplant (LFS, TRM), white blood cell count (RI) and donor-recipient sex combination (LFS, TRM). This first report on long-term results of a large cohort of transplanted CML patients confirms and extends previous findings. Stage of disease at time of transplant is the most important prognostic factor. Fifty per cent of all patients transplanted for CML in chronic phase can be expected to be alive at 8 years post-transplant, 40% alive and free of the disease. This number increases to > 60% for patients given cyclosporin and methotrexate without T cell depletion as GVHD prophylaxis. However, there is no plateau phase and late relapses and late transplant-related deaths occur in all subcategories.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Lipid disorder and transplant coronary artery disease in long-term survivors of heart transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Transplant coronary artery disease is the major cause of late mortality after heart transplantation. The underlying mechanism probably involves various factors including immunologic and nonimmunologic factors. METHODS: The influence of various risk factors concerning both the development and the progression of transplant coronary artery disease was analyzed. Fifty-two heart transplant patients, who survived at least 2 years after transplantation (24 to 60 months), were included. RESULTS: Of these patients 38.5% had angiographic evidence of transplant coronary artery disease. They had significantly higher values of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and log triglycerides than patients without evidence of the disease (p = 0.037, p = 0.002, and p = 0.015, respectively). In addition, preoperative diagnosis of coronary artery disease was a predictor of the development of transplant coronary artery disease, whereas significant differences were not found corresponding to recipient age, donor age, ischemic time, body mass index, lipoprotein (a) value, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol value, time after transplantation, number of postoperative rejection episodes, or prednisone dosage. A 12-month angiographic follow-up indicated disease progression in 25% of the patients. With respect to the majority of factors analyzed within the study, the differences between patients with and those without progression were comparable to the differences between patients in whom transplant coronary artery disease developed and those in whom it did not. However, patients exhibiting disease progression had a higher prednisone intake dosage (p = 0.006) and had significantly higher lipoprotein (a) values (p = 0.0229) than patients without progression. CONCLUSION: This study clearly shows that in heart transplant patients surviving more than 2 years, lipid disorder is one of the main risk factors of both the development and the progression of transplant coronary artery disease.

Adult↗

Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease in kidney transplant patients in the new immunosuppressive era.

Although the kidney transplant program at this center has been active for the past 18 yr, five out of the seven cases of post-transplant lymphoma in kidney transplant patients were observed over the past 2 yr. During this period, we have shifted from cyclosporine to tacrolimus (FK506 or prograf) for maintenance immunosuppression and for rescue therapy. We have also introduced mycophenolate (RS-61443) and have continued an antibody induction regimen in the immediate postoperative period. FK506 is 50-100 times more potent than cyclosporine. We have reported a decreased incidence of rejection, improved graft survival, and a general optimalization of patient survival with these newer regimens. Nonetheless, five cases of post-transplant lymphoma out of 233 kidney transplants (2.1%) performed during this time period (December 1993 to December 1995) occurred between 3 months to 1 yr after the transplant. Four of the five patients are still alive between 12 and 24 months after the diagnosis of lymphoma was made. All were without evidence of ongoing disease. Three of the five have grafts with excellent function for longer than 18 months after transplantation, while one is marginal and one patient expired on dialysis. The third and fourth patients had severe rejection before the diagnosis of PTLD was made. While the occurrence of five cases of post-transplant lymphoma over a 2 yr period is alarming, this is still within the 2-4% incidence of post-transplant lymphoma that has been reported in the literature in kidney transplant patients. Our results probably reflect the increasing potency of our immunosuppressive protocols but do not show any increase in the aggressiveness of this entity of post-transplant lymphoma during the continued follow up.

Adolescent↗

The Copenhagen National Lung Transplant Group: survival after single lung, double lung, and heart-lung transplantation.

OBJECTIVE: To review the 13-year clinical experience of a single center's adult lung transplantation program. METHODS: From January 1992 to December 2003, 369 lung transplantations were performed on 362 patients. Single lung transplantation was performed in 234 cases, double lung transplantation in 113 cases (comprising en-bloc double lung transplantation in 44 cases and bilateral sequential lung transplantation in 69 cases), heart-lung transplantation in 21 cases, and lobe of lung transplantation in 1 case. Recipient diagnoses included chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (n = 175), alpha1 antitrypsin (alpha1AT) deficiency (n = 86), cystic fibrosis (n = 36), pulmonary fibrosis (n = 20), Eisenmenger syndrome and secondary pulmonary hypertension (n = 24), primary pulmonary hypertension (n = 8), sarcoidosis (n = 7), silicosis (n = 4), bronchiectasis (n = 1), and graft-vs-host disease (n = 1). RESULTS: For patients surviving to discharge, the median duration of the intensive care unit stay was 3 days (1-67), and the median duration of the post-operative hospital stay was 37 days (16-144). Mortality for the entire series was 6% at 30 days and 10% at 90 days. The main causes of post-operative inpatient death were primary graft failure (41%), sepsis (29%), cardiac (15%), and hemorrhage (9%). The 1-, 3-, 5-, and 10-year actuarial survival rates for the entire series was 81%, 68%, 63%, and 36%, respectively. There were no significant differences in survival between types of transplant. No significant differences in survival were seen between alpha(1)AT deficiency and COPD patients after stratifying for age. Cox regression analysis demonstrated that age 60 years or older, donor age 50 years or older, and a recipient pre-operative body mass index of 25 or higher were independent predictors of poor survival. CONCLUSIONS: This center has 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates comparable to other high volume centers. Recipient age, pre-operative body mass index, and donor age significantly influence outcome after lung transplantation.

Adult↗

Autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation for multiple myeloma: a report of 259 cases from the Spanish Registry. Spanish Registry for Transplant in MM (Grupo Español de Trasplante Hematopoyético-GETH) and PETHEMA.

Between January 1989 and November 1995, 259 patients with multiple myeloma (MM), 22 stage I, 57 stage II and 180 stage III at diagnosis were treated with myeloablative high-dose therapy followed by autologous peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) transplantation. The median time from diagnosis to transplantation was 17 months (6-112). At the time of transplant, 56 patients were in CR, 153 in PR, 25 were nonresponders and 25 had progressive disease. Mobilization of stem cells was performed with G-CSF alone in 141 cases, chemotherapy plus G-CSF in 65, chemotherapy plus GM-CSF in 36 and chemotherapy alone in 17 patients. The conditioning regimen consisted of high-dose melphalan alone in 96 patients, melphalan plus TBI in 73, busulfan plus melphalan in 56, busulfan plus cyclophosphamide in 27 and cyclophosphamide plus TBI in seven. The median durations of neutropenia (>0.5 x 10(9)/l) and thrombocytopenia (>20 x 10(9)/l) were 12 (5-118) and 13 days (5-360), respectively. Transplant-related mortality occurred in 11 patients (4%). Once a stable graft was achieved, 114 patients (44%) received maintenance treatment with recombinant alpha interferon (IFN-alpha). Among the 248 patients evaluable for response 125 (51%) had a CR and 100 had a PR (40%). The median duration of progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) after transplantation was 23 and 35 months, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that response status pretransplant, only one line of primary induction treatment and IFN-alpha maintenance treatment post-transplant significantly influenced OS. Female sex, pretransplant responsive disease, and treatment with IFN-alpha post-transplant were the factors significantly influencing PFS. The conditioning regimen and method of stem cell mobilization had no significant impact on OS and PFS. On multivariate analysis the only independent factors associated with a longer survival were the number of chemotherapy courses prior to autologous PBSC transplantation and the pretransplant response status. The present analysis from the Spanish Registry confirms the feasibility of autologous PBSC transplantation in myeloma patients with a very low toxicity (4% toxic deaths). The high complete response rate after transplantation is encouraging. The best results are obtained when the procedure is performed early after the first line of induction therapy and in patients with chemosensitive disease. Whether early high-dose therapy followed by autotransplantation in responding patients is superior to conventional chemotherapy is currently being investigated in prospective randomized studies.

Adult↗

[Changes in partner relationship after organ transplantation: comparison between heart, liver, and kidney transplantation].

AIM: This study was conducted to delineate partnership-relation functioning over time and specifically matched to various organs such as heart, liver, and kidney. METHOD: Prospective, paralleled case-control-study including patients and their respective partners before and one year after organ transplantation in 23 heart-transplant recipients, 19 liver-transplant patients, and 16 kidney-transplant recipients. To assess partnership functioning, the FB-Z (family assessment measure) of Cierpka and Frevert was used. Statistics included descriptive methods, correlations, and analysis of variance including the items "organ" and "time". RESULTS: Heart-transplant recipients and their partners show significant better overall measures in their partnership ratings (sum-value) in comparison to liver or kidney patients and their partners. In all patient and partner groups, except in kidney-transplant recipients a significant deterioration over time is discernible in the subscales role performance and emotionality. In respect to the item "organ" significant differences were found in overall functioning and the subscale communication where heart-transplant recipients and their partners have significant better functioning compared to kidney or liver transplant patients. In kidney patients and their partners only communication changes to the better in the time course. CONCLUSION: In any organ transplantation the two sides of the coin are important to bear in mind, the one is the live-saving act of transplantation as such, the other is the important distress in the phase before but equally after the operation, mainly in the first year where patients and their respective partners have to be followed and treated even in respect to psychosocial and marital functioning.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Similar survival following HLA-identical sibling transplantation for standard indication in children with haematologic malignancies: a single center comparison of mobilized peripheral blood stem cell with bone marrow transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) grafts are increasingly used for autologous and allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT) with the aim to hasten neutrophil and platelet engraftment and thereby to reduce transplant-related complications due to infections, bleeding and graft failure. Based on the paucity of data on PBSC transplantation in children we performed a retrospective single-center analysis comparing the outcome of children receiving mobilized PBSC from human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-identical sibling donors to bone marrow (BM) transplant recipients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 1996 and 2004, 16 children with haematologic malignancies and standard indication for alloHSCT underwent PBSC transplantation from HLA-identical sibling donors. The outcome of these children was compared to a historic control group of 19 bone marrow (BM) transplant recipients. Time to neutrophil engraftment, incidence of acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), relapse rate, transplant-related mortality, event-free and overall survival were analyzed. RESULTS: Neutrophil engraftment was achieved significantly faster after PBSC compared to BM transplantation with a median time to neutrophil engraftment of 11 (range: 8-21) and 19 (16-44) days for the PBSC and BM cohort, respectively (p < 0.001). Two of 19 (11 %) BM recipients did not achieve primary neutrophil engraftment and both patients died due to infectious complications. The rate of clinically significant acute GvHD > or = grade II was higher in the PBSC compared to the BM group (75 vs. 39 %; p = 0.045). Incidences of chronic GvHD (PBSC vs. BM: 60 vs. 44 %), death of disease (13 vs. 21 %) and death of complication (13 vs. 16 %) were comparable between both groups (p = ns). With a median follow up of 4.7 years (PBSC) and 10.2 years (BM) overall survival (PBSC vs. BM: 68.6 +/- 13.5 vs. 63.2 +/- 11.1 %; p = 0.65) and event-free survival (67.0 +/- 12.1 vs. 63.2 +/- 11.1 %; p = 0.80) is without demonstrable difference in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Transplantation of PBSC compared to BM is associated with faster neutrophil engraftment and a higher rate of > or = grade II acute GvHD. As overall survival and event-free survival is similar when using PBSC and BM, PBSC is an alternative stem cell source for HLA-identical sibling transplantation. Further prospective analyses with higher number of patients stratified according to well established risk factors are required to define the precise role of both stem cell sources for children with haematologic malignancies.

Adolescent↗