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Biomedical subjects

J C Whitsell

Publications and source records attributed to J C Whitsell.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Indications for surgery on renal artery aneurysms.

Indications for an operation on renal artery aneurysms include patients 1) with a rupture or an impending rupture, 2) with a possibility of pregnancy, 3) with hypertension and renin differentials suggesting remediable disease and 4) with functional or symptomatic impairment traceable to the aneurysm proper. If the aneurysm is calcified some temporization may be justified, although this observation alone should be only of secondary importance. The size of the aneurysm is likewise generally of secondary value. Of course, the patient's picture and expectancy need balancing in the decision. Conservative management in other situations is acceptable, particularly for the elderly.

Adult↗

Improved renal allograft survival using the mixed lymphocyte culture for selection of nonidentical living related donors.

Our results concur with earlier published work, by other groups, showing that LRD-recipient pairs with low MLC stimulation usually have better and more prolonged graft success than do those with higher stimulation. Specific HL-A compatibilities or incompatibilities did not seem to affect these results, nor did the presence of an increased number of common loci, short of increasing the apparent chromosome compatibility. The presence of pre-transplant cytotoxic antibodies, in patients with a high MI, however, may unfavorably affect the LRD transplant. The overall results of our LRD transplant experience is shown in Figure 1, and superimposed upon Figure 2, is the current extrapolation of data showing MLC stimulation and haplotype success. Thus, it appears that graft survival may be improved and more closely approach the levels seen in a full-house, diplotype match, by using the MLC results in considering patients for transplantation. Not all patients with a high MLC, however, (see table) reject their grafts and it is impossible to predict pre-transplant who will develop specific allograft enhancement. Before the MI becomes a specific criteria for transplant selection, additional studies of patient stimulation in MLC should be done. Suppression of stimulation by donor cells in autologous serum, as compared to the response to unrelated controls, might provide pre-transplant clues to the presence of enhancing factors. Such studies could provide an index that would be more meaningful than the MI in AB sera alone. Since overall results from both our series and from the Transplant Registry continue to indicate better long term graft survival for LRD than for cadaver transplants, and since the evidence suggests that a successful transplant offers a patient a better quality of life, as well as decreased morbidity and mortality compared to concomitant time spent on hemodialysis, continued LRD transplants with high MI is warranted in some circumstances with the patient's understanding of the overall outcome and backgrouns. Until in vitro tests can be more predictive of individual rather than statistical graft success, the patient with an LRD and a high MI should be given a complete explanation of the probabilities for success or failure, and he and the donor allowed to make an informed decision. The following are guidelines that we proposed for the selection of LRD transplants: 1. Availability and willingness. 2. Medical and psycho-social clearance. 3. ABO compatibility. 4. Negative direct crossmatch. 5. HL-A diplotype or haplotype. 6. MI less than 10 if possible, with or without HL-A antibodies. 7. MI greater than 10 with no HL-A antibodies, if possible. 8. MI greater than 10, with HL-A antibodies, if both donor and recipient clearly understand the enhanced chance for failure.

ABO Blood-Group System↗

Kidney transplantation: Improvement in patient and graft survival.

Patient and graft survival were reviewed in a series of 249 kidney transplants done from 1963 to March 1973. Patient survival was calculated by the life table method for the periods 1963-1970, and 1970-1973, since in 1970 a formal Kidney Center was established and mortality rates changed. Graft survival was analyzed in terms of donor source, HL-A matching and immune responsiveness to HL-A antigens. Three-year predicted mortality for cadaver kidney recipients was 62% between 1963 and 1969 (42 patients) and 8% between 1970 anid 1973 (67 patients). Similar predicted mortality for related living donors was 30% between 1963 and 1969 (52 patients) and 14% between 1970 and 1973 (85 patients). Mortality has continued to decrease and there has been only one death in the last 87 consecutive transplants, including 57 consecutive cadaver transplants. Oneyear predicted kidney survival for the 10-year period is 44% for cadaveric, 60% for non HL-A identical related living and 90% for HL-A identical sibling donors. In the cadaver group, those sharing 2 or more HL-A antigens had the same kidney survival as the non HL-A identical related living donor grafts. Since cadaver graft recipients are on dialysis for a longer period of time, immune responsiveness can be detected by their response to blood transfusions, whereas this determination could not be made in our related living donor group. Non-responsive cadaver kidney recipients had 80% one year kidney survival. We conclude that transplant mortality can be reduced to less than 10% by the Center approach to treatment of renal disease, dialysis does not adversely affect future transplantation, and excellent (80%) kidney survival can be expected in properly selected cadaver graft recipients.

Blood Transfusion↗