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Biomedical subjects

Janet E Tuttle-Newhall

Publications and source records attributed to Janet E Tuttle-Newhall.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Half-life analysis of pancreas and kidney transplants.

Although graft and patient survival data are available for pancreas and kidney transplants, they are rarely reported in terms of half-life. Our aim was to determine whether a more relevant measure of outcome is patient and allograft half-life. Using the data from the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network Registry on kidney and pancreas transplants from January 1988 to December 1996, patient and graft half-life and 95% confidence intervals were calculated and demographic variables compared. No significant differences were found between demographic variables. Kidneys transplanted in diabetics as a simultaneous kidney-pancreas (SPK) fared better than diabetics receiving a kidney alone (9.6 vs. 6.3 years). Pancreatic graft survival in an SPK pair was better than pancreas after kidney transplant or pancreas transplant alone (11.2 vs. 2.5 years). Because kidney and pancreatic grafts have a longer half-life when transplanted with their mate grafts, we should consider the relative benefits of SPKs over pancreas after kidney transplant or pancreas transplant alone to limit the loss of precious resources.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

The current status of living donor liver transplantation.

In response to the critical organ shortage, transplant professionals have utilized living donors in an attempt to decrease the mortality rate associated with waiting on the liver transplant list. Although the surgical techniques were first utilized clinically 15 years ago, application of LDLT has been somewhat limited by the steep learning curve associated with developing a program. Clinical success with LDLT in children was realized early in the experience and application of the techniques to the adult population has occurred more recently. Although transplant centers embark on LDLT with enthusiasm, the safety of the donor must always be at the forefront of the process. Potential donors must come to the decision to donate without pressure from members of the family or transplant team. He/she should also be assigned advocates who constantly promote the donor's best interest. Failure to adhere to strict donor evaluation protocols and standardized operative techniques could result in disastrous consequences.

Chronic Disease↗
PubMed2005

Gastrointestinal hemorrhage due to complicated gastroduodenal ulcer disease in liver transplant patients taking sirolimus.

Sirolimus is emerging as a popular immunosuppressive agent for patients undergoing solid organ and pancreatic cell transplantation. Here, we report the clinical courses of three patients receiving sirolimus who developed aggressive gastroduodenal ulcer disease. One patient died from massive gastrointestinal bleeding, and ulcers in the other two patients healed only after discontinuation of sirolimus. We propose that the mechanism underlying this severe ulcer diathesis, and poor ulcer healing, was linked to the well-known inhibitory effects of sirolimus on wound healing. We propose that sirolimus should be used carefully (or even withheld) in patients with known or previous ulcer disease, and further that it should be used prudently and/or in conjunction with aggressive prophylaxis therapy in those at risk for ulcer disease.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Acute kidney transplant failure following transurethral bladder polyp fulguration.

Ureteral obstruction and anastomotic leak represent the most common urologic complications of kidney transplantation. Delay in diagnosis or treatment can lead to allograft loss. Obstruction of the ureter occurs in 2% of kidney transplant recipients. Although the majority of cases are immediate technical complications of the operation, subsequent manipulation of the genitourinary system can result in iatrogenic ureteral injury. We report the case of a long-term kidney transplant recipient who developed obstructive uropathy and acute renal failure requiring dialysis after undergoing cystoscopy and bladder polyp fulguration. The etiology was inadvertent thermal injury of the ureteroneocystostomy incurred during the procedure. After attempted percutaneous management, definitive open repair resulted in a return of allograft function to baseline.

Acute Kidney Injury↗
PubMed2003

Prognostic significance of microvascular thrombosis in donor kidney allograft biopsies.

BACKGROUND: With a continuing demand for donor kidneys for organ transplantation, it is important to understand the significance of pathologic findings in the donor organ before transplantation. Microvascular thrombosis is sometimes encountered in association with disseminated intravascular coagulation in the donor, and it is unclear whether this finding may affect immediate allograft function and long-term graft survival. To further elucidate this question, we examined our experience with microvascular thrombosis in donor biopsies in the kidney transplant program at our institution. METHODS: Donor kidney biopsies showing microvascular thrombosis were identified from consecutive donor biopsies in the Duke University Medical Center transplant file database between January 1, 1995 and December 31, 2000. These biopsies and all other kidney biopsies and specimens from the recipients of these kidneys thus identified were reviewed. Sections were stained using a variety of methods, including hematoxylin-eosin, periodic acid-Schiff, methenamine silver, and Masson trichrome methods. Clinical records of the transplant recipients of these kidneys were also reviewed to assess allograft performance and survival. RESULTS: From 230 consecutive donor kidney biopsies, we identified eight cases exhibiting donor-microvascular thrombosis. Mean follow-up times were 27.5 months for the thrombi group and 35 months for the non-thrombi group. Recipients of grafts with donor thrombi were more likely to exhibit delayed graft function, but graft function at 1 and 2 years and graft survival were similar between the two groups. Subsequent posttransplantation biopsies in five of eight cases showed no evidence of residual thrombosis. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that the presence of donor microvascular thrombosis does not portend poor outcome in renal transplantation.

Adolescent↗