Plasma exchange, organ perfusion, and immunosuppression reduce "natural" antibody levels as measured by binding to xenogeneic endothelial cells and prolong discordant xenograft survival.
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Publications and source records attributed to R M Bolman.
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The authors investigated the importance of natural antibody and complement in the pathogenesis of hyperacute xenograft rejection using in vivo and in vitro pig to primate models. Studies were carried out in rhesus monkeys transplanted with a pig heart or kidney in which hyperacute rejection was observed within a few hours. The rejected organs showed deposits of IgM, C3, C4, C5, and C9 neoantigen along small blood vessels, but few deposits of factors B and P. Removal of anti-endothelial cell "natural" antibodies by plasmapheresis, immunoabsorption, and immunosuppression techniques resulted in marked prolongation of the survival of a subsequently transplanted heart, even when complement levels were within the normal range. Thus, complement, in the absence of natural antibodies, did not initiate hyperacute rejection in this species combination. The requirements for complement activation in human serum to cause cytotoxicity of porcine endothelial cells were then evaluated. Cytotoxicity was abrogated by depleting human serum of IgM, C2, or C5, but not of factor B. Restoration of the effect of serum on endothelial cells was achieved by reconstitution of the respective depleted sera with purified IgM or with the corresponding complement proteins, indicating that IgM and the classical, but not the alternative, pathway of complement, were involved. Identical conclusions were drawn from experiments to ascertain the requirements for complement activation in human serum to mediate binding of iC3b to porcine endothelial cells. The authors conclude that in a pig to primate xenograft complement does not directly initiate injury to the graft but rather requires activation by bound xenoreactive natural antibodies; IgM antibodies directed against endothelial cells activate the classical complement pathway, which then contributes to endothelial cell activation and subsequent events characteristic of hyperacute rejection.
This article describes a comparative study performed to determine the histologic features of pulmonary rejection and cytomegaloviral (CMV) infection following lung transplantation. Rejection was defined clinically by findings of new pulmonary symptoms or radiographic changes or decreased oxygenation in the absence of documented infection in patients who were treated for rejection and improved. These patients also had negative CMV cultures. CMV infection was studied in a group of non-lung and non-bone marrow transplant patients and was defined by the presence of characteristic nuclear inclusions in lung biopsies. Ten rejection biopsies and nine CMV biopsies were examined. No histologic feature was unique to rejection, however; perivascular lymphocytic infiltrates occurred more frequently and more intensely in rejection than in CMV infection (p = 0.0029). Endothelialitis also occurred more frequently in rejection (p = 0.0331), but it was always seen in association with perivascular lymphocytic inflammation. In rejection, the inflammatory infiltrate was primarily perivascular, with extension into the interstitium in several cases. In contrast, CMV infection was characterized predominantly by interstitial inflammation with involvement of associated vessels. We conclude that although overlapping features are present in both processes, pulmonary rejection can be distinguished from CMV infection on the basis of histology.
Heart-lung transplantation (HLT) and lung transplantation (LT) are effective treatment modalities for patients with advanced pulmonary parenchymal or vascular disease. Lung transplantation offers potential advantages over HLT, including reduced pretransplant waiting time and improved efficiency of organ utilization, and is currently being offered to patients formerly treated by HLT. To explore the relative merits of these procedures, the authors examined the results in 44 procedures (23 HLT and 21 LT) in 42 patients transplanted at their institution. Heart-lung transplant recipients included 20 adults and three children (ages 5,5 and 3). Most HLT patients had primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH) (n = 9) or Eisenmenger's syndrome (ES) (n = 8). Twenty-two of twenty-three patients have been long-term survivors (mean follow-up = 17.8 months, Kapaln-Meier survival at 12 months = 85%). Obliterative bronchiolitis (OB) has occurred in five patients (22%), and all have died. Of 21 LTs in 19 patients, nine had obstructive and eight had restrictive lung diseases. Three single-LT (SLT) patients had PPH, and one had ES secondary to a ventricular septal defect. Mean pulmonary artery pressures fell from 55 +/- 6 mm Hg before SLT to 21 +/- 3 mm Hg after SLT; p less than 0.001. Three pediatric patients (ages 4, 10, 17, and 17[re-transplant]) have undergone four SLTs. With mean follow-up of 6.4 months, LT patients have survival at 12 months of 80% (Kaplan-Meier). Lung transplant patients wait a far shorter time for their transplant than do HLT patients (166 vs. 384 days, p less than 0.03). Three patients (19%) have evidence of OB after SLT, with one death. By virtue of equal intermediate-term outcomes, shorter waiting times, and better use of donor organs in comparison with HLT, LT should be offered whenever possible to patients with end-stage pulmonary parenchymal or vascular disease. The authors' pediatric LT and HLT experience (7 treatments in 6 patients) is the largest reported to date and demonstrates the utility of these procedures in this group. Chronic rejection (OB) remains the greatest impediment to long-term survival in both LT and HLT pts.
During the last decade, heart transplantation has become an almost routine clinical entity limited only by the number of donors available. Temporary ventricular support has also gained acceptance for two particular groups of patients: 1) those in cardiogenic shock with reversible ventricular failure and 2) those with irreversible ventricular failure who require a bridge to transplantation. We review the experimental work, clinical research, results, specific cases and experiences in cardiac transplantation, and the use of ventricular assist devices during the past year.
The occurrence of cytomegalovirus infection after solid organ transplantation has been correlated with decrease patient and allograft survival. The disease has not been conquered for two majors reasons: the length of time to establish the diagnosis of CMV has been excessive, and suitable, nontoxic antiviral agents have not been available for use. The purpose of this study was to examine the current incidence and impact of tissue-invasive cytomegalovirus (TI-CMV) disease that developed in 93 patients who underwent solid organ transplantation at University of Minnesota Hospitals (3/1/87 and 6/30/89) and who were treated with antiviral agent ganciclovir ( [9-(1,3-dihydroxy-2-2-propoxymethyl)-guanine [DHPG]). During this same period of time 323 patients received kidney transplants and 71 received kidney-pancreas transplants. Three patient groups were defined: (1) no CMV; (2) CMV infection (cultural or serologic evidence of noninvasive CMV infection); and (3) evidence of TI-CMV disease based upon initial complaints of fever, malaise, dyspnea, or abdominal pain, leukopenia (WBC less than 3000/ml), and evidence of a positive CMV rapid antigen test, CMV culture, or the presence of characteristic CMV inclusion bodies upon examination of material obtained by means of bronchoscopy, upper-gastrointestinal endoscopy, colonoscopy, or liver or renal biopsy. Patients with solely fever, leukopenia, but without a rising CMV serum titer, or positive CMV urine or blood cultures were excluded from the study. A multivariate analysis revealed that rejection therapy, age greater than 50 years, and receiving an organ from a seropositive donor were all significant variables that predisposed to TI-CMV. Analysis of patient and kidney allograft survival indicated that asymptomatic CMV infection had little current impact upon patient or allograft survival, while patients who developed TI-CMV exhibited higher rates of allograft loss and mortality, despite DHPG therapy. Comparison with historical group of patients indicated that TI-CMV DHPG-treated patients exhibited a trend toward improved allograft survival that may be relevant because the historical group of patients included patients with mild CMV infection. DHPG therapy was well tolerated and produced minimal toxicity, and excellent 30-day cure rates (89.2%), although 21.2% of patients required retreatment subsequently. We are currently conducting a trial to compare the ability of DHPG administered plus an anti-CMV immune globulin preparation with acyclovir to prevent posttransplant TI-CMV disease.
Hyperacute rejection is the inevitable consequence of the transplantation of vascularized organs between phylogenetically distant species. The nature of the incompatibility and the pathogenetic mechanisms that lead to hyperacute xenograft rejection are incompletely understood. We investigated these issues by the immunopathological analysis of tissues from swine renal and cardiac xenografts placed in rhesus monkeys. Hyperacute rejection was associated with deposition of recipient IgM and classic but not alternative complement pathway components along endothelial surfaces, the formation of platelet and fibrin thrombi, and the infiltration of neutrophils. In animals from which natural antibody was temporarily depleted by organ perfusion, rejection was observed at 3 days to 5 days posttransplant. The immunopathology of rejection in these tissues revealed focal vascular changes similar to those observed in hyperacute rejection. A xenograft functioning for a prolonged period in a recipient temporarily depleted of circulating natural antibody contained recipient IgM along endothelial surfaces but no evidence for significant deposition of complement, formation of platelet and fibrin thrombi, or infiltration of neutrophils. These results suggest that rhesus IgM contributes significantly to the development of hyperacute rejection in the swine to Rhesus model and that the fixation of complement is a critical factor in the recruitment of the coagulation cascade and platelet aggregation--and possibly in the adherence and infiltration of PMN.
Lung transplantation has resulted in dramatic functional improvement in patients with end-stage pulmonary diseases. Among the complications of lung transplantation are dehiscence and stenosis at the site of the bronchial or tracheal anastomosis. In this case report, we describe a single lung transplant recipient in whom partial bronchial dehiscence, followed by exuberant growth of granulation tissue, resulted in obstruction of the bronchial lumen. After mechanical dilation failed to produce lasting relief of bronchial obstruction, a novel approach to this problem was successfully employed: YAG laser phototherapy was used to remove obstructing granulation tissue, followed by application of a preparation derived from autologous blood platelets to promote epithelialization of the bronchial anastomosis. The bronchus remains patent and fully epithelialized six months after therapy.
Although triple-drug immunosuppression (cyclosporine, azathioprine, and prednisone) has reduced the incidence of acute rejection after pediatric cardiac transplantation, its effect on the development of coronary artery disease, which may be the major determinant of long-term survival in these patients, is not well defined. We reviewed 42 coronary angiograms obtained annually in 17 cardiac transplant recipients, aged 6 months to 18 years (mean, 12.4 years) at the time of transplantation, who had been maintained on triple-drug immunosuppression and had survived at least 1 year after transplantation. Each angiogram was reviewed for luminal irregularities or discrete stenoses, for the loss of third-order branching, and for the presence of myocardial bridging or calcification of vessels. Patient files were reviewed for donor and recipient age, sex, and ABO blood group, for postoperative episodes of rejection or cytomegalovirus infection, for hypertension, and for cholesterol and triglyceride values. No recipient in our series has died or undergone retransplantation because of coronary artery disease. Six of 17 (35%) patients have developed angiographically identifiable coronary artery abnormalities: four by the first year and two additional recipients by the second and third years, respectively, after transplantation. Development of coronary artery abnormalities approached a significant correlation when related to posttransplantation cytomegalovirus infection (p = 0.11) and older recipient age (p = 0.056) but not to any other factors studied, including episodes of rejection (p = 1.0). Angiographically identifiable coronary artery abnormalities can occur in pediatric recipients within the first year after cardiac transplantation in spite of a low incidence of acute rejection. Although the abnormalities may be mild initially, they can progress and require intervention.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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