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W Janisch

Publications and source records attributed to W Janisch.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

[In vitro sensitivity of T lymphocytes to theophylline in healthy adults and patients following cadaver kidney allotransplantation].

In the peripheral blood of healthy adults the number of theophylline-resistant T-lymphocytes (T-res) is 51 +/- 4% and 1,161 +/- 326/microliter, respectively, and the number of theophyllins-sensitive 11 +/- 2% and 252 +/- 95/microliters. The membrane markers show a heterogeneous distribution. The quotient from T-res/T-sens is 4.9 +/- 1.3. Within the T-sens 14% are CD4+ and 30% CD8+, 29% carry Fc-IgC and 34% Fc-IgM-receptors. Thus the T-res in their netto-function were helper cells and the T-sens suppressor/cytotox cells. Before the transplantation the preoperative ratio of the two subpopulation is significantly diminished (Q = 3.66 +/- 1.53), however, prognostic statements cannot be deduced from this. Activations of the immune system (rejection crises, cytomegalovirus infections) are accompanied by significant diminutions of the T-sens, whereby the T-res/T-sens-Quotient increases. Thus they are unequivocally included into immunoregulatory processes.

Adolescent↗

[incidence of cytomegalovirus infections following transplantation of kidneys from seropositive and seronegative donors].

Serum samples of 110 recipients of kidney transplants and the 100 donors belonging to them taken before the transplantation were examined for complement-binding antibodies against cytomegaloviruses. A clear influence of the cytomegalovirus antibody state of donor and recipient on the cytomegalovirus infection appearing after transplantation, serologically ascertained by cytomegalovirus-IgM-antibody proof or seroconversion and fourfold increase of the titre in the complement-binding reaction, respectively, could be made evident. Cytomegalovirus negative recipients of kidneys of cytomegalovirus positive donors had significantly more infections than seronegative recipients of kidneys of seronegative donors (50% vs. 16%, p less than 0.05). According to the infection rate the seropositive recipients stand with about 30% between these two groups. It seems that in these recipients the serological state of the donors has no influence. These findings make evident that seronegative recipients receive the cytomegaloviruses essentially with the transplant, whereas the cytomegalovirus infections in seropositive recipients are endogenous cytomegalovirus reactivations caused by therapy.

Adolescent↗

[Fc IgG carrying T lymphocytes in healthy adults and patients following kidney transplantation].

In 28 healthy adults aged 19 to 52 years, normal values of the TG lymphocytes amount to 17.8 +/- 2.3% and 253.1 +/- 96.1 per microliters respectively and the non TG/TG ratio to 4.72 +/- 0.82. When compared with normal controls, patients on dialysis had a disturbed non TG/TG ratio (4.72 +/- 0.82 vs. 6.00 +/- 1.94, p less than 0.05). During the first posttransplant month the total TG cell count was significantly reduced, but the relative TG cell count did not significantly differ from the normal as well as praeoperative TG cell count. In connection with rejection crises we could not observe any changes in the TG subset. Beside this general dynamics we observed two different kinds of changes of the non TG/TG ratio in the individual posttransplant course. Either the non TG/TG ratio were lower than praetransplant or higher. In 9 out of 9 cases the lowering of the non TG/TG ratio (that means a relative or absolute increase of Fc-IgG receptor bearing T cells) were connected with a good graft function. In 4 out of 6 cases a postoperative increase of the non TG/TG ratio were connected with an early graft failure. A change of T subsets for the benefit of TG cells which includes suppressor cells seems to be favourable with regard to the graft survival. Therefore, we think the determination of the prae- and posttransplant non TG/TG ratio is of some prognostic value.

Adult↗

[Effect of plasmapheresis treatment on immunoglobulin and immune complex levels in patients following kidney transplantation].

Five patients who received cadaver kidneys between May 1982 and January 1983 in the Kidney Transplant Centre in Berlin were subjected to two plasmapheresis (= pph.) treatments in addition to basic immunosuppression with Prednisolone and Azathioprine. The decision to use pph. was due to the presence of donor-specific, complement-dependent lymphocytotoxic antibodies (51Cr release test) in the recipient's serum taken immediately before transplantation. The 1st pph. was carried out on the 1st or 2nd day after operation and the 2nd pph. between the 2nd and 4th day. The quantity of plasma exchanged was between 1.6 and 3.1 1 per pph. Four of the five transplants commenced functioning after 12 to 47 days, and one transplant had to be removed. Frequent measurement of the immunoglobulin and immune-complex levels in the serum revealed drastic reduction due to pph. The concentration of immunoglobulin (G, A, M) was reduced by 42-55% after the 1st pph. and by 20-35% after the 2nd. Whereas the IgM level was normalized after a few days, the levels of IgG and IgA only rose again 2-4 weeks later. The immunodeficiency induced by means of pph. and immunosuppression is accompanied by an increased risk of infection. It is therefore considered important that an adequate anti-infectious treatment including i. v. human gammaglobulin be administered parallel to pph. The final evaluation of the efficacy of pph. in protecting transplants will depend on further studies.

Adolescent↗

[Primary cytomegalovirus infection as a risk factor following kidney transplantation].

Of 201 patients who received cadaver kidneys in the kidney transplant centre in Berlin between June 1978 and December 1981 114 (56.7%) already had complement-binding antibodies against cytomegaloviruses (CMV) before transplantation, 87 (43.3% were seronegative. After transplantation a recurring CMV infection was detected in 36/114 patients and a primary CMV infection in 27/87 patients (31.6% and 31.0% respectively). At dismissal from ward care these patients already had a significantly higher rate of transplant failure than those free of CMV infection. This negative effect of the infection was reinforced by the additional administration of a Prednisolone bolus for the treatment of the rejection crisis associated with CMV. At the same time immunological protection was further suppressed. Thus, in comparison with patients with primary CMV infection not treated with Prednisolone bolus, those with primary CMV infection and parallel treatment with a Prednisolone bolus had a higher rate of T-lymphocytopenia and a significantly delayed humoral immune response to CMV. Together with the usually present leukocytopenia, these findings explain the especially high risk of potentially fatal superinfections in this period. Diagnosis of CMV infection on the basis of clinical symptoms and haematological changes must be speedy. A therapy which is effective with regard to life (although symptomatic) comprises the temporary reduction of the azathioprine dose, the administration of antibiotics and the infusion of human gamma-globulin. It might be possible to avoid primary CMV infection, which presents a particularly great risk, by vaccination of the potential transplant recipient.

Adolescent↗