Open Access DOI:10.23937/2572-4045.1510023
B-Cell Targets to Treat Antibody-Mediated Rejection in Transplantation
Manuel Muro, Santiago Llorente, Jose A Galian, Francisco Boix, Jorge Eguia, Gema Gonzalez-Martinez, Maria R Moya-Quiles and Alfredo Minguela
Article Type: Commentary | First Published: October 22, 2016
Antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) in allograft transplantation can be defined with a rapid increase in the levels of specific serological parameters after organ transplantation, presence of donor specific antibodies (DSAs) against human leukocyte antigen (HLA) molecules, blood group (ABO) antigens and/or endothelial cell antigens (e.g. MICA, ECA, Vimentin, or ETAR) and also particular histological parameters....
Open Access DOI:10.23937/2572-4045.1510022
Complications after Heart Transplantation: Hope for the Best, but Prepare for the Worst
Ana Carolina Alba, Eva Bain, Nicholas Ng, Madeleine Stein, Kathleen O'Brien, Farid Foroutan and Heather Ross
Article Type: Review Article | First Published: October 10, 2016
For selected patients living with the most advanced stages of heart failure, cardiac transplantation is considered the gold-standard treatment, providing substantial improvements in survival and quality of life. However, heart transplantation is not without risk, and almost all transplant recipients will suffer some form of complication, from mild to potentially fatal,and should be informed of this prior to transplant....
Open Access DOI:10.23937/2572-4045.1510021
Anonymous Altruistic Living Kidney Donation in the US: Reality and Practice
Abby S Kazley, Raj Amarnath, Arun Palanisamy, David Taber, Kenneth Chavin, Prabhakar Baliga and Wendy Balliet
Article Type: Research Article | First Published: September 21, 2016
Living kidney donors have emerged as the best option to overcome the severe shortage of transplantable kidneys. A growing number of these living donor kidneys come from anonymous altruistic donors who are not related to the recipients according to UNOS data. This study examines the process of anonymous altruistic kidney donation and identifies barriers and variance in transplant center practices. Using a mock patient caller, 73 transplant centers were contacted and asked about the process of alt...
Open Access DOI:10.23937/2572-4045.1510020
Donation Over Age 70 and Older İs an Obstacle for Kidney Transplantation?
Ethem Unal and Aylin Acar
Article Type: Editorial Letter | First Published: July 17, 2016
he profound organ shortage has resulted in longer waiting times and increased mortality for those awaiting kidney transplantation. Consequently, patients are turning to older living donors. It is unclear if an upper age limit for donation should exist, both in terms of recipient and donor outcomes. However, there is a fact that surgery can present additional risks for older patients; this requires physicians to be especially careful about who they deem fit to undergo donor transplant procedures....
