Articles tagged with Organ Transplantation
Using Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) has increased the number of organs available for transplant after circulatory death by 20%. This technology improves organ viability, particularly for kidneys, livers, and pancreases, making more life-saving organs available for patients waiting for transplants.
New research reveals that broader organ sharing for liver transplants will not negatively impact Cold Ischemia Time (CIT) but will increase the percentage of organs transported by flying, according to findings published in Liver Transplantation.
Ashley Anh Vo, a transplant pharmacist at Cedars-Sinai, received the 2014 Clinician of Distinction award for her work on anti-rejection drugs. Her research identified IVIG as an effective therapy to reduce HLA antibody levels and prolong patient survival.
Scientists are developing 3D printing technology to create working tissues and organs on-demand, addressing the organ shortage. They discovered that adding more cells in bioinks reduces droplet size and dispensing rate, advancing the technology.
A new study reveals nearly half of transplant surgeons experience burnout, with high emotional exhaustion and low personal accomplishment reported. The findings highlight the need for organizations to develop systems to prevent burnout and support sustainable workforces.
Penn Medicine researchers found that living donor transplant outcomes are superior to those of deceased donors when surgeries are performed at an experienced center. The three-year patient survival rate for living donor recipients was 83% compared to 78% for deceased donors.
A new clinical trial aims to remove the need for immunosuppressive drugs in organ transplant patients by increasing their regulatory T cells. The TRACT study uses a therapeutic approach that isolates and expands T-regs from participants prior to kidney transplantation.
Researchers developed a new supercooling technique to increase liver storage time from 24 hours to 3 days in animal study. The method successfully stored rat livers for up to four days, with 58% survival rate, offering potential for improved organ allocation and reduced costs.
A new kidney allocation policy is expected to improve patient and transplant survival rates, with median organ survival increasing by 2.8%, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. The policy prioritizes highly sensitized patients while potentially reducing access for older candidates.
Researchers have found that organs from donors with a history of certain cancers pose little risk to recipients, allowing for improved transplant survival rates. Optimizing donor organ preservation techniques can also improve graft function and reduce energy depletion in livers after circulatory death.
Researchers found that patients with low sodium levels prior to transplantation did not have higher mortality rates after surgery. The study, published in Liver Transplantation, analyzed data from over 19,500 patients who received a liver transplant in the US between 2003 and 2010.
A new study reveals that veterans with liver disease who live over 100 miles from a VA liver transplant center are only half as likely to be placed on the transplant waitlist, increasing their risk of death. The further away they live, the less likely they are to receive a transplant and ultimately die.
A study found that veterans living farther from transplant centers were less likely to be added to a waitlist or receive a transplant, and more likely to die. The researchers suggest that this may be due to reduced access for evaluation and relocation needs.
A recent study published in Liver Transplantation reveals that only 17% of liver transplant centers offer an alibi to potential donors, highlighting the need for standardization. The researchers recommend including written offers of alibis in consent forms to preserve donor autonomy.
A novel approach to long-term tolerance in organ transplantation has been described by REGiMMUNE Corporation. The approach uses activated invariant natural killer T cells with costimulatory blockade to induce mixed chimerism, resulting in donor-specific tolerance.
The study found that traveling to donor hospitals for organ procurement reduced travel time from eight hours to two hours and saved 37% on organ recovery costs. The use of free-standing organ recovery centers significantly improved the efficiency of deceased donor organ transplantation.
Researchers develop a method to predict future clinical events using genomic testing over multiple patient visits. The AlloMap test can assess the risk of dysfunction or rejection of a transplanted heart months before such an event may occur.
A mathematical model simulates and optimizes donor kidney distribution to ease regional inequities and potentially save hundreds of lives. The model identifies areas for policy changes, including sharing within states and transplanting lower-quality kidneys.
Temple researchers have shown that identical or compatible blood types between donor and recipient do not affect rejection rates in double-lung transplants. The study confirms excellent post-transplant lung function and comparable mortality rates for compatible donors.
Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital have developed a procedure to induce immune tolerance to hand and face transplants, which could free recipients from lifelong immunosuppression. The study successfully tested this approach in miniature swine, paving the way for expanded availability of these complex transplants.
Researchers in the UK found that organs from selected DCD donors with pre-hospital cardiac arrest had no significant impact on graft or transplant recipient survival compared to other deceased donors. The study suggests using these organs could boost the donor pool without adverse outcomes for liver transplant recipients.
A Northwestern Medicine study using stem cells has shown promise in improving organ transplant outcomes by enabling patients to stop taking anti-rejection medicines. The research, which began in 2009, uses specially engineered stem cells to make the recipient's immune system recognize the new kidney as its own.
Kidney transplant recipients who discontinue immunosuppressive drugs before conception have a higher rate of live births and a lower rate of birth defects without an increased risk of kidney problems, according to research published by the American Society of Nephrology.
A team of UCLA researchers is working on a new approach to improve the quality of donor livers, aiming to reduce organ rejection and increase transplant survival rates. They plan to target specific immune activation pathways and enhance local mechanisms that promote liver regeneration.
Researchers have developed a fast and affordable blood test to detect early signs of organ rejection in transplant patients. The new test uses Droplet Digital PCR technology, which can identify graft-derived cell-free DNA released into the bloodstream by dying cells from the transplanted organ.
A fatal case of raccoon rabies virus exposure has been linked to a kidney transplant 18 months earlier, suggesting a long incubation period. The study emphasizes the importance of increased awareness and modified organ donor screening and recipient monitoring for infectious encephalitis.
Researchers found that partial livers from deceased adult and teen donors have become less risky for infants, saving their lives. The study's findings suggest that the use of partial grafts from deceased donors has increased significantly over time, accounting for up to 32% of liver transplants in children.
The study analyzed patients with prior organ transplants and found that their outcomes after traumatic injury are not worse than those of non-transplanted patients. Transplanted organs were rarely injured in traumatic events, and immunosuppression may have played a role in protecting organs from inflammation.
A new study shows that split liver transplants can last just as long as whole organs in young children, potentially reducing waitlist mortality rates. The data from 2,679 pediatric patients who received liver transplants between 1995-2010 indicates improved safety of partial livers.
A new study found that 9% of pediatric and adolescent heart transplant recipients experience non-adherence within two years of receiving their transplant. The risk of mortality among non-adhering patients is significantly higher, with a 26% chance of death within one year and 33% within two years.
Researchers discovered human kidneys discarded for transplant can serve as a natural scaffold material for manufacturing replacement organs in the lab. The study suggests that these organs could potentially be used to help solve the critical shortage of donor organs.
Scientists found that immune cells only need to contact specific antigens on the transplanted organ to be activated and reject it. This discovery could lead to new anti-rejection therapies for organ transplantation.
Two studies published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation found that chemokine stimulation is not required for T cell migration to transplanted organs. Instead, immune-stimulating proteins expressed by the organ direct T cells to migrate. Additionally, researchers identified a protein called TRAIL that causes cell death and can be...
A new Mayo Clinic survey reveals that support for living and deceased organ donation is increasing. Eighty-four percent would consider donating a kidney to a close friend or family member, while 49% would donate to someone they've never met.
A study found a significant shortfall in organ donations at large general hospitals in Ontario compared to those treating transplant recipients. The rate was 1.4 per 100 deaths, significantly lower than the 5.0 per 100 deaths at transplant hospitals.
Pediatric kidney transplant recipients with antibodies are more likely to experience kidney injury and rejection. Steroids do not prevent this antibody-mediated injury, but monitoring recipients for antibodies and customizing immunosuppressive treatments can help.
A team led by Dr. Marie-Josée Hébert discovered a new class of antibodies - anti-LG3 - which can trigger severe rejection episodes and high organ loss rates in kidney transplant patients. This breakthrough holds promise for developing new therapies to prevent or limit organ rejection.
Researchers found that injecting NAC prior to harvesting significantly improves graft survival, with suboptimal organ usage showing higher benefits. The study suggests using NAC during organ procurement to reduce damage and improve transplant outcomes.
A recent UCSF study found that most liver transplant candidates who died or were removed from the transplant list received one or more liver donation offers prior to death/delisting. The study suggests that efforts to reduce wait-list mortality must target multiple factors beyond just organ availability.
UCLA's heart transplant program has been ranked among the nation's best by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), with a silver-level ranking for its high transplant rates and patient survival. The program is one of only seven nationwide to achieve this level, and it has earned a silver ranking twice, including in 2010.
A single gene variant in donors has been linked to a 69% increased risk for long-term failure of transplanted kidneys. The variant affects the expression of the protein that pumps drugs out of cells, which can be toxic to the kidneys.
Researchers estimate that maximizing observation unit potential can result in significant cost savings, with an average annual saving of $4.6 million per hospital and up to $3.1 billion nationwide. This could be achieved by avoiding 2.4 million unnecessary inpatient admissions.
A new study finds that liver transplants performed at night or on weekends have similar survival rates as daytime operations. Patient and graft survival rates were unaffected by the timing of the transplant, with slight increases in graft failure rate noted only at 365 days.
A 27-year-old man received a new kidney after his original one failed, then donated the healthy organ to another patient with FSGS. The successful re-transplant reversed damage and allowed another patient to thrive.
A new study suggests that organ transplant recipients may no longer need anti-rejection medication thanks to the power of stem cells. Researchers are conducting a clinical trial using donor stem cell infusions to 'trick' the recipient's immune system, gradually eliminating or reducing the need for immunosuppressive drugs.
Researchers have found that cochlear implants can restore hearing in organ transplant patients without significant health risks. The study suggests that patients who wait at least six months after the transplant and take the right antibiotic before and after the procedure can achieve successful outcomes.
The current lung transplant system allocates organs based on proximity rather than medical urgency, resulting in sicker patients being left waiting. This can lead to a decrease in the overall benefits of transplantation and an increase in mortality rates for those most in need.
A new antibody, OPN-305, has been discovered that blocks inflammation leading to transplant rejection in mice, suggesting its potential to improve survival outcomes for kidney and other organ transplants. The compound works by binding to toll-like receptors on transplant tissue and turning off signals that provoke inflammation.
A new system for delivering cyclosporine has been developed by scientists at the University of Strathclyde, enabling safe and effective treatment with minimal harm to kidneys. The system uses nanoparticles to deliver the drug orally, maintaining a strong dose while sparing organs from damage.
Research suggests that improving family consent for organ donation could increase rates, with studies showing that only 50% of donors discuss wishes with a family member. Addressing negative beliefs and providing education on brain death can positively impact consent rates.
A team of researchers has identified markers that may enable liver transplant recipients to be weaned off their immunosuppressive drugs. Higher blood levels of iron-handling proteins and specific gene expressions in the liver can predict which patients are suitable for drug-weaning protocols.
A study published in Liver Transplantation reveals that liver transplant candidates prioritize 'best quality' organs over those with a higher risk of failure. The study found that patients prefer to have an equal or dominant role in deciding organ acceptance, and presenting organ quality as 'average quality' can increase risk tolerance.
Patients on liver transplant waiting lists prefer to receive high-quality donor organs, even if it means waiting longer, according to a new study. The research found that 58% of candidates would only accept organs with a risk of graft failure of 25% or less.
New Johns Hopkins research suggests that presumed consent legislation is unlikely to increase organ donation rates in the US. The study found that countries with presumptive consent laws do not have dramatically different organ donation processes than those without such laws.
A new study correlating circadian clocks with transplant success found that arteries of mice with dysfunctional internal clocks became diseased within weeks after transplantation. Transplanted blood vessels from healthy mice remained healthy in mutant mice, suggesting optimal organ function may be key to successful transplants.
Researchers found that high-volume transplant centers used more high-risk donor livers, but achieved better graft and recipient survival rates. The study's findings suggest that increased organ utilization can improve outcomes for transplantation patients.
Scientists at Centenary Institute discovered that liver cells can engulf and destroy T-cells, reducing organ rejection in transplants and potentially fighting hepatitis and other chronic liver diseases. The discovery opens up new approaches to transplant rejection and treatment of liver diseases, which affect millions worldwide.
Substitution of brand name immunosuppressive drug with a generic drug appears to be safe for transplant recipients. The study reveals that this change can lead to significant cost savings through long-term use of the generic product.
Transplantation specialists propose changes to liver organ distribution to prioritize patients with high MELD scores and reduce waitlist mortality. The new model aims to rapidly allocate organs to those most in need, ensuring timely delivery and reducing death rates.
Hospital Clínic of Barcelona applies the first minimally invasive technique in living donors, reducing scarring and improving donor quality of life. The technique uses natural orifices to extract a kidney without major scars.