Articles tagged with Organ Transplantation
A new allocation formula developed by Johns Hopkins researchers can predict which donor kidneys are most likely to be delayed or discarded. The formula could potentially speed up the organ allocation process for hard-to-place kidneys, improving transplant outcomes and saving lives.
A study published in the Journal of the American Society Nephrology found that a low kidney-to-recipient-weight ratio increases the risk of transplant failure, inadequate filtration, and other complications. The research suggests that matching kidney weight to recipient weight could improve transplantation success rates.
A Mayo Clinic study found a 30% difference in risk for failed transplant between transplant centers. The study analyzed data from 12,233 patients and showed that quality of care, donor organ selection, and geographical location all contribute to outcome differences.
A new study by Cedars-Sinai Medical Center found that the number of living donor organs available for transplant has declined over the past five years, while the number of deceased donors decreased in 2008. This decline has resulted in a widening gap between the number of organs available and the number of patients awaiting a donor organ.
A study found that most kidney donors (86%) and recipients (80%) want to share personal health information that may influence transplant success. However, healthcare professionals are more conservative, with only 61% in favor of sharing donor info in incompatible exchanges.
A third of seniors over 65 wait too long for lifesaving kidney transplants because their doctors don't list them for organs suitable for younger patients but not for themselves. Older adults have shorter life spans than younger recipients, but accepting older kidneys can increase survival rates.
A recent study examines the ethics of transplant tourism, where patients travel to countries like China and India for transplantation. US medical societies have crafted guidelines to advise clinicians on caring for transplant tourists, who may face sub-standard care and post-transplant infections.
The guide highlights key infection risks faced by transplant recipients, including pet ownership, food safety, and travel plans. It provides advice on how to minimize exposure to potential sources of infection and reduce the risk of respiratory, waterborne, and food-borne illnesses.
A new law in Israel prioritizes organ donation for those who have signed donor cards, with increased priority given to first-degree relatives and live donors. The policy aims to increase organ availability despite a low consent rate for donation.
The article discusses the impact of the H1N1 pandemic on solid organ transplant patients and donors. Experts recommend testing for influenza-like illnesses, empiric antiviral therapy, and vaccination with at least one dose of H1N1 vaccine to prevent transmission and severe disease.
Researchers at the Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute found that survival rates for intestinal and multivisceral transplants increased with innovative surgical techniques, novel immunosuppressive protocols, and better post-operative management. The five-year survival rate rose to 68 percent, similar to other abdominal and thora...
Researchers found that timely treatment of otitis media reduces transplantation failure in organ transplant recipients. The study reviewed 3,278 patients and showed that surgery was more effective than antibiotics or observation alone in managing chronic ear infections after transplantation.
A new study reveals that kidneys recovered from deceased donors with acute renal failure can function just as well as those from healthy donors, opening up a significant expansion of the donor kidney pool. This could lead to an additional 1,000 kidneys or more per year being made available to patients waiting for a transplant.
Almost half of older kidney transplant candidates (over 60) will die before receiving a transplant due to increased wait times. Researchers urge these patients to consider live-donor options to improve survival chances.
A new study projects that nearly half of older patients currently on the kidney transplant waiting list will die before receiving an organ from a deceased donor. The study found significant variations in mortality rates across different transplant regions and patient groups, including African Americans and those aged 70 or older.
A new study reveals that double-lung transplants significantly improve long-term survival rates compared to single lung transplants. The research found that immune system matching and college education also play crucial roles in extending life after lung transplant surgery.
A study by the University of California San Francisco found that US and foreign transplant physicians express serious concern about organ procurement in China, citing coercion of organ donors and substandard medical practices. The majority of doctors surveyed would not provide post-transplantation care to patients who underwent liver t...
A recent study by Marcello Tonelli and colleagues found no correlation between remote or rural residence and increased time to kidney transplantation in the US. The likelihood of receiving a transplant from a deceased or living donor was similar among patients dwelling farther away, suggesting disparities may not be solely due to location
A study found that TV networks spend little time discussing organ donation needs and registration processes, resulting in inadequate coverage of the topic. The researchers analyzed over 1,500 stories and found that only 94% of positive health outcomes for living donors were mentioned.
A new Clinical Research Chair in Transplantation has been established at the University of Western Ontario to improve organ transplant outcomes for patients like Pat Davis, who received a kidney transplant after being told it was impossible.
The study found that institutions performing at least 20 lung transplants annually have the best overall patient survival rates and lowest number of deaths from the complex surgery. High-volume centers see over 95% chance of survival for organ recipients within the first month of recovery.
Researchers developed nomograms to predict long-term kidney transplant success and refine patient selection for living donor transplants. The models analyzed over 20,000 cases and identified key donor and recipient characteristics impacting transplant outcomes.
A Johns Hopkins study found that HIV-positive kidney transplant recipients can achieve one-year survival rates comparable to those without HIV, provided key risk factors for transplant failure are recognized and controlled. The study's results reflect the impact of newer antiretroviral therapies on reducing HIV-related deaths.
Research found that patients with hepatitis C who receive livers with high levels of fatty deposits have a more frequent and earlier viral recurrence. Graft survival is inversely proportional to donor liver steatosis, particularly when grafts contain greater than 30% fat and are subject to extended cold ischemic time.
A study found that women over 45 are significantly less likely to be placed on a kidney transplant list than their male counterparts, even though they have an equal chance of survival. The likelihood of being listed decreased incrementally with increasing age, from 3% for women aged 46-55 to 59% for those over 75.
UT Southwestern University Hospital has received awards for its successful efforts to increase organ donation rates, surpassing the 75 percent goal among eligible donors. The hospital achieved this feat through a combination of effective strategies and strong transplant team leadership.
Scientists are investigating methods to selectively suppress the immune response in transplanted organs, inspired by fetal development. Researchers will explore increasing IDO levels to improve transplant survival and look for biomarkers to detect rejection episodes.
The Declaration of Istanbul sets forth recommendations to prevent organ trafficking, including programs to prevent organ failure and maximize deceased donation. Organ trafficking has been linked to increased post-transplant complications and a higher incidence of acute rejection and severe infections.
Kidney transplant wait times vary widely across the US, with some patients waiting just one year and others up to 10 years. Experts will discuss issues and possible solutions for these inequities in organ allocation policies.
A presumed consent system for organ donation could tackle the UK's growing waiting list by encouraging people to talk about their wishes. This approach aims to increase the supply of organs available for transplant, reducing demand on the black market.
Researchers found extensive bidirectional transfer of MHC molecules between donor and recipient cells, making transplanted organs 'invisible' to the immune system. This discovery has major medical implications for organ transplantation, potentially reducing rejection and increasing effectiveness.
China has introduced new regulations for organ transplantation that ban financial rewards for donors and establish safeguards to prevent exploitation. The changes have led to a significant decrease in transplants from dead donors and an increase in living donor transplants.
Kidney transplant specialists at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center have developed innovative laboratory techniques to improve opportunities for highly sensitized patients. The new technology uses solid phase assays to predict patient risk and improve transplant success rates.
The Declaration of Istanbul condemns unethical practices in organ donation and transplantation, urging governments to safeguard patient safety and prevent organ trafficking. The document promotes deceased organ donation and living donor protection.
Researchers have developed a groundbreaking procedure using tailor-made regulatory cells to avoid lifelong drug use for transplant patients. The technique shows promising findings and has been tested in clinical trials on 17 kidney transplant patients, with encouraging results.
The University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine team proposes a new policy requiring transplant programs to disclose all foreseeable risks of the surgery to potential recipients at the waiting list. This change aims to promote greater equity in organ allocation and restrict 'cherry-picking' of organs from suitable but suboptimal donors.
A new arenavirus has been discovered in three transplant recipients who died in Victoria, Australia in April 2007. The virus was identified through rapid sequencing technology and subsequent characterization, revealing a strain sufficiently different from existing screening methods.
The US donor organ allocation system, MELD score, and its impact on liver transplant outcomes are discussed. Early referral for liver transplant evaluation is found to offer advantages unrelated to waiting time, including early detection and treatment of liver cancer.
A new UCLA Medical Center study shows that select patients age 65 and older can safely undergo lung transplantation with acceptable outcomes. The study found similar survival rates between younger and older patients, suggesting that age should not preclude patients from the procedure.
A meta-analysis found that former substance abusers have a low rate of relapse after organ transplantation, with significant associations between relapse and poor social support and family alcohol history. The study included over 3,600 individuals who received transplants and examined the rates of alcohol and drug relapse.
A study published in JAMA found that rural patients are less likely to be wait-listed for heart, liver, and kidney transplants, with disparities of up to 15% in transplantation rates. The researchers suggest that differences in disease burden or access to specialty care services may contribute to these disparities.
New research suggests transplanting kidneys from donors who died after cardiac arrest could increase the donor pool. A study found comparable short-term results between kidneys donated after cardiac death and brain death, with similar survival rates for patients and transplanted organs.
A study of over 300 live kidney donors found that they had good kidney function and tended to suffer a lower incidence of high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart-related deaths compared to the general population. Donors reported high satisfaction rates and would strongly encourage others to become donors if needed.
Using donated kidneys from older donors with health conditions can alleviate organ shortage among older adults, reducing waiting times and improving survival rates. Patient survival rates were similar across age groups, with 91% of patients over 60 receiving ECD kidneys surviving the transplant.
Researchers suggest expanding kidney acceptance criteria and identify key factors improving transplant success. Matching donor and recipient ages and reducing waiting times may optimize results, while understanding risk factors like delayed graft function and acute rejection can aid preventive measures.
A new study found that inhaling nitric oxide during liver transplantation reduces hospital stays and improves blood-clotting and liver-enzyme activity. The treatment also protects transplanted livers from cell death, promising relief for donor-organ shortages.
Researchers from the University of Cincinnati and Louisville found that facial transplant outcomes differ significantly from previous data on kidney and hand transplants. They suggest a more optimistic view of face transplantation, with lower rates of acute and chronic rejection.
Two studies examine the role of sodium levels in predicting mortality for patients with severe liver disease, finding that low sodium levels are associated with increased wait-list mortality and poorer post-transplant outcomes. The results suggest incorporating sodium levels into MELD models could improve prognostic accuracy.
Researchers have developed a groundbreaking new mouse model for lung transplantation, which could lead to breakthroughs in preventing transplant rejection. The study aims to understand the molecular mechanisms controlling lung graft survival and develop therapies to counteract chronic rejection.
A 47-year-old man with congestive heart failure underwent the historic surgery at UPMC, where a beating heart supported by the OCS was successfully transplanted. The patient is doing well after discharge on April 30.
The Immune Tolerance Network, a seven-year-old international consortium, has secured significant NIAID funding to develop new therapies for autoimmune diseases. The network's focus on immune tolerance and biological markers aims to create individually targeted treatments.
Preserving kidneys on a portable pump may improve initial function, reduce viral infections, and promote more organ sharing. The study found similar survival outcomes for patients receiving machine-preserved or cold-stored organs from older deceased donors.
Reducing time interval for transported organs has been shown to increase survivorship and improve outcomes in heart transplant patients. The Organ Care System (OCS) uses warm blood perfusion technology to maintain organs in a living state during transport, allowing for evaluation of organ function and reducing cold ischemic time.
A new virus has been identified as the cause of death in three organ transplant recipients in Australia, who received organs from the same donor. The virus is related to known strains of lymphocytic choreomeningitis virus but has a distinct genetic sequence that could not be detected with existing diagnostic methods.
Xenotransplantation holds promise for replacing diseased organs, but immune rejection and pathogen transmission are major concerns. Genetic modifications in pigs have improved compatibility with humans, offering hope for this technique's success.
Medication errors are common and difficult to detect among outpatient transplant patients, with adverse events associated with 32% of errors. The root causes were identified as patient error (68%), financial issues (5%), and healthcare provider error (27%), highlighting the need for improved processes to prevent such errors.
Researchers at Emory University have developed an algorithm that can predict which sensitized patients on the national waiting list for kidney transplants are compatible with a given donor. This new method, based on innovative technology, has increased transplant rates from 15% to 25% in highly sensitized patients.
Primary graft dysfunction is a significant risk factor for bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS), a chronic scarring process that affects lung function years after transplantation. The study found that all grades of primary graft dysfunction were associated with an increased risk of BOS.
The Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) is an accurate predictor of liver disease survival, particularly useful in allocating organs for transplants. However, efforts to refine its accuracy are needed to further improve patient outcomes.
A new Saint Louis University study shows that young transplant patients who lose their federally provided insurance coverage are more likely to stop taking necessary anti-rejection drugs. This can increase the risk of losing the transplanted organ and even death.