by Jade M Kozuch  , Kamyar Afshar  and Ashley Feist

Received: 15 November 2024;  Published: 20 February 2025;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2501235

Lung transplant recipients represent a high-risk group for cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and disease, even among solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients, due to multiple factors. Additionally, CMV has significant consequences in this group including pneumonitis, acute rejection, and chronic lung allograft dysfunction. For the past two plus decades, treatment of CMV in SOT recipients has been limited to off-label use of 4 antiviral medications associated with significant toxicities including myelosuppression and n [...]

by Rolf Teschke  and Axel Eickhoff

Received: 08 January 2025;  Published: 14 February 2025;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2501234

Liver transplantation (LT) can be the only option for patients with acute liver failure (ALF) where medical approaches are ineffective. Causes of ALF are multiple and commonly easily detectable, but uncertainty remained on the role of drug-induced liver injury (DILI) within the published ALF cohorts. Therefore, an analysis was undertaken to clarify which drugs may have caused the DILI and how the diagnosis of the liver injury was established. Using the PubMed database and Google Science, the search term of acute li [...]

by Lúcia Bacalhau  and Patrícia Pontífice-Sousa

Received: 19 September 2024;  Published: 06 February 2025;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2501233

Allogeneic Stem Cells Transplantation (ASCT) and, consequently, the chronicity associated with this life event has a growing prevalence and a significant impact on the life and daily life of each person who experiences it. The growing number of ASCT survivors highlights the need to reflect on the unique challenges they face throughout their recovery. To understand the meaning of the encounter with time in the lived experience of comfort for survivors of ASCT. Qualitative approach using van Manen's phenomenology of [...]

by Marcus Taylor  , Zakariya Mouyer  , Eltigani Abdelaal  and Nnamdi Nwaejike

Received: 23 July 2024;  Published: 22 January 2025;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2501232

The axillary intra-aortic balloon pump (ax-IABP) has been proposed as an alternative to the femoral IABP, particularly for patients with comorbidities rendering them unsuitable for fem-IABP insertion. Patient mobilisation with the ax-IABP in situ is deemed an additional potential benefit. We reviewed our experience with the ax-IABP. A single-centre retrospective review of all adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery (including heart transplantation) in a UK quaternary cardiac surgery centre between 2017 and 2021 w [...]

by Ziyad Alharbi

Received: 27 March 2024;  Published: 13 January 2025;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2501231

The supraclavicular artery flap presents a promising solution for facial reconstruction challenges since 1997, surpassing limitations of traditional methods like the deltopectoral flap. Its extended pedicle and thin, pliable epidermis offer reliable outcomes with minimal donor site morbidity, making it a preferred choice for head and neck reconstruction. This systematic review evaluates the efficacy of pre-expanded supraclavicular artery flaps based on a comprehensive analysis. In accordance with the Preferred Repo [...]

by A. Isabella Shanker  , Lauren T. Maloney  and Julia M. Boster

Received: 23 September 2024;  Published: 10 January 2025;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2501230

Infection is a leading cause of short-term morbidity and mortality in pediatric patients after liver transplant (LT). Diagnosing infection in this population can be challenging, requiring consideration of laboratory results and clinical context. The prevalence and significance of post-operative leukocytosis has not yet been explored in children after LT. Our goals were to characterize post-transplant leukocytosis in pediatric patients after LT for biliary atresia (BA) and evaluate the relationship between post-LT l [...]

by OBM Transplantation Editorial Office

Received: 02 January 2025;  Published: 02 January 2025;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2501229

The editors of OBM Transplantation would like to express their sincere gratitude to the following reviewers for assessing manuscripts in 2024. We greatly appreciate the contribution of expert reviewers, which is crucial to the journal’s editorial process. We aim to recognize reviewer contributions through several mechanisms, of which the annual publication of reviewer names is one. Reviewers can download a certificate of recognition directly from our submission system. Additionally, reviewers can sign up to t [...]

by Mouna Daldoul  , Rim Charfi  , Khouloud Ferchichi  , Mouna Ben Sassi  , Syrine Ben Hammamia  , Fatma Medhioub  , Emna Gaies  , Rym Enneifer  , Hanene Eljebari  , Anis Klouz  , Riadh Daghfous  and Sameh Trabelsi

Received: 20 August 2024;  Published: 13 December 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2404228

A high intra and interindividual pharmacokinetics variability characterize Tacrolimus. Data regarding factors influencing its pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in liver transplantation are limited. This study aimed to assess tacrolimus therapeutic response, pharmacokinetics and adherence in liver transplant recipients. The study was conducted at the Clinical Pharmacology Department for 12 years, from January 2009 to March 2021. We included liver transplant patients treated with tacrolimus referred to our depart [...]

by Michael Y. Shino  , Francisco Javier Ibarrondo  , Jesse L. Clark  , Adreanne Rivera  , Marlene Florian  , Allison Ramsey  , Ariss Derhovanessian  , Rajan Saggar  , Olawale O. Amubieya  , Grant Turner  , Joanna M. Schaenman  , Pryce T. Gaynor  , Omer E. Beaird  , Ashrit Multani  , Reshma M. Biniwale  , Murray H. Kwon  , Christos J. Petropoulos  , Yolanda Lie  , Terri Wrin  , Amparo L. Figueroa  , Brett Leav  , Zelalem Endale  , Kate Anteyi  , Jacqueline M. Miller  , Abbas Ardehali  , David M. Sayah  , David Elashoff  , John A. Belperio  , Otto O. Yang  and S. Sam Weigt

Received: 16 August 2024;  Published: 20 November 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2404227

Higher-dose mRNA booster vaccines have not been well studied for transplant recipients. This study evaluated the safety, reactogenicity and immunogenicity of higher dose mRNA-1273 booster vaccines among lung transplant recipients (LTRs). This phase 1/2 open-label randomized clinical trial of higher-dose mRNA-1273 booster vaccination enrolled nineteen adult LTRs into the 50 µg (n = 8) vs. 100 µg (n = 11) groups before enrollment was terminated due to the availability of the bivalent mRNA-1273.222 vaccine [...]

by Sabrine Mekni  , Lamia Torjemane  , Malek Khayati  , Dorra Belloumi  , Rimmel Yosra Kanoun  , Insaf Ben Yaiche  , Rihab Ouerghi  , Ines Turki  , Saloua Ladeb  , Tarek Ben Othman  and Nour Ben Abdeljelil

Received: 29 June 2024;  Published: 11 November 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2404226

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (Allo-HSCT) remains the only curative treatment for bone marrow failure (BMF) and hematologic complications of Fanconi anemia (FA). The evolution remains affected by the toxicity, the risk of graft failure, and clonal evolution. This study aimed to identify factors affecting outcomes in FA patients after allo-HSCT. We included FA patients who underwent allo-HSCT between January 2006 and December 2021. The conditioning regimen was cyclophosphamide/fludarabine (Cy/Fl [...]

by Elga J. Vargas  , Julio C. Martinez  and Lina A. Gomez

Received: 26 April 2024;  Published: 03 October 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2404225

Acne is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the pilosebaceous units of the skin, characterized by the formation of papules, cysts, comedones, pustules, nodules, and scars. These lesions are typically located on the face and shoulders, although they can extend to the trunk, arms, and legs. In regenerative medicine, biomolecules are fundamental to tissue regeneration. The use of growth factors from autologous platelet-rich plasma emerges as a promising alternative in the treatment of acne and scars. This study [...]

by Yue Qiu  , Yinqian Kang  , Hao Liu  and Ibtesam Hilmi

Received: 12 May 2024;  Published: 30 August 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2403224

Machine perfusion (MP) techniques, which simulate physiological conditions to allow for the assessment and preservation of organ viability, are currently applied in various solid organ transplantation fields. Owing to the growing demand for liver transplants and the scarcity of available donor livers, MP offers a practical solution for recovering high-risk grafts and increasing the number of potentially usable donor organs. Furthermore, testing and administering novel therapies to allografts may also become advanta [...]

by Elga Johanna Vargas  , Ana Luisa Muñoz  and Lina Andrea Gómez

Received: 21 May 2024;  Published: 13 August 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2403223

Platelets were the last to be discovered of the three formed blood elements. Several scientists have been interested in them, recognizing them as cells other than leukocytes and erythrocytes. Its job in hemostasis and thrombosis is currently known. Platelets contain growth factors and secrete cytokines, which have roles in inflammation and tissue regeneration processes. This is why platelet concentrates have been widely used in regenerative medicine, an emerging field that involves biomolecules, cells, and scaffold [...]

by Sanjay Dutta  , Jeanette E. Villanueva  , Yashutosh Joshi  , Ling Gao  , Paul Jansz  and Peter S. Macdonald

Received: 02 April 2024;  Published: 05 August 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2403222

Heart transplantation remains the gold standard treatment for end-stage heart failure. With an increasing population and improving medical therapy there is an increasing number of patients who would benefit from heart transplantation but are unable to receive one due to a shortage of suitable donor organs. This ongoing need, and significant limitations with traditional cold static storage (CSS), have driven the development of machine perfusion technology that have expanded the donor pool. Machine perfusion is divid [...]

by Yassamine Bentata

Received: 24 January 2024;  Published: 25 July 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2403221

Completely unknown before the 90s and exceptional up to the 2000s, BK virus nephropathy (BKvN), usually known as polyomavirus-associated nephropathy, has emerged as a significant and severe viral complication in kidney transplantation (KT). More than twenty years after Gardner's discovery of BKv in 1971, Purighalla described, in 1995, the first case of BKvN. Four years later in 1999, Nickeleit et al. published a first series of five cases of BKvN and made very precious and pertinent contributions to understanding t [...]

by Van Anh Vu  , Joelle Nelson  , Helen Sweiss  , Reed Hall  , Holly Keyt  and Elisabeth Kincaide

Received: 29 January 2024;  Published: 03 July 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2403220

Secondary hypogammaglobulinemia (HGG) from immunosuppression therapy in lung transplant recipients has been associated with increased mortality, morbidity and higher risk of infection. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) for the treatment of HGG post-lung transplant is not well studied with conflicting evidence regarding efficacy. This single-center, retrospective cohort study analyzed adult lung transplant recipients with HGG receiving ≥1 dose of IVIG 0.3-0.5 g/kg. Resolution of HGG (IgG > 600 mg/dL wi [...]

by Andrés R. Latorre-Rodríguez  , Devika Sindu  , Sumeet K. Mittal  and Ashwini Arjuna

Received: 23 February 2024;  Published: 21 June 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2402219

Activated pepsin (pepA) in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid may be a biomarker of gastric aspiration. We sought to i) evaluate the association of pepA in BAL fluid with acute cellular rejection (ACR) in a cohort of lung transplant recipients (LTRs), ii) assess the association between pepA and isolation of typical gastrointestinal microorganisms from BAL fluid, and iii) explore the accuracy of using pepA concentration as a biomarker of ACR. After IRB approval, we conducted a retrospective observational study analy [...]

by Filippo Lixi  , Benedetta Pintus  and Giuseppe Giannaccare

Received: 27 February 2024;  Published: 07 June 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2402218

Calcareous corneal degeneration is a rare disease characterized by calcium phosphate deposition into the deep corneal layers. Corneal calcification has a multifactorial origin and is associated with various systemic and ocular conditions. Several treatment options showed promising results in the management of this disorder. Herein, two cases of calcareous degeneration occurring postoperatively in patients undergoing surgery for retinal detachment (case #1) and glaucoma (case #2) were reported. Despite normal serum [...]

by Nasrin Motazedian  , Masoud Mokhtari  , Negar Azarpira  , Kimia Falamarzi  , Mohsen Mohammadi  , Seyed Mohsen Dehghani  , Sarina Pourjafar  , Maryam Ataollahi  , Elaheh Esfandiari  , Mahdokht Hossein-Aghdaie  , Seyed Ali Malekhosseini  , Tayebeh Kazemi  and Mahintaj Dara

Received: 05 May 2024;  Published: 04 June 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2402217

Crigler-Najjar syndrome (CNS) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by impaired bilirubin metabolism, leading to neurotoxic unconjugated bilirubin accumulation. Liver transplantation remains the only effective treatment, highlighting the need for novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as potential biomarkers in various diseases, including cancer. This study aimed to evaluate the expression of lncRNAs HOTTIP and HOTAIR in CNS patients and healthy contr [...]

by Tatsuya Kin  , Hirofumi Noguchi  and Atsushi Kawaguchi

Received: 15 February 2024;  Published: 03 June 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2402216

Using donation after circulatory determination of death (DCD) donors has been shown to be a potential means of increasing the number of donors for organ transplantation. The purpose of this study was to examine the published practice of DCD in Japan to properly define their practice as controlled or uncontrolled. Through the Web of Science database, we systematically searched articles describing uncontrolled DCD, controlled DCD or Maastricht classification. A total of 12 articles (ten articles related to kidney, on [...]

by Shourjo Chakravorty  and Ashka Patel

Received: 21 November 2023;  Published: 10 May 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2402215

Transplanted lung allografts are particularly susceptible to infection among SOT due to the constant exposure to the environment, aggressive immunosuppressive strategies, and impaired clearance mechanisms after denervation of the transplanted lung. Though prophylactic antimicrobial, antifungal, and antiviral regimens are used as preventive strategies to mitigate the risk of infection, complications related to allograft infection remain one of the primary causes of morbidity and mortality after lung transplantation. [...]

by Justin Cole  , Eugene Golts  , Michael Bernales  , Dina Shirazi  , Deepa Kurup  , Sarah Golts  , Gordon Yung  , Aarya Kafi  , Christine M. Lin  , Travis Pollema  and Kamyar Afshar

Received: 19 October 2023;  Published: 08 May 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2402214

Despite the concerted efforts by lung transplant recipients (LTR) and their medical teams, hospital readmissions are common in the first year following transplantation. Reasons for unplanned readmissions include allograft rejection, infections, and respiratory failure before the SARS-COV-2 pandemic. Clinical predictors of readmissions have changed over time with the higher risk factors of acceptable criteria for recipients and donors. We aimed to assess more recent readmission rates based on group classifications t [...]

by Rahul F. Gomez  , Aarya Kafi  , Gordon Yung  , Saima Aslam  , Christine M. Lin  , Travis Pollema  , Eugene Golts  and Kamyar Afshar

Received: 15 October 2023;  Published: 28 April 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2402213

Lung Transplant Recipients (LTR) are particularly vulnerable to severe infection, hospitalization, and death due to community acquired respiratory viruses. As a result, the global SARS-Cov-2 pandemic poses a higher risk to this population. We aim to study the lung function, severity of infection and mortality among LTR at a single center. A retrospective chart review was performed on all LTR at the University of San Diego, California Medical Center between June 2020 and September 2022. Spirometry was performed at 1 [...]

by Tatsuya Kin  , Doug O'Gorman  , Wendy Zhai  , Jennifer Moriarty  , Kyle Park  , Advaita Ganguly  , Shawn Rosichuk  and AM James Shapiro

Received: 23 February 2024;  Published: 23 April 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2402212

There has been a steady expansion in islet isolation and transplantation activity worldwide. In addition to preparing human islets for transplantation, we have been providing human islets to basic researchers. The aim of this study was to review the activity of distribution of human islets to basic researchers in North America, Europe, and Asia, and to investigate if there are any differences in utilization rate of islets among three continents. We reviewed our islet isolation batch files, donor records, and docume [...]

by Sravanthi Nandavaram  , Hannah Twist  , Rickey Evans  , Sravanthi Paluri  , Ana Castellanos  and Andres Pelaez

Received: 31 January 2024;  Published: 10 April 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2402211

Thrombotic Microangiopathy (TMA) is a syndrome characterized by microangiopathic hemolytic anemia (MAHA) and thrombocytopenia. The presence of schistocytes on peripheral smear, a negative Coombs test, elevated lactate dehydrogenase, increased reticulocyte count and low haptoglobin are often the clues for MAHA. The microvascular process often targets vasculature in kidneys, brain, gastrointestinal system, heart, and skin. A timely diagnosis and treatment are often crucial to prevent severe end organ damage and death [...]