by Ibrahim El-Serafi  , Sandra Oerther  , Ying Zhao  and Moustapha Hassan

Received: 08 July 2022;  Published: 27 July 2022;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2203163

Cytochrome P450 2J2 (CYP2J2) is one of the recently discovered enzymes that is involved in the metabolism of several drugs. It is mainly an extrahepatic enzyme which can, to some extent, explain some the drugs’ side effects such as cyclophosphamide (Cy). Cyclophosphamide is an alkylating agent that is commonly used in conditioning prior to stem cell transplantation. It is a prodrug that is bio-activated by several CYPs including CYP2J2. Cy is known to have several side effects and its extrahepatic activation by CYP [...]

by Brian C. Keller  , Sadia Z. Shah  and Amy Pope-Harman

Received: 24 April 2020;  Published: 15 June 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2002113

Systemic capillary leak syndrome is a disorder characterized by recurrent, life-threatening episodes of acute capillary hyperpermeability resulting in edema and hypovolemic shock. We report a case of systemic capillary leak syndrome in a lung transplant recipient who developed recurrent episodes of volume overload, respiratory failure, and acute kidney injury in association with hypotension and hypoalbuminemia. Initiation of monthly high dose intravenous immunoglobulin prophylaxis effectively abrogated the syndrome [...]

by David J. Ross  , Abbas Ardehali  , Christine Natori  and John A. Belperio

Received: 19 September 2019;  Published: 07 November 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.1904090

Introduction: TH-17 and IL-6 interactions and detrimental biologic effects have been shown in rodent models of Chronic Lung Allograft Dysfunction (CLAD). Similarly, these pathways have been found to be upregulated in human CLAD. Tocilizumab (TCZ), a humanized monoclonal antibody targets the IL-6 receptor subunit alpha and prevents binding of IL-6. We herein report our preliminary experience with adjunctive TCZ therapy for human CLAD. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed our initial experience with TCZ given after o [...]

by Michael J Eiswerth  and Joel Wedd

Received: 30 November 2024;  Published: 17 April 2025;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2502247

The prevalence of alcohol use disorder (AUD) and alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) has increased in the last two decades. ALD is currently the most common indication for both waitlist additions and liver transplant (LT) in the United States, including alcohol-associated cirrhosis, alcohol-associated hepatitis (AH), and acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). ALD also has a significant global disease burden. LT in ALD is a complex paradigm that poses both medical and ethical challenges, requiring a multidisciplinar [...]

by Jessica Lum  and Sherif B. Mossad

Received: 26 October 2018;  Published: 14 February 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.1901050

Despite the advances that have been made in the field of solid organ transplant (SOT), organ shortage remains a persistent problem. In addition, the donor pool has been changing with the ongoing opioid epidemic and increase in deaths related to drug overdose each year. More donors are meeting the 2013 United States (U.S.) Public Health Service criteria for increased risk donors (IRDs), or donors who are at higher risk for transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis C virus (HCV), and other multidr [...]

by Federica Odaldi  , Vanessa De Pace  , Giacomo Frascaroli  , Giuliana Germinario  , Giorgia Comai  , Francesco Vasuri  , Gaetano La Manna  and Matteo Ravaioli

Received: 22 November 2019;  Published: 03 February 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2001096

Donation after circulatory death (DCD) is an increasingly used resource to alleviate chronic renal graft shortages. Organs from donors with progressively increased creatinine levels due to acute kidney injury are used, but the effects of this condition on kidney transplantation are still unclear. Ex-situ machine perfusion is emerging as a potential tool to preserve and resuscitate vulnerable grafts. We report a case of DCD kidneys discarded due to severe acute kidney injury with favorable histological Karpinski sco [...]

by Richard Cheng  and Jon Kobashigawa

Received: 23 January 2019;  Published: 09 April 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.1902061

Cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) limits long-term survival after heart transplantation. CAV with discrete or tubular lesions can be treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with high procedural success. Revascularization with balloon angioplasty, bare-metal stents, and first-generation drug-eluting stents has been associated with high and unacceptable restenosis rates. However, second-generation drug-eluting stents are associated with favorable stent and lesion patency. Stent and lesion patency now [...]

by Anita Modi  and Sherif Beniameen Mossad

Received: 07 July 2019;  Published: 06 September 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.1903085

Chronic inflammatory states lead to T cell exhaustion, characterized by reduced T cell proliferation and activity. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICPI) reactivate T cells to restore the immune system’s natural defenses against foreign antigens. The widespread use of these agents in the treatment of malignancy has led to markedly reduced tumor burden and improved patient survival, sparking curiosity about their potential role in the treatment of other chronic inflammatory states, including infectious diseases. While [...]

by Antoine Buemi  , Jérôme Duisit  , Flora Musuamba  , Tom Darius  , Martine De Meyer  , Selda Aydin  , Nada Kanaan  , Arnaud Devresse  , Eric Goffin  and Michel Mourad

Received: 13 January 2020;  Published: 13 May 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2002109

This study aimed to investigate the outcomes of transplantation from donors aged less than three years in a single-center consecutive series. A total of 52 en bloc kidney graft transplantations were performed. In 22 cases, organs were procured from donors aged less than one year (group 1). In 30 cases, the age of donors varied from one to three years (group 2). After transplantation, renal function and graft and patient survival were evaluated retrospectively. No significant difference was observed between the grou [...]

by Assaf Assis  , Lena Sapozhnikov  , Sandra Camargo  and Eduardo Mitrani

Received: 07 May 2019;  Published: 14 August 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.1903078

Background: Cell encapsulation technology is most likely the ultimate solution for cell therapy based clinical approaches. A key issue when developing a functional encapsulated construct is to consider not only the nature of the capsule but also how the cells should be incorporated into the capsule in order to minimally compromise their function. Methods: We have developed a tissue engineering approach, composed of decellularized micro scaffolds and various types of cells in which fully functional "Engineered Micro [...]

by Rhythm Joshi  , Zehva Khan  , Aakriti Garg  , Nidhi  , Ubada Aqeel  , Dinesh Bhurani  and Mohd.Ashif Khan

Received: 30 September 2022;  Published: 25 April 2023;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2302183

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) or Bone Marrow Transplantation (BMT) has significantly improved the survival rates of patients suffering from hematological malignancies. However, the cure can only be achieved at the price of morbidity and long-term complications such as bone diseases leading to fractures and osteopenia. Several studies have reported the impact of organ transplants on bone metabolism, electrolytes and blood profile. This prospective observational clinical study aims at elucidating the [...]

by Abhijit Jagdale  , C. Adam Banks  , Hayato Iwase  , David K.C. Cooper  and Hidetaka Hara

Received: 29 December 2020;  Published: 30 June 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2102146

It has been speculated that the immunomodulation associated with pregnancy, e.g., decreasing pro-inflammatory cytokines, increasing anti-inflammatory cytokines, upregulation of T regulatory cells (Tregs), is in part due to the effect of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). In this study, we tested the effect of hCG on proliferation of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) stimulated by irradiated pig PBMCs. Mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) was carried out with human PBMCs as responders and irradiated wild- [...]

by Steven R. Potter

Received: 10 February 2020;  Published: 13 February 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2001100

by Suresh Keshavamurthy  and Cody Russell

Received: 11 January 2023;  Published: 04 April 2023;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2302179

A boundless spectrum of chronic lung diseases is said to effect over 500 million persons globally. Lung transplantation is a well-established therapeutic option for patients suffering from end-stage lung diseases, however waitlist mortality and primary graft failure remain major determinants as post-transplantation 5-year survival is just above 50 percent. Recent innovations in lung transplantation have been aimed at increasing organ availability, improving allograft quality, function, and longevity. Ex-vivo Lung P [...]

by Yasuhiko Sugawara

Received: 15 May 2020;  Published: 18 May 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2002111

by Vanessa G. Oliveira  , Ana Filipa Saraiva  , Fátima Costa  and Aida Botelho de Sousa

Received: 27 February 2019;  Published: 24 September 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.1903086

Nowadays, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a common procedure in hematology units within reference centers, mainly for the treatment of hematological malignancies such as multiple myeloma, lymphoma, and acute leukemia. Nevertheless, HSCT has much wider applications, namely in autoimmune diseases, congenital metabolic defects, and hemoglobinopathies. Thalassemia major and sickle cell disease make up the most frequent hereditary hemoglobinopathies worldwide. Despite advances on the prevention and tre [...]

by Javier Carbone  , Juan Fernandez-Yañez  , Iago Sousa  , Patricia Muñoz  and Elizabeth Sarmiento

Received: 23 November 2018;  Published: 22 March 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.1901058

Secondary antibody deficiency has been associated with risk of invasive fungal infections in solid organ transplantation. Single center, multi-center and meta-analysis studies have tested this association. Therapy of these infectious complications in the presence of a secondary antibody deficiency after transplantation remain a challenge for transplant teams. Currently, there are no guidelines for the management of this combined clinical scenario. We report the case of a patient with severe secondary immunodeficien [...]

by Renato Pol  , Tiziana Ruggiero  , Luisa Giaccone  , Davide Camisassa  , Andrea Spadafora  , Giulia Rivetti  , Marta Bezzi  and Stefano Carossa

Received: 14 June 2019;  Published: 21 October 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.1904088

Objective: Hematopoietic stem cells transplant (HSCT) requires being preceded by chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The neutropenia and thrombocytopenia which follows may be the possible cause of post-transplant complications. It is required that the patient undergoing transplantation is eradicated of any possible infectious focus. Currently, a uniform protocol for the oral management of these patients is unavailable. Methods: The approach for the dental management of each patient was designed as a more selective proto [...]

by Christine M. Bojanowski  , Ian Britton  and Kamyar Afshar

Received: 18 April 2018;  Published: 16 July 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.1803015

Here we present a case of a lung transplant recipient with alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency as well as conducted a retrospective review of the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) database from 1990 – 2016 specifically grouping patients with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (A1ATD) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

by Ramin Raoufinia  , Saleh Hashemi  , Kimia Arabi  , Karim Naghipoor  , Farhad Fakoor  and Ehsan Saburi

Received: 20 October 2024;  Published: 02 April 2025;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2502245

In orthopedics and oncology, benign and malignant bone lesions pose significant clinical challenges. Malignant tumors, like osteosarcomas and multiple myeloma, pose substantial health dangers and can spread common and mostly non-life-threatening benign lesions, including non-sizing fibromas and unicameral bone cysts. Treatment plans for bone lesions may involve radiation, chemotherapy, and surgical excision, depending on their type. Combining stem cell research, bioactive materials, and advanced scaffold design, cu [...]

by Jill Gualdoni  , Jeff Ritzenthaler  , Ibrahim Elkhawas  , Gerene Bauldoff  , David Nunley  and Jesse Roman

Received: 29 November 2018;  Published: 20 February 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.1901051

Background: Gastroesophageal reflux disease has been associated with the development of chronic lung allograft dysfunction following lung transplantation. While the mechanisms are unclear, it is postulated that microaspiration of gastrointestinal material (GIM) leads to inflammation and airway remodeling that culminates in obliterative bronchiolitis. As the expression of the matrix glycoprotein fibronectin has been shown to be an early marker of this fibroproliferative process, its induction could suggest a causal [...]

by Pål-Dag Line

Received: 20 December 2017;  Published: 24 December 2017;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.1704006

by Sylvaine You  and Lucienne Chatenoud

Received: 25 September 2018;  Published: 09 November 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.1804025

Transplant tolerance has been achieved in experimental models using immune intervention strategies. Yet, their clinical translation remains unsuccessful and requires further optimization of immunotherapeutic regimens based on a deeper understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms at play in the induction and maintenance phases of immune tolerance. Intensive investigations have shed light on the tolerogenic networks underlying graft survival and have unraveled their complexity, which may depend on several p [...]

by Kamal Kant Sahu

Received: 01 November 2020;  Published: 19 November 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2004126

by Yi-nan Guo  , Michael Grzelak  and Byoung Chol Oh

Received: 10 October 2018;  Published: 13 December 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.1804031

One of the major hurdles still facing the field of transplantation is the management of immunosuppression and the morbidity that results from treatment. Due to toxicity and complications from a maintenance immunosuppression therapies, a necessary improvement in post-transplant immunosuppressive therapies must be the development of a low-side effect therapy. Cell-based therapies as an emerging candidate offer a novel approach to generating graft tolerance, and when utilized within a combination therapeutic strategy, [...]

by Gianluca Donatini  , Sébastien Giraud  , Jean-Louis Kraimps  , Jérôme Danion  and Thierry Hauet

Received: 08 April 2019;  Published: 15 April 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.1902062

Pancreatic islet transplantation represents an effective therapy with lower morbidity for patients carriers of type 1 diabetes compared to whole pancreas transplantation. Although complete insulin independence is usually not achieved it allows control of glycemia balance reducing the risk of severe hypoglycaemia events and impaired awareness of hypoglycaemia. Recent trials had demonstrated islet transplantation to be more effective than current medical treatment and improvements in outcomes also have been reported [...]

by Jessica Ferguson  , Marisa Holubar  , Waldo Concepcion  and Dora Y. Ho

Received: 24 July 2020;  Published: 09 November 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2004122

Liver transplant recipients (LTRs) are at risk for vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) infections which can lead to significant morbidity or mortality. Antibiotic exposure, including vancomycin, is associated with greater risk of VRE infection. This study aimed to assess the appropriateness of vancomycin use and rates of VRE infection in this population. We performed a retrospective cohort study of 327 patients who underwent liver transplantation at our center from January 1, 2012 to June 30, 2017. Sixty (18.3% [...]

by Shalika B. Katugaha  , Amit K. Mahajan  , Meg Fregoso  , Haresh Mani  and Oksana A. Shlobin

Received: 25 October 2020;  Published: 03 July 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2103147

A 65-year-old female with a history of right lung transplantation (LTx) for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) 9-years prior complicated by grade 3 bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) was admitted to the hospital for chest pain and dyspnea on exertion (DOE). Her bronchoscopy revealed fluffy, endobronchial lesions that were adherent to the right sided anastomosis resulting in mild obstruction of the right mainstem bronchus. Pathology from biopsies of the endobronchial lesions revealed hyphal fungal org [...]

by Bhagyashree Deshmankar  , Craig E. Eckfeldt  , Graf Oliver  , Aleksandr Lazaryan  and Nelli Bejanyan

Received: 19 July 2020;  Published: 18 September 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2003118

Severe hypercholesterolemia is an uncommon complication of allogenic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). Treatment options for hypercholesterolemia due to liver graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) are limited because many antilipidemic medications are known to worsen hepatic functions. We report our experience on a case of a 38-year-old male with Philadelphia chromosome positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia presenting with steroid-refractory hepatic and lower gastrointestinal acute GVHD after matched sibling don [...]

by Amer Belal  , Shawna Lord  , Rohan V. Mehta  and Alfonso Santos

Received: 28 October 2022;  Published: 19 April 2023;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2302182

Cryptococcosis is a common invasive fungal infection in solid organ transplant recipients (SOTR) that can be challenging to manage. We discuss a case of disseminated cryptococcosis in a transplant recipient. A 26-year-old woman with a history of ESRD from C1q nephropathy, living-related kidney transplant in early 2012, and allograft nephrectomy in 2015, received a deceased donor kidney transplant (DDKT). Induction after the first transplant was anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) and maintenance immunosuppression (IS) in [...]

by Inês Pessanha  , Catarina Cunha  , Cláudia Piedade  , Emanuel Furtado  and Maria Francelina Lopes

Received: 09 August 2020;  Published: 05 January 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2101131

Diaphragmatic Hernia (DH) after Liver Transplantation (LT) is a rare complication with unclear pathophysiology. Among 261 LT, we recognized six DH during the post transplant period (2.30%). All patients with DH had received a left lateral segment (LLS) reduced graft. The mean graft weight was 340g with a mean graft-to-recipient body weight ratio (GBWR) of 4.20%. LLS grafts, a GBWR > 4%, previous abdominal surgery and direct trauma during surgery can be enumerated as potential risk factors for DH post-LT. These chil [...]

by Alicia M Teagarden  , Emma M Tillman  and Courtney M Rowan

Received: 24 April 2018;  Published: 29 October 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.1804022

Background: Hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) patients are a high-risk population for poor nutrition and decreased survival. There is little data on how nutrition in pediatric HCT patients affects need for critical care interventions and outcomes. Methods: We hypothesized that patients who did not meet goal nutrition by 72 hours post-admission to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) had increased in-hospital mortality and increased need for critical care interventions. We performed a retrospective cohort stud [...]

by Syed Nazeer Mahmood  and Amit K. Mahajan

Received: 12 September 2023;  Published: 27 March 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2401209

Lung transplantation in patients with end stage lung disease can improve survival and quality of life. Airway complication incidence varies between 2-33%, but the true incidence is difficult to determine due to a lack of validated classification systems. There are many risk factors for post lung transplant airway complications, the most common being anastomotic ischemia, pulmonary infections, surgical technique and allograph dysfunction. Common complications include formation of granulation tissue, anastomotic sten [...]

by Elham Amjad  and Babak Sokouti

Received: 21 February 2025;  Published: 09 June 2025;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2502251

Graft rejection, early allograft dysfunction (EAD), and poor diagnostic accuracy are some of the challenges that still need to be addressed, even though liver transplantation (LT) has the potential to help patients with end-stage liver disease (ESLD) significantly. Traditional procedures, such as liver biopsies and liver function tests (LFTs), often fail to identify abnormalities early and with accuracy. Genomic RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) has recently emerged as a powerful approach for identifying molecular markers o [...]

by Katarina Tomulic Brusich

Received: 30 August 2022;  Published: 15 November 2022;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2204169

Transplantation is a widely accepted and successful life-saving treatment for hundreds of thousands of patients. However, transplant medicine still faces a number of obstacles. One of the most significant is the large disparity between the number of donors and recipients and the growing need for re-transplantation. In the last two decades, the improvement and organization of the national transplantation program in Croatia have resulted in a steadily increasing donor rate and therefore the transplantation numbers. A [...]

by Kristen R Szempruch  , Alec D Martschenko  , Harendra Arora  , Robert S Isaak  , Ravindra Prasad  , John L Schmitz  , Chuning Liu  , Fei Zou  and Pablo Serrano Rodriguez

Received: 13 February 2023;  Published: 18 April 2023;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2302181

Fluid management intra- and post-operatively for kidney transplant recipients (KTR) is essential to maintain adequate perfusion to the kidney. 0.9% normal saline (NS) is commonly used, but it can cause hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis, which may result in hyperkalemia and lead to delayed graft function (DGF). Plasma-Lyte A (PA) is an alternative option that has a lower amount of chloride and a neutral pH, which may offset the risk of hyperkalemia. The aim of this study is to determine the incidence of DGF in KTRs [...]

by OBM Transplantation Editorial Office

Received: 16 May 2022;  Published: 18 May 2022;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2202159

InterviewAn Interview with Prof. Peter SchemmerOBM Transplantation Editorial OfficeLIDSEN Publishing Inc., 2000 Auburn Drive, One Chagrin Highlands, Suite 200, Beachwood, OH, USA; E-Mail: transplantation@lidsen.com OBM Transplantation2022, volume 6, issue 2doi:10.21926/obm.transplant.2202159Received: May 16, 2022Accepted: May 17, 2022Published: May 18, 2022

by S.Amitha Banu  and Khan Sharun

Received: 25 May 2023;  Published: 02 June 2023;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2302187

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a promising tool in regenerative medicine because it stimulates tissue repair and regeneration. PRP contains a high concentration of platelets, growth factors, and cytokines involved in the healing process. This editorial paper aims to give an overview of PRP in regenerative medicine and its potential applications in various medical fields such as orthopedics, dentistry, dermatology, and wound healing. PRP can be integrated with other regenerative therapies, such as stem cell and gene [...]

by Sofia Oliveira Correia  , Catarina Eusébio  , Ana Sofia Cipriano  , Virginia Lopes  , José Ramón Vizcaíno  , António Cabrita  , Manuela Almeida  , Sofia Pedroso  , Leonidio Dias  , La Salete Martins  and António Castro Henriques

Received: 18 October 2018;  Published: 07 March 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.1901057

Mucormycosis is an angioinvasive and potentially fatal fungal infection caused by ubiquitous filamentous fungi. Cutaneous mucormycosis is an emerging infection and potentially lethal. Our aim was to review the literature on cutaneous mucormycosis. We present a case of a renal transplant patient with a surgical wound infection 20 days after kidney transplant. This case is an example on how early diagnosis is crucial and, since culture is less sensitive, microscopic evaluation of the characteristic broad hyphae is th [...]

by Michael B. Keller  , Temesgen E. Andargie  and Sean Agbor-Enoh

Received: 16 March 2023;  Published: 26 June 2023;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2302190

Advances in the use of molecular biomarkers to guide management of lung transplant recipients are emerging. One such biomarker, donor-derived cell-free DNA (dd-cfDNA), has the potential to alter traditional approaches of lung transplant management, including the detection of acute rejection or infection, surveillance monitoring strategies, risk stratification of vulnerable patient populations and molecular phenotyping of various forms of allograft injury. The emergence of novel genetic and epigenetic approaches uti [...]

by Rene J. Duquesnoy

Received: 11 July 2018;  Published: 05 September 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.1803018

The Holy Grail to Clinical Transplant Tolerance is Paved with HLA Epitopes

by Ginevra G Adamo  , Sergio D'Angelo  , Angeli Christy Yu  , Marco Pellegrini  , Federico Bernabei  , Vincenzo Scorcia  and Giuseppe Giannaccare

Received: 17 June 2022;  Published: 02 August 2022;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2203164

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a serious complication that may occur in patients receiving allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT). GVHD occurs because of the immunological reaction between the donor’s T cells and the recipient’s antigens; GVHD may develop in different tissues, including the eye. Corneal perforation is an uncommon but vision-threatening manifestation of GVHD. We reported the case of a 65-year-old male patient who developed corneal perforation sequentially in both eyes 3 years afte [...]

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 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 OBM Transplantation Editorial Office

Received: 06 January 2022;  Published: 07 January 2022;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2201157

The editors of OBM Transplantation would like to express their sincere gratitude to the following reviewers for assessing manuscripts in 2021. 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 receive a voucher entitling them to a discount on their next LIDSEN publication and can download a certificate of recogni [...]

by Aml Labib  , Jitesh Jeswani  and Durga AK Kanigicherla

Received: 26 June 2023;  Published: 13 October 2023;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2304199

IgAN is a major cause of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) leading to kidney transplantation in a significant proportion of patients. However, its recurrence in transplanted kidneys can lead to graft loss. The rate of graft loss attributable to IgAN after transplantation is variably reported in different retrospective cohorts. Previous reports describe recurrence rates of 22-58% with a 1.3% to 16% rate of graft loss. Accurate diagnosis and prediction of graft loss are important for planning effective therapies to imp [...]

by Mohsen Nafar  , Shiva Samavat  , Nooshin Dalili  , Shiva Kalantari  , Leonard Foster  , Kyung-Mee Moon  and Somaye-Sadat Heidari

Received: 25 May 2023;  Published: 07 July 2023;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2303191

Acute rejection (AR) is one of the main predictors of long-term survival of allograft. The development of noninvasive diagnostic biomarkers of AR is an unmet need for the timely detection. This study aimed to identify novel detective biomarkers of AR by analyzing the urine proteome profile of transplant patients. Forty-two transplant patients including 30 biopsy-proven AR patients (including antibody and T-cell mediated rejection) and 12 transplant patients with stable renal function (control group) were enrolled. [...]

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 Esra Pehlivan

Received: 11 December 2024;  Published: 03 March 2025;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2501239

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disorder that significantly impacts respiratory function, leading to progressive lung damage and ultimately respiratory failure. Lung transplantation (LTx) is a critical intervention for CF patients with end-stage lung disease, offering improved survival and quality of life. Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) plays a pivotal role both preoperatively and postoperatively in optimizing outcomes for LTx candidates and recipients. Pre-transplant PR interventions, including exercise programs, [...]

by Michelle N. Bremer  , Garrick J. Gama  , Omkar Rao  , Eugene Golts  , Deepa Kurup  , Aarya Kafi  , Christine M. Lin  , Gordon Yung  and Kamyar Afshar

Received: 28 November 2022;  Published: 10 April 2023;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2302180

Race, while a social construct, has a strong effect on a person’s health. There is limited data on racial disparities within lung transplantation (LTx), especially for Hispanic recipients. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify inequalities that may involve this population. We analyzed historical data from the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) and performed a retrospective review of Hispanic and Caucasian patients who underwent lung transplantation in the United States between May [...]

by Ana Paula Leopercio  , Christini Emori  , Elisabete Calore Neiva  , Ana Lucia Silva Souza  , Ana Cristina Amaral  , Gustavo Almeida Vieira  , Raimundo Araujo Gama  , Jose Osmar Medina-Pestana  and Maria Lúcia Ferraz

Received: 22 June 2022;  Published: 26 October 2022;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2204168

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is frequent among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). HBV reactivation after kidney transplant (KT) is more common in patients with HBsAg+; however, it can also occur in previously infected individuals, particularly those with HBsAg negative and total antiHBc positive (HBsAg-/antiHBcT+). However, reactivation in this population has scarce and conflicting data. This study aimed to assess the reactivation risk in KT recipients with previous HBV infection (antiHBcT+). A retros [...]

by Costanza Rossi  , Vincenzo Scorcia  , Massimiliano Borselli  , Giuseppe Giannaccare  , Rossella Spena  and Andrea Lucisano

Received: 20 April 2023;  Published: 15 June 2023;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2302188

This article aims to provide some personal surgical tips to increase the success rate of deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK), a very advantageous yet complex procedure for treating keratoconus. The most troublesome surgical step is obtaining a successful pneumatic dissection of the deep stromal tissue, allowing the exposure of a deep cleavage plane. The following tips may aid the trainee surgeon in mastering this step, among others: performing a deep trephination, using intraoperative anterior segment optica [...]

by Alma Rechnitzer  , Richard Teo  , Abigail Brooks  , Juan P. Rocca  , Nidal A. Mudhi  , Julia Torabi  , Maria Ajaimy  , Luz Liriano-Ward  , Yorg Azzi  , Cindy Pynadath  , Pablo Loarte-Campos  , Enver Akalin  , Marie E. Le  , Milan M. Kinkhabwala  and Jay A. Graham

Received: 06 September 2022;  Published: 21 November 2022;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2204170

The 2014 Pancreas Allocation System established national qualifying criteria for simultaneous kidney pancreas (SPK) transplantation. The 2019 UNOS Pancreas Transplantation Committee Policy 11.3.B modified these guidelines to expand transplantation. Subsequent effects on recipient demographics have not been studied. We analyzed 81 SPK transplantations performed at our center from June 2014 to December 2020 to compare recipient demographics and outcomes before and after the 11.3.B policy change. National data were al [...]

by Braulio A. Marfil-Garza  and Tatsuya Kin

Received: 11 December 2022;  Published: 19 December 2022;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2204171

by Wasim A. Dar

Received: 03 September 2018;  Published: 29 September 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.1803021

liver transplantation

by Kurumi Taniguchi  , Haruka Sawamura  , Yuka Ikeda  , Ai Tsuji  and Satoru Matsuda

Received: 02 May 2022;  Published: 30 August 2022;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2203165

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a standard form of cellular therapy for patients suffering from malignant hematological diseases. However, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a very serious complication and a major cause of morbidity and mortality after allogeneic HSCT. Calcineurin inhibitors, such as cyclosporine, are widely used to enhance the survival of patients who have undergone HSCT. Unfortunately, both GVHD and cyclosporine occasionally cause nephropathy. Several studies have shown that th [...]

by Nour Ben Abdeljelil  , Rimmel Yosra Kanoun  , Roua Hsasna  , Rabeb Jaied  , Sabrine Mekni  , Siwar Frigui  , Lamia Torjemane  , Dorra Belloumi  , Ines Turki  , Rihab Ouerghi  , Insaf Ben yaiche  , Wafa Achour  , Saloua Ladeb  and Tarek Ben Othman

Received: 12 April 2023;  Published: 12 September 2023;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2303195

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is a common and severe complication following allogeneic stem cell transplantation (ASCT) and requires effective preemptive antiviral therapy. Both oral and intravenous (IV) antiviral agents effectively reduce CMV viral load and achieve viral clearance. Studies comparing oral and IV anti-CMV preemptive treatment in ASCT patients with CMV reactivation showed a potential difference in treatment response and safety profiles between the two administration routes. We retrospectively compa [...]

by Kamyar Afshar  , Michelle N Bremer  , Deepa Kurup  , Michael Bernales  , Elizabeth Schonhoft  , Luis Santana  , Caro Davila  , Gina Schooler  , Gordon Yung  , Travis Pollema  and Eugene Golts

Received: 07 November 2022;  Published: 14 March 2023;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2301177

Lung transplant (LTx) survival and quality of life have been steadily improving, partially from changes in candidate selection for transplantation. There are well-known high-risk factors that lead to poor LTx outcomes, which may be referred to as ‘accounted’ risks. However, there are also other ‘unaccounted’ risks that are not included in the existing model for expected LTx survival to help programs for resource allocation. We performed a retrospective cohort study of all LTx recipients over the age of 18 at UC San [...]

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 Deepika Razia  , Ashraf Omar  , Katherine Grief  , Rajat Walia  and Sofya Tokman

Received: 20 November 2022;  Published: 01 March 2023;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2301176

Careful selection of lung transplant (LT) recipients with cystic fibrosis (CF) may improve outcomes; therefore, we studied the impact of sex and age at the time of LT on long-term survival of patients with CF. LT recipients with CF who received post-LT care at our center between July 1, 2007 and April 30, 2021 were included. The primary outcome was death or retransplantation. Cox proportional hazard analysis and the Kaplan-Meier method were used. Of 59 included LT recipients, the median age at first LT was 28 (22, [...]

by Leona A. Holmberg  , Michael Linenberger  and Laura Connelly-Smith

Received: 06 May 2022;  Published: 30 March 2023;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2301178

RICE is salvage therapy for treating CD20+non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). It is combined with G-CSF to collect autologous peripheral blood stem cells (aPBSC). Little data exists, though, on the combination of G-CSF and Plerixafor after RICE in mobilizing adequate number of CD34 cells and the product’s immune content. We report on the results of twenty CD20+ NHL patients after RICE, G-CSF and Plerixafor were given to collect aPBSC. The median number of cells collected was 12.92 × 106 CD34 cells/kg (range 5.4 [...]

by Domingo J. Franco-Palacios  , Lisa Allenspach  , Lisa Stagner  , Kelly Bryce  , Jane Simanovski  and Hassan Nemeh

Received: 01 May 2023;  Published: 17 July 2023;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2303193

In the United States of America, COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and post-COVID pulmonary fibrosis (PCPF) are raising indications for lung transplant (LT). Another indication for LT is underlying fibrosis with SARS-CoV-2 induced interstitial lung disease exacerbation or rapid progressing fibrosis. Only a few centers have reported on their long-term outcomes after LT for COVID-19. Single center retrospective chart review of patients transplanted for COVID-19 related lung disease. The Henry Ford H [...]

by Bruno A Lima

Received: 15 December 2023;  Published: 11 March 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2401208

Human Leucocyte Antigens (HLA) constitute a highly polymorphic set of genes pivotal to the immune response. The HLA heterozygous advantage hypothesis assumes that heterozygous individuals at the HLA level have a wider range of peptides for T cell recognition than homozygous individuals. Consequently, they possess an enhanced capacity to trigger a targeted immune reaction. The divergent allele advantage hypothesis is an extension of heterozygous advantage, considering the excessive sequence divergence between allele [...]

by OBM Transplantation Editorial Office

Received: 01 July 2022;  Published: 03 July 2022;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2203161

by Paayal Naidu  , William Sandawana Majoni  , Toby Coates  and Manohar Mogulla

Received: 11 May 2023;  Published: 04 September 2023;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2303194

Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) in kidney transplant recipients is uncommon and difficult to manage, often with poor graft outcomes [1]. This is a complex and interesting case of an older, highly sensitised kidney transplant recipient who presented with de novo post-transplant TMA in the setting of antibody mediated rejection (ABMR), with other drivers being tacrolimus toxicity, cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and anti-SARS-CoV-2 BNT162b2 mRNA vaccination. This led to rapid, irrecoverable graft loss. 76-year-old f [...]

by Abhideep Chaudhary  , Anish Gupta  , Imtiakum Jamir  , Niteen Kumar  and Gaurav Sood

Received: 23 October 2023;  Published: 01 April 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2402210

With the progressive rise in rates of liver transplantation, stagnant donor pool, and social factors, living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) forms the majority of liver transplantations performed in Asian countries. As the global prevalence of metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is increasing, around 17-25% of all the prospective donors turn out to be steatotic at the time of evaluation and, as such, rejected for donor hepatectomy, thereby considerably reducing the living donor pool. Steatotic graft [...]

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 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 Somaye-Sadat Heidari  , Nooshin Dalili  , Shiva Samavat  , Shiva Kalantari  , Leonard Foster  , Kyung-Mee Moon  and Mohsen Nafar

Received: 12 July 2023;  Published: 25 September 2023;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2303196

Acute antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) is a severe complication affecting kidney allografts' long-term survival. Timely detection and appropriate treatment of AMR are crucial for improving graft outcomes. This study aimed to discover non-invasive urinary biomarkers that can predict the response to therapy in patients with AMR. Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, urine samples from 21 biopsy-proven AMR patients underwent proteomics using label-free quantification. The patients were divided into two g [...]

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 Biagio Pinchera  , Rosa Carrano  , Emilia Trucillo  , Alessia D'Agostino  , Alessia Sardanelli  , Simona Mercinelli  , Fabrizio Salemi  , Amerigo Piccione  , Elisa Schettino  , Paolo Romano  , Gianluca Rompianesi  , Roberto Ivan Troisi  and Ivan Gentile

Received: 19 July 2023;  Published: 01 November 2023;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2304200

The rising prevalence of MDR pathogens has a significant impact on the recipients' outcome, as this increases the risk of graft complications and makes the management of the peri-transplant phase more difficult. Among the different MDR germs, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) represents one of the most frequently isolated pathogens. We report for the first time the off-label use of Ceftaroline in six kidney transplant recipients with donor peritransplantation MRSA bacteremia at the Division of Kidn [...]

by Alfonso H. Santos  , Amer Belal  , Hisham Ibrahim  and Muhannad A. Leghrouz

Received: 19 August 2022;  Published: 21 February 2023;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2301175

We aimed to identify the non-renal risk factors for simultaneous liver-kidney transplantation (SLKT) vs. liver transplantation alone (LTA) in end-stage liver disease (ESLD) patients with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <60 ml/min, not on dialysis. Using organ procurement and transplantation network data, we studied adult ESLD patients who received deceased-donor SLKT or LTA in July 2002-Mar 2016 with a 4-point modification of renal disease (MDRD) equation-estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) s [...]

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 Sarah I. Willi  , Ulrike Bacher  , Marie Noelle Kronig  , Michael Daskalakis  , Lia Bally  and Thomas Pabst

Received: 29 July 2023;  Published: 04 February 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2401206

Malnutrition remains a clinical challenge in AML patients undergoing autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ASCT), leading to physical deconditioning and prolonged hospitalization. Prospective data are mainly lacking to identify those patients who may particularly benefit from parenteral nutrition in this setting. This observational, non-randomized, retrospective, exploratory cohort study assessed the nutritional development in patients following high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) with ASCT and explored the [...]

by Rouvick M Gama  , Mysore Phanish  , Abbas Ghazanfar  and Debasish Banerjee

Received: 09 January 2023;  Published: 23 May 2023;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2302185

Despite preventative measures, including vaccination, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) infection may result in severe illness, particularly in immunosuppressed transplant recipients. This has had a negative impact on organ donation and transplantation rates. However, the risk of transmission from SARS-CoV-2 positive donors to kidney transplant recipients is unknown. We describe 2 cases of successful kidney transplantation from SARS-CoV-2 positive donors. Case 1: 38-year old unvaccinated fe [...]