Understanding the basic immunologic principles is crucial for transplant management. Below is a summary of basic transplant immunology. Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) Proteins MHCs are the group of cell surface proteins which are important for self-recognition, self-tolerance and…
Presently, death with a functioning graft is one of the most important causes of kidney transplant failure with the leading cause of death being from cardiovascular events. Withdrawing or avoiding steroids to improve cardiovascular outcomes is a controversial…
Azathioprine is one of the oldest immunosuppressant medications, which has been used in the field of solid organ transplantation over the past 5 decades. It is metabolized into its inactive forms by the enzyme thiopurine methyltransferease (TPMT). Genetic…
The ELITE-Symphony study enshrined standard triple therapy immunosuppression of tacrolimus, mycophenolic acid and prednisolone, for renal transplant recipients. We get familiar with these agents relatively quickly in our renal training, but what about the other less common agents…
Despite being the world’s most common form of glomerulonephritis, IgA Nephropathy treatment strategies have hereto been controversial, particularly surrounding the use of immnosuppression on top of traditional RAAS blockade. The long awaited, Intensive Supportive Care plus Immunosuppression in…
Textbooks and formal lectures were previously considered the main sources to build a solid medical knowledge. However, the advancements of technology have transformed our learning process. Nowadays, students, residents and fellows learn from a combination of resources including…
A biopharmaceutical, or biologic, is any medicinal product manufactured in or extracted from a living system, such as a microorganism or plant or animal cells. Several biologic agents are produced using recombinant DNA technology, while others may be…
Recently a 65-year-old female was referred to an ED in the state of Missouri complaining of fevers, chills, headache, diarrhea and vomiting occurring over the last week. 3 weeks prior she had received an orthotopic liver transplant. Her…
Parvovirus B19 (PVB19) is a small, non-enveloped, single-stranded DNA virus belonging to the Erythrovirus genus, named for their tropism for erythroid precursor cells. It is the only known parvovirus to infect humans. By late adulthood, most people have…
I thought I would throw in my two cents on the Dream RCT in Nephrology poll being co-ordinated at UKidney. My choice focuses on transplant immunosuppression and you can see the entry by Joel Topf on PB Fluids…
