Surface Proton Conduction of Sm-Doped CeO2-δ Thin Film Preferentially Grown on Al2O3 (0001)

Sm-doped CeO_2-δ (Ce_0.9Sm_0.1O_2-δ; SDC) thin films were prepared on Al₂O₃ (0001) substrates by radio frequency magnetron sputtering. The prepared thin films were preferentially grown along the [111] direction, with the spacing of the (111) plane (d₁₁₁) expanded by 2.6% to compensate for a lattice mismatch against the substrate. The wet-annealed SDC thin film, with the reduced d₁₁₁ value, exhibited surface protonic conduction in the low-temperature region below 100 °C. The O1s photoemission spectrum exhibits H₂O and OH^- peaks on the SDC surface. These results indicate the presence of physisorbed water layers and the generation of protons on the SDC (111) surface with oxygen vacancies. The protons generated on the SDC surface were conducted through a physisorbed water layer by the Grotthuss mechanism.

Clarifying differences in injury patterns between ground-level falls and falls from heights among the elderly in Japan

OBJECTIVES

With the progress of aging, fall injuries have become a global public health issue. This research was conducted to describe in detail situations of injury occurrence among the elderly by distinguishing between falls from heights and ground-level falls. We assume that different fall mechanisms occur in different situations and result in a wide range of consequences.

STUDY DESIGN

This is a registry-based descriptive study.

METHODS

The analysis included 55,126 patients with fall injuries, aged 65 years and more, having an Injury Severity Score (ISS) ≧9, and registered in a trauma registry in Japan between 2004 and 2015. We described patients' distribution in terms of age, severity, outcome, season, time, and injured body parts by gender and fall mechanisms.

RESULTS

Falls from heights (n = 15,748) were more common among men and those younger than 75 years. Ground-level falls (n = 39,378) were more common among women and those older than 75 years. The ISS was high in men and for those who fell from heights. Falls from heights were common in autumn, whereas ground-level falls were common in winter. Both mechanisms occurred frequently during the daytime. The head and lower extremities were the most commonly injured parts for those who fell from heights and ground-level falls, respectively. Injuries to the head, chest, spine, upper extremities, and pelvis were common among those who fell from heights. Injuries to the lower extremities were common in ground-level fallers. Among those who fell from heights, women had more frequent lower extremity injuries than did men. Among ground-level fallers, men had more frequent head injuries than did women. The highest case-fatality rate was recorded for abdominal injuries among those who fell from heights and head injuries among ground-level fallers. In both mechanisms of injury, the case-fatality rate of limbs was the lowest.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study showed different patterns between falls from heights and ground-level falls, whereas previous studies rarely distinguished between these two fall mechanisms.

Addition of low-dose liraglutide to insulin therapy is useful for glycaemic control during the peri-operative period: effect of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist therapy on glycaemic control in patients undergoing cardiac surgery (GLOLIA study)

AIM

To test the hypothesis that the addition of a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist that can decrease glucose levels without increasing the hypoglycaemia risk will achieve appropriate glycaemic control during the peri-operative period.

METHODS

We studied 70 people with Type 2 diabetes who underwent elective cardiac surgery. Participants were randomized to either an insulin-alone or an insulin plus liraglutide 0.6 mg/day group. We evaluated average M values, which indicated the proximity index of the target glucose level from day 1 to day 10.

RESULTS

The average M value in the liraglutide plus insulin group was significantly lower than that in the insulin-alone group (liraglutide plus insulin 5.8 vs insulin-alone 12.3; P < 0.001). The frequency of insulin dose modification in the liraglutide plus insulin group was significantly lower than that in the insulin-alone group (odds ratio 0.19, 95% CI 0.08-0.49; P < 0.001). The frequency of hypoglycaemia in the liraglutide plus insulin group tended to be lower than that in the insulin-alone group (odds ratio 0.57, 95% CI 0.15-2.23; P = 0.21).

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study showed that the addition of low-dose liraglutide to insulin achieved lower M values than insulin alone, suggesting that the addition of low-dose liraglutide may achieve better glycaemic control during the peri-operative period. (Clinical trials registry no.: UMIN 000008003).

P338Combined assessment using clinical and imaging parameters to predict response to pharmacotherapy in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy

Background

Normalization of left ventricular (LV) contraction is a strong surrogate marker of favorable prognosis in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Although several studies have reported the individual predictive significance of clinical and imaging parameters for LV recovery in patients with DCM, there have been no reports on the scoring systems that combine these multifactorial parameters.

Methods and results

In 406 idiopathic patients with DCM, there were 185 (46%) with LV recovery at 1-year follow-up after pharmacotherapy, which was defined as improvements in LV ejection fraction of ≥+10% together with absolute values of ≥50%. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that eight baseline clinical factors and the absence of late gadolinium enhancement (negative LGE) on magnetic resonance imaging were independently associated with LV recovery. The highest odds ratio for the prediction of LV recovery was negative LGE (odds ratio: 5.62, 95% confidence interval: 2.97–10.6; p<0.0001). Response score for the prediction of LV recovery that included these nine parameters had a predictive accuracy of 0.76 for LV recovery (Figure).

Conclusion

Combined assessment using clinical and imaging parameters has a high prognostic value for predicting response to pharmacotherapy in patients with DCM.

P1671Subclinical persistent hemolysis may affect late renal function deterioration after HeartMateII implantation

Background

Late renal function dysfunction is an increasingly recognized complication in continuous flow left ventricular assist device (CF-LVAD) patients. Although hemolysis is prevalent in CF-LVAD patients and hemolysis may deteriorate renal function, the influence of persistent hemolysis on renal function in CF-LVAD patients remains to be investigated.

Purpose

To investigate the influence of persistent hemolysis on renal function in CF-LVAD patients, using lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) as a sensitive marker of hemolysis.

Methods

Excluding patients who died or underwent pump exchange for pump thrombosis, we retrospectively reviewed 65 consecutive adults who underwent HeartMateII implantation in our center from May 2011 to October 2017. Patient characteristics, chronotropic change of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and LDH values weekly for 4 weeks and every 4 weeks between 4 and 48 weeks after implantation were collected. Then, calculating mean LDH during 48 weeks after implantation, study population was divided into low and high mean LDH groups at the median value of mean LDH.

Results

The median value of mean LDH was 304 U/l. Compared with low LDH patients, though high LDH patients were more likely female and had smaller body surface area, there were no significant difference in pre-operative eGFR between the groups (66.0±23.7 vs. 70.2±25.7 ml/min/1.73m2, p=0.495). After 40 weeks after implantation, high LDH patients had significantly lower eGFR than low LDH patients (71.0±23.7 vs. 87.1±31.4 ml/min/1.73m2, p=0.024). In multivariate linear regression analysis, mean LDH [parameter estimate: −0.10 (95% CI: −0.17 to −0.04), p=0.003] and post-operative pulse pressure [parameter estimate: 0.71 (95% CI: 0.05 to 1.37), p=0.036] were significantly associated with eGFR change during 48 weeks after HeartMateII implantation.

Univariate and multivariate linear regression analysis for eGFR change Univariate parameter estimate 95% CI p value Multivariate parameter estimate 95% CI p value Bilirubin, mg/dl 9.97 3.82 to 16.13 0.002 6.55 −0.43 to 13.53 0.065 BNP, pg/ml 0.01 0.00 to 0.02 0.044 0.00 −0.01 to 0.01 0.528 Mean LDH during 4 to 48 weeks, U/l −0.11 −0.18 to −0.05 <0.001 −0.10 −0.17 to −0.04 0.003 Pre-operative right atrial pressure, mmHg 1.43 0.35 to 2.51 0.010 −0.06 −1.52 to 1.40 0.935 Post-operative pulse pressure, mmHg 0.77 0.03 to 1.52 0.042 0.71 0.05 to 1.37 0.036

Conclusions

High mean LDH and low pulse pressure were associated with a significant decrease in eGFR late after HeartMateII implantation. Subclinical persistent hemolysis may be associated with late renal function deterioration in CF-LVAD patients.

An anatomical hypothesis: a "concentric-structured model" for the theoretical understanding of the surgical anatomy in the upper mediastinum required for esophagectomy with radical mediastinal lymph node dissection

Understanding the surgical anatomy is the key to reducing surgical invasiveness especially in the upper mediastinal dissection for esophageal cancer, which is supposed to have a significant impact on curability and morbidity. However, there is no theoretical recognition regarding the surgical anatomy required for esophagectomy, although the surgical anatomy in abdominal digestive surgery has been developed on the basis of embryological findings of intestinal rotation and fusion fascia. Therefore, we developed a hypothesis of a 'concentric-structured model' of the surgical anatomy in the upper mediastinum based on human embryonic development. This model was characterized by three factors: (1) a concentric and symmetric three-layer structure, (2) bilateral vascular distribution, and (3) an 'inter-layer potential space' composed of loose connective tissue. The concentric three-layer structure consists of the 'visceral layer', the 'vascular layer', and the 'parietal layer': the visceral layer containing the esophagus, trachea, and recurrent laryngeal nerves as the central core, the vascular layer of major blood vessels surrounding the visceral core to maintain the circulation, and the parietal layer as the outer frame of the body. The bilateral vascular distribution consists of the inferior thyroid arteries and bronchial arteries originating from the bilateral dorsal aortae in an embryo. This bilateral vascular distribution may be related to the formation of the proper mesentery of the esophagus and frequent lymph node metastasis observed in the visceral layer around recurrent laryngeal nerves. The three concentric layers are bordered by loose connective tissue called the 'inter-layer potential space'. This inter-layer potential space is the fundamental factor of our concentric-structured model as the appropriate surgical plane of dissection. The peripheral blood vessels, nerves, and lymphatics transition between each layer, thereby penetrating this loose connective tissue forming the inter-layer potential space. Recurrent laryngeal nerves also transition from the vascular layer after branching off from the vagal nerves and then ascend consistently in the visceral layer. We investigated the validity of this concentric-structured model, confirming the intraoperative images and the surgical outcomes of thoracoscopic esophagectomy in a prone position (TSEP) before and after the introduction of this hypothetical anatomy model. A total of 226 patients with esophageal cancer underwent TSEP from January 2015 to December 2016. After the introduction of this model, the surgical outcomes in 105 patients clearly improved for the operation time of the thoracoscopic procedure (160 min vs. 182 min, P = 0.01) and the incidence of recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy (19.0% vs. 36.4%, P = 0.004). Moreover, we were able to identify the concentric and symmetric layer structure through surgical dissection along the inter-layer potential space between the visceral and vascular layers ('viscero-vascular space') in all 105 cases after introduction of the hypothetical model. The concentric-structured model based on embryonic development is clinically beneficial for achieving less-invasive esophagectomy by ensuring a theoretical understanding of the surgical anatomy in the upper mediastinum.

Abstract P2-14-22: Is sentinel lymph node biopsy necessary in breast cancer patients who were diagnosed as initially clinically node-negative before neoadjuvant chemotherapy?

Background

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is established for treatment of locally advanced disease and is being used increasingly for early-stage breast cancer. And sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) for clinically node-negative breast cancer patients after NAC is performed as a daily procedure. The purpose of this study was to identify the group that can omit SLNB in patients with clinically node-negative breast cancer at diagnosis before NAC.

Materials and Methods

A single institutional retrospective analysis was performed. 126 patients were diagnosed as clinically node-negative before NAC and underwent SLNB between 2005 and 2017.

Before NAC, all patients underwent clinical assessment of lymph-node status by palpation and axillary ultrasound. We judged patients to be node-negative when palpation and ultrasound showed no suspicious nodes. If axillar lymph nodes were swelling, fine-needle aspiration cytology was performed. After NAC, clinical assessment of lymph-node status was performed, again.

119 patients received anthracycline-based (anthracycline alone: 11, anthracycline followed by taxane: 108) chemotherapy and 7 patients received taxane alone. Clinical complete response (cCR) was defined if there was no evidence of tumor in the breast and axillary lymph nodes by US and MRI. SLNB procedure was done after NAC in all patients. Lymphatic mapping was performed with radioactive colloid and/or lymphatic blue dye.

Results

Median follow-up time was 51.2months. cCR rate was 16.7% (21/126).

Success rate for the identification and removal of a SLN was 96.8% (122/126). The median number of SLNs removed was 1.9 (1-5).

15 patients (12.3%) represented SLN positive in patients who were diagnosed as clinically node-negative before NAC. They were performed axillar dissection and the SLNs were the only positive nodes in 9 patients.

No SLNs metastases were observed in 21 patients who were diagnosed as cCR by ultrasound and MRI. And 15 patients (14.9%) had positive SLN in the 101 patients who were diagnosed as clinical partial response or clinical stable disease (p=0.071).

Tumor size, Surgical procedures, hormone receptor status and HER2 status did not influence the positive rate of SLN metastases.

No axillar lymph node recurrence was observed within follow-up period.

Conclusion

Our results show that SLNB is necessary even in breast cancer patients who were diagnosed as initially clinically node-negative before NAC.

However, SLNB may be omitted in breast cancer patients who were diagnosed as clinically node-negative by palpation and axillary ultrasound before NAC and as cCR by ultrasound and MRI after NAC.

Citation Format: Fujita T, Sakuragi M, Miyazaki C, Shiba S, Tanaka Y, Nishida S. Is sentinel lymph node biopsy necessary in breast cancer patients who were diagnosed as initially clinically node-negative before neoadjuvant chemotherapy? [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2018 Dec 4-8; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P2-14-22.

Abstract P2-13-01: Efficacy of neratinib in hormone receptor-positive patients who initiated treatment within 1 year of completing trastuzumab-based adjuvant therapy in HER2+ early-stage breast cancer: Subgroup analyses from the phase III ExteNET trial

Background: The international, randomized, placebo-controlled phase III ExteNET trial showed that 1 year (yr) of neratinib 240 mg/day after trastuzumab-based adjuvant therapy significantly improved invasive disease-free survival (iDFS) in 2840 patients with early-stage HER2+ breast cancer at 2 yr (hazard ratio 0.67; 95% CI 0.50–0.91; p=0.009) [Chan 2016] and 5 yr (hazard ratio 0.73; 95% CI 0.57-0.92; p=0.008) [Martin 2017]. A prespecified subgroup analysis by hormone receptor (HR) status suggested enhanced efficacy with neratinib in patients with HR+ (2-yr hazard ratio 0.51; 95% CI 0.33–0.77) vs. HR– tumors (2-yr hazard ratio 0.93; 95% CI 0.60–1.43). The efficacy of neratinib was also greater in patients who initiated treatment within 1 yr of prior trastuzumab compared with those who started neratinib later. The European Medicines Agency's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use recently recommended neratinib for use in patients with HR+ tumors who initiate treatment within 1 yr of completing trastuzumab-based adjuvant therapy. Subgroup analyses from ExteNET examining iDFS benefits in this patient population are presented here.

Methods: Patients with early-stage HER2+ breast cancer who completed trastuzumab-based (neo)adjuvant therapy were assigned to oral neratinib 240 mg/day or placebo for 1 yr. Randomization was stratified by HR status (determined locally before trial entry), nodal status, and trastuzumab regimen. Endocrine therapy was allowed in patients with HR+ disease. The primary endpoint, iDFS, was tested by 2-sided log-rank test and hazard ratios (95% CI) were estimated using Cox proportional hazards models. Kaplan-Meier methods were used to estimate iDFS rates. Secondary endpoints were DFS-DCIS, time to distant recurrence, distant DFS, and CNS recurrences. The primary analysis was conducted at 2 yr, and a sensitivity analysis conducted at 5 yr. Clinicaltrials.gov:NCT00878709.

Results: Of the 2840 patients (neratinib, n=1420; placebo, n=1420), 1631 (57%) had HR+ disease (neratinib, n=816; placebo, n=815). Most (93%) HR+ patients were receiving endocrine therapy at baseline. 1334 of 1631 (82%) patients with HR+ tumors were randomized to start neratinib within 1 yr of last trastuzumab dose (neratinib, n=670; placebo, n=664). iDFS benefits from neratinib in this population are shown in the table. Secondary endpoints were also improved with neratinib vs. placebo in this population. Safety data in this subset will be presented at the meeting.

Table. iDFS in patients with an interval between last trastuzumab dose and randomization of ≤1 yr

 HR+ population (N=1334)ITT population (N=2297)  Hazard ratiob  Hazard ratiob  Δ, %a(95% CI)P-valueΔ, %a(95% CI)P-value2-yr analysisc+4.50.490.002+2.90.630.006  (0.30–0.78)  (0.45–0.88) 5-yr analysisd+5.10.580.002+3.20.700.006  (0.41–0.82)  (0.54–0.90) aDifference in iDFS rates between neratinib vs. placebo; bNeratinib vs. placebo; cData cut-off: July 2014; dData cut-off: March 2017

Conclusions: Neratinib may have enhanced and sustained efficacy in patients with HR+ disease who initiate treatment within 1 yr of trastuzumab-based adjuvant therapy.

Citation Format: Gnant M, Martin M, Holmes F-A, Jackisch C, Chia SK, Iwata H, Moy B, Martinez N, Mansi J, Morales S, Ruiz-Borrego M, von Minckwitz G, Buyse M, Delaloge S, Bhandari M, Murias Rosales A, Galeano T, Fujita T, Luczak A, Barrios CH, Saura C, Rugo HS, Chien J, Johnston SR, Spencer M, Xu F, Barnett B, Chan A, Ejlertsen B. Efficacy of neratinib in hormone receptor-positive patients who initiated treatment within 1 year of completing trastuzumab-based adjuvant therapy in HER2+ early-stage breast cancer: Subgroup analyses from the phase III ExteNET trial [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2018 Dec 4-8; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P2-13-01.

Abstract P6-02-16: The efficacy of preoperative pathological features to improve diagnosis accuracy in lymph node metastasis by axillary ultrasound

Purpose

Recently a sentinel lymph node biopsy has been a part of standard surgical procedure instead of an axillary dissection with a mastectomy for breast cancers. It is necessary to make an accurate diagnosis of lymph node metastasis for deciding surgical procedure either a sentinel lymph node biopsy or an axillary dissection. Preoperative ultrasound is one of widely used tools to make a diagnosis of sentinel lymph node. This study presents results regarding preoperative pathological features to improve diagnosis accuracy of sentinel lymph node by preoperative axillary ultrasound.

Materials and methods

One doctor performed preoperative ultrasound. He used HITACHI HI VISION Ascendus. Axillary lymph node metastasis was suspected when these findings were observed such as partial thickening of lymph node cortex, loss of lymph nodes' hilum, circular swelling shape change and difference compared to a contralateral axillary lymph node. When we suspected axillary lymph node metastasis, we performed fine needle aspiration cytology except other findings such as CT, MRI or physical appearance showed obvious axillary lymph node metastasis. Preoperative core needle biopsies were performed to determine pathologic types and hormone characters. Clinical cases such that ductal carcinoma in situ, lobular carcinoma and ones with primary systemic treatment (neoadjuvant therapy) were excluded from statistical analysis.

Results

During a study period between April 2015 and December 2017, altogether 662 patients were participated in this study. 304 cases were analyzed by statistical analysis. 268 cases were diagnosed as negative and 36 case as positive in axillary lymph node metastasis by preoperative ultrasound. In the 268 cases 225 cases were diagnosed as negative by sentinel lymph node biopsy during operations (84.0%) but 43 cases were diagnosed as positive (16.0%). 23% cases included less than 20mm micro metastasis (10/43). To investigate correlation between false negative ratio of axillary lymph node metastasis diagnosed by an ultrasound and preoperative pathological features such as hormone receptor, HER2, Ki-67, nuclear grade and subtypes (Luminal, Her2 and triple negative). The false negative ratio was 17.0% vs 11.1% in hormone receptor (positive vs negative, p = 0.434), 14.5% vs 16.0% in HER2 (positive vs negative, p = 0.887), 15.4% vs 19.1% in Ki-67 (&lt;20% vs ≥20%, p = 0.441), 18.4% vs 9.38% in nuclear grade (1 vs 2 and 3, p = 0.997), 11.3% vs 23.8% vs 16.7% vs 16.7% (Luminal A vs Luminal B vs Her2 vs triple negative, p&gt;0.05).

Conclusion

There were no statistical significant difference between the axillary lymph node metastasis diagnosed by an ultrasound and the preoperative pathological features. However cases categorized in Luminal B by preoperative pathology had relatively high false negative ratio of axillary lymph node metastasis diagnosed by an ultrasound. It is necessary to investigate a way to improve diagnosis accuracy of sentinel lymph node by a preoperative axillary ultrasound.

Citation Format: Koike R, Fujita T, Sata N, Shiozawa M, Miyazaki C, Sakuragi M, Shiba S, Tanaka Y. The efficacy of preoperative pathological features to improve diagnosis accuracy in lymph node metastasis by axillary ultrasound [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2018 Dec 4-8; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P6-02-16.

Terminal Ileac Ulcers Mimicked Post-transplantation Lymphoproliferative Disorder in a Heart Recipient Treated With Everolimus: A Case Report

Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) is a well-recognized and potentially fatal complication of cardiac transplantation that commonly involves the gastrointestinal tract. Herein, we report a case of life-threatening gastrointestinal bleeding from recurrent terminal ileac ulcers mimicking PTLD in a heart recipient treated with everolimus (EVL). A 40-year-old man underwent heart transplantation for dilated cardiomyopathy 3 years prior to the current admission and was treated with tacrolimus and EVL. He was admitted to a local hospital because of fever, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. His symptoms persisted and, 3 weeks later, hematochezia occurred; thus, he was transferred to our hospital. As computed tomography and ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography showed bowel-wall thickening of the terminal ileum, gastrointestinal PTLD was initially suspected. However, although colonoscopy- performed after switching EVL to mycophenolate mofetil (MMF)-showed terminal ileac ulcers, the histologic examination revealed no findings corresponding to PTLD. As EVL may delay ulcer healing, MMF was maintained for 3 months. After repeated colonoscopy showed ulcer healing, MMF was switched back to EVL for cardiac allograft vasculopathy prevention. Three weeks later, he was emergently admitted to a local hospital for life-threatening gastrointestinal bleeding from a recurrent terminal ileal ulcer, which required hemostatic forceps hemostasis. As EVL is suspected to be associated with recurrent ileal ulcers, EVL was again switched back to MMF. The ileal ulcers resolved, without recurrence in 3 months of clinical follow-up. This case demonstrates that cases of life-threatening gastrointestinal bleeding from recurrent terminal ileac ulcers can mimic PTLD in a heart recipient treated with EVL.

Effect of surface charge, particle size, and modification by polyethylene glycol of liposomes on their association with Caco-2 cells across an unstirred water layer

For the development of orally available liposomes, understanding the interaction of liposomes with the intestinal mucosa is important. An unstirred water layer (UWL) on the intestinal epithelium surface is a considerable permeability barrier for lipophilic drugs. Therefore, the effects of an UWL on liposome transport across intestinal epithelial cells must be elucidated. We evaluated the effects of the surface charge, particle size, and polyethylene glycol (PEG) modification of liposomes on their association with Caco-2 cells across an UWL. When the association of cationic liposomes with Caco-2 cells was evaluated under a reduction in UWL thickness by shaking, the uptake and/or amount of surface-bound cationic liposomes in cells was increased significantly in a shaking rate-dependent manner. The uptake and/or amount of surface-bound neutral liposomes were increased only at the highest shaking rate. No significant differences in the cellular association of anionic liposomes and PEG-modified liposomes were observed with or without shaking. The association of large liposomes with Caco-2 cells was affected considerably by an UWL compared with that of small liposomes. These results suggest that an UWL affects the surface binding and subsequent uptake of liposomes in Caco-2 cells according to their particle size, surface charge, and PEG modification.

Slow Progression of Aortic Calcification Is a Potential Benefit of Pre-emptive Kidney Transplantation

PURPOSE

Pre-emptive kidney transplantation (PKT) is expected to improve graft and cardiovascular event-free survival compared with standard kidney transplantation. Aortic calcification is reported to be closely associated with renal dysfunction and cardiovascular events; however, its implication in PKT recipients remains incompletely explored. This aim of this study was to evaluate whether PKT confers a protective effect on aortic calcification, renal function, graft survival, and cardiovascular event-free survival.

METHODS

One hundred adult patients who underwent renal transplantation between January 1996 and March 2016 at Hirosaki University Hospital and Oyokyo Kidney Research Institute were included. Among them, 19 underwent PKT and 81 patients underwent pretransplant dialysis. We retrospectively compared pretransplant and post-transplant aortic calcification index (ACI), renal function (estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR]), and graft and cardiovascular event-free survivals between the 2 groups.

RESULTS

The median age of this cohort was 45 years. Preoperative ACI was significantly lower in PKT recipients. There were no significant differences between the 2 groups regarding postoperative eGFR, graft survival, and cardiovascular event-free survival. However, the ACI progression rate (ΔACI/y) was significantly lower in PKT recipients than in those who underwent pretransplant dialysis. Higher ACI was significantly associated with poor cardiovascular event-free survival.

CONCLUSIONS

PKT is beneficial in that it contributes to the slow progression of after transplantation. Although we could not observe significant differences in graft and cardiovascular event-free survivals between the 2 groups, slow progression of aortic calcification showed a potential to decrease cardiovascular events in PKT recipients during long-term follow-up.