Abstract Introduction: Sensitization to human leukocyte antigen is a barrier to. Few data have been published on desensitization using polyvalent human intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) alone. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the of 45 patients with a positive complement-dependent cytotoxicity crossmatch (CDCXM) or flow cytometry crossmatch (FCXM) against living donors from January 2003 to December 2014. Of these, 12 were excluded. Patients received monthly IVIG infusions (2 g/kg) only until they had a negative T-cell and B-cell FCXM. Results: During the 33 patients, 22 (66.7%) underwent living donor kidney transplantation, 7 (21.2%) received a deceased donor graft, and 4 (12.1%) did not undergo transplantation. The median class I and II panel reactive antibodies for these patients were 80.5% (range 61%-95%) and 83.0% (range 42%-94%), respectively. Patients (81.8%) had a positive T-cell and/or B-cell CDCXM and 4 (18.2%) had a positive T-cell and/or B-cell FCXM. Patients underwent transplantation after a median of 6 (range 3-16). The median donor-specific antibody mean fluorescence intensity sum was 5057 (range 2246-11,691) before and 1389 (range 934-2492) after desensitization (p = 0.0001). Mean patient follow-up time after transplantation was 60.5 (SD, 36.8) months. Nine patients (45.0%). Death-censored graft survival at 1, 3, and 5 years after transplant was 86.4, 86.4, and 79.2%, respectively and patient survival was 95.5, 95.5, and 83.7%, respectively. Conclusions: Desensitization using IVIG alone is an effective strategy, allowing successful transplantation in 87.9% of these highly sensitized patients.

Resumo Introdução: Sensibilização HLA é uma barreira ao transplante em pacientes sensibilizados. Há poucos dados publicados sobre dessensibilização utilizando somente imunoglobulina intravenosa humana polivalente (IgIV). Métodos: Revisamos retrospectivamente prontuários de 45 pacientes com prova cruzada positiva por citotoxicidade dependente do complemento (CDCXM) ou citometria de fluxo (FCXM) contra doadores vivos, de Janeiro/2003-Dezembro/2014. Destes, excluímos 12. 33 pacientes receberam infusões mensais de IgIV (2 g/kg) apenas até apresentarem FCXM células T e B negativa. Resultados: Durante dessensibilização, 22 pacientes (66,7%) realizaram transplante renal com doador vivo, 7 (21,2%) receberam enxerto de doador falecido, 4 (12,1%) não realizaram transplante. A mediana do painel de reatividade de anticorpos classes I e II para estes pacientes foi 80,5% (intervalo 61%-95%) e 83,0% (intervalo 42%-94%), respectivamente. 18 pacientes (81,8%) apresentaram CDCXM célula T e/ou B positiva; 4 (18,2%) apresentaram FCXM célula T e/ou B positiva. Pacientes realizaram transplante após mediana de 6 (intervalo 3-16) infusões. A mediana da somatória da intensidade média de fluorescência do anticorpo específico contra o doador foi 5057 (intervalo 2246-11.691) antes e 1389 (intervalo 934-2492) após dessensibilização (p = 0,0001). O tempo médio de acompanhamento do paciente pós transplante foi 60,5 (DP, 36,8) meses. Nove pacientes (45,0%) não apresentaram rejeição e 6 (27,3%) apresentaram rejeição mediada por anticorpos. Sobrevida do enxerto censurada para óbito em 1, 3, 5 anos após transplante foi 86,4; 86,4; 79,2%, respectivamente, e sobrevida do paciente foi 95,5; 95,5; 83,7%, respectivamente. Conclusões: Dessensibilização utilizando apenas IgIV é uma estratégia eficaz, permitindo transplante bem-sucedido em 87,9% destes pacientes altamente sensibilizados.

Resumo Introdução: O número de transplantes renais (KTx, do inglês kidney transplant) está aumentando no Brasil e, consequentemente, os custos deste procedimento aumentam o orçamento de saúde do país. Avaliamos retrospectivamente dados dos procedimentos de transplantes renais até a alta hospitalar, de acordo com a recuperação da função renal após o procedimento. Métodos: Análise retrospectiva dos 1º KTx de doadores falecidos, não sensibilizados, realizados entre Jan/2010 a Dez/2017. Resultados: Dos 1300 KTx de doadores falecidos realizados neste período, 730 pacientes foram estudados e divididos em 3 grupos: Função Renal Imediata (FRI) - diminuição na creatinina sérica ≥ 10% em dois dias consecutivos; Função Retardada do Enxerto (FRE) - diminuição na creatinina sérica <10% em dois dias consecutivos, sem necessidade de diálise, e Diálise (D) - necessidade de diálise durante a primeira semana. Pacientes no grupo D permaneceram mais tempo no hospital em comparação com FRE e FRI (21, 11 e 8 dias dias respectivamente, p < 0,001). Mais pacientes do grupo D (21%) foram admitidos na UTI e realizaram um maior número de testes laboratoriais (p < 0,001) e biópsias renais (p < 0,001), além de receberem uma quantidade maior de imunossupressores. Os custos hospitalares totais foram mais elevados nos grupos D e FRE em comparação com FRI (U$ 7.021,48; U$ 3.603,42 e U$ 2.642,37 respectivamente, p < 0,001). Conclusão: Os custos do procedimento de transplante são impactados pela recuperação da função renal após o transplante. O reembolso para cada um desses diferentes desfechos da função renal deve ser individualizado a fim de cobrir seus custos reais.

Abstract Introduction: The number of kidney transplants (KTx) is increasing in Brazil and, consequently, the costs of this procedure increase the country's health budget. We retrospectively evaluated the data of kidney transplant procedures until hospital discharge, according to kidney function recovery after the procedure. Methods: Retrospective analysis of the non-sensitized, 1st KTx from deceased donors performed between Jan/2010 to Dec/2017. Results: Out of the 1300 KTx from deceased donors performed in this period, 730 patients were studied and divided into 3 groups: Immediate Renal Function (IRF) - decrease in serum creatinine ≥ 10% on two consecutive days; Delayed Graft Function (DGF) - decrease in serum creatinine <10% on two consecutive days, without the need for dialysis, and Dialysis (D) - need for dialysis during the first week. Patients in group D stayed longer in the hospital compared to DGF and IRF (21, 11 and 8 days respectively, p < 0.001). More D patients (21%) were admitted to the ICU and performed a greater number of laboratory tests (p < 0.001) and renal biopsies (p < 0.001), in addition to receiving a higher amount of immunosuppressants. Total hospital costs were higher in group D and DGF compared to IRF (U$ 7.021,48; U$ 3.603,42 and U$ 2.642,37 respectively, p < 0.001). Conclusion: The costs of the transplant procedure is impacted by the recovery of kidney function after the transplant. The reimbursement for each of these different kidney function outcomes should be individualized in order to cover their real costs.

Abstract Objectives: This study aimed to verify the presence of polyomavirus BK (BKPyV) in the saliva of kidney transplant recipients and to correlate it with blood viremia. Material and Methods: We have conducted a cross-sectional study with a sample involving 126 renal transplant recipients. 126 samples of saliva and 52 samples of blood were collected from these patients. Detection and quantification of BKPyV were performed using a real-time PCR. To compare the presence of BKPyV in blood and saliva, the binomial proportion test was used. To verify associations between salivary shedding BKPyV and post-transplant periods (in months), the Mann-Whitney test was used. Spearman's correlation was used to correlate the viral load in the saliva with blood of kidney transplant recipients. Results: The mean age of the study group was 51.11±12.45 years old, and 69 participants (54.8%) were female, with a mean post-transplantation time of 4.80±6.04 months. BKPyV was quantified in several samples of saliva and blood, with medians of 1,108 cp/mL and 1,255 cp/mL, respectively. Only 16/52 (30.8%) participants presented BKPyV in blood, and 59/126 (46.8%) excreted the virus in saliva (p=0.004). BKPyV shedding was found in patients at a shorter post-transplantation period (3.86±5.25, p=0.100). A weak correlation was observed between viral quantification in saliva and blood (Spearman's correlation coefficient=0.193). Conclusion: The results of this study suggested that, although saliva excretes more BKPyV than blood, there is no reliable correlation between salivary shedding and blood viremia, showing two independent compartments of viral replication.

OBJECTIVE: The significance of pretransplant, donor-specific antibodies on long-term patient outcomes is a subject of debate. This study evaluated the impact and the presence or absence of donor-specific antibodies after kidney transplantation on short- and long-term graft outcomes. METHODS: We analyzed the frequency and dynamics of pretransplant donor-specific antibodies following renal transplantation from a randomized trial that was conducted from 2002 to 2004 and correlated these findings with patient outcomes through 2009. Transplants were performed against a complement-dependent T- and B-negative crossmatch. Pre- and posttransplant sera were available from 94 of the 118 patients (80%). Antibodies were detected using a solid-phase (LuminexH), single-bead assay, and all tests were performed simultaneously. RESULTS: Sixteen patients exhibited pretransplant donor-specific antibodies, but only 3 of these patients (19%) developed antibody-mediated rejection and 2 of them experienced early graft losses. Excluding these 2 losses, 6 of 14 patients exhibited donor-specific antibodies at the final follow-up exam, whereas 8 of these patients (57%) exhibited complete clearance of the donor-specific antibodies. Five other patients developed ''de novo'' posttransplant donor-specific antibodies. Death-censored graft survival was similar in patients with pretransplant donor-specific and non-donor-specific antibodies after a mean follow-up period of 70 months. CONCLUSION: Pretransplant donor-specific antibodies with a negative complement-dependent cytotoxicity crossmatch are associated with a risk for the development of antibody-mediated rejection, although survival rates are similar when patients transpose the first months after receiving the graft. Our data also suggest that early posttransplant donor-specific antibody monitoring should increase knowledge of antibody dynamics and their impact on long-term graft outcome.

This is a review article on home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) developed with the purpose to increase the current scientific knowledge and present the importance of this approach in the care to patients with hypertension in our setting. This technique has advantages over the causal measurement, as it provides more measurements, a better relationship with the target-organs injuries, it also quantifies the white-coat effect, has good reproducibility, good acceptability by the patients, assesses blood pressure without the influence from the observer and the environment of the appointment, reduces the number of visits to the doctor and promotes greater adherence to treatment. The importance of nursing practice in HBPM is associated with the education process, using teaching-learning strategies, implementing team-patient communication and encouraging patients towards performing self-care.

Se trata de un artículo de revisión sobre el tema de monitorización domiciliaria de la presión arterial (MRPA) con el objetivo de sumar la contribución científica actual y presentar la relevancia de este abordaje en la atención al paciente hipertenso en nuestro medio. La técnica ofrece ventajas en relación a la medida casual, pues proporciona un mayor número de medidas, mejor relación con lesión de órganos-blanco, cuantifica el efecto del delantal blanco, posee buena reproductibilidad, buena aceptación por los pacientes, proporciona evaluación de la presión sin la influencia del observador y del ambiente de consultorio, disminuye el número de visitas al consultorio y promueve mayor adhesión al tratamiento. La importancia de la actuación del personal de enfermería en la MRPA está ligada al proceso de educación, utilizando estrategias de enseñanza-aprendizaje, implementando la comunicación equipo-paciente y motivando al paciente para que realice su autocuidado.

Trata-se de um artigo de revisão sobre o assunto monitorização residencial da pressão arterial (MRPA) com o objetivo de agregar a contribuição científica atual e apresentar a relevância desta abordagem na assistência ao paciente hipertenso em nosso meio. A técnica oferece vantagens em relação à medida casual, pois proporciona um maior número de medidas, melhor relação com lesão de órgãos-alvo, quantifica o efeito do avental branco, possui boa reprodutibilidade, boa aceitabilidade pelos pacientes, proporciona avaliação da pressão sem a influência do observador e do ambiente do consultório, diminui o número de visitas ao consultório e promove maior adesão ao tratamento. A importância da atuação do profissional enfermeiro na MRPA está ligada ao processo de educação, utilizando estratégias de ensino-aprendizagem, implementando a comunicação equipe-paciente e motivando o paciente a realizar o autocuidado.

Trata-se de um artigo de revisão sobre o assunto monitorização residencial da pressão arterial (MRPA) com o objetivo de agregar a contribuição científica atual e apresentar a relevância desta abordagem na assistência ao paciente hipertenso em nosso meio. A técnica oferece vantagens em relação à medida casual, pois proporciona um maior número de medidas, melhor relação com lesão de órgãos-alvo, quantifica o efeito do avental branco, possui boa reprodutibilidade, boa aceitabilidade pelos pacientes, proporciona avaliação da pressão sem a influência do observador e do ambiente do consultório, diminui o número de visitas ao consultório e promove maior adesão ao tratamento. A importância da atuação do profissional enfermeiro na MRPA está ligada ao processo de educação, utilizando estratégias de ensino-aprendizagem, implementando a comunicação equipe-paciente e motivando o paciente a realizar o autocuidado.

This is a review article on home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) developed with the purpose to increase the current scientific knowledge and present the importance of this approach in the care to patients with hypertension in our setting. This technique has advantages over the causal measurement, as it provides more measurements, a better relationship with the target-organs injuries, it also quantifies the white-coat effect, has good reproducibility, good acceptability by the patients, assesses blood pressure without the influence from the observer and the environment of the appointment, reduces the number of visits to the doctor and promotes greater adherence to treatment. The importance of nursing practice in HBPM is associated with the education process, using teaching-learning strategies, implementing team-patient communication and encouraging patients towards performing self-care.

Se trata de un artículo de revisión sobre el tema de monitorización domiciliaria de la presión arterial (MRPA) con el objetivo de sumar la contribución científica actual y presentar la relevancia de este abordaje en la atención al paciente hipertenso en nuestro medio. La técnica ofrece ventajas en relación a la medida casual, pues proporciona un mayor número de medidas, mejor relación con lesión de órganos-blanco, cuantifica el efecto del delantal blanco, posee buena reproductibilidad, buena aceptación por los pacientes, proporciona evaluación de la presión sin la influencia del observador y del ambiente de consultorio, disminuye el número de visitas al consultorio y promueve mayor adhesión al tratamiento. La importancia de la actuación del personal de enfermería en la MRPA está ligada al proceso de educación, utilizando estrategias de enseñanza-aprendizaje, implementando la comunicación equipo-paciente y motivando al paciente para que realice su autocuidado.