Browsing by Author "Seca, R."
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- CMV infection of liver transplant recipients: comparison of antigenemia and molecular biology assays.Publication . Amorim, M.; Cabeda, J.; Seca, R.; Mendes, A.; Castro, A.; Amorim, J.Abstract BACKGROUND: CMV is a major clinical problem in transplant recipients. Thus, it is important to use sensitive and specific diagnostic techniques to rapidly and accurately detect CMV infection and identify patients at risk of developing CMV disease. In the present study, CMV infection after liver transplantation was monitored retrospectively by two molecular biology assays - a quantitative PCR assay and a qualitative NASBA assay. The results were compared with those obtained by prospective pp65 antigenemia determinations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 87 consecutive samples from 10 liver transplanted patients were tested for CMV by pp65 antigenemia, and CMV monitor and NASBA pp67 mRNA assay. RESULTS: CMV infection was detected in all patients by antigenemia and CMV monitor, whereas NASBA assay identified only 8/10 patients with viremia. Furthermore, CMV infection was never detected earlier by molecular biology assays than by antigenemia. Only 5/10 patients with CMV infection developed CMV disease. Using a cut off value of 8 cells/50,000, antigenemia was found to be the assay that better identified patients at risk of developing CMV disease. However, the kinetics of the onset of infection detected by NASBA and CMV monitor seemed to have better identified patients at risk of developing CMV disease. Furthermore, before onset of disease, CMV pp67 mRNA was found to have similar or better negative and positive predictive values for the development of CMV disease. CONCLUSIONS: The present data, suggests that the concomitant use of antigenemia and pp67 mRNA assay gives the best identification of patients at risk of developing CMV disease.
- Combined Pancreas-Kidney Transplantation: A New Program in Portugal, Results From the First 12 CasesPublication . Martins, L.; Henriques, A.; Dias, L.; Ventura, A.; Seca, R.; Almeida, R.; Dores, J.; Bacelar, C.; Oliveira, F.; Lhamas, A.; Amil, M.; Rua, F.; Coelho, T.; Esteves, S.; Ribeiro, A.; Pereira, R.; Sarmento, A.; Teixeira, M.; Pereira, M.Transplant Proc. 2003 May;35(3):1107-8. Combined pancreas-kidney transplantation: a new program in Portugal, results from the first 12 cases. Martins L, Henriques A, Dias L, Ventura A, Seca R, Almeida R, Dores J, Bacelar C, Oliveira F, Lhamas A, Amil M, Rua F, Coelho T, Esteves S, Ribeiro A, Pereira R, Sarmento A, Teixeira M, Pereira M. Transplantation Department, Hospital Santo António, 4050, Porto, Portugal. lasalete@clix.pt PMID: 12947877 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
- End-Stage Renal Disease in Familial Amyloidosis ATTR Val30Met: APublication . Lobato, L.; Ventura, A.; Beirão, I.; Miranda, H.P.; Seca, R.; Henriques, A.C.; Teixeira, M.; Sarmento, A.M.; Pereira, M.C.Transplant Proc. 2003 May;35(3):1116-20. End-stage renal disease in familial amyloidosis ATTR Val30Met: a definitive indication to combined liver-kidney transplantation. Lobato L, Ventura A, Beirão I, Miranda HP, Seca R, Henriques AC, Teixeira M, Sarmento AM, Pereira MC. Department of Nephrology, and Liver Transplantation Program, Hospital Geral de Santo António, Largo Professor Abel Salazar, 4050, Porto, Portugal. llobato@nctcabo.pt PMID: 12947881 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
- Pancreas-Kidney Transplantation and the Evolution ofPublication . Martins, L.; Malheiro, J.; Henriques, A.C.; Dias, L.; Dores, J.; Oliveira, F.; Seca, R.; Almeida, R.; Sarmento, A.M.; Cabrita, A.; Teixeira, M.ABSTRACT The recurrence or persistence of pancreatic autoantibodies after pancreas-kidney trans- plantation (PKT) is an intriguing finding. We prospectively analyzed 77 PKTs, searching for risk factors for the expression of these autoimmune markers and their impact on pancreas graft function. Among the 77 PKTs, 24.7% had HLA matches, 20.8% displayed delayed graft function, and 14.3% had acute rejection episodes. Immunosuppression included antithymocyte globulin (ATG)tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil (MMF)and steroids. Sixty-five patients had both grafts functioning as follow-up of more than months. In 11 patients anti–glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) positivity persists (8) or has recurred (3)of whom show increasing titers. Two patients maintain positive islet cell antibodies (ICA) and anti-GAD antibodies. The patients positive for ICA included who were negative before PKT and who remain positive. The “positive” group (22 patients with positive ICA and/or anti-GAD) did not differ from the global group of 65 functioning PKT in terms of acute rejection episodes, HLA match, and steroid withdrawal. Among the positive patients, there were with borderline glucose levels; however, among the entire “positive” group, the mean fasting glucose, HbA1c, and C-peptide measurements were not significantly different, when compared with the other 65 PKTs. In conclusion, pancreatic autoantibodies may be persistently positive or recur after PKT, despite appropriate immunosuppression. Its impact on long-term pancreas graft survival is unknown. We could not identify risk factors for their expression. An extended follow-up with monitoring and search for other risk factors may be necessary to increase our knowledge in this field.
- Steroid Withdrawal in Simultaneous Pancreas-Kidney Transplantation:Publication . Malheiro, J.; Martins, La Salete; Fonseca, Isabel; Gomes, A.M.; Santos, J.; Dias, L.; Dores, J.; Oliveira, F.; Seca, R.; Almeida, R.; Henriques, A.; Cabrita, A.; Teixeira, M.ABSTRACT Simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation (SPK) is the treatment of choice for selected diabetic patients with end-stage renal disease. Maintenance steroid therapy is associated with significant morbidity and mortality among SPK transplant recipients. Steroid withdrawal regimens are becoming more common, albeit with reservations regarding its safety and efficacy. We performed retrospective review of 77 SPK transplant recipients from May 2000 to December 2007. The subjects received induction therapy with thymoglobulin followed by maintenance immunosuppression with tacrolimus and myco- phenolate mofetil. late steroid withdrawal protocol was adopted. The rates of acute rejection, graft and patient survival, and side effects were analyzed. One-year patient, kidney, and pancreas survivals were 93%91%and 86%respectively. Eleven patients experienced acute rejection. Mean follow-up time was 1155.5 776.1 days. Prednisolone withdrawal was carried out between and 12 months posttransplantation in 42 patients (77.8%with at least year follow-up; no case of acute rejection occurred. At present, 72 patients have functioning kidney graft, and 65 patients also have functioning pancreas graft. The mean serum creatinine is 1.12 0.49 mg/dL and the mean HbA1c concentration is 4.5% 0.4%The patients have low prevalence of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and obesity. Steroid withdrawal was successful and safe in the majority of in-study patients and safe without an increase of immune events. Our patient and graft outcomes are within other international SPK transplant units standards.