Serum neopterin/creatinine values correlate with severity of symptoms caused by cytomegalovirus infection in renal transplant recipients

Serum neopterin/creatinine ratios were longitudinally measured in 86 renal transplant recipients from the day before transplantation until 4 months after transplantation, and the relationship to the clinical symptoms of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection was studied. Infection with cytomegalovirus occurred in 23 patients, 11 cases of which were due to primary infection. Symptoms caused by CMV infection were more severe in male patients, in patients who had received prior antirejection treatment, and in patients with primary CMV infection. The measurement of serum neopterin/creatinine ratios proved to be a marker for the severity of symptoms caused by CMV infection, as peak values were significantly higher in eight patients with CMV disease than in patients with no or only mild symptoms of CMV infection (P<0.05). Moreover, in seven out of eight cases of CMV disease, serum neopterin/creatinine ratios started to rise up to 2 weeks before CMV infection was proven by serology

The influence of obesity on short- and long-term graft and patient survival after renal transplantation

To determine short- and long-term patient and graft survival in obese [body mass index (BMI) >= 30 kg/m(2)] and nonobese (BMI <30 kg/m(2)) renal transplant patients we retrospectively analyzed our national-database. Patients 18 years or older receiving a primary transplant after 1993 were included. A total of 1871 patients were included in the nonobese group and 196 in the obese group. In the obese group there were significantly more females (52% vs. 38.6%, P <0.01) and patients were significantly older [52 years (43-59) vs. 48 years (37-58); P <0.05]. Patient survival and graft survival were significantly decreased in obese renal transplant recipients (1 and 5 year patient survival were respectively 94% vs. 97% and 81% vs. 89%, P <0.01; 1 and 5 year graft survival were respectively 86% vs. 92% and 71% vs. 80%, P <0.01). Initial BMI was an independent predictor for patient death and graft failure. This large retrospective study shows that both graft and patient survival are significantly lower in obese renal transplant recipients