An Alternative Approach for Statistical Analysis of Kidney Transplant Data: Multivariate Analysis of Single-center Experience

To avoid the center effect and the possible hidden interactions of multicenter studies, the validity of the Cox Proportional Hazards Model for the analysis of a single-center kidney transplant program was tested, considering 287 renal transplants performed in a 10-year period. The inclusion of type of donor and main immunosuppressive drug as covariates in the model did not violate the proportionality assumption of the Cox model. According to this method, the following covariates were significant in predicting graft survival: cyclosporine, type of donor, good human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A and HLA-B match (DR data were not considered), highest percentage of reactive antibodies against panel cells, and nephroangiosclerosis as a primary renal disease. Cyclosporine did not significantly improve graft survival in living related donor transplants. Pretransplant blood transfusions, cold ischemia time, and donor ABO blood group were initially significant but dropped out in the step-down procedure. Recipient\u27s age at transplant, cyclosporine, HLA-A and HLA-B match, and nephroangiosclerosis were significant in predicting patient survival. It was concluded that using long-term data of cadaveric and living related renal transplants either on azathioprine or cyclosporine is a valid way to perform multivariate analysis of single-center transplant programs that do not have large samples

NATURAL KILLER CELL ACTIVITY AND ANTIBODY-DEPENDENT CELLULAR CYTOTOXICITY IN NEWBORN INFANTS

The ability of lymphocytes from the peripheral blood of preterm and term infants and adult women and men to mediate natural killing (NK) and K cell activity (antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity) was analysed in 4 hours 51Cr-release assays. K 562 cells were targets for NK activity. K cell activity was assayed on antibody-coated rat thymocytes. Lymphocytes from adult male donors were significantly more cytotoxic to K 562 cells than were lymphocytes from adult female donors. Lymphocytes from both preterm and term infants had significantly lower NK and K cell activity than lymphocytes from adult donors. During the first month of life no increase in NK activity or K cell activity occurred in 7 infants who were re-examined. It is concluded that neither NK nor K cell activities are fully developed during the first month of life