Characteristics associated with liver graft failure: the concept of a donor risk index

Transplant physicians and candidates have become increasingly aware that donor characteristics significantly impact liver transplantation outcomes. Although the qualitative effect of individual donor variables are understood, the quantitative risk associated with combinations of characteristics are unclear. Using national data from 1998 to 2002, we developed a quantitative donor risk index. Cox regression models identified seven donor characteristics that independently predicted significantly increased risk of graft failure. Donor age over 40 years (and particularly over 60 years), donation after cardiac death (DCD), and split/partial grafts were strongly associated with graft failure, while African-American race, less height, cerebrovascular accident and 'other' causes of brain death were more modestly but still significantly associated with graft failure. Grafts with an increased donor risk index have been preferentially transplanted into older candidates (>50 years of age) with moderate disease severity (nonstatus 1 with lower model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) scores) and without hepatitis C. Quantitative assessment of the risk of donor liver graft failure using a donor risk index is useful to inform the process of organ acceptance.

Long-term survival after surgical revascularization for atherosclerotic renal artery disease

PURPOSE

We analyzed the long-term clinical outcome and survival after surgical revascularization for atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study group comprised 222 patients who underwent surgical revascularization for atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis between 1974 and 1987. The indications for performing surgical revascularization were treatment of hypertension in 60 patients, preservation of renal function in 12, and control of hypertension and preservation of renal function in 148. Postoperative blood pressure, renal function and survival data were analyzed during a mean followup of 7.4 years.

RESULTS

There were 5 operative deaths (2.2%) and postoperative thrombosis or stenosis of the repaired renal artery occurred in 16 patients (7.3%). Long-term cure or improvement of renovascular hypertension was achieved in 72.4% of patients. Preoperative renal function correlated significantly with a favorable blood pressure response to surgical revascularization (p = 0.013). Long-term improvement or stabilization of renal function was achieved in 71.3% of patients. Preoperative renal function (p = 0.034) and bilateral atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis (p = 0.04) correlated significantly with a favorable renal function result after surgical revascularization. Actuarial 5 and 10-year survivals for the entire series from the time of surgical revascularization were 81 and 53%, respectively. The expected 5 and 10-year survivals for a comparable healthy population are 89 and 77%, respectively. Using a multivariate analysis, factors correlating with diminished long-term survival were age older than 60 years (p = 0.002), coronary artery disease (p = 0.031), and previous vascular operations (p = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

These data support the long-term therapeutic efficacy of surgical revascularization in patients with atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis. The merits of newer forms of therapy, such as percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and endovascular stenting, must ultimately be weighed against these results.

Long term effects of intra-articular botulinum toxin A for refractory joint pain

The purpose of this case series review is to describe our 12 month clinical experience with intra-articular injections of Botulinum toxin Type A (BoNT/A) for refractory joint pain. Eleven patients with chronic arthritis who had failed treatment with oral and/or intra-articular medications and were not surgical candidates were referred to us for management of moderate to severe refractory joint pain in 15 joints. The use of BoNT/A to treat joint pain is a non-FDA approved "off label" treatment with potential side effects. After a detailed explanation of the joint injection procedure, signed informed consent was obtained for the procedure. Fifteen joints were injected with BoNT/A (Allergan, Inc): six lower extremity joints (3 knees, 3 ankles) with 25-50 units and nine shoulders with 50-100 units. Patients were followed for one year or longer. Maximum relief of pain was measured by comparing baseline pain on a numeric rating scale (0-10) to pain at the time of maximum relief (paired t-test). Maximum improvement in function was assessed using paired t-tests for improvement in active flexion and abduction for the shoulder joint, and by the time to perform sit to stand ten times (the timed stands test, TST) for the lower extremity joints.

RESULTS

Two patients were female and nine were male, aged 42-82 years. Five had osteoarthritis (OA), five had rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and one had psoriatic arthritis. All patients were on analgesic and/or anti-inflammatory medications and all joints had previous intra-articular steroid or viscosupplement injections with inadequate or unsatisfactory benefit. A clinically and statistically significant improvement was noted after IA-BoNT/A injections. The mean maximum decrease in lower extremity joint pain was 55% (p =0.02) and the 36% (p =0.044) improvement in the Timed Stands Test was noted at four to ten weeks after injection. There was a 71% mean maximum reduction in shoulder pain severity from 8.2 +/- 1.1 to 2.4 +/- 1.9 (p <0.001). Active range of motion increased 67% in flexion (from 67.8 +/- 27.6 to 113.3 +/- 46.6 degrees, p =0.001) and 42% in abduction (from 50 +/- 18.5 degrees to 71.1 +/- 23.1 degrees p =0.01). No immediate or delayed adverse effects related to BoNT/A were noted after the injection. Duration of pain relief was variable and ranged from 3 to 12 months. Five joints were re-injected with IA-Bont/A and had a similar decrease in joint pain that lasted 3 to 12 months.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first report of the long term effects of intra-articular BoNT/A injections to treat chronic joint pain and the efficacy of repeated injections. Although this study was small, and uncontrolled the results suggest that IA-BoNT/A injections are an effective and safe treatment for chronic joint pain disorders.

Geographic differences in event rates by model for end-stage liver disease score

The ability of the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score to accurately predict death among liver transplant candidates allows for evaluation of geographic differences in transplant access for patients with similar death risk. Adjusted models of time to transplant and death for adult liver transplant candidates listed between 2002 and 2003 were developed to test for differences in MELD score among Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) regions and Donation Service Areas (DSA). The average MELD and relative risk (RR) of death varied somewhat by region (from 0.82 to 1.28), with only two regions having significant differences in RRs. Greater variability existed in adjusted transplant rates by region; 7 of 11 regions differed significantly from the national average. Simulation results indicate that an allocation system providing regional priority to candidates at MELD scores > or = 15 would increase the median MELD score at transplant and reduce the total number of deaths across DSA quintiles. Simulation results also indicate that increasing priority to higher MELD candidates would reduce the percentage variation among DSAs of transplants to patients with MELD scores > or = 15. The variation decrease was due to increasing the MELD score at time of transplantation in the DSAs with the lowest MELD scores at transplant.

The use of mechanical stimulation to obtain the sacral reflex latency: a new technique

We determined sacral reflex latencies and morphologies in 18 neurologically normal patients and 83 with neurological disease by stimulating the glans penis or clitoris using electrical and a new technique of mechanical stimulation, and recording from the external urethral sphincter. The results with both stimulation techniques were compared among various diagnostic groups. In normal patients the mean sacral reflex latencies were 35.3 +/- 2.5 (standard deviation) msec. with electrical stimulation, and 39.1 +/- 4.0 msec. with mechanical stimulation. The mean reflex latencies in patients with lower motor neuron lesions studied by both methods were statistically longer than in normal subjects, and the mean reflex latencies in patients with upper motor neuron impairment studied by both methods were not statistically different from those in normal subjects. The morphological findings of the reflex tracings suggest that both types of evoked responses follow the same general anatomical pathway and both resemble a special human flexor reflex. The mechanical technique has advantages over the electrical technique because it is less painful and in certain instances it is easier to obtain.

Quantitative measurement of cervical range of motion in patients with torticollis treated with botulinum A toxin

Improvement in cervical range of motion in patients with spasmodic torticollis by botulinum A toxin injection is difficult to objectively measure. Recently, a three-dimensional cervical range of motion system (EMROM) that measures primary as well as secondary cervical angles has been developed. This system uses an electromagnetic tracking system for data collection and a personal computer for analysis and graphic display of the data. We have tested the EMROM system and, from our results, believe that it can be used clinically to objectively and accurately measure cervical range of motion in patients who have spasmodic torticollis and who receive botulinum toxin injections.

Doxorubicin chemomyectomy as a treatment for cervical dystonia: histological assessment after direct injection into the sternocleidomastoid muscle

The sternocleidomastoid muscle (SCM) is one of the major muscles involved in producing abnormal head position in cervical dystonia patients. This study tested whether doxorubicin chemomyectomy, direct injection of doxorubicin into the SCM to permanently remove muscle fibers, has the potential to be a nonsurgical, permanent treatment for cervical dystonia. The right SCM of rabbits was injected with either 1 or 2 mg doxorubicin. Animals were sacrificed 1-2 months postinjection. The SCM was prepared for histological examination of muscle fiber loss and fiber type composition. In all cases, direct injection of doxorubicin resulted in significant decreases in total muscle cross-sectional areas ranging from 75% up to 98%. Individual myofiber cross-sectional areas were smaller than normal after 2 mg doxorubicin treatment, but similar to normal fiber size after 1 mg doxorubicin. There were increased numbers of myofibers that expressed slow and neonatal myosin heavy chain isoforms in these remaining muscle fibers compared to the untreated SCM on the contralateral side. Developmental myosin heavy chain (MHC) was also present in 53% of the remaining myofibers of the treated muscles. The fiber type composition of muscles contralateral to the doxorubicin injections was compared to the fiber type composition of SCM from normal, untreated controls; no difference was seen in the proportions of fast, slow, and neonatal MHC fiber types in these SCM muscles. In summary, the direct injection of doxorubicin into the SCM resulted in significant muscle loss. This supports the use of doxorubicin chemomyectomy as a potential permanent, nonsurgical treatment for cervical dystonia.

Intrathecal baclofen in the treatment of spasticity

Spasticity is a disorder of the sensorimotor system resulting in velocity-dependent increased muscle tone and tendon reflexes. Intrathecal baclofen is currently the most effective means of treating diffuse abnormal spasticity of both cerebral and spinal origin in the adult and pediatric patient. Careful patient assessment, selection and continued therapies are essential to a successful intrathecal baclofen management program. Once a patient receives a baclofen pump, close monitoring is needed for dose adjustment and pump problems. Baclofen overdose and withdrawal by either system failure or human error can cause significant side effects and be life threatening. Excellent understanding of the baclofen delivery system, programming and dose effects are needed to evaluate any patient complaints. Future uses of intrathecal pump therapy includes use of other intrathecal drugs besides baclofen (or in combination with baclofen) and the effects of placing the catheter tip at various spinal levels. At the University of Minnesota, Sister Kenny Institute and Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare our experience has shown excellent results with this form of therapy over the last 12-16 years.

A surface swab method for culturing Foley catheters assays the pericatheter (urethral) but not the urine (luminal) microbial population

Assessment of the urethral flora in patients with indwelling bladder catheters is problematic in the presence of urinary tract infection (UTI). A new surface swab method that samples the external catheter surface without interference from contaminated luminal contents is described. In vitro, recovery of adherent bacteria from the external catheter surface by the surface swab method was proportional to the bacterial density as measured by a comparison scrape method. In a prospective longitudinal assessment of three chronically catheterized subjects with polymicrobial catheter-associated UTI, a conventional roll plate catheter culture method suggested substantial overlap between the urethral and urine microbial populations, possibly a result of contamination of catheter cultures by infected urine. In contrast, the surface swab method revealed little overlap between these floras, evidence suggesting a predominantly luminal (rather than meatal) route of UTI acquisition. The new surface swab method should prove useful in future studies of the pathogenesis and prevention of catheter-associated UTI.

Myofascial pain syndrome: electromyographic changes associated with local twitch response

Electromyographic (EMG) recordings of the local twitch response in sixteen subjects with pain from active myofascial trigger points in the upper trapezius muscle were examined and compared with recordings from the contralateral normal muscle bands in the same individual. Needle electromyography and a specific reproducible snapping palpation technique were used to elicit and record the local twitch response. The mean value for the EMG recordings of bands with trigger points versus the normal muscle bands using the visual scoring method were 3.81 and .81 respectively. Mean values for the EMG recordings of muscle bands with trigger points versus the normal muscle using the spike counting method were 31.81 and 8.75 respectively. Both results were statistically compared using student's t-test. The motorunit electrical activity of the bands with trigger points was found to be significantly higher (p less than or equal to 0.001) than that of the normal muscle.