Simultaneous heart-kidney transplantation (SHK) remains uncommon in the US. We examined outcomes of SHK compared to heart transplant alone (HTA) and deceased donor kidney transplant (DDKT).Data from OPTN/UNOS heart and kidney data bases were used to identify 16 710 HTA, 263 SHK transplants and 68 833 DDK transplants between 1998 and 2007. Outcomes included patient survival (PS), acute cardiac and renal rejection and renal graft survival (rGS).The adjusted risk of death was 44% lower with SHK compared to HTA. Over half of SHK were performed in cases where pretransplant dialysis was not initiated. In these cases, there was no significant difference in the risk of death between SHK and HTA (HR 1.01; 95% CI 0.67-1.50).Recipients of SHK had worse 1-year rGS and PS and had a higher relative risk of overall renal graft loss compared to DDKT recipients. One-year rates of cardiac (14.5%) and renal (6.5%) rejection were lower in SHK compared to HTA and DDKT, respectively.Recipients of SHK had a lower adjusted risk of death compared to HTA recipients, particularly in patients who required pretransplant dialysis. These data suggest that SHK should be considered in heart transplant candidates with renal failure requiring dialysis, whereas the utility of SHK in cases of renal failure not requiring dialysis warrants further study.

Background: The clinical significance of a trace protein reading on urinalysis is unclear, and such a result is often ignored by the clinician. Methods: We examined 185 samples of urine with trace proteinuria by both Chemstrips and sulfosalicylic acid testing, and compared the results with those of urinary albumin and total protein concentrations. Results: Taking for the purposes of this study an arbitrary upper limit of normal of 20 mg/l for albumin and 100 mg/l for total protein concentration, we found abnormal albumin excretion in 87% and abnormal total protein excretion in 88% of trace samples. In this study, a negative urinalysis for protein excluded microalbuminuria in 87% and proteinuria in 78% of cases. Conclusion: Qualitative testing for protein by urinalysis has a high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing or ruling out microalbuminuria. Trace proteinuria usually means microalbuminuria; negative proteinuria tends to rule it out.

Renal transplant recipients are at increased risk for life-threatening complications, most commonly infections. Because of their impaired cell-mediated immunity, these patients are particularly susceptible to organisms that rely on intracellular survival and spread, such as Listeria monocytogenes. Despite being a food-borne pathogen, L. monocytogenes is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Here we report the case of a renal transplant recipient who developed rapidly progressive neurological symptoms after a brief gastrointestinal illness. Magnetic resonance imaging scan of the brain showed a large mass that was identified as an abscess due to L. monocytogenes. Timely aspiration and antibiotic treatment resulted in complete recovery, as opposed to worse outcomes in the available case reports. We further review the epidemiology, microbiology, clinical presentation, and therapeutic options for listerial brain abscess.

C1q nephropathy is a rare idiopathic glomerulopathy characterized by mesangial deposition of immunoglobulin and complement with C1q dominance or co-dominance, and the absence of clinical and laboratory evidence of systemic lupus erythematosus. Its clinical course is unpredictable and the response to corticosteroid or cytotoxic treatment is variable. Here, we report two cases of C1q nephropathy, one in a child and one in an adult, both presenting with impaired renal function and massive proteinuria. Both patients failed to respond to immunosuppressive medications; however, rituximab, an anti-CD20 antibody, was effective in preserving renal function in one patient and eliminating the need for hemodialysis in the other. In one patient, histologic regression of abnormalities was documented over 3 years post-treatment. Both patients have remained off other immunosuppressive medication for a prolonged period with stable renal function. These cases are, to our knowledge, the first reported successful treatment of C1q nephropathy with rituximab.