Early renal failure after domino hepatic transplantation using the liver from a compound heterozygous patient with primary hyperoxaluria.
BACKGROUND
To cover the shortage of cadaveric organs, new approaches to expand the donor pool are needed. Here we report on a case of domino liver transplantation (DLT) using an organ harvested from a compound heterozygous patient with primary hyperoxaluria (PHO), who underwent combined liver and kidney transplantation. The DLT recipient developed early renal failure with oxaluria. The time to the progression to oxalosis with renal failure in such situations is unknown, but, based on animal data, we hypothesize that calcineurin inhibitors may play a detrimental role.


METHODS
A cadaveric liver and kidney transplantation was performed in a 52-year-old male with PHO. His liver was used for a 64-year-old patient with a non-resectable, but limited cholangiocarcinoma.


RESULTS
While the course of the PHO donor was uneventful, in the DLT recipient early post-operative, dialysis-dependent renal failure with hyperoxaluria developed. Histology of a kidney biopsy revealed massive calcium oxalate crystal deposition as the leading aetiological cause.


CONCLUSIONS
DLT using PHO organs for marginal recipients represents a possible therapeutic approach regarding graft function of the liver. However, it may negatively alter the renal outcome of the recipient in an unpredictable manner, especially with concomitant use of cyclosporin. Therefore, we suggest that, although DLT should be promoted, PHO organs are better excluded from such procedures.
Farese
Stefan
S
Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, University of Bern Medical School, Inselspital, Freiburgstrasse 15, 3010, Berne, Switzerland. stefan.farese@insel.ch
Trost
Nicolas
N
Candinas
Daniel
D
Huynh-Do
Uyen
U
D001650:Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D001653:Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic; D001706:Biopsy; D018281:Cholangiocarcinoma / Q000601:surgery; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D006960:Hyperoxaluria, Primary / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors; D014019:Tissue Donors