title: De novo urothelial carcinoma in kidney transplantation patients with end-stage aristolochic acid nephropathy in China.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Aristolochic acid contained in Chinese herbs has been proved to be nephrotoxic and carcinogenic. Immunosuppression is associated with an increased risk of developing malignancies. What will be the result if these two significant risk factors are concomitantly present in transplanted patients with aristolochic acid nephropathy (AAN)?
  
  
  METHODS
  A 2-center cohort of 1,612 renal transplant recipients was studied retrospectively from January 1998 to December 2006. We performed an evaluation of the database and review of the charts and pathology reports of these recipients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Kidney transplantations were performed in 17 patients with AAN. Nine (52.9%) of these recipients developed urothelial carcinoma (UC), compared with a 0.46% prevalence of urinary tract tumors among kidney-transplanted patients in China. Eight cases (88.9%) involved the upper urinary tract (bilateral, 3 cases, 37.5%; unilateral, 5 cases, 62.5%). All patients underwent surgical treatment. Six patients (75%) had recurrence during the follow-up period. Three patients died within a mean of 20 months after tumor excision.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The risk for UC is distinctly increased in patients with AAN after transplantation. Regular screening for early detection of malignancy is mandatory.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Organ Transplantation Center, Second Affiliated Hospital, General Hospital of the Chinese PLA, Beijing, PR China.
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Bing-Yi
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Han-Zhong
authors.initials: HZ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Xiao-Guang
authors.initials: XG
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Yin-Sheng
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D034341:Aristolochic Acids / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000209:etiology*; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000150:complications*; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D034341:Aristolochic Acids