Persistent hyperparathyroidism is observed in 17% to 50% of patients at 1 year after renal transplantation. In 10% of these patients, hypercalcemia is also present. This condition increases the risk of vascular calcification, correlating with inferior graft function among patients with interstitial calcification in the renal allograft. Hypertension is appears in 60% to 90% of patients after transplantation, favoring progressive graft dysfunction. Hypercalcemia per se causes hypertension. Parathyroid hormone can potentiate the pressor effects of hypercalcemia. Fourteen renal transplant recipients were included based upon: total serum calcium > 10.0 mg/dL, intact parathyroid hormone levels > 70 pg/mL, graft function > 6 months, creatinine clearance > 50 mL/min, and stable immunosuppressive therapy. We also examined blood pressure and antihypertensive treatment. Initially patients received 30 mg of cinacalcet once a day. The follow-up was up to 6 months. The mean cinacalcet dose was 40 mg/24 h. Five patients received 60 mg/24 h. Both serum calcium and iPTH decreased significantly from 10.6 (DE 0.4) to 9.8 (DE Both serum calcium and iPTH decreased significantly from 10.6 (DE 0.4)to 9.8 (DE 0.6) mg/dL (P < .001) and from 195.0 (DE 140.0) to 118.62 (DE 102.2; P < .0001). There were no significant changes in renal function, proteinuria, or tacrolimus levels. Mean blood pressure diminished from 94.1 (DE 12.0) to 88.0 (DE 7.5) mm Hg (P < .019) with no changes in antihypertensive treatment. Cinacalcet was suspended in one patient because of gastrointestinal discomfort and in another one because the iPTH was reduced to 51 pg/mL. Cinacalcet is an effective treatment for persistent hyperparathyroidism associated with hypercalcemia among renal transplant patients and may be helpful for hypertension control.

Defining absolute psychiatric or neurological contraindications among kidney transplantation candidates is controversial, especially taking into account that graft outcomes are similar to other groups of patients. The social support network should be exhaustively evaluated to ensure adherence to immunosuppressive therapy and minimization of complications resulting from the neuropsychiatric disorder. We reviewed transplants (n = 668) in our center between January 2001 and August 2008 searching for patients with a diagnosis of neurological or psychiatric disease before renal transplantation. We also reviewed demographic data, social support networks, patient and graft survivals as well as transplant complications. Twelve patients were transplanted with neurological or psychiatric disorders: seven with cognitive impairment and five with psychiatric diseases. Nine patients had good social support networks. The mean follow-up time was 2.65 +/- 2.42 years. The graft loss rate was 34% (n = 4), including only one attributed to a mental disorder, namely, nonadherence to immunosuppressive therapy. Regarding complications, four were related to the neuropsychiatric disorder: hypoglycemia due to insulin overdose, aspiration pneumonia because of altered pharynx-larynx motility, hyponatremia related to diuretic abuse, and malnutrition plus dehydration. Patient survival in this period was 91.7%. The one patient died due to multiple organ failure secondary to respiratory sepsis with a functioning graft. In summary, neuropsychiatric disorders should not be considered to be contraindications for kidney transplantation although a social support network is essential and must be carefully evaluated.

Everolimus (Eve) has shown good efficacy and safety profiles in clinical trials in combination with low doses of cyclosporine but there is limited experience in other modes, especially with calcineurin inhibitor elimination. We developed a retrospective study to analyze its clinical use after approval in Europe in 2005. Herein we have presented the results of a series of 272 patients followed for the first 6 months after Eve introduction. In 93.8% of cases Eve was introduced after the first month posttransplantation (conversion use), and 6 months after introduction, the CNI had been eliminated in 75% of cases. The main indication for Eve introduction was the diagnosis of a malignant neoplasm (42%), whereas the combined indication of prevention and/or treatment of toxicity, especially nephrotoxicity, accounted for 46.3% of cases. Initial doses were low (1.37 mg/d), but were progressively increased up to 2 mg/d at 6 months. Renal function remained unchanged during the follow-up period, whereas proteinuria moderately increased. Only 5 cases (2%) of acute rejection episodes were observed with excellent patient and graft survivals at 6 months after conversion. Further analysis of this extensive series of patients with a longer follow-up is needed.