All recipients were on Tacrolimus, Mycophenolate Mofetil, and
corticosteroids. Patient and graft survival rate at the end of one year was 94.3% (95% confidence interval (CI) 86.2–97.8). Mean serum creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate at HIF inhibitor 1 year was 115 ± 25 μmol/L (range 63–192) and 66 ± 15 mL/min per 1.73 m2 (range 37–102) respectively. Twenty-two episodes of biopsy proven acute rejection occurred in 18 recipients (25.7%). Three patients (4.2%) had acute tubular necrosis; however, only one (1.4%) had delayed graft function. One patient, with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis had recurrence of native kidney disease. Thirty-two episodes of urinary tract infection were observed in 22 recipients (31.4%), and Escherichia coli was the most commonly isolated organism, 17 (53.1%) out of 32 episodes. New onset diabetes mellitus after transplant occurred in 16 recipients (22.8%). One-year patient survival, graft survival and secondary outcomes of our kidney transplant recipients, with our limited facilities, were within acceptable limits. “
“Aim: Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in end-stage renal disease and has been associated
with atherosclerosis, endothelial dysfunction and left ventricular hypertrophy. Although C646 nmr activated vitamin D has shown to be cardioprotective, the cardiovascular benefits of nutritional vitamin D (i.e. ergocalciferol or cholecalciferol) have not been explored in the dialysis population. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the effect of ergocalciferol therapy on vascular adhesion molecules, markers of inflammation and atherosclerosis among haemodialysis patients. Methods: This was a pilot study of matched haemodialysis patients. For every patient enrolled taking ergocalciferol, an age and race matched control was recruited. Predialysis blood samples were collected and assayed for adhesion molecules (soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1),
E-selectin and P-selectin), inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-6 Methocarbamol (IL-6) and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)), oxLDL-β2GPI and IgG anticardiolipin. Results: A total of 40 haemodialysis patients were studied (20 on ergocalciferol therapy, 20 not receiving ergocalciferol therapy). Patients taking ergocalciferol had higher 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels compared with those not taking ergocalciferol. Even though doxercalciferol usage and dosing was similar between groups, plasma sVCAM-1, sICAM-1 and P-selectin concentrations were lower among ergocalciferol treated patients. No significant differences in E-selectin, IL-6, TNF-α, oxLDL-β2GPI or anticardiolipin antibody levels were observed. Conclusion: Patients receiving ergocalciferol had lower plasma levels of vascular adhesion molecules despite equivalent use of activated vitamin D therapy.