This message was sent to ##Email## To advertise in this publication please click here October 24, 2022 To view email in web browser, click here. Transplanted Livers Can Survive Past 100 Smithsonian Your liver could outlive you—even into the triple-digits, new research suggests. Using the United Network for Organ Sharing's organ transplant database, scientists assessed the ages of 253,406 livers transplanted between 1990 and 2022. Their analysis revealed that 25 of them had survived for more than 100 years. READ MORE .SOCIETY NEWS Register Today for the 2023 Winter Symposium ASTS Innovative sessions, great networking, and renowned speakers — you can expect all of that and more at the 2023 Winter Symposium, January 12-15, 2023 at the beautiful Loews Miami Beach! REGISTER ASTS Offers an Insurance Benefit for All Active Members ASTS As a transplant team member, you may be required to travel for procurement on a moment’s notice. Our insurance benefit provides coverage to protect you and your loved ones if something happened to you while traveling for work. A special thank you to CareDx for supporting this initiative! LEARN MORE .TOP NEWS A Nationwide Dutch Cohort Study Shows Relatively Good Pregnancy Outcomes After Kidney Transplantation and Finds Risk Factors for Adverse Outcomes Kidney International Although numbers of pregnancy after kidney transplantation (KT) are rising, high risks of adverse pregnancy outcomes (APO) remain. Though important for pre-conception counselling and pregnancy monitoring, analyses of pregnancy outcomes after KT per pre-pregnancy estimated glomerular filtration rate-chronic kidney disease (eGFR-CKD)-categories have not been performed on a large scale before. READ MORE A Life-Saving Kidney Transplant KELO-TV A kidney donor and recipient are celebrating a life saving procedure three months after the surgery. However, getting to this point wouldn’t come without some adversity. KELOLAND's Carter Schmidt previews tonight’s Eye on KELOLAND. Brandy Louwagie was 18-years-old when she found out she had a type of chronic kidney disease. More than 20 years later, she needed a transplant. READ MORE  SPONSORED VIDEO Kidney Transplant Patients and Immunosuppression Now you can see the different ways that different formulations are released and absorbed in the gastrointestinal system. You’ll also have the opportunity to explore comparative pharmacokinetic results in rapid metabolizers, efficacy data over 2 years, and safety information. WATCH VIDEO Assessment of Donor Quality and Risk of Graft Failure After Liver Transplantation: The ID2EAL Score American Journal of Transplantation Accurate assessment of donor quality at the time of organ offer for liver transplantation candidates may be inadequately captured by the donor risk index (DRI). We sought to develop and validate a novel objective and simple model to assess donor risk using donor level variables available at the time of organ offer. READ MORE The New Distance-based Kidney Allocation System: Implications for Patients, Transplant Centers, and Organ Procurement Organizations Current Transplantation Reports The goal of deceased donor kidney allocation policy is to provide objective prioritization for donated kidneys, and policy has undergone a series of revisions in the past decade in attempt to achieve equity and utility in access to kidney transplantation. Most recently, to address geographic disparities in access to kidney transplantation, the Kidney Allocation System changed to a distance-based allocation system—colloquially termed “KAS 250”—moving away from donor service areas as the geographic basis of allocation. Here, authors review the early impact of this policy change on access to transplant for patients, and on complexity of organ allocation and transplantation for transplant centers and organ procurement organizations. READ MORE  SPONSORED CONTENT Promoted by Natera Groundbreaking new dd-cfDNA results from the Trifecta Study Combining donor-derived cell-free DNA fraction and amount to detect kidney transplant rejection New findings from the landmark Trifecta Study just published in Transplantation Newly published in Transplantation: the Trifecta Study New donor-derived cell-free DNA results from the Trifecta Study Accepting Living Kidney Donors with Preexisting Diabetes Mellitus Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology Diabetes Mellitus is a leading cause of kidney disease. Accepting living kidney donors with diabetes mellitus remains a debatable issue. The necessity of this article's proposal resulted from recent Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) policy amendments regarding the acceptance of living kidney donors with diabetes mellitus. READ MORE How Close Are We To Developing Pig-to-Human Organ Transplants? Columbia News In a new article published in the journal Science, Megan Sykes, the Michael J. Friedlander Professor of Medicine and professor of microbiology and immunology and surgical sciences and director of Columbia's Center for Translational Immunology, describes the rapid advance of pig-to-human transplants, a promising solution for the ongoing problem of transplant organ shortages. READ MORE  PRODUCT SHOWCASE Kidney Transplant Tolerance Clinical Trial The FREEDOM-1 Phase 3 clinical trial is evaluating FCR001, an investigational cell therapy with the potential to induce durable immune tolerance without the need for chronic immunosuppression across all levels of HLA mismatch. FREEDOM-1 is now enrolling de novo living donor kidney transplant patients. LEARN MORE Obeticholic Acid Yields Fewer Deaths, Liver Transplants in Primary Biliary Cholangitis Healio Patients who received obeticholic acid for primary biliary cholangitis experienced greater transplant-free survival compared with external control patients, according to research published in Gastroenterology. "This important study is the first to demonstrate that initiating treatment with obeticholic acid in appropriate patients with primary biliary cholangitis appears to have a meaningful impact on clinical outcomes," Gideon Hirschfield, FRCP, Ph.D., Lily and Terry Horner Chair in autoimmune liver disease at the University of Toronto, said in a press release. READ MORE Antibody Response Trajectories Among Solid Organ Transplant Recipients in Association With Mycophenolate Mofetil Administration News Medical In a recent study published in Transplantation Proceedings, researchers explored the trajectory of antibody titers after COVID-19 vaccination among solid organ transplant recipients with or without mycophenolate mofetil, or withdrawn from MMF. COVID-19 vaccines have been reported to be effective and safe in clinical trials and real-world settings for the general public. However, the blunted Ab responses in SOTs against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 have been concerning. READ MORE Many Kidney Transplant Recipients Back To Work Physician's Weekly Employed kidney transplant recipients report that they function very well at work, according to a study published online Sept. 26 in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. “This study is a clear message to employers that kidney transplant recipients can function very well at work, which can help to reduce any stigma regarding work and work functioning after kidney transplantation,” authors said in a statement. “In addition, these results may help to guide caregivers and patients with kidney failure on what to expect of life after kidney transplantation.” READ MORE Low Protein Intake Linked With Poor Muscle Recovery Post Kidney Transplantation: Study Medical Dialogues In kidney transplant recipients, inadequate protein intake had a negative impact on recovering from skeletal muscle mass loss following kidney transplantation, says an article published in Clinical Nutrition. Patients with chronic kidney disease, particularly those receiving dialysis for end-stage renal disease, have a loss of skeletal muscle mass. READ MORE  FEATURED ARTICLE   Financial support for kidney transplant patients Promoted by Veloxis Pharmaceuticals Immunosuppressive medications can be a financial burden for kidney transplant patients, potentially costing as much as $10,000 to $14,000 a year. These expenses can have a negative impact on patients’ lives and may play a role in medication nonadherence, which is associated with transplant failure. Learn more about support that is available with a free 30-day trial to allow your patients to start immediately at no cost. And, for patients who are eligible with commercial insurance coverage, a $0 co-pay card offers significant savings. LEARN MORE   Mouse Study Reveals How To Help Speed Up the Liver's Self-Regeneration Process Science Alert The liver is known for its ability to regenerate. It can completely regrow itself even after two-thirds of its mass has been surgically removed. But damage from medications, alcohol abuse, or obesity can eventually cause the liver to fail. Currently, the only effective treatment for end-stage liver disease is transplantation. READ MORE Lack of Protein Negatively Impacts Skeletal Muscle Mass Recovery After Kidney Transplant Healio Protein intake positively correlated with recovery of skeletal muscle mass in kidney transplant recipients, according to a study in Clinical Nutrition. Further, for those experiencing skeletal muscle mass loss after transplantation, a recommendation of protein consumption of more than 0.72 g/kg of ideal body weight per day may help in recofering it, according to researchers. READ MORE  SPONSORED VIDEO Disparities in Kidney Transplantation: By the Numbers Learn more about disparities in kidney transplantation faced by underrepresented minorities. The future of transplantation starts with you - the providers. As your partner in transplant, we proudly stand by your side. To learn more and access a downloadable infographic PDF, please visit the Sanofi AST PartnerConnect page. © 2021 sanofi-aventis U.S. LLC. All rights reserved. MAT-US-2106427-v1.0-07/2021 WATCH VIDEO Helping the Liver Regenerate Itself in End-stage Liver Disease: A Treatment Option Besides Waiting for a Transplant Medical Xpress The liver is known for its ability to regenerate. It can completely regrow itself even after two-thirds of its mass has been surgically removed. But damage from medications, alcohol abuse or obesity can eventually cause the liver to fail. Currently, the only effective treatment for end-stage liver disease is transplantation. However, there is a dearth of organs available for transplantation. Patients may have to wait from 30 days to over five years to receive a liver for transplant in the U.S. READ MORE Kidney Transplant Provides Greater Benefit Than Long-Term Dialysis for Patients With Kidney Failure Pharmacy Transplant All patients who are eligible for a kidney transplant should be able to participate in a transplant program because receiving a kidney transplant was demonstrated to be associated with increased survival compared to long-term dialysis, according to the authors of a recent study published in JAMA Network Open. The study is considered a pioneer in quantifying survival benefit through the use of restricted mean survival time. Of the 81.5% of study participants who received a kidney transplant, 31.3% died. READ MORE PRODUCT SHOWCASE Experience Uncompromised Exposure The Thompson Retractor delivers like no other. We understand exposure is key to the success of this procedure. That’s why we’re with you every step of the way with the right design - and the most dedicated team in the business. There’s just one choice. And it’s a great one.   LEARN MORE   Reach Your Prospects Every Week Thousands of industry professionals subscribe to association news briefs, which allows your company to push messaging directly to their inboxes and take advantage of the association's brand affinity.     LEARN MORE   Liver Cancer Risk Falls After Hepatitis C Treatment Hep Magazine The risk of liver cancer is reduced after successful antiviral therapy for hepatitis C, according to study results published in Gastroenterology. But even after seven years, the risk remains high enough to warrant continued screening for hepatocellular carcinoma in certain groups. Over years or decades, chronic hepatitis C virus can lead to serious complications, including liver cirrhosis, liver cancer and the need for a liver transplant. READ MORE Normothermic Regional Perfusion in Pediatric Controlled Donation After Circulatory Death Can Lead To Optimal Organ Utilization and Posttransplant Outcomes Transplantation The benefits of normothermic regional perfusion (NRP) in posttransplant outcomes after controlled donation after the determination of death by circulatory criteria (cDCD) has been shown in different international adult experiences. However, there is no information on the use of NRP in pediatric cDCD donors. READ MORE  SPONSORED CONTENT Promoted by GoodRx Tools for Assessing Medication Adherence Decision Fatigue in Healthcare Exploring Leadership in Healthcare — Part I Tips on Having Cost Conversations With Your Patients What Is the GoodRx Effect? Kidney Transplant Recipients See Lower IgG Production After COVID-19 Jab MIMS Infectious Disease Vaccination against COVID-19 seems to be less effective among kidney transplant recipients, according to a recent study. Cessation or reduction of immunosuppressive treatments may help increase the production of immunoglobulin (Ig)G in these patients. In 151 kidney transplant recipients, the mean level of anti-Spike protein IgGs was 1,377 AU/mL. This was significantly lower than that in the 74 live kidney donors and 50 healthy volunteers enrolled as comparators (8,310 and 9,908 AU/mL, respectively; p<0.01 for both). READ MORE Organ Donation After Cardiac Death in Japan Transplantation Reports In Japan, since the revision of the Organ Transplant Law in July 2010, donation after brain death has increased, while donation after cardiac death, which has been mainly used by kidney transplantation, has decreased. The number of DCD donors decreased from 98 in 2009 to 28 in 2019. There is no clear reason for the decrease in DCD donors. Furthermore, since 2020, there has been a marked decrease in DCD due to the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic. On the other hand, the outcomes after kidney transplantation from DCD donors are improving year by year. The outcomes of kidney transplantation from DCD donors in Japan are comparable to those of kidney transplantation from DBD donors in Western countries. In order to further improve transplantation outcomes from DCD donors, the clinical introduction of continuous machine perfusion preservation technology, for the purpose of reducing ischemic reperfusion injury, is expected in Japan. READ MORE The Leading dd-cfDNA Test in Transplant AlloSure is the only dd-cfDNA test validated for long-term transplant surveillance LEARN MORE Severely Reduced Kidney Function Assessed by a Single eGFR Determination at the Time of an Isolated Heart Transplant Does Not Predict Inevitable Posttransplant ESKD Transplantation Consensus guidelines advise simultaneous heart kidney transplantation (SHK) in heart candidates with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of <30 mL/min/1.73 m2. We hypothesize that a significant fraction of such patients would not need an SHK, even though a graded increase in mortality and end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) would be seen with decrements in eGFR. READ MORE   ASTS News Brief Connect with ASTS Hailey Golden, Director of Publishing, Multiview, 469-420-2630 | Download media kit Mary Todd Anthony, Content Editor, Multiview, 972-373-2013  | Contribute News American Society of Transplant Surgeons 1401 S. Clark St., Suite 1120  |  Arlington, VA 22202   703.414.7870  |  Contact Us  |  asts.org Click here to unsubscribe.  Learn how to add us to your safe sender list so our emails get to your inbox. ADVERTISE SUBSCRIBE PAST ISSUES   7701 Las Colinas Ridge, Ste. 800, Irving, TX 75063