Human herpesviruses HHV-6 and HHV-7 reactivation in transplantation is associated with indirect immunomodulatory effects, such as cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease, increased opportunistic infections, graft dysfunction and acute rejection (AR). In this study, we analysed the clinical and immunological outcomes in renal transplant recipients (RTR) with active HHV-6 and HHV-7 infection. Between January 2007 and December 2007, clinical, virological and immunological tests were carried out in 46 RTR. The patients were divided into three groups: with active HHV-6 infection; with active HHV-7 infection; and without infection (control). The mean follow-up was 14 ± 2.5 months. At three months after renal transplantation (RT), active CMV infection was present in 12 (26%); HHV-6 in four (8.6%); and HHV-7 in nine (19.5%) of RTR. Active ß-herpesviruses infection was not associated with more frequent AR and worsening of graft function in recipients at different times after RT. The lymphocyte subsets (CD3+; CD4+ and CD8+ cell count) were considerably lower in RTR before RT. At 3 months after RT CD19+ and CD25+ cell counts were significantly increased in the HHV-7 group compared with the control group (P < 0.05). Significant differences were not found in clinical and immunological outcomes between patients with active ß-herpesviruses infection and those without active ß-herpesviruses infection.

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Contributed by Rafails Rozentâls Nutritional Vitamin D deficiency is an increasingly recognised condition in chronic kidney 49.7 years (range: 11-80). Median time after transplantation was 6.5 years (range 0.8-16.4 years). Mean 25(OH)D level for all cohort was 22.71 ± 7.06 ng/mL; only 30/165 (18%) of patients were vitamin D sufficient. 71/165 (43%) patients showed insufficient 25(OH)D level, 62/165 (38%) patients were mildly vitamin D deficient, and 2/165 (1%) were severely vitamin D deficient. Serum creatinine level was negatively correlated with 25(OH)D (r = -0.21; P < 0.01). We also observed an inverse correlation between iPTH and 25(OH) D (r = -

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In patients receiving cyclosporine A (CyA)-based immunosuppressive therapy, Ca2+ channel blockers (CCBs) prevent the development of CyA-related nephrotoxicity in which increased Ca2+ content plays an important role. We evaluated the dynamics of the intracellular (erythrocytes) and extracellular (plasma) Ca2+ levels and the influence of the CCB, Phenihydine, on this process during the conversion from Sandimmun (S) to Sandimmun Neoral (SN). Forty-two patients were enrolled. The conversion from S to SN normalized the elevated CA2+ level of erythrocytes in groups with Phenihydine (n = 20) and without Phenyhidine (n = 12) 4 weeks after the switch (P < 0.05); this level remained stable until the end of study. Therefore we suggest that the switch from S to SN is effective in reducing elevated intracellular Ca2+ levels. The decrease of Ca2+ content in erythrocytes was similar in all groups switched to SN (with or without Phenihydine). The last effect should be an important argument to focus the further long-term investigations on the ability of CCBs to act as cytoprotective and neophroprotective agents during immunosuppressive protocols with the new microemulsion formulation of CyA.