Living-Related Kidney Transplant in Two Sets of Hla-Identical Twins

Organ transplantation between identical twins is a relatively rare event that has been performed for kidney, pancreas, small bowel, and liver transplants. Monozygotic twins have identical HLA genes that enable the theoretical opportunity of avoiding immunosuppressant medications following transplantation; and with it, the often-serious side effects and financial costs of these drugs. Published information on immunosuppressive management in this scenario is scant. We report two cases of Living Related Kidney Transplantation (LRKT) between identical twins and their immunosuppressive courses that followed transplantation, along with a review of the literature.

[1]  H. Friess,et al.  Calculated withdrawal of low-dose immunosuppression based on a detailed immunological monitoring after kidney transplantation between monocygotic twins. , 2009, Transplant immunology.

[2]  N. Mamode,et al.  Renal Transplantation in Identical Twins in United States and United Kingdom , 2008, Transplantation.

[3]  G. Opelz.  Non-HLA transplantation immunity revealed by lymphocytotoxic antibodies , 2005, The Lancet.

[4]  C. Pichard,et al.  Five-year follow-up after pediatric living related small bowel transplantation between two monozygotic twins. , 2004, Transplantation proceedings.

[5]  Charles M. Miller,et al.  Syngeneic living-donor liver transplantation without the use of immunosuppression. , 2002, Gastroenterology.

[6]  W. Bechstein,et al.  Living related kidney transplantation between identical twins. , 2002, Transplantation proceedings.

[7]  P. Gringras,et al.  Mechanisms for differences in monozygous twins. , 2001, Early human development.

[8]  C. Bodian,et al.  Long-term medical complications in patients surviving > or = 5 years after liver transplant. , 2000, Transplantation.

[9]  F. Bamforth,et al.  Twin zygosity testing for medical purposes. , 1999, American journal of medical genetics.

[10]  P. Padfield,et al.  Renal , 1999, Diabetic medicine : a journal of the British Diabetic Association.

[11]  A. Bartholomew,et al.  Successful living related simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplant between identical twins. , 1999, Transplantation.

[12]  P. Kuo,et al.  Identical twin small bowel transplant after resection of abdominal desmoid tumor. , 1996, Transplantation proceedings.

[13]  T. Starzl,et al.  Weaning of immunosuppression in long-term recipients of living related renal transplants: a preliminary study. , 1995, Transplantation proceedings.

[14]  V. Sumethkul,et al.  Renal transplantation between identical twins: the application of reciprocal full-thickness skin grafts as a guideline for antirejection therapy. , 1994, Transplantation proceedings.

[15]  D. Dunn,et al.  Evolution of kidney, pancreas, and islet transplantation for patients with diabetes at the University of Minnesota. , 1993, American journal of surgery.

[16]  N. Tilney.  Renal transplantation between identical twins: A review , 1986, World Journal of Surgery.

[17]  E. D. de Vries,et al.  Increased cancer risk after liver transplantation: a population-based study. , 2001, Journal of hepatology.

[18]  J. H. Harrison,et al.  Renal homotransplantation in identical twins. 1955. , 2001, Journal of the American Society of Nephrology : JASN.

[19]  V. Gorantla,et al.  Immunosuppressive agents in transplantation: Mechanisms of action and current anti‐rejection strategies , 2000, Microsurgery.

[20]  A. B. Kay.  Immunosuppressive agents in chronic severe asthma. , 1994, Allergy proceedings : the official journal of regional and state allergy societies.

[21]  J. H. Harrison,et al.  Renal homotransplantation in identical twins. , 1956, Surgical forum.