Figure 1
February 1, 2007
In keeping with the tradition of updating and extending the overall CTS statistics at the beginning of each year, you will find an updated set of more than 1500 graphs at www.ctstransplant.org. Transplants performed in 2005 are now included in the outcome analysis. The graphs, conveniently available in PowerPoint, can be freely used for teaching purposes or presentations at meetings.
It is truly remarkable that so many centers worldwide continue to contribute selflessly to the independent analyses and statistics of the CTS. Each individual CTS participant deserves credit for contributing to this valuable reference source.
We will continue to update your individual center statistics every 3 months, thereby allowing for timely analysis of your own data via the CTS website. Of course, we are prepared to help you should you require assistance.
A new introduction this time is the second part of the "Completeness Report", which is distributed together with the usual printouts for updating. This new summary report concerns the "extended follow up" (colored forms) and shows the current status for your center.
Figure 1
Together with the first summary section, you are now able to review your center's reporting status for initial transplant registration, basic follow up, and extended follow up at a single glance. While it remains our policy that completion of the extended follow up forms is not mandatory for study participation, I would like to reiterate that this is the most productive part of the study with respect to scientific analyses. We are therefore especially grateful to those of you who provide the extended follow up data. Currently approximately two-thirds of participants are able to support this effort and we are hopeful that more centers will follow suit. Overall completeness of posttransplant follow up for kidney transplants in the CTS is illustrated in Figure 1. The data shown represent the reporting period 2001-2005.
To new staff members getting involved in reporting to CTS, I would like to repeat my appeal for accurate and honest reporting. Please consider that we are trying to learn from past experience, including mistakes, for the benefit of future transplant recipients.
In addition, all centers are reminded that local ethics guidelines must be adhered to and that appropriate local permission is required for participation in the CTS laboratory projects. Experience shows that there are no major obstacles, but it is important not to forget this important detail.
The next deadline for shipment of serum and/or DNA samples to Heidelberg is
May 21/22, 2007
I would like to appeal to all CTS participants to join the post-transplant serum study. We are still looking for centers willing to contribute serum samples. All laboratory costs will be assumed by us. You will receive the test results free of charge and, in addition, make an important contribution to a complex research topic that can be resolved only with multicenter collaboration. For details, please consult the CTS website under "Special Studies" or contact us via e-mail.
During the last few months, we have been asked repeatedly whether suggestions that very short cold ischemic preservation might eliminate the effect of HLA matching in kidney transplantation can be substantiated by the CTS data. Figure 2 shows the results for transplants from deceased donors performed between 1990 and 2005. The association of matching with graft survival was statistically significant regardless of preservation time. Our conclusion therefore is that, contrary to recurring suggestions, HLA matching remains significant to outcome even with short ischemic preservation time.
Figure 2
In a few weeks we will distribute the annual request for confirmation of completeness of reporting on posttransplant malignant tumors. Please contribute to this very important part of the CTS study. If you include a question on malignancies in your regular clinical update routine, the yearly confirmation of tumors will require no additional effort. These data are of great clinical relevance since they allow the analysis of factors influencing the occurrence of tumors. We are currently evaluating the influence of antiviral therapy on the incidence of lymphomas. Your support by checking the completeness of tumor registrations and adding any missing data will be greatly appreciated. Please do not forget to return the confirmation questionnaire. Without confirmation of completeness, your data cannot be included in future analyses.
Thank you for your continued support of the Collaborative Transplant Study.
Sincerely yours,