January 30, 1990
Dear Colleague,
For the first newsletter of the year we have prepared statistics on the overall development of the collaborative kidney and heart transplant studies. Enclosed you will find graphics illustrating our progress over the years. 1989 was particularly rewarding. It is still too early to report on statistics of the liver transplant study. However, we are very pleased and grateful that more than 700 liver grafts have been registered since last fall.
Even more important than the data quantity is the quality which, with rare exceptions, is remarkably good. Needless to say, even sophisticated statistics cannot make up for poor data quality.
We in Heidelberg are extremely grateful for the truly voluntary support of so many around the world. As a small token of appreciation, a list of names and affiliations is attached which shows the individuals who have supplied us with data. I realize that the list is incomplete since many who have contributed indirectly must go unnamed. Please send us the names and addresses of individuals who you feel should be included in future listings.
Now is the time for each center to check whether the number of transplants for 1989 noted in the "Summary Section" corresponds to the actual number of transplants performed. Please report any missing transplants as soon as possible. It is very important that all consecutive transplants be reported to avoid selection bias.
I would like to use this opportunity to repeat my yearly appeal to all participants for honest reporting. It would defeat the purpose of the entire study if data entries or clinical follow up information were reported incorrectly. On behalf of all other study participants, please report your data as accurately as possible. As you know, we guarantee data confidentiality and no participant needs to fear embarrassment in case the success rate should be low. We are not competing for the highest survival rate. Rather, the study’s purpose is to learn from past experience, including mistakes. Those who cannot subscribe to this philosophy should withdraw from the study in order not to jeopardize the work of so many others. Thank you for your understanding.
I have received a couple of comments recently regarding the request for the "Immunosuppressive Protocol" on the initial registration forms. The request applies to the immunosuppressive protocol a patient is assigned to at the time of transplantation. It does not necessarily mean that all treatment indicated also is administered. For example, if ATG or OKT3 is used regularly at your center for the treatment of steroid-resistant rejection, the appropriate box should be checked for all patients, regardless of whether a rejection was or will be treated.
The next newsletter will contain the familiar type of interim graft analysis data.
Thank you for your continued support of this international scientific effort.
With best wishes for a good start into the 90's,
Sincerely yours,
Announcement:
The next date for shipment of cell samples for the DNA-RFLP typing project is May 7/8, 1990.