The situation may be
But of a true

WHERE DO YOU GO?

plantation for appropriately chosen
HW-positive candidates are superior
to those of remaining on dialysis;' Dr.
Gruber said. "Why should such candi-
dates be deprived of this option?"
Four centers, Dr. Gruber said, pre-
viously reported results with renal
transplantation in HIV-positive recip-
ients on HAART therapy, with the
incidence of acute rejection ranging
from 43 percent to 67 percent. These
rejection rates were much higher than
those for HIV-negative patients (15
percent to 20 percent).
"For the first time, we were able to
achieve a low incidence of acute rejec-
tion (13 percent), equivalent to that
observed in HIV-negative patients:'
Dr. Gruber said.
Dr. Gruber and his team achieved
the lowered infection and rejection
rates by introducing three modifica-
tions to the regimens used by oth-
ers: adding an anti-interleukin-2
receptor antibody for induction of
immunosuppression; increasing the
initial target blood levels of cyclospo-
rine, the main immunosuppressive
drug around which the maintenance
anti-rejection protocol is based; and
adjusting the dose of another anti-
rejection medication, mycophenolate
mofetil (Cellcept), according to blood
levels obtained beginning at two to
four weeks, and up to six months fol-
lowing transplantation.
Dr. Gruber said the program will
move forward with further kidney
transplants in HIV-positive patients
using the same protocol. He has sev-
eral such patients on the list awaiting
receipt of a suitable kidney.
Of the four medical centers in the
world that do kidney transplanta-
tion on HIV:positive patients, Harper
Hospital is the only one that figured
out the protocol and published the
results. In addition, Dr. Grubr's high-
risk transplant patients have, on aver-
age, the shortest hospital stays of kid-
ney transplant patients in the country.
Before coming to Wayne State, Dr.
Gruber led the team that performed
the first successful hand transplant
and he built pancreas transplant
programs from scratch at two major
university medical centers.
While serving as the director of the
DMC's organ transplant program, he
earned his MBA from Wayne State's
School of Business Administration
and became a fellow of the American
College of Healthcare Executives in
2008. ❑

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On-Site Digital X-Ray Technology
On-Site Stat Lab Facilities
On-Site CT Scanning and Ultrasound
Cardiac Stress Testing Available

Our most fundamental activity is the provision
of personal, timely and cost effective medical
care in a warm and friendly environment.

In addition to coughs, colds and infections
we commonly treat:

• Sprains • Strains • Fractures
• Lacerations and Burns
• Work, Auto and Sports Injuries
• Eye Injuries

DR. VIEDER, medical director
at Lakes Urgent Care says
"lakes Urgent Care was
created to provide patients
with a cost-effective, timely
alternative when they seek
quality medical care and
are unable to see their own
primary care physician."

www.lakesurgentcare.com

LAKES MEDICAL CENTER

2300 Haggerty Road Suite 1010 I West Bloomfield, MI 48323

(On Haggerty Road just North of Meijer)

248-926-9111

Mon.-Fri. 5 pm-10 pm • Sat., Sun. & Holidays: 10 am 6 pm

(Internal Medicine & Primary Care Physicians from 8:30 am - 5 pm)

Most health insurances accepted and MCNisa accepted

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December 25 • 2008

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