Search

Introduction: Antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR) is one of the major determinants of graft survival. Although diagnostic precision and treatment options have improved, response to therapy and graft survival has not improved very significantly. The phenotypes of early and late acute ABMR differ in many ways. In this study, we assessed the clinical characteristics, response to therapy, DSA positivity, and outcomes of early and late ABMR. Methods: During the study period, 69 patients with acute ABMR diagnosed on renal graft histopathology were included with a median follow-up of 10 months after rejection. Recipients were stratified into early acute ABMR (<3 months of transplant; n = 29) and late acute ABMR (>3 months of transplant; n = 40). Graft survival, patient survival, response to therapy, and doubling of serum creatinine were assessed and compared between the two groups. Results: Baseline characteristics and immunosuppression protocols were comparable between the early and late ABMR groups. Late acute ABMR had an increased risk of doubling of serum creatinine than the early ABMR group (P = 0.002). Graft and patient survival were not statistically different between the two groups. Response to therapy was inferior in the late acute ABMR group (P = 0.00). Pretransplant DSA was present in 27.6% in the early ABMR group. Late acute ABMR was frequently associated with nonadherence or suboptimal immunosuppression and low DSA positivity (15%). Infections such as CMV, bacterial, and fungal infections were similar in the earlier and late ABMR groups. Conclusion: Late acute ABMR group had a poor response to anti-rejection therapy and also an increased risk of doubling of serum creatinine compared to the early acute ABMR group. There was also a tendency toward increased graft loss in late acute ABMR patients. Late acute ABMR patients are more frequently associated with nonadherence/suboptimal immunosuppression. There was also a low incidence of anti-HLA DSA positivity in late ABMR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: ABO incompatible (ABOi) transplantation is a relatively newer option for renal transplant. Despite the encouraging results and the presence of organ shortage, it is still not routine in many developing countries. This can be attributed to the lack of experience, lack of technical infrastructure, and financial limitations. Objectives: Our study aimed to compare the outcomes of living-donor ABOi renal transplantation with matched recipients of ABO-compatible (ABOc) transplantation. We also assessed the impact of Vitamin D deficiency on posttransplant outcomes in terms of graft function and rejections in these groups. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the results of 33 ABOi living-donor kidney transplants performed between January 2013 and June 2016 at our center. We compared patient and graft survival, acute rejection episodes, Vitamin D status, and graft function of the ABOi group with an equal number of matched live-related ABOc KTs done during the same time period. Results: The patient survival in both the groups was 97%; however, death-censored graft survival was 94% in the ABOi recipients versus 100% in ABOc group over a mean follow-up of 14–15 months, respectively. Graft function was overall better in the ABOc recipients, with statistical significance seen at 6 and 12 months posttransplant. We also observed a significantly higher incidence of acute antibody-mediated rejections (ABMRs) in the ABOi cohort, with 11 episodes of ABMR versus just 2 in the ABOc recipients (P = 0.005). Vitamin D deficiency was associated with higher levels of anti-ABO antibody and increased development of ABMR due to anti-ABO antibodies (P = 0.01). Conclusions: ABO incompatible transplantation is an option with excellent patient and graft survival; results almost comparable to the ABO compatible grafts. However, in our study, ABOi transplants were associated with higher risk of acute ABMR. These episodes were amenable to treatment, and thus, the overall graft survival had similar outcomes. Vitamin D deficiency was associated with increased ABMR in ABOi cohort of renal transplantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Vitamin D has immunomodulatory properties and could have a role in allograft outcome. Methods: Fifty-two chronic kidney disease patients going for transplantation were studied for vitamin-D receptor (VDR) activity, 25(OH)D, estimated glomerular filtration rate (e-GFR), and de-novo donor-specific antibody (d-DSA). Results: Vitamin D deficiency was seen in 25% of recipients before transplant (26.09 ± 12.19 ng/ml), in 48.1% at 6 months posttransplant (23.36 ± 15.11 ng/ml). VDR activity before the transplant was 15.41 ± 31.41 ng/ml, which was similar to control group (13.24 ± 9.78 ng/ml), and after transplantation showed an increase at 3 months to 21.91 ± 38.80 ng/ml and at 6 months to 26.03 ± 53.90 ng/ml. d-DSA developed in 27.3% and 6.7% patients of vitamin D-deficient patients (levels <31 ng/ml) and non-deficient (levels ≥20 ng/ml) patients respectively (P < 0.042). Low VDR activity at 3 months posttransplant was associated with significantly higher d-DSA positivity (33.3%) as compared to the group with normal VDR activity where d-DSA developed only in 5.9% of patients (P < 0.009). Patients with vitamin D levels <20 ng/ml and the group with low VDR activity at 3 months had significantly less e-GFR at 1 year after transplant. Conclusion: d-DSA was associated with vitamin D deficiency and low VDR activity with decreased graft GFR at 12 months posttransplant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitamin-D has immuno-modulatory properties besides its role in mineral and bone disorder (MBD) and could have a role in allograft outcome. Fifty-two chronic kidney disease patients on dialysis going for transplantation were prospectively studied before and after renal transplantation. FGF23, 25(OH) vitamin D, 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D, PTH, serum Ca, serum PO4, and e-GFR status were evaluated. Vitamin D deficiency was seen in 25.0% of recipients before transplant (26.09 ± 12.19 ng/mL) and in 48.1% at 6 months post-transplant (23.36 ± 15.11 ng/mL). 1,25-(OH)2D levels before transplant were 102.37 ± 108.44 pmol/L, which were less than control (143.30 ± 108.0 pmol/L) and decreased further to 46.20 ± 42.11 pmol/mL at 3 months and started increasing to 78.37 ± 60.12 pmol/mL at 6 months post-transplantation without vitamin D supplementation. The prevalence of hypophosphatemia after transplantation was 32.0%, hyperkalemia was 12.0%, elevated intact PTH levels at 3 and 6 months after transplant were seen in 66.7% and 30.8% patients, respectively. FGF-23 levels were high in 72.5% of patients before transplant (495.94 ± 690.68 pg/mL) and decreased to normal levels at 3 months post-transplant (31.63 ± 14.17 pg/m) (control 32.07 ± 9.78 pg/mL). Serum intact PTH levels were 379.54 ± 281.27 pg/mL before transplant and came down to 103.96 ± 68.34 at 3 months and 69.87 ± 116.03 at 6 months post-transplantation. There was trend of higher e-GFR at 1 year post-transplant in patients without vitamin D deficiency (levels ≥30 ng/mL). The dysregulated mineral metabolism continues in post-transplant despite improvement in renal function and normalization of FGF-23. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Various desensitization strategies are used to overcome immunologic barriers such as anti-human leukocyte antigen-donor-specific antibody (HLA-DSA) and anti-ABO blood group incompatibility. Materials and Methods: Three index cases of ABO-incompatible (ABO-i) kidney transplantation from living-related donors are discussed. Each recipient was evaluated by complement-dependent cytotoxicity crossmatch, flow cytometric crossmatch, lysate-based crossmatch, and single-antigen bead Luminex assay and anti-A, B isoagglutinin titer. The desensitization protocol included 500 mg of rituximab, followed by 2–10 sessions of plasmapheresis with basiliximab/antithymocyte globulin induction. Results: Case 1: A patient received the third transplant as ABO-i transplant, with no anti-HLA-DSA. Anti-ABO antibody titers were immunoglobulin M (IgM)/IgG 1:128/1:256. He had successful desensitization to anti-AB titer of <1:2 (IgM/IgG) with excellent outcome. Case 2: At the time of transplant, a patient had no anti-HLA-DSA. ABO titers were reduced to <1:8 (IgM/IgG) from baseline of IgM/IgG 1:128/1:1024 after desensitization. Posttransplant patient had severe acute graft dysfunction within 1 week, with rebound of anti-B titers to (IgM/IgG) 1:128/1:1024. Graft biopsy showed cortical necrosis resulting in graft loss. Case 3: His first ABO-compatible transplant was lost because of de novo anti-HLA-DSA, which developed within 1 week after transplant. The patient underwent the second ABO-i transplant. He also had anti-HLA-DSA against the second donor. Despite desensitization and anti-ABO titers coming down to <1:8, the patient developed severe acute graft dysfunction within 2 weeks, with rebound of anti-HLA-DSA antibody (titers increased >11000) resulting in graft loss. Conclusions: Careful evaluation of immunological barriers before ABO-i transplantation should be done, especially when both anti-HLA and ABO sensitization are present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The objectives of this pilot study were to assess the efficacy and safety of an interferon-free sofosbuvir and ribavirin combination regimen to treat chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in kidney transplant recipients and to study the impact of sofosbuvir on calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) drug levels. Methods A total of 10 kidney transplant recipients with chronic HCV infection were included in the study. All received sofosbuvir and ribavirin combination therapy. The virological response to therapy and the adverse effects of the drugs were studied. The area under the curve (AUC) and pharmacokinetic data of levels of CNI were compared while the patients were receiving sofosbuvir and ribavirin drugs and when they were no longer on these drugs. Results In all, 9 of 10 patients (90%) achieved rapid virological response (RVR) with undetectable HCV RNA at 4 weeks and the remaining patient achieved undetectable HCV RNA at 8 weeks. A sustained virological response was seen at 3, 6 and 12 months and was maintained in all 10 patients (100%). The important aspect of the study is the effect of treatment with the sofosbuvir–ribavirin combination regimen on the CNI AUC levels, which resulted in a reduction in the CNI AUC. While used as part of triple-drug immunosuppression, no change in the dose of CNI (tacrolimus and cyclosporine) was required based on measurement of C0 levels. Conclusions The sofosbuvir and ribavirin combination therapy is effective and safe to treat HCV infection in the post-renal transplant setting. There is a need for close CNI level monitoring while these patients are on sofosbuvir therapy. With therapy and viral clearance, there could be reduction in CNI levels due to increased clearance of CNI drugs, which is shown by the AUC measurements. This could be important for patients at high risk for rejection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]