Viral endomyocardial infection in the 1st year post transplant is associated with persistent inflammation in children who have undergone cardiac transplant

2013 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 331-336
Author(s):  
Kimberly Molina ◽  
Susan Denfield ◽  
Yuxin Fan ◽  
Mousumi Moulik ◽  
Jeffrey Towbin ◽  
...  

AbstractBackground: Viral genome in cardiac allograft has been associated with early graft loss in children who have undergone cardiac transplant from unknown mechanisms. Methods: This study is a retrospective review of children who have undergone cardiac transplant at a single institution from 1/2004 to 5/2008. Patients underwent cardiac catheterisations with endomyocardial biopsies to evaluate for rejection – graded on Texas Heart Institute scale – and the presence of virus by polymerase chain reaction. Patients with virus identified during the first year post transplant were compared at 1 year post transplant with virus-free patients. Results: The cohort comprised 59 patients, and the median age at transplant was 5.1 years. Viral genomes were isolated from 18 (31%) patients. The PCR + group had increased inflammation on endomyocardial biopsies, with a median score of 4 (ISHLT IR) versus 1 (ISHLT 1R) in the PCR – group (p = 0.014). The PCR + group had a similar cardiac index (median 3.7 ml/min/m2), pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (median 10 mmHg), and pulmonary vascular resistance index (median 1.7 U m2) comparatively. PCR + patients were more likely to have experienced an episode of rejection (p = 0.004). Conclusions: Children who developed viral endomyocardial infections after a cardiac transplant have increased allograft inflammation compared with virus-free patients. However, the haemodynamic profile is similar between the groups. The ongoing subclinical inflammation may contribute to the early graft loss associated with these patients.

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (7) ◽  
pp. 910-916
Author(s):  
Patrick D. Evers ◽  
Neal Jorgensen ◽  
Borah Hong ◽  
Erin Albers ◽  
Mariska Kemna ◽  
...  

AbstractBackground:Significant inter-centre variability in the intensity of endomyocardial biopsy surveillance for rejection following paediatric cardiac transplantation has been reported. Our aim was to determine if low-intensity biopsy surveillance with two scheduled biopsies in the first year would produce outcomes similar to published registry outcomes.Methods:A retrospective study of paediatric recipients transplanted between 2008 and 2014 using a low-intensity biopsy protocol consisting of two surveillance biopsies at 3 and 12–13 months in the first post-transplant year, then annually thereafter. Additional biopsies were performed based on echocardiographic and clinical surveillance. Excluded were recipients that were re-transplanted or multi-organ transplanted or were followed at another institution.Results:A total of 81 recipients in the first 13 months after transplant underwent an average of 2 (SD ± 1.3) biopsies, 24 ± 6.8 echocardiograms, and 17 ± 4.4 clinic visits per recipient. During the 13-month period, 19 recipients had 24 treated rejection episodes, with the first at an average of 2.8 months post-transplant. The 3-, 12-, 36-, and 60-month conditional on discharge graft survival were 100%, 98.8%, 98.8%, and 90.4%, respectively, comparable to reported figures in major paediatric registries. At a mean follow-up of 4.7 ± 2.1 years, four patients (4.9%) developed cardiac allograft vasculopathy, three (3.7%) developed a malignancy, and seven (8.6%) suffered graft loss.Conclusion:Rejection surveillance with a low-intensity biopsy protocol demonstrated similar intermediate-term outcomes and safety measures as international registries up to 5 years post-transplant.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mihai Oltean ◽  
Christian Barrenäs ◽  
Paulo Ney Martins ◽  
Gustaf Herlenius ◽  
Bengt Gustafsson ◽  
...  

Background.Exogenous bilirubin may reduce experimental ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) due to its antioxidant properties. We studied if early graft exposure to high bilirubin levels in the recipient affects the early IRI and outcomes after liver transplantation (LTx).Methods.In 427 LTx patients, the AUROC curve based on bilirubin and AST at day 1 identified a cutoff of 2.04 mg/dL for the recipient pretransplant bilirubin. Recipients were grouped as having low (group L,n=152) or high (group H,n=275) bilirubin. Both groups had similar donor-related variables (age, preservation time, donor BMI > 28, and donor risk index (DRI)).Results.Alanine (ALT) and aspartate (AST) aminotransferase levels were higher in group L at day 1; ALT levels remained higher at day 2 in group L. LTx from high risk donors (DRI > 2) revealed a trend towards lower transaminases during the first two days after transplantation in group H. One month and 1-year patient survival were similar in groups L and H. High preoperative bilirubin did not affect the risk for early graft dysfunction (EGD), death, or graft loss during the first year after transplantation nor the incidence of acute rejection. LTx using donors with DRI > 2 resulted in similar rates of EGD in both groups.Conclusion.Increased bilirubin appears to reduce the early IRI after LTx yet this improvement was insufficient to improve the clinical outcome.


2021 ◽  
Vol 36 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rita Leal ◽  
Clara Pardinhas ◽  
Luís Rodrigues ◽  
Maria Guedes Marques ◽  
Lidia Santos ◽  
...  

Abstract Background and Aims Kidney retransplantation confers a robust survival benefit over dialysis in selected patients and recent data has shown second graft outcomes similar to those of a first graft. However, the management of these patients is challenging, particularly due to allosensitization and an increased risk of acute rejection, which are related with poorer graft survival. The recognition of risk factors to acute rejection, dependent on the first and second graft, might help us to personalize standard care and achieve similar graft survival rates to patients with a first transplant. Our aim was to identify risk factors to second graft acute rejection, and the impact of acute rejection in graft failure. Method We performed a retrospective, longitudinal study including all patients submitted to a second kidney transplant between January 2008 and December 2019, excluding patients with more than 2 grafts or multi-organ transplant. Demographic, clinical and histocompatibility data from the donor and receptor were collected from our unit database. Delayed graft function was defined as the need of dialysis in the first week post-transplant. All acute rejection episodes were biopsy proven, according to Banff 2017 criteria. Follow-up was defined at 1st June 2020 for functioning grafts or at graft failure, with a mean time of 94±42 months. Results We included 109 patients of which 70 males (64%), mostly Caucasian (97%), with a mean age of 43±12 years at second kidney transplant. The main causes of end stage renal disease were glomerular disease (37%), undetermined cause (34%), and urological pathology (15%). First kidney transplant was performed before the year 2010 in 95 patients (87%). The median time of first graft survival was 75 months (IQR 58.5-91.4) and the main causes of first graft loss were chronic allograft nephropathy (N=62, 70.5%) and 11 patients (12.5%) presented primary disfunction due to surgical/vascular complications. During follow-up, 20 patients (18%) presented biopsy proven acute rejection: 3 patients borderline changes, 10 patients T cell mediated and 7 patients antibody mediated, the majority during the first-year post-transplant (N=17, 85%). The risk factors for second graft rejection are summarized in table 1. First year graft survival of the second transplant was 90% and survival at follow up was 72.5% (N=79). Acute rejection was an important risk factor for graft loss (OR 6.548 (95%CI[2.292 - 18.703]), p<0.01). Conclusion Worst outcomes in first kidney transplant, such as acute rejection, primary dysfunction and lower graft survival were related with an increased risk of acute rejection in second graft outcomes, and consequently a higher risk of graft failure.


2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (12) ◽  
pp. 2887-2899 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tracey Ying ◽  
Bree Shi ◽  
Patrick J. Kelly ◽  
Helen Pilmore ◽  
Philip A. Clayton ◽  
...  

BackgroundMortality risk after kidney transplantation can vary significantly during the post-transplant course. A contemporary assessment of trends in all-cause and cause-specific mortality at different periods post-transplant is required to better inform patients, clinicians, researchers, and policy makers.MethodsWe included all first kidney-only transplant recipients from 1980 through 2018 from the Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant Registry. We compared adjusted death rates per 5-year intervals, using a piecewise exponential survival model, stratified by time post-transplant or time post–graft failure.ResultsOf 23,210 recipients, 4765 died with a functioning graft. Risk of death declined over successive eras, at all periods post-transplant. Reductions in early deaths were most marked; however, recipients ≥10 years post-transplant were 20% less likely to die in the current era compared with preceding eras (2015–2018 versus 2005–2009, adjusted hazard ratio, 0.80; 95% confidence interval, 0.69 to 0.90). In 2015–2018, cardiovascular disease was the most common cause of death, particularly in months 0–3 post-transplant (1.18 per 100 patient-years). Cancer deaths were rare early post-transplant, but frequent at later time points (0.93 per 100 patient-years ≥10 years post-transplant). Among 3657 patients with first graft loss, 2472 died and were not retransplanted. Death was common in the first year after graft failure, and the cause was most commonly cardiovascular (50%).ConclusionsReductions in death early and late post-transplant over the past 40 years represent a major achievement. Reductions in cause-specific mortality at all time points post-transplant are also apparent. However, relatively greater reductions in cardiovascular death have increased the prominence of late cancer deaths.


Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 351
Author(s):  
Baptiste Demey ◽  
Véronique Descamps ◽  
Claire Presne ◽  
Francois Helle ◽  
Catherine Francois ◽  
...  

Background: Kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) are exposed to a high risk of BK polyomavirus (BKPyV) replication, which in turn may lead to graft loss. Although the microRNAs (miRNAs) bkv-miR-B1-3p and bkv-miR-B1-5p are produced during the viral cycle, their putative value as markers of viral replication has yet to be established. In KTRs, the clinical relevance of the changes over time in BKPyV miRNA levels has not been determined. Methods: In a retrospective study, we analyzed 186 urine samples and 120 plasma samples collected from 67 KTRs during the first year post-transplantation. Using a reproducible, standardized, quantitative RT-PCR assay, we measured the levels of bkv-miR-B1-3p and bkv-miR-B1-5p (relative to the BKPyV DNA load). Results: Detection of the two miRNAs had low diagnostic value for identifying patients with DNAemia or for predicting DNAuria during follow-up. Seven of the 14 KTRs with a sustained BKPyV infection within the first year post-transplantation showed a progressive reduction in the DNA load and then a rapid disappearance of the miRNAs. DNA and miRNA loads were stable in the other seven KTRs. Conclusions: After the DNA-based diagnosis of BKPyV infection in KTRs, bkv-miR-B1-3p and bkv-miR-B1-5p levels in the urine might be valuable markers for viral replication monitoring and thus might help physicians to avoid an excessive reduction in the immunosuppressive regimen.


2005 ◽  
Vol 5 (12) ◽  
pp. 2922-2928 ◽  
Author(s):  
Didier Ducloux ◽  
Amir Kazory ◽  
Dominique Simula-Faivre ◽  
Jean-Marc Chalopin

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristin Hjorthaug Urstad ◽  
Astrid Klopstad Wahl ◽  
Torbjørn Moum ◽  
Eivind Engebretsen ◽  
Marit Helen Andersen

Abstract Background Following an implementation plan based on dynamic dialogue between researchers and clinicians, this study implemented an evidence-based patient education program (tested in an RCT) into routine care at a clinical transplant center. The aim of this study was to investigate renal recipients’ knowledge and self-efficacy during first year the after the intervention was provided in an everyday life setting. Methods The study has a longitudinal design. The sample consisted of 196 renal recipients. Measurement points were 5 days (baseline), 2 months (T1), 6 months (T2), and one-year post transplantation (T3). Outcome measures were post-transplant knowledge, self-efficacy, and self-perceived general health. Results No statistically significant changes were found from baseline to T1, T2, and T3. Participants’ levels of knowledge and self-efficacy were high prior to the education program and did not change throughout the first year post transplantation. Conclusion Renal recipients self-efficacy and insight in post-transplant aspects seem to be more robust when admitted to the hospital for transplantation compared to baseline observations in the RCT study. This may explain why the implemented educational intervention did not lead to the same positive increase in outcome measures as in the RCT. This study supports that replicating clinical interventions in real-life settings may provide different results compared to results from RCT’s. In order to gain a complete picture of the impacts of an implemented intervention, it is vital also to evaluate results after implementing findings from RCT-studies into everyday practice.


2021 ◽  
Vol 36 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Clara Pardinhas ◽  
Rita Leal ◽  
Francisco Caramelo ◽  
Teofilo Yan ◽  
Carolina Figueiredo ◽  
...  

Abstract Background and Aims As kidney transplants are growing in absolute numbers, so are patients with failed allografts and thus potential candidates for re-transplantation. Re-transplantation is challenging due to immunological barriers, surgical difficulties and clinical complexities but it has been proven that successful second transplantation improves life expectancy over dialysis. It is important to evaluate re-transplantation outcomes since 20% of patients on the waiting list are waiting for a second graft. Our aim was to compare major clinical outcomes such as acute rejection, graft and patient survival, between patients receiving a first or a second kidney transplant. Method We performed a retrospective study, that included 1552 patients submitted to a first (N=1443, 93%) or a second kidney transplant (N=109, 7%), between January 2008 and December 2018. Patients with more than 2 grafts or multi-organ transplant were excluded. Demographic, clinical and histocompatibility characteristics of both groups were registered from our unit database and compared. Delayed graft function was defined has the need of dialysis in the first week post-transplant. All acute rejection episodes were biopsy proven, according to Banff 2017 criteria. Follow-up time was defined at 1st June 2020 for functioning grafts or at graft failure (including death with a functioning graft). Results Recipients of a second graft were significantly younger (43 ±12 vs 50 ± 13 years old, p<0.001) and there were significantly fewer expanded-criteria donors in the second transplant group (31.5% vs 57.5%, p<0.001). The waiting time for a second graft was longer (63±50 vs 48±29 months, p=0.011). HLA mismatch was similar for both groups but PRA was significantly higher for second KT patients (21.6±25% versus 3±9%; p<0.001). All patients submitted to a second KT had thymoglobulin as induction therapy compared to 16% of the first KT group (p<0.001). We found no difference in primary dysfunction or delayed graft function between groups. Acute rejection was significantly more frequent in second kidney transplant recipients (19% vs 5%, p<0.001), being 10 acute cellular rejections, 7 were antibody mediated and 3 were borderline changes. For the majority of the patients (85%), acute rejection occurred in the first-year post-transplant. Death censored graft failure occurred in 236 (16.4%) patients with first kidney transplant and 25 (23%) patients with a second graft, p=0.08. Survival analysis showed similar graft survival for both groups (log-rank p=0.392). We found no difference in patients’ mortality at follow up for both groups. Conclusion Although second graft patients presented more episodes of biopsy proven acute rejection, especially at the first-year post-transplant, we found no differences in death censored graft survival or patients’ mortality for patients with a second kidney transplant. Second transplants should be offered to patients whenever feasible.


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