Increased Mortality Among Renal Transplant Patients With Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillus Infection

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 349-353 ◽  
Author(s):  
Baran Balcan ◽  
Umit Ozcelik ◽  
Aylin Ozsancakli Ugurlu ◽  
Mehtap Aydin ◽  
Serdar Nalcaci ◽  
...  

Introduction: Renal transplantation is the most effective and preferred definite treatment option in patients with end-stage renal disease. Due to long-term immunesuppressive treatment, renal transplant recipients become vulnerable to opportunistic infections, especially to fungal infections. Method: This was a single-center, retrospective observational study of 438 patients who underwent renal transplantation between 2010 and 2016. Results: Thirty-eight renal transplant recipients who had lower respiratory tract infection with median age of 41.5 years were evaluated for invasive pulmonary aspergillus (IPA). Of these, 52.6% were female and 84.2% had living donors. Eleven of 38 lower respiratory patients were found to have IPA infection, 5 with proven infection. Compared to patients who did not have fungal pulmonary infection, patients with invasive aspergillus were older and had high fever, galactomannan levels, and leukocyte counts. Mortality was also higher in those patients. Having fever at the baseline and IPA infection was significantly associated with mortality in univariate analysis and remained related in multivariate model after adjustment for age, gender, and fever. Conclusion: Invasive pulmonary aspergillus infection is highly associated with increased mortality rates in renal transplant patients. Fungal pulmonary infections in immune-suppressed patients should be diagnosed and treated immediately in order to avoid the life-threatening complications and may greatly improve prognosis.

2020 ◽  
Vol 154 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S118-S118
Author(s):  
Y Chen Wongworawat ◽  
C Zuppan

Abstract Introduction/Objective Human BK polyomavirus nephropathy (BKVN) occurs in up to 10% of renal transplant recipients, and can result in graft loss. Transplant biopsy is the gold standard to diagnose BKVN, and SV40 immunohistochemical (IHC) staining is helpful in confirming the diagnosis. BKVN is uncommon outside the setting of renal transplantation. To understand more about its occurrence in other contexts, we reviewed our renal biopsies files for cases of BKVN. Methods Our renal biopsy files for the past 20 years were reviewed for all cases with a diagnosis of BKVN or polyoma virus infection, and the clinical characteristics of the affected patients noted. Results Evidence of BKVN was found in 44 renal biopsies, of which 39 (86%) were renal transplant patients. Of the remaining five patients (14%), two had undergone heart transplantation, one lung transplantation, one was undergoing chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and one patient had active HIV infection. All patients had elevated serum creatinine, and four out of five patients had documented BK viremia. Four of the five biopsies showed typical tubular injury with viral nuclear cytopathic changes (inclusions). In the lung transplant patient, the biopsy showed advanced chronic tubulointerstitial injury without distinct viral inclusions, but SV40 staining confirmed the presence of BK virus antigen. Conclusion The BKVN is distinctly uncommon outside the context of kidney transplantation. In our series, 14% of patients with BKVN were not kidney transplant recipients, but all were immune compromised in some fashion. The pathologic features of BKVN appear similar, regardless of whether the host is a renal transplant recipient or not. Although uncommon, it is important to consider the possibility of BKVN in non-renal transplant patients with persistent or progressive renal dysfunction.


Author(s):  
Pradeep Vittal Bhagwat ◽  
R. Rajagopal ◽  
P. S. Murthy ◽  
R. S. V. Kumar

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> Chronic renal failure is becoming common entity with increased incidence of diabetes mellitus and resulting diabetic nephropathy. With the availability of renal transplantation services in many centers, increased availability of donors, improved surgical technique and availability of better drugs, the survival of renal transplant recipients has increased. The objective of the study was to study the cutaneous manifestations in renal transplant recipients.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> Fifty consenting, consecutive renal transplant recipients attending the OPD and in-patients at Command Hospital Air Force, Bangalore during July 2001 to March 2003 were included in the study. Detailed history was taken and clinical examination was carried out with special emphasis on the Dermatological examination. Relevant investigations were carried out.<strong></strong></p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> A total of 50 renal transplant recipients were studied of which 42 (84%) were males and 8 (16%) were females. The age of patients ranged from 16 years to 60 years. Infections were the most common finding, encountered in 38 (76%) patients, followed by drug induced manifestations in 24 (48%) patients. Cellulitis was noted in 1 (2%) patient, viral infections were seen in 18 (36%) patients, fungal infection was the commonest in this study, encountered in 38 (76%) patients. Monomorphic acne was seen in 13 (26%) patients. Hypertrichosis/hirsutism were the commonest drug induced manifestation in this study, seen in 16 (32%) patients.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> In patients with renal transplantation, superficial fungal infections and viral infections of the skin are seen more commonly. Monomorphic acne and hypertrichosis due to immunosuppressive are also seen frequently. These changes are moderately influenced by the immunosuppressive regimen used.</p>


1993 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 545-549 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathleen M. Tornatore ◽  
J. Joseph Walshe ◽  
Kris A. Reed ◽  
Mark T. Holdsworth ◽  
Rocco C. Venuto

OBJECTIVE: To assess the pharmacokinetics of chronic methylprednisolone therapy in renal transplant patients receiving double-drug (methylprednisolone and azathioprine) and triple-drug (methylprednisolone, azathioprine, and cyclosporine) immunosuppression. DESIGN: Parallel, randomized trial. PATIENTS: Fourteen renal transplant recipients (aged 29–65 y) evaluated in a public, university-affiliated hospital clinic. INTERVENTIONS: All patients received their chronic oral dose of methylprednisolone via a 10–20-minute intravenous infusion. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Serum methylprednisolone concentrations were determined by HPLC and were used to generate pharmacokinetic parameters for this drug. RESULTS: The mean daily methylprednisolone dosage was 19 ± 19 mg in the double-drug group and 9 ± 2 mg in the triple-drug group. Mean serum creatinine concentrations were 124 ± 44 and 124 ± 27 μmol/L, respectively. Mean methylprednisolone clearances were similar in both groups: 405 ± 205 (double-drug) and 373 ± 365 mL/h/kg (triple-drug) (p>0.05). Mean steady-state volume of distribution was 1.5 ± 0.8 L/kg in the double-drug group and 1.3 ± 0.8 L/kg in the triple-drug group (p>0.05). Plasma half-life ranged from 1.7 to 4.3 h (mean 2.7) in the double-drug group versus 1.4 to 3.4 h (mean 2.6) in the triple-drug group (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that cyclosporine had no definitive influence on methylprednisolone disposition. The results reveal a wide variation in methylprednisolone metabolism in renal transplant recipients receiving either a double- or triple-drug immunosuppressive regimen. Typically, methylprednisolone is prescribed according to a standardized dosing protocol that assumes minimal interpatient variation. Therefore, the pharmacokinetic variability noted in this study may have important clinical implications regarding the development of chronic toxicity (e.g., osteoporosis, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal suppression) and the attainment of successful immunosuppression.


2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (Supplement_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anupma Kaul ◽  
Dharmendra Bhaduria ◽  
Narayan Prasad ◽  
Amit Gupta

Abstract Background and Aims Rituximab is an anti CD 20 agent used widely in renal transplant recipients. Its use is associated with various infections;however, its association with Tuberculosis (TB) is not well established and has not been studied in post renal transplantation patients. Method This is a single centre, retrospective analysis of 56 renal transplant recipients who received rituximab for various reasons and 287 post renal transplant patients who did not receive rituximab during the study period from January 2013 to June 2017. The association between use of rituximab and incidence of TB was studied. Other factors associated with tuberculosis were also investigated. Results Baseline characteristics were similar in both the groups. Mean time for occurrence of TB was 18.4 + 10.6 months after renal transplantation. Rituximab use was not significantly associated with tuberculosis or any other infection. Higher number of rejection episodes (60% vs 32.72%, p=0.029) was the only factor associated with greater incidence of TB. However, no specific type of rejection was associated with tuberculosis. Use of plasmapheresis in post transplant period for treatment of humoral rejections was associated with significantly higher incidence of TB (33.33% vs 13.41%, p=0.031), however when pre- transplant plasmapheresis was also considered, there was no significant difference. The choice of induction agent was not associated with higher incidence of TB. Conclusion Use of rituximab is not associated with higher incidence of TB when compared to other immunosuppressive agents. Routine screening and prophylaxis may not be advisable especially in a country like India with high prevalence of TB; as it will further delay transplantation and may adversely affect the outcome of the patients.


2004 ◽  
Vol 107 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
David GOLDSMITH ◽  
Elizabeth A. CARREY ◽  
Stephen EDBURY ◽  
Ryszard T. SMOLENSKI ◽  
Piotr. JAGODZINSKI ◽  
...  

The immunosuppressant MMF (mycophenolate mofetil) has increasingly replaced AZA (azathioprine) in renal transplantation. MMF is a prodrug of MPA (mycophenolic acid), which inhibits lymphocyte IMPDH (inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase), thereby drastically decreasing GTP concentrations essential to lymphocyte proliferation in vitro and in vivo. Erythrocyte GTP concentrations are commonly elevated in severe renal disease, but normalize following successful engraftment. Consequently, elevated GTP in renal transplant recipients might signal impending loss of immunosuppression and graft failure. In the present study, we compared erythrocyte nucleotides and plasma metabolites in two groups of 25 patients after renal transplantation, both receiving prednisolone and cyclosporin A, but one group receiving MMF and the other AZA. No patients had recent allograft biopsy evidence of rejection. Erythrocyte GTP concentrations at MMF commencement were 50.4±23.4 μmol/l. An increase occurred during the first 3 months after transplant when MMF was used de novo, stabilizing at 146.7±62.9 μmol/l after 4 months. This was significantly higher (P=2.5×10−6) than erythrocyte GTP (40.4±15.9 μmol/l) in the AZA group, which was essentially unchanged from values immediately after successful transplantation. The effect of MMF on erythrocyte GTP levels was reversible, since GTP levels fell when MMF therapy was terminated. The results demonstrate paradoxically high GTP concentrations in erythrocytes of renal transplant patients receiving MMF. MPA may stabilize reticulocyte IMPDH, allowing the protein to persist during erythropoiesis. This behaviour is in marked contrast with the decrease in GTP levels seen in white blood cells of patients on chronic MMF therapy.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (8) ◽  
pp. 2976
Author(s):  
Mengyu Zhang ◽  
Soichiro Tajima ◽  
Tomohiro Shigematsu ◽  
Rao Fu ◽  
Hiroshi Noguchi ◽  
...  

CYP3A5 gene polymorphism in recipients plays an important role in tacrolimus blood pharmacokinetics after renal transplantation. Even though CYP3A5 protein is expressed in renal tubular cells, little is known about the influence on the tacrolimus intrarenal exposure and hence graft outcome. The aim of our study was to investigate how the tacrolimus intrarenal concentration (Ctissue) could be predicted based on donor CYP3A5 gene polymorphism in renal transplant recipients. A total of 52 Japanese renal transplant patients receiving tacrolimus were enrolled in this study. Seventy-four renal biopsy specimens were obtained at 3 months and 1 year after transplantation to determine the donor CYP3A5 polymorphism and measure the Ctissue by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS). The tacrolimus Ctissue ranged from 52 to 399 pg/mg tissue (n = 74) and was weak but significantly correlated with tacrolimus trough concentration (C0) at 3 months after transplantation (Spearman, r = 0.3560, p = 0.0096). No significant relationship was observed between the donor CYP3A5 gene polymorphism and Ctissue or Ctissue/C0. These data showed that the tacrolimus systemic level has an impact on tacrolimus renal accumulation after renal transplantation. However, donor CYP3A5 gene polymorphism alone cannot be used to predict tacrolimus intrarenal exposure. This study may be valuable for exploring tacrolimus renal metabolism and toxicology mechanism in renal transplant recipients.


2008 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. VRT.S920 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Seale ◽  
D.E. Dwyer ◽  
J.R. Chapman ◽  
C.R. MacIntyre

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a significant pathogen causing disease in renal transplant patients. The highest incidence of CMV disease occurs during the first 3 months post-transplant and is most problematic in CMV-naïve transplant recipients. In this study, we conducted a retrospective review of two databases, the Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant Registry (ANZDATA) and the National Hospital Morbidity Database, from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), to examine CMV in renal transplant recipients. The first source looked at CMV serostatus at the time of transplantation and the second recorded hospital admissions for recipients with invasive CMV disease. From the ANZDATA registry, we obtained information from 13,530 renal transplants recipients from 1980 to 2004. Of these recipients, 7808 had a known CMV serostatus, of which 65.7% (5134/7808) had a positive sero antibody status and 34.2% (2674/7808) had a negative sero antibody status. In univariate analysis, factors significantly associated with renal rejection were being male, recipient age <50 years, being diabetic, being diagnosed with cancer at some point and having a positive EBV status. Positive CMV serostatus was not a contributing factor. Between 1993 and 2001 there were 1445 renal transplant recipients hospitalized in Australia with a diagnosis of CMV disease, of which 38% (554/1445) had CMV disease as a principal diagnoses. The average annual rate of admissions with any diagnosis was 3871 episodes per 100,000 people living with a functioning graft. Preventative strategies for CMV in renal transplant recipients should be a priority. New vaccines for CMV may soon be available and renal transplant recipients would be a suitable target group for vaccination.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 7747-7753
Author(s):  
Sireen Shilbayeh ◽  
Rawan ALBalawi ◽  
Munirah Alhajri ◽  
Hawazan Alkhammash ◽  
Maha Almarhoum ◽  
...  

Renal transplant patients show a high incidence of anemia, which is often responsible for cardiovascular morbidity and graft rejection. Anemia reportedly impacts the health-related quality of life (HRQoL); however, only a limited number of related studies have been conducted on renal transplant recipients. In this study, we estimated the prevalence of anemia and its effects on QoL of renal transplant patients in Saudi Arabia. Seventy-four patients were recruited in this study. They were asked to fill a self-reported EuroQoL instrument (EQ-5D-5L). Anemia and severe anemia were de????ined as Hgb < 12 g/dL and Hgb < 10 g/dL, respectively. Of the 74 recruited patients, 53 patients (71.6%) were anemic. Around 33.7% patients were reported to be completely healthy, with a 5-digit of 11111. With respect to EQ-5D-5L, the responses of anemic and non-anemic patients did not differ significantly. However, the response to anxiety-related questions for patients belonging to severe and mild-to-moderate anemia groups differed significantly. The final multivariate logistic model analysis revealed that the female gender of patient was significantly associated with incidence of anemia postoperatively [OR: 6.72, 95% CI: 1.7 - 25.6, P-value = 0.000]. Interestingly, our findings revealed a higher prevalence of anemia among the Saudi kidney patients compared to those of other nations. Furthermore, multicentric prospective studies are warranted to elucidate other clinical factors and the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms.


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