scholarly journals Effects of Rituximab on the Development of Viral and Fungal Infections in Renal Transplant Recipients

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samir J. Patel ◽  
Jennifer M. Devos ◽  
Richard J. Knight ◽  
Kyle L. Dawson ◽  
Wadi N. Suki ◽  
...  

Background. Rituximab is becoming increasingly utilized in renal transplant recipients; however, its association with infections remains unclear. Methods. We reviewed the incidence of viral and fungal infections in kidney transplant recipients treated with () or without () rituximab (RTX) in addition to standard immunosuppression. Results. Infections occurred in 134 (30%) patients, with a greater proportion in RTX versus no RTX patients (47% versus 28%; ). Viral infections occurred in 44% and 27% of RTX and no RTX patients, respectively (). This was largely driven by the frequency of BK viremia and noncytomegalovirus/non-BK viruses in RTX patients (27% versus 13% () and 15% versus 2% (), resp.). Fungal infections also occurred more often in RTX patients (11% versus 3 %; ). Multivariate analysis revealed deceased donor recipient (odds ratio = 2.5; ) and rituximab exposure (odds ratio = 2.2; ) as independent risk factors for infection. Older patients, deceased donor recipients, those on dialysis longer, and those with delayed graft function tended to be at a greater risk for infections following rituximab. Conclusions. Rituximab is associated with an increased incidence of viral and fungal infections in kidney transplantation. Additional preventative measures and/or monitoring infectious complications may be warranted in those receiving rituximab.

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>


2019 ◽  
Vol 103 (9) ◽  
pp. e273-e280 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jana Haller ◽  
Caroline Wehmeier ◽  
Gideon Hönger ◽  
Patricia Hirt-Minkowski ◽  
Lorenz Gürke ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ihab A. Ibrahim ◽  
Ehab A. Hassan ◽  
Abdelrahman M. Alkhan ◽  
Mohamed A. Hussein ◽  
Ahmed F. Alhabashi ◽  
...  

Background. Fasting during the lunar month of Ramadan is mandatory to all healthy adult Muslims. Renal transplant recipients are often worried about the impact of fluid and electrolyte deprivation during fasting on the function of their allograft. We aimed to examine the effect of fasting Ramadan on the graft function in renal transplant recipients. Methods. This retrospective cohort study included patients who underwent kidney transplantation in our tertiary referral center. Baseline pre-Ramadan estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and urinary protein excretion were compared to those during and after Ramadan within and between the fasting and non-fasting groups. Results. The study population included 280 kidney transplant recipients who chose to fast during the Ramadan month (June-July 2014) and 285 recipients who did not fast. In the fasting group, baseline eGFR did not change from that during or post-Ramadan (72.6±23.7 versus 72.3±24.5 mL/min/1.73 m2, P=0.53; and 72.6±23.7 versus 72±23.2 mL/min/1.73 m2, P=0.14, respectively). Compared to baseline, there were no significant differences between the fasting and the non-fasting groups in terms of mean percent changes in eGFR, MAP, and urinary protein excretion. Conclusion. Fasting during the month of Ramadan did not have significant adverse effects on renal allograft function.


2021 ◽  
Vol 32 (12) ◽  
pp. 3252-3264
Author(s):  
Klemens Budde ◽  
Rohini Prashar ◽  
Hermann Haller ◽  
Maria C. Rial ◽  
Nassim Kamar ◽  
...  

BackgroundCalcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) are standard of care after kidney transplantation, but they are associated with nephrotoxicity and reduced long-term graft survival. Belatacept, a selective T cell costimulation blocker, is approved for the prophylaxis of kidney transplant rejection. This phase 3 trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of conversion from CNI-based to belatacept-based maintenance immunosuppression in kidney transplant recipients.MethodsStable adult kidney transplant recipients 6–60 months post-transplantation under CNI-based immunosuppression were randomized (1:1) to switch to belatacept or continue treatment with their established CNI. The primary end point was the percentage of patients surviving with a functioning graft at 24 months.ResultsOverall, 446 renal transplant recipients were randomized to belatacept conversion (n=223) or CNI continuation (n=223). The 24-month rates of survival with graft function were 98% and 97% in the belatacept and CNI groups, respectively (adjusted difference, 0.8; 95.1% CI, −2.1 to 3.7). In the belatacept conversion versus CNI continuation groups, 8% versus 4% of patients experienced biopsy-proven acute rejection (BPAR), respectively, and 1% versus 7% developed de novo donor-specific antibodies (dnDSAs), respectively. The 24-month eGFR was higher with belatacept (55.5 versus 48.5 ml/min per 1.73 m2 with CNI). Both groups had similar rates of serious adverse events, infections, and discontinuations, with no unexpected adverse events. One patient in the belatacept group had post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder.ConclusionsSwitching stable renal transplant recipients from CNI-based to belatacept-based immunosuppression was associated with a similar rate of death or graft loss, improved renal function, and a numerically higher BPAR rate but a lower incidence of dnDSA.Clinical Trial registry name and registration number: A Study in Maintenance Kidney Transplant Recipients Following Conversion to Nulojix® (Belatacept)-Based, NCT01820572


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eman H. Ibrahim ◽  
Mostafa G. Aly ◽  
Gerhard Opelz ◽  
Christian Morath ◽  
Martin Zeier ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The Identification of B cell subsets with regulatory functions might open the way to new therapeutic strategies in the field of transplantation, which aim to reduce the dose of immunosuppressive drugs and prolong the graft survival. CD25 was proposed as a marker of a B-cell subset with an immunosuppressive action termed Bregs. The effect of CD19 + CD25 + Bregs on graft function in renal transplant recipients has not yet been elucidated. We investigated a potential impact of CD19 + CD25 + Bregs on renal graft function as well as a possible interaction of CD19 + CD25 + Bregs with peripheral Tregs in healthy controls, end-stage kidney disease patients (ESKD), and renal transplant recipients. Moreover, we aimed to investigate the association of CD19 + CD25 + Bregs with serum IL-10, TGF-ß1, and IFN-γ in the same study groups. Method Thirty-one healthy controls, ninety renal transplant recipients, and eighteen ESKD patients were enrolled. We evaluated the CD19 + CD25 + Bregs and Treg absolute counts. Next, we investigated CD19 + CD25 + Bregs as predictors of good graft function in multiple regression and ROC analyses. Finally, we evaluated the association between CD19 + CD25+ Bregs and serum IL-10, TGF-ß, and IFN-γ. Results ESKD patients and renal transplant recipients showed lower counts of CD19 + CD25+ Bregs compared to healthy controls (p < 0.001). Higher CD19 + CD25+ Breg counts were independently associated with a better GFR in renal transplant recipients (unstandardized B coefficient = 9, p = 0.02). In these patients, higher CD19 + CD25+ Bregs were independently associated with higher Treg counts (unstandardized B = 2.8, p = 0.004). In ROC analysis, cut-offs for CD19 + CD25 + Breg counts and serum TGF-ß1 of 0.12 cell/μl and 19,635.4 pg/ml, respectively, were shown to provide a good sensitivity and specificity in identifying GFR ≥ 30 ml/min (AUC = 0.67, sensitivity 77%, specificity 43%; AUC = 0.65, sensitivity 81%, specificity 50%, respectively). Finally, a significant positive association between CD19 + CD25+ Bregs and TGF-ß1 was shown in renal transplant recipients (r = 0.255, p = 0.015). Conclusions Our findings indicate that higher counts of CD19 + CD25+ Bregs are independently associated with better renal function and higher absolute Treg counts in renal transplant recipients.


Biology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 709
Author(s):  
Dagmara Szypulska-Koziarska ◽  
Aleksandra Wilk ◽  
Małgorzata Marchelek-Myśliwiec ◽  
Daria Śleboda-Taront ◽  
Barbara Wiszniewska

It is estimated that approximately 20% of couples suffer from infertility worldwide and within renal-transplant recipients, this problem is 10 times more common. An intake of immunosuppressants may lead to hormonal imbalance. The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of tacrolimus-based therapy on the hormonal status of grafted patients. Blood samples were obtained from patients from the Department of Nephrology, Transplantology, and Internal Medicine of Independent Public Clinical Hospital No. 2, Pomeranian Medical University. All 121 patients had stable graft function for over 6 months. The blood plasma concentrations of luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, prolactin, testosterone, estradiol, cortisol were assessed by the electrochemiluminescence method. We observed decreased levels of prolactin (11.9 ng/mL) and cortisol (87.4 μg/mL) in patients under tacrolimus-based therapy. Tacrolimus-based therapy was also associated with increased testosterone and follicle-stimulating hormone in males, 4.04 ng/mL and 6.9 mLU/mL, respectively, and decreased testosterone levels in females, 0.121 ng/mL. We also assessed that immunosuppressive therapy based on tacrolimus is less nephrotoxic in comparison to other regimens. Concluding, tacrolimus-based therapy may influence the hormonal status of transplant recipients in the current study. Results presented here are believed to be helpful for clinicians and patients, especially within the aspect of willingness for biological offspring.


2017 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 381-392 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qinxia Xu ◽  
Xiaoyan Qiu ◽  
Zheng Jiao ◽  
Ming Zhang ◽  
Jianping Chen ◽  
...  

2011 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 20
Author(s):  
Anupama Kaul ◽  
RK Sharma ◽  
Jai Suresh ◽  
Vineeta Agarwal ◽  
R Marakh

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