Therapeutic Effect of Plasmapheresis and Intravenous Immunoglobulin in Recipients of Kidney Transplant With High Panel-reactive Antibody Levels: A Single-center Experience.

OBJECTIVE: High panel-reactive antibody (PRA) levels limit patients' access to kidney transplantation from potential living donor candidates and decrease renal graft survival by causing acute antibody-mediated rejection (AAMR). In this article, we report our experiences about the efficiency of plasmapheresis (PP) and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) in reduction of serum PRA levels in candidates for renal transplantation and in patients with AAMR. METHODS: We examined retrospectively 47 patients with high PRA levels (18 for desensitization (DS) and 29 with AAMR) at Ankara University. The reduction in PRA class 1 and PRA class 2 levels before and after the PP, IVIG, and rituximab or eculizumab therapy were evaluated. RESULTS: In the DS group, mean reduction in PRA class I ± SD was 28.0 ± 9.10 to 22.1 ± 8.14 (P <.05), and mean reduction in PRA class II ± SD was 40.3 ± 6.89 to 32.2 ± 5.68 (P < .05). In the AAMR group; mean reduction in PRA class I ± SD was 23.9 ± 9.56 to 17.8 ± 8.64 (P > .05), and mean reduction in PRA class II ± SD was 28.1 ± 8.37 to 26.7 ± 7.96 (P > .05). In total, mean reduction in PRA class I was 25.7 ± 6.66 to 19.7 ± 6.00 (P < .01). Mean reduction in PRA class II was 33.8 ± 5.93 to 29.2 ± 4.96 (P > .05). In the DS group, 3 (16.7%) patients were treated with rituximab. In the AAMR group, 9 (31.0%) patients were treated with rituximab, and 1 (5.5%) patient received eculizimab.In the DS group, the mean follow-up period in years ± SD was 5.06 ± 3.01 and no patient had graft loss. In the AAMR group, the mean follow-up period in years was 5.06 ± 2.74 and 6 (33.3%) patients had graft loss with acute rejection. CONCLUSIONS: PP and IVIG treatment provide significant reduction in PRA levels and can be used in DS protocols.

Maintenance Immunosuppressive Treatment of Renal Transplant Recipients in the Critical Care Unit.

BACKGROUND: In intensive care unit (ICU), although there is no standard protocol for maintenance of immunosuppressive (IS) treatments for the kidney transplant recipients (KTx), the dose and the number of IS drugs are decreased according to the center's experience. The aim of this study is to evaluate the changes in IS treatment during stays in the ICU and to evaluate the safety and results of this modification on the IS treatment in the ICU arbitrarily. METHOD: We evaluated retrospectively our kidney transplant recipients in ICU between 2012 and 2017. The immunosuppressive protocols and the results were taken from the ICU documents. RESULTS: A total of 31 (18 male, 13 female) patients were suitable for the analysis. They were all under the triple IS protocol including Tacrolimus (Tac) + Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) + steroid before the admission. The reason for ICU admission were severe sepsis in all patients. In ICU, 16 patients (51.6%) died, and a total of 10 patients were lost with functional graft. Change in IS treatment is as follows: a total of the 23 patients (74.2%) were given only steroids, and 8 patients (25.8%) were changed from triple to 2 drugs. Acute kidney injury developed in 42% (13 patients) of the patients in ICU. CONCLUSION: In our study, we observed that life-threatening severe infections were the main cause of ICU admission in KTx. Reduction in IS treatments are common practice, and reduction to a single dose of steroid was the most frequently chosen IS treatment. Eighty percent of patients are discharged with reduction of steroid gradually. None of the patients developed acute rejection and permanent graft injury.

Long-term Results of Kidney Transplantation in Patients With Familial Mediterranean Fever and Amyloidosis.

INTRODUCTION: Amyloid A amyloidosis is most commonly caused by familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) in Turkey. Amyloidosis secondary to FMF is an important cause of end-stage renal failure, and kidney transplantation (KT) in these cases can be complicated, with long-term results oftentimes inferior compared with organ transplant in patients without FMF. The present study aims to show the long-term results of patients with secondary amyloidosis caused by FMF undergoing KT . METHODS: We enrolled 27 patients with a history of FMF amyloidosis undergoing KT and a control group of 614 patients undergoing KT between 2005 and 2018 at Ankara University Medical School. All data were recorded retrospectively from patients files. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients (81.5%) were treated with triple immunosuppressive therapy consisting of mycophenolate mofetil, tacrolimus, and a steroid; 5 patients (18.5%) were treated with tacrolimus, azathioprine, and prednisolone. Acute cellular rejection was seen in 3 patients (11.1%), and acute cellular- and antibody-mediated rejection occurred in 1 patient (3.7%). During the follow-up period, graft loss due to acute cellular rejection was observed in only 1 patient. One patient was lost to follow-up.

Outcomes of Canakinumab Treatment in Recipients of Kidney Transplant With Familial Mediterranean Fever: A Case Series.

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an important and preventable cause of chronic kidney disease due to secondary amyloidosis. Although colchicine is the first-line therapy in patients with FMF with 60% to 65% complete remission rates, 5% to 10% of patients are colchicine-resistant and 5% to 10% of them are intolerant to the therapy. Anti-interleukin-1 agents, such as anakinra and canakinumab, are safe and efficient therapeutic options in patients with colchicine resistance or intolerance. However, the data on management of these targeted agents is limited in recipients of kidney transplant (RKT). In this case series, we aim to share our experience on canakinumab therapy of 4 RKTs with FMF-related amyloidosis, who were followed up in our clinic between 2010 and 2017. All of the 4 patients with end-stage renal disease were colchicine- resistant and on other alternative therapies, which provided poor disease control. For efficient control of secondary amyloidosis, canakinumab therapy was initiated in 1 of the patients before the renal transplant, and for the remaining patients after renal transplant. Any serious adverse effect, development of proteinuria, or graft dysfunction has not been observed in any of the patients. Under the canakinumab treatment, complete clinical responses, prevent typical familial Mediterranean fever attacks with fever and arthritis and abdominal pain, normalized serum amyloid A and C-reactive protein levels were achieved in all patients. Canakinumab treatment is a safe and effective therapeutic option for RKTs with FMF who are resistant or intolerant to colchicine and anakinra.