Management of Chronic Active Antibody-Mediated Rejection in Renal Transplant Recipients: Single-Center Experience.

OBJECTIVES: Data on the management of chronic antibody-mediated rejection after kidney transplantation are limited. We aimed to assess the impact of treatment of biopsy-proven chronic active antibodymediated rejection with combined plasma exchange, intravenous immunoglobulin, and rituximab treatment versus intravenous immunoglobulin alone or conservative management on the evolution of renal function in renal transplant recipients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, we compared patients diagnosed with chronic active antibody-mediated rejection who were treated with standard of care steroids, intravenous immunoglobulin, plasma exchange, and rituximab (n = 40) at our center versus those who received intravenous immunoglobulin only or just intensified maintenance immunosuppression (n = 28). All patients were followed for 12 months clinically and by laboratory tests for graft and patient outcomes. RESULTS: The two groups were matched regarding mean recipient age (41.9 ± 15.4 vs 37.8 ± 15.5 y in patients with conservative versus combined treatment), recipient sex, mean body weight, and the cause of end-stage kidney disease. Most patients and their donors were males. Glomerulonephritis represented the most common cause of end-stage kidney disease in both groups followed by diabetic nephropathy. The type of induction and pretransplant comorbidities were not different between groups (P > .05) except for the significantly higher number of chronic hepatitis C infections in patients who received conservative treatment (P = .007). Mean serum creatinine values before and after treatment of chronic active antibodymediated rejection were comparable between groups (P > .05). Active treatment with heavier immunosuppression (rituximab and plasma exchange) was associated with posttreatment viral (cytomegalovirus and BK virus) and bacterial infections that necessitated more hospitalization (P > .05). However, graft and patient outcomes were significantly better in the active treatment group than in patients with conservative treatment (P = .002 and .028, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Combined treatment of chronic active antibody-mediated rejection with plasma exchange, intravenous immunoglobulin, and rituximab can significantly improve outcomes after renal transplant.

Kidney Transplant in a Patient With Factor VII Deficiency: Case Report.

Organ transplant in patients with congenital bleeding disorders is a challenge requiring an integrated approach of various specialists. Inherited factor VII deficiency is the most common of the rare bleeding disorders, with a wide set of hemorrhagic features. Although a kidney allograft is the most frequent type of solid-organ transplant, it is rarely performed in individuals with congenital hemorrhagic disorders. Here, we highlight the course of a patient with coagulation factor VII deficiency who underwent successful kidney transplant without significant coagulopathy. Our patient was a 19-year-old man with end-stage kidney disease and congenital coagulation factor VII deficiency. Perioperative bleeding was successfully prevented by administration of recombinant factor VII, confirming its safety in solid-organ transplants. Success requires evaluation of doses and therapeutic schedules, as well as a multidisciplinary approach.

Role of Diabetes Education Program in Controlling Posttransplant Diabetes in a Recent Renal Transplant Bodybuilder: Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Posttransplant diabetes is a common complication of solid-organ transplantation. We present the possible role of diabetes education in improvement of posttransplant diabetes in a 36-year-old bodybuilder who was a kidney transplant recipient. The patient had been abusing some medications to help in bodybuilding. He underwent living unrelated-donor renal transplant with thymoglobulin induction and was maintained on steroids, tacrolimus, and mycophenolate mofetil. Posttransplant diabetes was confirmed by blood tests. His blood sugar was partially controlled by 3 oral agents. The patient participated in our structured diabetes education program. This program was created to cover different items related to diabetes control, including diet, proper exercise, blood sugar monitoring, sick day management, and pathophysiologic roles of diabetes medications. Within 4 months of participation in this program, the patient's blood sugar became well controlled and his diabetes medications started to be minimized. He presently has stable graft function with hemoglobin A1c level around 5.6% on only diet management. Bodybuilders are at risk of deterioration of their kidney function. A proper diabetes education program is recommended to help renal transplant recipients with early posttransplant diabetes mellitus to control their disease. Success requires close evaluation and a multidisciplinary approach.