5-Year Long-Term Outcome of Live-Donor Renal Transplant Recipients With Enterocystoplasty and Ureterocystoplasty: An Age- and Sex-Matched Pair Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To assess surgical complications, febrile UTI, graft function and 5-year graft survival after renal transplantation (RT) in patients with augmentation cytsoplasty (AC) and to compare them to RT patients with normal lower urinary tract. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A case-control study of 34 RT patients with AC including 23 patients with enterocystoplasty (EC) and 11 patients with ureterocystoplasty (UC) was performed. The primary outcome was to determine the difference between both groups regarding postoperative surgical complications and febrile UTI episodes. Graft function was compared at 1, 3, and 5 years and 5-year graft survival was determined. The secondary outcome was to compare them to an age- and gender-matched control group (122 patients) with normal lower urinary tract. RESULTS: There was no significant difference regarding surgical complications or rates of hospital readmission between AC groups. Seventeen (73.9%) and 5 (45.5%) patients developed 33 and 14 episodes of febrile UTI in EC and UC groups, respectively (P= .5). Control group had shown lower incidence surgical complications (P = .001) and febrile UTIs (P = .02) compared to AC groups. At 3 and 5 years, UC had higher median eGFR than EC (P = .08, 0.008, respectively). The 5-year graft survival was 32 (94.1%) with no statistically significant difference between EC (95.7%) and UC (90.9%) (P = .5) or between AC and control (85.2%, P = .3). CONCLUSION: Although RT after AC was associated with higher surgical complications and UTI episodes, they had comparable 5-year graft survival to their control. When indicated, UC should be the preferred choice of AC whenever possible.

The effect of anemia on the efficacy and safety of treating chronic hepatitis C infection with direct-acting antivirals in patients with chronic kidney disease.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Chronic hepatitis-C infection is a great health burden in Egypt. The effect of anemia on the efficacy and safety of direct-acting anti-viral (DAA) therapies for those with chronic-kidney disease (CKD) has not been evaluated. PATIENTS/METHODS: This single-center retrospective study included 235 renal patients: i.e., 70-CKD patients not on hemodialysis (42 with anemia, 28 without); 40 hemodialysis patients (16 anemic; 24 non-anemic), and 125 kidney-transplant (KTx) recipients (40 anemic; 85 non-anemic). Anemia was defined by a hemoglobin level < 10.5 g/dL. Hemodialysis patients received ritonavir-boosted paritaprevir/ombitasvir. KTx patients received sofosbuvir/daclatasvir. CKD patients with eGFR > 30 mL/min/1.73 m2 received sofosbuvir/daclatasvir. Those with eGFR < 30 mL/min/1.73 m2 received ritonavir-boosted paritaprevir/ombitasvir; 64 non-anemic patients also received ribavirin therapy. RESULTS: Mean age of CKDs was 49.1 years, 43.2 years for HDs, and 45.2 years for KTx patients. Most were male; body-mass index was ~ 23.8. Anemia did not affect the efficacy of DAAs in hemodialysis, CKD, or KTx patients. Most patients achieved a rapid virologic response (RVR), and a 12- and 24-week sustained viral response. Worsening of anemia among the non-anemic group was mostly related to ribavirin therapy in hemodialysis patients (11/16 patients). Acute kidney injury in CKDs occurred more frequently within the anemic group (59.5%) compared to the non-anemic group (32.1%). For KTx, graft impairment was more common among the anemic group (7/40) compared to the non-anemic group (2/85). CONCLUSION: Hemoglobin levels of < 10.5 g/dL prior to DAA treatment did not affect the virological response in renal patients but was associated with increased serum creatinine among KTx and those with CKD.

CYP3A5 Gene-Guided Tacrolimus Treatment of Living-Donor Egyptian Kidney Transplanted Patients.

BACKGROUND: Tacrolimus is an approved first-line immunosuppressive agent for kidney transplantations. Part of interindividual and interethnic differences in the response of patients to tacrolimus is attributed to polymorphisms at CYP3A5 metabolic enzyme. CYP3A5 gene expression status is associated with tacrolimus dose requirement in renal transplant recipients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, we determined the allelic frequency of CYP3A5*3 in 76 renal transplanted patients of Egyptian descent. Secondly, we evaluated the influence of the CYP3A5 gene variant on tacrolimus doses required for these patients as well on dose-adjusted tacrolimus trough-concentrations. RESULTS: The CYP3A5*3 variant was the most frequent allele detected at 85.53%. Additionally, our results showed that, mean tacrolimus daily requirements for heterozygous patients (CYP3A5*1/*3) were significantly higher compared to homozygous patients (CYP3A5*3/*3) during the first year after kidney transplantation. CONCLUSION: This is the first study in Egypt contributing to the individualization of tacrolimus dosing in Egyptian patients, informed by the CYP3A5 genotype.

High rate of acute kidney injury in patients with chronic kidney disease and hepatitis C virus genotype 4 treated with direct-acting antiviral agents.

BACKGROUND: Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) have significantly improved the efficacy and safety of treating chronic hepatitis C (CHC), but their effectiveness and safety among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) remains poorly understood. Sofosbuvir/daclatasvir regimen is supposed to be used for patients with creatinine clearance more than 30 mL/min, while ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir regimen is used for patients with creatinine clearance less than 30 mL/min. AIM: The aim of the study was to assess the safety and efficacy of DAAs among patients with CKD. METHODS: Eighteen CKD stage 2-3b patients received sofosbuvir for 3 months. In addition, 42 CKD stage-4 patients received ritonavir-boosted paritaprevir plus ombitasvir for 3 months. Finally, ribavirin was added for 30 of them. RESULTS: The patients'age was 49.2 ± 12 years. Baseline serum creatinine was 3.76 ± 1.67 mg/dL. Fifty patients were HCV genotype 4. A 3-month sustained viral response was achieved in 56 patients and 49 patients achieved a 6-month viral response. There were 11 relapsers. Acute kidney injury (AKI) upon CKD (AKI/CKD) occurred in 28 patients, of which 20 needed hemodialysis. Fifteen/28 recovered from AKI, whereas 13 were maintained on hemodialysis. In multivariate analysis, there were only two independent risk factors for developing AKI/CKD, i.e., being cirrhotic as defined by baseline abdominal ultrasound findings [odds ratio 4.15 (1.33-12.97); p = 0.013] and having had as DAA therapy OMV/PTV/RTV [odds ratio 7.35 (1.84-29.35); p = 0.001]. CONCLUSION: Treatment of HCV among stage 2, 3a, and 3b patients was achieved safely with a sofosbuvir-based regimen. We recommend that stage-4 patients wait until starting hemodialysis or transplantation.

Outcome of Live-Donor Renal Transplants With Incidentally Diagnosed Renal Angiomyolipoma in the Donor.

INTRODUCTION: Accepting donors with renal lesion amenable for pre-transplant management with no suspected long-term harm seems to expand the live-donor pool. We aimed to assess the long-term outcome of live-donor renal transplantation with incidentally discovered renal angiomyolipoma (AML) during routine evaluation of donors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective evaluation of incidentally discovered AML, during live-related-donor evaluation, was performed. The tumor criteria were retrieved. In cases with exophytic tumor, a back-table, partial nephrectomy was done with frozen section to exclude malignancy. Endophytic lesions were kept in situ and transplanted. Both donor and recipient were followed up by periodic imaging. RESULTS: Among 2925 cases, 6 AML with a median volume of 0.96 (range, 0.5-2) cm2 were identified. The median recipients' age was 21 (range, 10-38) years and the median donors' age was 48 (range, 45-50). Two AML were exophytic and back-table partial nephrectomy was performed, while 4 were endophytic and kept in situ, and the kidney was transplanted. After a median follow-up of 82 (range, 25-150) months, 4 patients were alive with functioning grafts and 2 resumed hemodialysis 5 and 7 years after transplantation. There was no evidence of increase in the AML size or newly developed AML in the grafts. All donors were alive with normal renal function (mean ± standard deviation, serum creatinine was 0.9 ± 0.2 mg/dL) and none developed new AML in the remaining kidney. CONCLUSION: Incidentally discovered AML during live-donor evaluation is not a contraindication of donation after proper counseling of the couples and regular, periodic follow-up.

Comparative analysis for optimizing the modified release tacrolimus (Advagraf) after kidney transplantation: A prospective randomized trial.

Immunosuppression management in clinical transplantation aims to balance delivery of efficacy against adverse reactions using therapeutic drug monitoring. Adherence to posttransplant immunosuppressive medications and minimizing variability in drug exposure are important considerations in preventing rejection and maximizing overall transplant outcomes. The availability of once-daily tacrolimus may add a potential benefit by simplifying immunosuppressive regimens, though improving compliance among transplant recipients. The aim of our study is to investigate the safety and efficacy of the once-daily formulation of tacrolimus (Advagraf) against the usually used twice daily tablets (Prograf). A prospective randomized trial 1:2 was designed for 99 consecutive live-related renal transplant recipients who received their grafts at a single center (study group, Advagraf, 33 recipients and control group, Prograf, 66 recipients). The demographic data were homogeneous among both groups regarding donors and patients' characteristics. Posttransplant hypertension, infection, malignancy, and diabetes mellitus were comparable among both groups. Renal function and rejection episodes showed no statistical significance among recipients of both groups. Despite slight higher Advagraf unit doses, there was no statistical difference regarding the tacrolimus trough levels, between the two groups. Our singlecenter experience revealed that the availability of once-daily tacrolimus formulation could give potential benefit of improved medication compliance and better allograft outcomes by decreasing pill burden and thereby simplifying dosing schedule, Advagraf was non-inferior to twice-daily tacrolimus regarding safety and efficacy. Although being nonsignificant, a trend for better kidney function was noted in this short-term study in the Advagraf group, so long-term follow-up is needed to verify this.

Posttransplant Erythrocytosis Among Egyptian Living-Donor Kidney Transplant Recipients.

OBJECTIVES: The goal when treating patients with end-stage renal disease is to increase patient survival and to provide a better quality of life, both of which can be achieved by kidney transplant. Identifying problems associated with kidney transplant is an essential step toward improved graft function. Here, we evaluated posttransplant erythrocytosis, a frequent complication among kidney transplant recipients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this single-center retro-spective study, we identified 1850 kidney transplant recipients who were transplanted at the Mansoura Urology and Nephrology Center (Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt) from 1990 and 2013. From these patients, we identified 174 transplant recipients with posttransplant erythrocytosis and another 174 recipients without posttransplant erythrocytosis (control group). All recipients were evaluated retrospectively regarding incidence and risk factors for posttransplant erythrocytosis occurrence, graft function and survival, and patient survival. RESULTS: Both patient groups were comparable regarding age and sex (mean age of 32 years and higher percentage of male recipients in both groups). Degree of HLA class I and class II matching was not significantly different between groups. There were also no significant differences in immunosuppression protocols, although most patients were on steroid and cyclosporine therapy. Prevalence of acute and chronic rejection episodes was comparable between groups. Graft function was better in the posttransplant erythrocytosis group than in the control group, and higher patient survival was noted in patients with posttransplant erythrocytosis (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Posttransplant erythrocytosis was correlated with good graft function. In our study patients, those with posttransplant erythrocytosis had better graft and patient survival.

Postrenal transplant malignancy: Incidence, risk factors, and prognosis.

The newer and potent immunosuppressive agents have successfully reduced the risk of rejection after kidney transplantation, but the development of cardiovascular diseases, infections, and malignancy is major factors limiting their success. Posttransplantation malignancy is the second most common cause of death in renal transplant recipients after cardiovascular disease; it is expected that mortality due to malignancy may become the most common cause of death within the next two decades. This study is designed to evaluate the incidence, risk factors, and types of malignancies occurring after renal transplantation and their impact on patient and graft survival. A total of 2288 patients underwent living donor renal allotransplantation in the Urology and Nephrology Center, Mansoura University, during the period between 1975 and 2011. Among these patients, 100 patients developed posttransplantation malignancy. Patients were categorized into five major groups according to their type of malignancy; Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), non-Kaposi's skin tumors (non-KS), posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD), solid tumors, and genitourinary and reproductive system (GU and RS). Overall, the incidence of cancer in renal transplant recipients was 4%. There were 83 male (83%) and 17 female patients (17%). The most frequent cancer was KS seen in 33 patients (33%). The lowest median time to development of cancer was observed in KS (35 months). The highest median time to development of cancer was observed in PTLD (133 months). The best graft survival was observed in PTLD and the worst in non-KS tumors. The best patient survival was observed in KS and the worst in GU and RS tumors. Azathioprine-based regimen was associated with a higher rate of cancer. The number of patients who died was 65 (65%). Our results indicate that the occurrence of malignancy has an important impact on short- and long-term graft and patient survival.