COVID-19 Infection in Kidney Transplant Recipients: Disease Incidence and Clinical Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 has been associated with high morbidity and mortality in kidney transplant recipients. However, risk factors for COVID-19 disease in patients with kidney transplants remain poorly defined. METHODS: We enrolled patients who underwent kidney transplantation and were actively followed up in two hospitals in Paris on March 1st, 2020. Patients were screened for baseline and transplant characteristics, functional parameters, comorbidities, and immunosuppressive therapies. COVID-19 disease was assessed. Patients were followed up during the pandemic until April 30th, 2020 by the COVID-19 SLS KT survey program, including teleconsulting, at-home monitoring for patients with COVID-19, and a dedicated phone hotline platform. RESULTS: Among 1216 patients with kidney transplants enrolled, 66 (5%) patients were identified with COVID-19 disease, which is higher than the incidence observed in the general population in France (0.3%). Their mean age was 56.4±12.5 years, and 37 (56%) patients were men. The following factors were independently associated with COVID-19 disease: non-White ethnicity (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 2.17; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.23 to 3.78; P=0.007), obesity (OR, 2.19; 95% CI, 1.19 to 4.05; P=0.01), asthma and chronic pulmonary disease (OR, 3.09; 95% CI, 1.49 to 6.41; P=0.002), and diabetes (OR, 3.33; 95% CI, 1.92 to 5.77; P<0.001). The mortality rate related to COVID-19 disease was 1% in the overall study population and 24% in COVID-19-positive patients. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with kidney transplants display a high risk of mortality. Non-White ethnicity and comorbidities such as obesity, diabetes, asthma, and chronic pulmonary disease were associated with higher risk of developing COVID-19 disease. It is imperative that policy makers urgently ensure the integration of such risk factors on response operations against COVID-19.

Which is the best predictor of de novo donor-specific antibodies in a cohort of non-sensitized first kidney transplantation: Antigenic, allelic, epitope, or physiochemical HLA mismatches?

BACKGROUND: Assessment of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) matching by using high-resolution allele typing and knowledge of HLA molecule structure may lead to better prediction of de novo donor-specific antibody (dnDSA) development. METHODS: We conducted a single-center cohort study among 150 non-sensitized first kidney transplant recipients to compare the association between antigenic (Ag), allelic (Al), eplet (Ep), amino acid (AAMS) HLA matching and electrostatic (EMS) and hydrophobic (HMS) mismatch scores, and the development of dnDSA. RESULTS: After a mean follow-up time of 49.3 ± 17.7 months, 18 patients (12%) developed dnDSA. The number of HLA mismatches (MM) was significantly associated with the development of dnDSA. The optimal threshold, determined by Harrell's C-index, varied according to the method (5 MM for Ag, P = 0.006; 6 for Al, P = 0.009; 22 for Ep, P = 0.005; 42 for AAMS, P = 0.0007; 45 for EMS, P = 0.009 and 44 for HMS, P = 0.026). C-indices were similar for all matching approaches, suggesting a similar prediction of dnDSA development. CONCLUSION: In this cohort of low immunological risk transplant patients, the use of Al or Ep matching did not improve the prediction of dnDSA development in comparison with the traditional approach.

[Fabry disease's screening: Results from the first French survey on nephrologists habits]. / Dépistage de la maladie de Fabry : résultats de la première enquête française sur les pratiques des néphrologues.

Fabry disease is a systemic and genetic disorder resulting from an α-galactosidase A enzymatic deficiency leading to sphingolipid accumulation in lysosomes: it remains a rare and poorly-known disease. This study aimed to know the formation of nephrologists, their knowledge, and their habits both in terms of screening and management in this field. Answers form 152 nephrologists have been analyzed: few doctors directly managed Fabry disease patient (22 %) and 18 % have already made the diagnosis by their own. Formation seems to be insufficient and most of them did not fully know symptoms, as resources already available (associations, collecting database, etc.). Some indications for the treatment are also poorly known (mainly regarding end stage renal disease). Information is mainly provided by of firms' staff. A knowledge score was calculated: the kidney injury is also poorly known (less than 50 % of correct answers) even if 50 % of nephrologists performed appropriate testing and confirmation, around 65 % knew the symptoms, treatment indication and the main key points of the disease. Fabry disease is still an unknown disorder, unless early diagnosis tools and therapeutics exist to reduce its complications. Nephrology community has to invest more formation about symptoms, testing, and medical care.