Delayed peak antibody titers after the second dose of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in solid organ transplant recipients: Prospective cohort study.

Poor post-vaccination production of antibody against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a concern among solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients. Furthermore, the timing and kinetics of antibody titers after the second vaccine dose are unknown. We conducted a multicenter prospective observational study that included 614 SOT recipients: 460 kidney, 53 heart, 50 liver, 20 lung, and 31 simultaneous pancreas-kidney (SPK). The participants received two doses of the mRNA vaccine (Pfizer BNT162b2 or Moderna mRNA-1273), as indicated. Serum samples were collected before the first and second vaccinations and at 1, 3, and 6 months after the second vaccine dose, which were then assessed for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. The overall seropositivity rate was 43% at 1 month after administration of the second vaccine dose; it gradually increased to 68% at 3 months after second dose administration and to 70% at 6 months. In addition, recipient of kidney, lung or SPK transplants had lower antibody titers at the 3- and 6-month time points than did the other recipients. SOT recipients acquired SARS-CoV-2 S-IgG antibodies slowly, and the peak titer differed significantly from that of the general population.

Recurrence of Proliferative Glomerulonephritis with Monoclonal Immunoglobulin G Deposits with a Striated Ultrastructure.

A 64-year-old man with nephrotic syndrome was admitted to another hospital where his renal biopsy revealed membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) with monoclonal immunoglobulin (Ig) G, subclass 1, κ light chain (IgG1κ) deposition on immunofluorescence (IF). Proliferative glomerulonephritis with monoclonal IgG deposits (PGNMID) was suspected due to monoclonal IgG1κ deposits and the absence of hematological abnormalities. However, the typical PGNMID phenotype was not observed by electron microscopy. Instead, an organized and striated muscle-like structure was observed in the subendothelial space. Since a 2-year treatment with immunosuppressants did not improve his proteinuria, a second biopsy was performed at our hospital. It showed an MPGN-like phenotype; however, monoclonal Ig deposits on IF were no longer observed. One year after the second biopsy, he developed ESRD. Thus, he underwent living kidney transplantation from his wife. Allograft biopsy was performed as proteinuria was observed 3 months after transplantation, which again showed an MPGN-like phenotype with monoclonal IgG1κ deposits. The observed electron-dense deposits were similar to those in the native biopsies. Accordingly, the patient was diagnosed with recurrent MPGN. Adding methylprednisolone pulse therapy to conventional immunosuppressants did not improve the patient's renal function or proteinuria. He died of Legionella pneumonia 8 months after transplantation. Considering the patient's histological findings of MPGN with monoclonal IgG1κ deposits and early recurrence of glomerulonephritis after transplantation, he was diagnosed with PGNMID with novel electron-dense deposits.

A Nationwide Survey of Hepatitis E Virus Infection and Chronic Hepatitis in Heart and Kidney Transplant Recipients in Japan.

BACKGROUND: Recently, chronic hepatitis E has been reported in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients in European countries. Previously, we clarified the prevalence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection in Japanese liver transplant recipients and identified 2 chronic hepatitis E patients infected by blood transfusion. However, the rate of HEV infection in recipients of SOTs other than liver in Japan remains unclear, so we conducted a nationwide survey to clarify the prevalence of chronic HEV infection in Japanese heart and kidney transplant recipients. METHODS: A total of 99 heart and 2526 kidney transplant recipients in 17 hospitals in Japan were examined for the presence of the IgG class of anti-HEV antibodies as well as for serum HEV RNA. RESULTS: The prevalence of anti-HEV IgG among heart and kidney transplant recipients was 7.07% (7/99) and 4.08% (103/2526), respectively. One heart transplant patient (1.01%) and 11 kidney transplant patients (0.44%) were found to be positive for HEV RNA. The HEV isolates from all viremic patients were typed as genotype 3. Four patients developed chronic hepatitis E after transplantation. Three patients were treated with ribavirin; their liver enzymes normalized, and HEV RNA became negative immediately. Sustained virologic response was achieved in all cases. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first nationwide survey of HEV infection in Japanese heart and kidney transplant recipients. The prevalence of anti-HEV IgG and HEV RNA in heart and kidney transplant recipients in Japan was lower than that in European countries. Of note, 42% of viremic transplant patients developed chronic hepatitis.

Whole-body MRI for detecting metastatic bone tumor: diagnostic value of diffusion-weighted images.

PURPOSE: We assessed the diagnostic value of whole body magnetic resonance (MR) imaging (WB-MRI) using diffusion-weighted images (DWI) for detecting bone metastasis and compared it with that of skeletal scintigraphy (SS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty patients with malignancies (breast cancer, 17 patients; prostate cancer, 9; and one patient each, thyroid cancer, liposarcoma, leiomyosarcoma, and extraskeletal Ewing sarcoma) underwent both WB-MRI and SS to detect bone metastasis. All patients were followed more than 6 months by MR imaging, SS, or computed tomographic (CT) examination. For WB-MRI, patients were placed in feet-first supine position with table-top extender and quadrature body coil. We acquired DWI (axial plane from lower neck to proximal femur) (single shot short TI inversion-recovery [STIR]: repetition time [TR] 6243/echo time [TE] 59/inversion time [TI] 180 ms; b value: 600 s/mm(2); 5-mm slice thickness; 112 x 112 matrix), T(1)-weighted fast spin echo (T(1)WI), and STIR (sagittal plane of total spine images and coronal plane of whole body images) images. Four blinded readers independently and separately interpreted images of combined MR sequences of T(1)WI+STIR (session 1) and T(1)WI+STIR+DWI (session 2). RESULTS: In 10 of 30 patients, we detected a total of 52 metastatic bone lesions; in the other 20, follow-up examinations confirmed no metastatic bone lesions. For these 52 lesions, for session 2, the mean sensitivity was 96% and the positive predictive value (PPV) was 98%. Those values were superior to those of session 1 (sensitivity: 88%; PPV: 95%) and those of SS (sensitivity: 96%; PPV: 94%). CONCLUSION: WB-MRI that included DWI was useful for detecting bone metastasis.

Retroperitoneoscopic living related-donor nephrectomy: clinical outcomes of 50 consecutive cases and comparison with open donor nephrectomy.

PURPOSE: To determine whether living related retroperitoneoscopic donor nephrectomy (RDN) is a safe and effective procedure. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From September 2001 to May 2004, RDN was performed in 50 consecutive patients at our hospital. All patients were followed longitudinally with office visits. Perioperative and postoperative data for these RDNs, including operative time, blood loss, and complications, were compared with those of open donor nephrectomies (ODNs) performed between January 1999 and December 2001. RESULTS: The RDN was completed in all cases. The average warm ischemia times were 4.1 minutes (range 1.0-8.5 minutes) and 3.5 minutes (range 2.3-5.5 minutes) in the RDN and ODN groups, respectively (P = NS). The mean operative time for RDN was significantly longer than that for ODN (P < 0.001), but patients in the RDN group had significantly shorter hospital stays (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the groups in blood loss during operation or number of doses of analgesics administered after the operation. Perioperative and early postoperative complications occurred in 14 patients (28%) in the RDN group and consisted of subcutaneous emphysema in 9, wound infection in 3, and persistent headache in 2 patients. All kidneys removed retroperitoneoscopically functioned immediately. No recipients required post-transplant continuous hemodialysis. CONCLUSIONS: The RDN is a safe and effective procedure for both donor and recipient. Although the benefits of RDN have been demonstrated, further long-term studies of graft function and patient survival are needed.

Whole body MRI for detecting metastatic bone tumor: comparison with bone scintigrams.

PURPOSE: To compare the effectiveness of whole body MRI (WB-MRI [magnetic resonance imaging]) and bone scintigram (BS) at detecting bone metastasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: WB-MRI was performed on 16 patients for detecting bone metastasis (6 breast carcinoma, 7 prostatic carcinoma, 1 renal cell carcinoma [RCC], 1 hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC], and 1 primary unknown). BS was also performed in all cases. Patients were placed on a table top extender (Philips Medical Systems). The maximal longitudinal field of view (FOV) was 200 cm. At first, the total spine was imaged in the sagittal plane with a three-station approach for two image sets (fast spin-echo [SE] T1-weighted images [T1WI] and short tau inversion recovery [STIR] images). The whole body was then imaged in the coronal plane with a seven-station approach for two image sets (fast field echo [FFE] T1WI and STIR). Total examination time, including patient positioning, was within 40 min. Three independent radiologists interpreted the imaging data. RESULTS: WB-MRI identified 5 cases of 24 lesions as bone metastasis, while BS identified 3 cases of 25 lesions. Concordance between WB-MRI and BS was seen in 3 cases of 22 lesions (81%). For two cases of 2 lesions, which were identified only with WB-MRI, the lesions were located in the sacrum and thoracic spine. For one case of 3 lesions, which was identified only with BS, the lesions were located in the skull and rib. CONCLUSION: WB-MRI was an excellent method for screening bone metastasis, especially the vertebral body.

An autopsy case of sudden death in renal transplant recipient.

Few autopsy cases of sudden death in renal transplant recipients have been reported in the literature. The present case was a 50-year-old female recipient of a living-related renal transplant, who died suddenly after a good post-transplant course of 14 years. The patient was admitted in December 2000 for detailed investigation for ascites, and died unexpectedly 1 month later. She complained of mild dyspnoea approximately 3 h before death. Detailed clinical and laboratory investigations after admission showed no malignant findings in the abdominal cavity. Postmortem pathological examination also showed no tumour in the abdominal cavity. Both lungs were pneumatized. Histopathological examinations revealed metastatic calcification. Calcification was observed in the heart, lungs, kidney graft and pancreas. Calcification in the heart was found in the central fibrous body surrounding the atrioventricular node and bundle of His, as well as in the origin of bifurcating bundle. In the myocardial fibres, fibre rupture and waviness were observed. Although these findings may indicate agonal changes, they might also be a consequence of sudden cardiac death. This patient was in a state of renal failure, which presumably caused metastatic calcification involving also the cardiac conduction system. This calcification might partially account for the sudden death.