Improvement in renal function in kidney transplant recipients switched from cyclosporine or tacrolimus to belatacept: 2-year results from the long-term extension of a phase II study.

Kidney transplant recipients who switched from a calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) to belatacept demonstrated higher calculated glomerular filtration rates (cGFRs) at 1 year in a Phase II study. This report addresses whether improvement was sustained at 2 years in the long-term extension (LTE). Patients receiving cyclosporine or tacrolimus were randomized to switch to belatacept or continue CNI. Of 173 randomized patients, 162 completed the 12-month main study and entered the LTE. Two patients (n = 1 each group) had graft loss between Years 1-2. At Year 2, mean cGFR was 62.0 ml/min (belatacept) vs. 55.4 ml/min (CNI). The mean change in cGFR from baseline was +8.8 ml/min (belatacept) and +0.3 ml/min (CNI). Higher cGFR was observed in patients switched from either cyclosporine (+7.8 ml/min) or tacrolimus (+8.9 ml/min). The frequency of acute rejection in the LTE cohort was comparable between the belatacept and CNI groups by Year 2. All acute rejection episodes occurred during Year 1 in the belatacept patients and during Year 2 in the CNI group. There were more non-serious mucocutaneous fungal infections in the belatacept group. Switching to a belatacept-based regimen from a CNI-based regimen resulted in a continued trend toward improved renal function at 2 years after switching.

Pandemic influenza A/H1N1 virus infection in solid organ transplant recipients: a multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: The 2009 novel influenza A/H1N1 virus pandemic did not spare solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients. We aimed to describe the behavior of pandemic influenza infection in a group of SOT recipients in Argentina. METHODS: Data from 10 transplant (Tx) centers were retrospectively collected for SOT that presented with a respiratory illness compatible with pandemic influenza A infection, between May and September 2009. Cases were defined as suspected, probable, or confirmed according to diagnostic method. RESULTS: Seventy-seven cases were included. No significant differences in presenting symptoms, pulmonary infiltrates, and graft involvement were found among 35 suspected, 19 probable, and 23 confirmed cases. The 33 ambulatory cases had significantly more sore throat and headache when compared with 34 cases admitted to medical ward (MW) and 10 admitted to intensive care unit (ICU), 9 of whom required ventilatory support. MW and ICU cases had significantly more dyspnea, hypoxemia, pulmonary infiltrates, and graft dysfunction. Time from onset of symptoms to first visit and to treatment was significantly longer in MW and ICU cases (P=0.008). Coinfections were found in six cases. Most cases received oseltamivir for 5 to 10 days. Six patients (7.8%) died from viral infection at a median of 15 days from admission. No differences in outcome were seen related to the transplanted organ, the immunosuppressive regimen, time from Tx, or confirmation of diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Mortality is higher in Tx recipients than in the general population. Poor outcome seems to be related to a delay in the beginning of treatment.

Uso de la inmunoglobulina intravenosa (IVIg) como terapia de rescate de rechazos refractarios en pacientes trasplantados renales / Use of intravenous immunoglobulin as rescue therapy of refractory Graft rejection in renal transplanted patients

La inmunoglobulina intravenosa (IVIg) ha sido utilizada en el pasado en pacientes con enfermedades autoinmunes, y también ha sido recientemente usada en pacientes sensibilizados que se encuentran en lista de espera para transpalnte renal, con el fin de reducir sus niveles de anticuerpos reactivos contra panel (PRA). Basados en estos reportes, se ha postulado también que la IVIg podría ser utilizada como un agente de rescate ene el tratamiento de rechazos refractarios en el transplante renal. Este trabajo reporta a cuatro pacientes, quienes se encontraban cursando su primer transplante renal. Tres de ellos habían sido trasplantados con donante vivo, dos relacionados y uno no relaiconado (esposo), y el cuarto había recibido un riñón cadavérico. El diagnóstico de rechazo, fue efectuado por biopsia renal y punción aspirativa renal. Inicialmente a todos los pacientes se les suministró esteroides y luego terapia antilinfocitaria, tres de ellos con anticuerpos monoclonales (OKT3), y el rescate con globulina antilinfocitaria (GAL). Luego del fracaso de la terapia antilinfocitaria, IVIg fue administrada a dosis de 500 mg/Kg/d durante siete días consecutivos. todos los rechazos fueron exitosamente revertidos. el mecanismo de acción de la IVIg puede estar relacionada con los anticuerpos antiidiotípicos. IVIg aparece como una alternativa útil para el rescate de receptores de transplantes renales con rechazos refractarios.