Management of Immunosuppression in Kidney Transplant Recipients Who Develop Malignancy.

The risk of cancer increases after transplantation. However, the consensus on immunosuppression (IS) adjustment after diagnosis of malignancy is lacking. Our study aims to assess the impact of IS adjustment on mortality of post-kidney transplant patients and allograft outcomes. We retrospectively reviewed the data in our center of 110 subjects. Our results showed IS dose adjustment was not statistically associated with mortality risk (HR 1.94, 95%CI 0.85-4.41, p = 0.12), and chemotherapy was the only factor that was significantly related to mortality (HR 2.3, 95%CI 1.21-4.35, p = 0.01). IS reduction was not statistically associated with worsening graft function (OR 3.8, 95%CI 0.77-18.71, p = 0.10), nor with graft survival (SHR 4.46, 95%CI 0.58-34.48, p = 0.15) after variables adjustment. Creatinine at cancer diagnosis and history of rejection were both negatively associated with graft survival (SHR 1.72, 95%CI 1.28-2.30, p < 0.01 and SHR 3.44, 95%CI 1.25-9.49, p = 0.02). Reduction of both mycophenolate and calcineurin inhibitors was associated with worsening graft function and lower graft survival in subgroup analysis (OR 6.14, 95%CI 1.14-33.15, p = 0.04; HR 17.97, 95%CI 1.81-178.78, p = 0.01). In summary, cancer causes high mortality and morbidity in kidney transplant recipients; the importance of cancer screening should be emphasized.

Unusual Presentation of Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis in a Kidney Transplant Patient.

We are presenting a case of a middle-aged woman with history of remote kidney transplantation who had multiple admissions for septic shock-like picture, recurrent fever, and hypotension. Her shock manifestation would resolve after stress dose steroid administration and less than 24 hours of vasopressor administration. Initially, extensive workup was performed without revealing etiology. Eventually, a bone marrow biopsy was carried out leading to the diagnosis of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, most likely related to recent cytomegalovirus infection.

Acute Kidney Injury in Patients Undergoing Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: The number of total hip arthroplasties (THA) performed across the world is growing rapidly. We performed this meta-analysis to evaluate the incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients undergoing THA. METHODS: A literature search was performed using MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane Database from inception until July 2018 to identify studies assessing the incidence of AKI (using standard AKI definitions of RIFLE, AKIN, and KDIGO classifications) in patients undergoing THA. We applied a random-effects model to estimate the incidence of AKI. The protocol for this meta-analysis is registered with PROSPERO (no. CRD42018101928). RESULTS: Seventeen cohort studies with a total of 24,158 patients undergoing THA were enrolled. Overall, the pooled estimated incidence rates of AKI and severe AKI requiring dialysis following THA were 6.3% (95% CI: 3.8%⁻10.2%) and 0.5% (95% CI: 0.1%⁻2.3%). Subgroup analysis based on the countries by continent was performed and demonstrated the pooled estimated incidence of AKI following THA of 9.2% (95% CI: 5.6%⁻14.8%) in Asia, 8.1% (95% CI: 4.9%⁻13.2%) in Australia, 7.4% (95% CI: 3.2%⁻16.3%) in Europe, and 2.8% (95% CI: 1.2%⁻17.0%) in North America. Meta-regression of all included studies showed significant negative correlation between incidence of AKI following THA and study year (slope = -0.37, p <0.001). There was no publication bias as assessed by the funnel plot and Egger's regression asymmetry test with p = 0.13 for the incidence of AKI in patients undergoing THA. CONCLUSION: The overall estimated incidence rates of AKI and severe AKI requiring dialysis in patients undergoing THA are 6.3% and 0.5%, respectively. There has been potential improvement in AKI incidence for patients undergoing THA over time.

Calciphylaxis in a nondialysis patient treated with sodium thiosulfate and high dose of oxygen.

BACKGROUND: Calciphylaxis in a nondialysis patient is a rare condition and is characterized by calcific deposition in tissue. We present a case of calciphylaxis in a nondialysis patient who was diagnosed by clinical presentation and skin biopsy and was treated with sodium thiosulfate with improvement of skin lesions. CASE: A 43-year-old female with type 2 diabetes and atrial fibrillation taking oral anticoagulation medication presented with reddish drainage from the right buttock. On physical examination, a large perirectal abscess overlying necrosis was found. She also developed acute kidney injury with creatinine of 3.7 mg/dL at peak from 0.8 mg/dL at baseline. She received antibiotics intravenously and wound debridement. During hospitalization, she developed areas of numerous painful erythematous lesions with central dusky necrosis on bilateral lower extremities. Punch biopsy was done, which initially revealed small-vessel vasculitis. However, those lesions did not respond to steroid therapy. A second biopsy was done showing extensive fat necrosis and medial calcification of vessel walls consistent with calciphylaxis. She was treated with high-flow oxygen and sodium thiosulfate intralesionally and intravenously for 6 months. The lesions remarkably reduced in size and were less painful on follow-up. CONCLUSION: High-dose oxygen and sodium thiosulfate could potentially be effective treatments for calciphylaxis in nondialysis patients.

Association between coffee consumption and risk of renal cell carcinoma: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The risk of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in individuals who regularly drink coffee is controversial. Several antioxidant compounds in coffee have been proposed to reduce the risk of RCC, while the findings from several studies raise concerns regarding a potential increased risk of RCC with coffee consumption. AIM: This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the association between coffee consumption and RCC. METHODS: A literature search was performed using MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews from inception until December 2016. Studies that reported odd ratios or hazard ratios comparing the risk of RCC in individuals who consumed a significant amount of coffee (at least one cup of coffee per day) versus those who did not consume coffee were included. Pooled risk ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were computed using a random-effect, generic inverse variance method. RESULTS: Twenty-two observational studies (16 case-control and 6 cohort studies) were included in our analysis to assess the association between RCC and coffee consumption. The pooled RR of RCC in individuals consuming coffee was 0.99 (95% CI, 0.89-1.11). Subgroup analyses stratified by gender showed pooled RRs of RCC of 1.15 (95% CI, 0.85-1.55) in females and 0.87 (95% CI, 0.72-1.04) in males. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates no significant association between coffee consumption and RCC. Thus, coffee consumption is likely not a risk factor for RCC. Whether coffee consumption has a potential role in reduced risk of RCC, particularly in men, requires further investigations.

WITHDRAWN: Calciphylaxis in a nondialysis patient treated with sodium thiosulfate and high dose of oxygen
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Ahead of Print article withdrawn by publisher. BACKGROUND: Calciphylaxis in a nondialysis patient is a rare condition and is characterized by calcific deposition in tissue. We present a case of calciphylaxis in a nondialysis patient who was diagnosed by clinical presentation and skin biopsy and was treated with sodium thiosulfate with improvement of skin lesions. CASE: A 43-year-old female with type 2 diabetes and atrial fibrillation taking oral anticoagulation medication presented with reddish drainage from the right buttock. On physical examination, a large perirectal abscess overlying necrosis was found. She also developed acute kidney injury with creatinine of 3.7 mg/dL at peak from 0.8 mg/dL at baseline. She received antibiotics intravenously and wound debridement. During hospitalization, she developed areas of numerous painful erythematous lesions with central dusky necrosis on bilateral lower extremities. Punch biopsy was done, which initially revealed small-vessel vasculitis. However, those lesions did not respond to steroid therapy. A second biopsy was done showing extensive fat necrosis and medial calcification of vessel walls consistent with calciphylaxis. She was treated with high-flow oxygen and sodium thiosulfate intralesionally and intravenously for 6 months. The lesions remarkably reduced in size and were less painful on follow-up. CONCLUSION: High-dose oxygen and sodium thiosulfate could potentially be effective treatments for calciphylaxis in nondialysis patients.
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Hepatitis C infection and renal cell carcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

AIM: To investigate the association between hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and risk of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). METHODS: A literature search was performed from inception until February 2016. Studies that reported relative risks, odd ratios, hazard ratios or standardized incidence ratio comparing the risk of RCC among HCV-infected participants vs those without HCV infection were included. Participants without HCV infection were used as comparators. Pooled odds ratios and 95%CI were calculated using a random-effect, generic inverse variance method. RESULTS: Seven observational studies were with 196826 patients were included in the analysis to assess the risk of RCC in patients with HCV. A significantly increased risk of RCC among participants with HCV infection was found with a pooled RR of 1.86 (95%CI: 1.11-3.11). The association between RCC and HCV was marginally insignificant after a sensitivity analysis limited only to studies with adjusted analysis, with a pooled RR of 1.50 (95%CI: 0.93-2.42). CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated a potential association between HCV infection and RCC. Further studies of RCC surveillance in patients with HCV are required.

An unusual presentation of childhood vasculitis presenting in adulthood: a challenging diagnosis of henoch-schönlein purpura.

CONTEXT: Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP), a systemic IgA vascultitis, is uncommon in adults, with an incidence rate of 0.1 to 1.2 per million in adults over 20 years old. This vasculitic syndrome can present as an uncommon cause of intestinal obstruction in older patients. We report a case of an older woman with HSP presenting with small bowel obstruction and vasculitic rash. CASE REPORT: We report a 67-year-old woman who presented with small bowel obstruction and skin rash. Skin biopsy revealed leukocytoclastic vasculitis with +IgA granular deposition within the walls of superficial dermal vessels. Kidney biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of HSP with mild mesangial proliferative IgA nephropathy. Her abdominal pain and small bowel obstruction were improved with conservative treatment. She continued to do well with normal kidney function at a 3-month follow-up visit. CONCLUSION: HSP, a systemic IgA vasculitis, is a predominantly pediatric vasculitis and is uncommon in adults. In adults, the disease process is identical to that in children. However, gastrointestinal manifestation is less common in older patients, and bowel perforation and obstruction are rare. Intestinal obstruction with skin rash and renal involvement should raise suspicions of HSP.

Prevalence of cancer in membranous nephropathy: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.

BACKGROUND: The association between membranous nephropathy (MN) and cancer has been well documented. However, the true prevalence and characteristics of cancer associated with MN have not been well described. METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies was conducted to summarize the prevalence of cancer-associated MN as well as patient characteristics and types of cancer in this population. We used a random-effects meta-analysis model to estimate the prevalence of cancer. RESULTS: We included 6 studies (n = 785). The estimated prevalence of cancer was 10.0% (95% CI, 6.1-14.6). The mean age of MN patients with cancer was 67 ± 7 years. The diagnosis of cancer preceded the diagnosis of MN in 20 ± 6.8%. Lung cancer was the most common type of tumor, accounting for 22 cases (26%), followed by prostate cancer (13 cases, 15%), hematologic malignancies (12 cases, 14%), colorectal cancer (9 cases, 11%), breast cancer (6 cases, 7%), and stomach and esophageal cancer (5 cases, 6%). CONCLUSION: The estimated prevalence of cancer in patients with MN is 10% (95% CI, 6.1-14.6). The vast majority of tumors associated with MN are lung and prostate cancer. Hematologic malignancies should also be considered as one of the potential cancers associated with MN. Our study was based on a largely Caucasian population; therefore, the findings might not be applicable to other populations.

Papillary Renal Cell Carcinoma Presented With Supraclavicular Lymph Node Metastasis Without Renal Primary Lesion.

Renal cell carcinoma is a rare cancer in Thailand. Most of the patients present in advanced metastatic stage with identifiable renal mass. In this case report, we presents a case of male patient who manifested with supraclavicular lymph node enlargement and CT scan of chest and abdomen showed multiple sites lymph node metastasis but there was no primary mass detected anywhere. The pathology of supraclavicular lymph node was papillary cell adenocarcinoma. The differential diagnoses were papillary thyroid cancer, gastrointestinal tract carcinoma such as pancreato-biliary cancer, non small cell lung cancer, and renal cancer. Immunohistochemistry result were negative for TTF-1, Thyroglobulin, CD7 and CD20 which ruled out non-small cell lung adenocarcinoma, thyroid cancer and gastrointestinal tract cancer respectively. CD10, Vimentin and RCC were all positive and all are specific for renal cell carcinoma. The diagnosis was renal cell carcinoma, papillary cell type. Sunitinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, is the treatment of choice for renal cell carcinoma since it improves objective response rate and shows longer progression free survival than IFNα.