Outcomes of renal transplantation in patients with AL amyloidosis: an international collaboration through The International Kidney and Monoclonal Gammopathy Research Group.

Effective systemic therapies suppress toxic light chain production leading to an increased proportion of patients with light chain (AL) amyloidosis who survive longer albeit with end-stage renal disease. There is a critical need to identify patients in this population who benefit from renal transplantation. This multicenter, observational study from five countries includes 237 patients with AL amyloidosis who underwent renal transplantation between 1987 and 2020. With a median follow-up of 8.5 years, the median overall survival from renal transplantation was 8.6 years and was significantly longer in patients with complete and very good partial hematologic responses (CR + VGPR) compared to less than VGPR (9 versus 6.8 years; HR: 1.5, P = 0.04 [95% CI: 1-2.1]) at renal transplantation. Median graft survival was 7.8 years and was better in the CR + VGPR group (8.3 vs 5.7 years, HR: 1.4, P = 0.05 [95% CI: 1-2]). The frequency and time to amyloid recurrence in the graft was also lower (16% vs 37%, p = 0.01) and longer (median time not achieved vs 10 years, p = 0.001) in the CR + VGPR group. Comparing CR vs. VGPR there was no difference in overall or graft survival. Although 69 patients (29%) experienced hematologic relapse, treatment effectively prevented graft loss in the majority (87%). Renal transplantation in selected AL amyloidosis patients is associated with extended overall and renal graft survival. Patients with hematologic CR or VGPR have the most favorable outcomes, and these patients should be considered for renal transplantation.

Predictors of hematologic response and survival with stem cell transplantation in AL amyloidosis: A 25-year longitudinal study.

High-dose melphalan and stem cell transplantation (HDM/SCT) is an effective treatment for selected patients with AL amyloidosis. We report the long-term outcomes of 648 patients with AL amyloidosis treated with HDM/SCT over 25 years. Hematologic CR was achieved by 39% of patients. The median duration of hematologic CR was 12.3 years, and 45% of patients with a hematologic CR had no evidence of a recurrent plasma cell dyscrasia at 15 years after HDM/SCT. With a median follow-up interval of 8 years, the median event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) were 3.3 and 7.6 years, respectively. Patients with a hematologic CR had a median OS of 15 years, and 30% of these patients survived >20 years. On multivariable analysis, dFLC >180 mg/L and BM plasma cells >10% were independently associated with shorter EFS, whereas BNP >81 pg/mL, troponin I > 0.1 ng/mL, and serum creatinine >2.0 mg/dL were independently associated with shorter OS. We developed a prognostic score for EFS, which incorporated dFLC >180 mg/L and BMPC% >10% as adverse risk factors. Patients with low-risk (0 factors), intermediate-risk (1 factor), and high-risk (2 factors) disease had median EFS estimates of 5.3, 2.8, and 1.0 years, respectively (p < .001). The 100-day treatment-related mortality rate was 3% in the latest treatment period (2012-2021), and the 25-year risk of t-MDS/AML was 3%. We conclude that HDM/SCT induces durable hematologic responses and prolonged survival with improved safety in selected patients with AL amyloidosis.

Correlation Between 24-Hour Urine Protein and Random Urine Protein-Creatinine Ratio in Amyloid Light-Chain Amyloidosis.

Rationale & Objective: Test the feasibility of replacing 24-hour urine collection with a single voided urinary protein-creatinine ratio (UPCR) in patients with amyloid light-chain (AL) amyloidosis. Study Design: Retrospective study examining the correlation between a 24-hour urine measurement and UPCR at various proteinuria levels using a linear regression analysis with Pearson's correlation coefficient (r). We assessed how using these 2 different measurements would alter the diagnosis, staging, and kidney response assessment in patients with AL amyloidosis. Setting & Participants: We included 265 patients with systemic AL amyloidosis who visited the Amyloidosis Center at Boston University between July 2018-January 2020 and had proteinuria measurement by both methods on the same day. Tests Compared: 24-hour urine collection for protein versus UPCR. Results: The correlation between 24-hour urine and UPCR was moderate in patients with proteinuria levels of 500-3,000 mg/day and >3,000 mg/day, with r values of 0.57 and 0.62, respectively. Replacing the 24-hour urine collection with UPCR changed kidney staging in 10% of the patients: 77% were reclassified to a worse kidney stage and 23% to a more favorable stage. The majority of changes (85%) in kidney staging occurred in the >3,000 mg/day cohort. There were 35 patients whose kidney response was assessed by concomitant 24-hour urine collection and UPCR with visits at least 6 months apart. Of these patients, 20% had discordance between the 24-hour urine collection and UPCR that changed their definition of organ response. Limitations: Given the rarity of AL amyloidosis, our sample size is small and from a single referral center. Conclusions: Although the 24-hour urine collection is cumbersome, we continue to recommend it in patients with AL amyloidosis because replacing the 24-hour urine collection with UPCR would change kidney staging and organ response in 10%-20% of patients. In addition, the correlation between the 2 modalities was moderate at best in patients with nephrotic-range proteinuria.

Predictors and outcomes of acute kidney injury during autologous stem cell transplantation in AL amyloidosis.

BACKGROUND: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication after high-dose melphalan and autologous stem cell transplantation (HDM/SCT) in patients with light chain (AL) amyloidosis. However, its incidence, predictors and outcomes are not well known. METHODS: This observational study included 223 patients with AL amyloidosis who underwent HDM/SCT. AKI was defined as an increase in serum creatinine to ≥1.5 times the baseline occurring within the first 30 days of HDM/SCT. RESULTS: The median age was 58 years (range: 30-77). Kidney and cardiac involvement were present in 86.1% and 56.8%, respectively. The median estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was 83.5 mL/min/1.73 m2 (range: 9-213) and proteinuria was 2899 mg/day (range: 0-19 966). AKI occurred in 29.1% of patients. Dialysis was initiated in 15 patients (6.7%) and of these 12 (80%) were able to discontinue dialysis. Most of the episodes of AKI occurred within the first 2 weeks; with a median follow-up of 4.5 years (range: 0.1-16.5), AKI was associated with increased overall mortality [hazard rato (HR) = 4.53, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2-10.23]. The 10-year overall survival was 87.1% without AKI, versus 56.9% with AKI. AKI was also associated with an increased risk for end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) (HR = 4.6, 95% CI 1.44-14.38). The risk of developing ESKD at 10 years was 18.9% with AKI, versus 8.1% without AKI. Several risk factors were found and using multivariate logistic regression, a prediction model was developed that included three readily available variables: eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m2, interventricular septal thickness in diastole >12 mm and albumin <3 g/dL. This model was able to predict AKI development with an area under the curve of 0.8. CONCLUSIONS: AKI is common in the post-HDM/SCT period and it leads to increased risk for ESKD and death. Our prediction model is an easily deployable tool in clinical settings as part of the discussion with patients who are being prepared for HDM/SCT.

Amyloidosis and the Kidney: An Update.

Various types of systemic amyloidosis can wreak havoc on the architecture and functioning of the kidneys. Amyloidosis should be suspected in patients with worsening kidney function, proteinuria, and multisystem involvement, but isolated kidney involvement also is possible. Confirming the amyloidosis type and specific organ dysfunction is of paramount importance to select the appropriately tailored treatment and aim for better survival while avoiding treatment-associated toxicities. Amyloid renal staging in light chain amyloidosis amyloidosis helps inform prognosis and risk for end-stage kidney disease. Biomarker-based staging systems and response assessment guide the therapeutic strategy and allow the timely identification of refractory or relapsing disease so that patients can be switched to salvage therapy. Kidney transplantation is a viable option for selected patients with amyloidosis. Because of the complex nature of the pathophysiology and treatment of amyloidosis, a multidisciplinary team-based approach should be used in the care of these patients.

Renal Histologic Analysis Provides Complementary Information to Kidney Function Measurement for Patients with Early Diabetic or Hypertensive Disease.

BACKGROUND: Patients with diabetic or hypertensive kidney disease rarely undergo kidney biopsy because nephrologists commonly believe that biopsy-related risk outweighs the potential benefits of obtaining histologic information to guide clinical decisions. Although kidney function is acutely regulated, histologic changes such as interstitial fibrosis, tubular atrophy, and glomerulosclerosis may represent chronic kidney damage, and thus might provide additional information about disease severity. However, whether histologic analysis provides information complementary to clinically used kidney function measurements, such as eGFR and proteinuria, is unclear. METHODS: We performed a standardized semiquantitative histologic analysis of 859 nephrectomies obtained from individuals with or without diabetes mellitus or hypertension and varying degrees of kidney dysfunction. Changes in glomeruli, tubules, interstitium, and the vasculature were scored using 17 descriptive parameters in a standardized manner. We used multivariable linear and logistic regression analyses and unbiased, hierarchical clustering to assess associations between histologic alterations and clinical variables. RESULTS: At CKD stages 3-5, eGFR correlates reasonably well with the degree of glomerulosclerosis and interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy (IFTA). In patients with CKD stages 1-2, the degree of histologic damage was highly variable and eGFR poorly estimated the degree of damage. Individuals with diabetes mellitus, hypertension, or Black race had significantly more glomerulosclerosis and IFTA, at the same eGFR level. Inclusion of glomerulosclerosis improved the kidney function decline estimation, even at early disease stages. CONCLUSIONS: Histologic analysis is an important complementary method for kidney disease evaluation, especially at early disease stages. Some individuals present with relatively severe structural damage despite preserved eGFR.

The Clone Wars: Diagnosing and Treating Dysproteinemic Kidney Disease in the Modern Era.

Dysproteinemic kidney diseases are disorders that occur as the result of lymphoproliferative (B cell or plasma cell) disorders that cause kidney damage via production of nephrotoxic monoclonal immunoglobulins or their components. These monoclonal immunoglobulins have individual physiochemical characteristics that confer specific nephrotoxic properties. There has been increased recognition and revised characterization of these disorders in the last decade, and in some cases, there have been substantial advances in disease understanding and treatments, which has translated to improved patient outcomes. These disorders still present challenges to nephrologists and patients, since they are rare, and the field of hematology is rapidly changing with the introduction of novel testing and treatment strategies. In this review, we will discuss the clinical presentation, kidney biopsy features, hematologic characteristics and treatment of dysproteinemic kidney diseases.

T95 nucleophosmin phosphorylation as a novel mediator and marker of regulated cell death in acute kidney injury.

The function of site-specific phosphorylation of nucleophosmin (NPM), an essential Bax chaperone, in stress-induced cell death is unknown. We hypothesized that NPM threonine 95 (T95) phosphorylation both signals and promotes cell death. In resting cells, NPM exclusively resides in the nucleus and T95 is nonphosphorylated. In contrast, phosphorylated T95 NPM (pNPM T95) accumulates in the cytosol after metabolic stress, in multiple human cancer cell lines following γ-radiation, and in postischemic human kidney tissue. Based on the T95 phosphorylation consensus sequence, we hypothesized that glycogen synthase kinase-3ß (GSK-3ß) regulates cytosolic NPM translocation by phosphorylating T95 NPM. In a cell-free system, GSK-3ß phosphorylated a synthetic NPM peptide containing T95. In vitro, bidirectional manipulation of GSK-3ß activity substantially altered T95 phosphorylation, cytosolic NPM translocation, and cell survival during stress, mechanistically linking these lethal events. Furthermore, GSK-3ß inhibition in vivo decreased cytosolic pNPM T95 accumulation in kidney tissue after experimental ischemia. In patients with acute kidney injury, both cytosolic NPM accumulation in proximal tubule cells and NPM-rich intratubular casts were detected in frozen renal biopsy tissue. These observations show, for the first time, that GSK-3ß promotes cell death partly by phosphorylating NPM at T95, to promote cytosolic NPM accumulation. T95 NPM is also a rational therapeutic target to ameliorate ischemic renal cell injury and may be a universal injury marker in mammalian cells.

Kidney Transplantation in Systemic Amyloidosis.

The present review discusses current developments and outcomes of renal transplantation in systemic amyloidosis. Amyloidosis can wreak havoc on the architecture and functioning of the kidneys, leading to end-stage renal disease. In recent years, the available treatments, especially for light-chain amyloidosis but also for several of the underlying inflammatory diseases that cause amyloid A amyloidosis have expanded leading to prolonged survival albeit frequently with renal failure. At the same time, there are also increasing numbers of patients diagnosed with one of the inherited forms of amyloidosis for which currently there is no targeted treatment available and, in some cases, renal failure is unavoidable. Due to the complex nature of the pathophysiology and treatment of these diseases, it can be very challenging for the clinician to determine whether or not it is appropriate to refer an affected individual for kidney transplantation. Determining eligibility criteria, as well as peritransplant and posttransplant management, requires a multidisciplinary approach with close monitoring and follow-up.

The utility of repeat kidney biopsy in systemic immunoglobulin light chain amyloidosis.

Background: The diagnostic utility of repeat kidney biopsy in AL amyloidosis patients in complete (CR) or very good partial hematologic response (VGPR) but with renal organ relapse is not clear.Methods: We present eight patients with AL amyloidosis who had a repeat kidney biopsy performed.Results: AL amyloidosis was initially diagnosed by a kidney biopsy. All patients had a favorable response to treatment (CR/VGPR) and five of them also had initially a renal organ response. A repeat kidney biopsy was done due to gradual deterioration of kidney function and/or proteinuria while maintaining a hematologic response. Repeat kidney biopsies showed findings consistent with amyloid deposits in all patients. Seven patients had renal progression with four of them requiring dialysis initiation. Only one patient had a favorable renal outcome. This patient had subacute kidney injury with decreasing proteinuria and was found to have granulomatous interstitial nephritis in addition to amyloid deposits and responded well to steroid treatment with rapid improvement in renal function.Conclusions: In AL amyloidosis patients who achieve a favorable hematologic response to treatment (CR/VGPR) but subsequently develop worsening renal insufficiency or proteinuria, a repeat kidney biopsy should generally not be performed. Amyloid deposits persist in the kidneys even after successful hematologic treatment and it is impossible to differentiate between new versus old amyloid deposits, which makes performing a repeat kidney biopsy unnecessary in most cases. Demonstration of amyloid deposits on repeat kidney biopsy would not aid in the decision making regarding re-initiation of hematologic treatment. A kidney biopsy should be considered only in cases when a specific alternative diagnosis is suspected.

Long-term outcome of kidney transplantation in AL amyloidosis.

Therapies for AL amyloidosis have dramatically improved, leading to longer patient survival; however, more AL amyloidosis patients are reaching end-stage renal disease (ESRD). There are no clear guidelines regarding eligibility for kidney transplantation in patients with AL amyloidosis, and data on outcomes are limited. We evaluated the clinical and laboratory data of 49 patients who were followed in the Amyloidosis Center at Boston University and underwent kidney transplantation at a center in the United States between 1987-2017. During a median follow-up of 7.2 years (range 0-19), the median patient survival from diagnosis was 15.4 years, and from kidney transplantation was 10.5 years. One, three, and five-year graft survival were 94%, 89%, and 81%, respectively. Patients with hematologic complete response or very good partial response prior to kidney transplantation had significantly better patient survival than patients with partial response or no response, and the median time to graft loss was 10.4 years versus 5.5 years, respectively. This is the largest published series of kidney transplantation in patients with AL amyloidosis, suggesting that kidney transplantation can have a good outcome in carefully selected patients, particularly in those who have achieved a complete response or very good partial response at the time of kidney transplantation.

Nucleophosmin Phosphorylation as a Diagnostic and Therapeutic Target for Ischemic AKI.

Background Ischemic AKI lacks a urinary marker for early diagnosis and an effective therapy. Differential nucleophosmin (NPM) phosphorylation is a potential early marker of ischemic renal cell injury and a therapeutic target.Methods Differential NPM phosphorylation was assessed by mass spectrometry in NPM harvested from murine and human primary renal epithelial cells, fresh kidney tissue, and urine before and after ischemic injury. The biologic behavior and toxicity of NPM was assessed using phospho-NPM mutant proteins that either mimic stress-induced or normal NPM phosphorylation. Peptides designed to interfere with NPM function were used to explore NPM as a therapeutic target.Results Within hours of stress, virtually identical phosphorylation changes were detected at distinct serine/threonine sites in NPM harvested from primary renal cells, tissue, and urine. A phosphomimic NPM protein that replicated phosphorylation under stress localized to the cytosol, formed monomers that interacted with Bax, a cell death protein, coaccumulated with Bax in isolated mitochondria, and significantly increased cell death after stress; wild-type NPM or a phosphomimic NPM with a normal phosphorylation configuration did not. Three renal targeted peptides designed to interfere with NPM at distinct functional sites significantly protected against cell death, and a single dose of one peptide administered several hours after ischemia that would be lethal in untreated mice significantly reduced AKI severity and improved survival.Conclusions These findings establish phosphorylated NPM as a potential early marker of ischemic AKI that links early diagnosis with effective therapeutic interventions.

High-Dose Melphalan and Stem Cell Transplantation in Patients on Dialysis Due to Immunoglobulin Light-Chain Amyloidosis and Monoclonal Immunoglobulin Deposition Disease.

The kidney is the most common organ affected by immunoglobulin light-chain (AL) amyloidosis and monoclonal immunoglobulin deposition disease (MIDD), often leading to end-stage renal disease (ESRD). High-dose melphalan and stem cell transplantation (HDM/SCT) is effective for selected patients with AL amyloidosis, with high rates of complete hematologic response and potential for improved organ dysfunction. Data on tolerability and response to HDM/SCT in patients with ESRD due to AL amyloidosis and MIDD are limited. We analyzed data on toxicity, efficacy, and hematologic and renal response of HDM/SCT in 32 patients with AL amyloidosis and 4 patients with MIDD who were dialysis-dependent for ESRD treated at Boston Medical Center between 1994 and 2016. The most common grade 3/4 nonhematologic toxicities were infections (75%), metabolic abnormalities (56%), mucositis (42%), constitutional symptoms (39%), pulmonary complications (39%), and diarrhea (28%). Treatment related mortality (defined as death within 100 days of SCT) occurred in 8% (3 of 36). A complete hematologic response was achieved in 70% of evaluable patients (19 of 27) at 1 year after HDM/SCT. In the entire cohort, median overall survival (OS) after HDM/SCT was 5.8 years; median OS was 1 year for those who did not achieve a complete hematologic response and 8 years for those who did achieve a complete hematologic response. Twelve patients (33%) underwent kidney transplantation after successful treatment with HDM/SCT at a median of 2.4 years after SCT. HDM/SCT is safe and effective in inducing hematologic complete responses and prolonging survival in patients with ESRD from AL amyloidosis and MIDD. Achievement of a durable hematologic response can make these patients possible candidates for renal transplantation.

Blocking peptides and molecular mimicry as treatment for kidney disease.

Protein mimotopes, or blocking peptides, are small therapeutic peptides that prevent protein-protein interactions by selectively mimicking a native binding domain. Inexpensive technology facilitates straightforward design and production of blocking peptides in sufficient quantities to allow preventive and therapeutic trials in both in vitro and in vivo experimental disease models. The kidney is an ideal peptide target, since small molecules undergo rapid filtration and efficient bulk absorption by tubular epithelial cells. Because the half-life of peptides is markedly prolonged in the kidneys compared with the bloodstream, blocking peptides are an attractive tool for treating diverse renal diseases, including ischemia, proteinuric states, such as membranous nephropathy and focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis, and renal cell carcinoma. Therapeutic peptides represent one of the fastest-growing reagent classes for novel drug development in human disease, partly because of their ease of administration, high binding affinity, and minimal off-target effects. This review introduces the concepts of blocking peptide design, production, and administration and highlights the potential use of therapeutic peptides to prevent or treat specific renal diseases.

Renal Interstitial Fibrosis: An Imperfect Predictor of Kidney Disease Progression in Some Patient Cohorts.

BACKGROUND: The extent of interstitial fibrosis on kidney biopsy is regarded as a prognostic indicator and guide to treatment. Patients with extensive fibrosis are assigned to supportive treatments with the expectation that they have advanced beyond the point at which immunosuppressive or other disease-modifying therapies would be of benefit. Our study highlights some of the limitations of using interstitial fibrosis to predict who will develop end-stage renal disease (ESRD). METHODS: Analysis of 434 consecutive renal biopsies performed between 2001 and 2012 at a single center. We assessed the influence of various clinical factors along with fibrosis as predictors of ESRD and dialysis-free survival in various patient groups. RESULTS: Interstitial fibrosis performed well overall as a predictor of progression to dialysis. On average, patients with >50% fibrosis progressed more rapidly than those with either 25-49 or 0-24% fibrosis with a median time to dialysis of 1.2, 6.5 and >10 years, respectively. In contrast, interstitial fibrosis was of less value as a predictor of disease progression in a subset of cases that included patients over the age of 70 and those with diabetic nephropathy on biopsy. Surprisingly, 13.9% of patients with normal renal function had 25-49% fibrosis and 5% had more than 50% fibrosis on biopsy, and 5 years after undergoing biopsy 21% of patients with >50% fibrosis still remained dialysis free. CONCLUSION: Renal fibrosis is an imperfect prognostic indicator for the development of ESRD and caution should be exercised in applying it too rigidly, especially in elderly or diabetic patients.

Risk factors for venous thromboembolism in immunoglobulin light chain amyloidosis.

Patients with immunoglobulin light chain amyloidosis are at risk for both thrombotic and bleeding complications. While the hemostatic defects have been extensively studied, less is known about thrombotic complications in this disease. This retrospective study examined the frequency of venous thromboembolism in 929 patients with immunoglobulin light chain amyloidosis presenting to a single referral center, correlated risk of venous thromboembolism with clinical and laboratory factors, and examined complications of anticoagulation in this population. Sixty-five patients (7%) were documented as having at least one venous thromboembolic event. Eighty percent of these patients had events within one year prior to or following diagnosis. Lower serum albumin was associated with increased risk of VTE, with a hazard ratio of 4.30 (CI 1.60-11.55; P=0.0038) for serum albumin less than 3 g/dL compared to serum albumin greater than 4 g/dL. Severe bleeding complications were observed in 5 out of 57 patients with venous thromboembolism undergoing treatment with anticoagulation. Prospective investigation should be undertaken to better risk stratify these patients and to determine the optimal strategies for prophylaxis against and management of venous thromboembolism.