Management strategies and outcomes in renal transplant recipients recovering from COVID-19: A retrospective, multicentre, cohort study.

Background: There is an enormous knowledge gap on management strategies, clinical outcomes, and follow-up after kidney transplantation (KT) in recipients that have recovered from coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Methods: We conducted a multi-center, retrospective analysis in 23 Indian transplant centres between June 26, 2020 to December 1, 2021 on KT recipients who recovered after COVID-19 infections. We analyzed clinical and biopsy-confirmed acute rejection (AR) incidence and used cox-proportional modeling to estimate multivariate-adjusted hazard ratios (HR) for predictors of AR. We also performed competing risk analysis. Additional outcome measures included graft loss, all-cause mortality, waiting time from a positive real-time polymerase test (RT-PCR) to KT, laboratory parameters, and quality of life in follow-up. Findings: Among 372 KT which included 38(10·21%) ABO-incompatible, 12(3·22%) sensitized, 64(17·20%) coexisting donors with COVID-19 history and 20 (5·37%) recipients with residual radiographic abnormalities, the incidence of AR was 34 (9·1%) with 1(0·26%) death censored graft loss, and 4(1·07%) all-cause mortality over a median (interquartile range) follow-up of 241 (106-350) days. In our cox hazard proportional analysis, absence of oxygen requirement during COVID-19 compared to oxygen need [HR = 0·14(0·03-0·59); p-value = 0·0071], and use of thymoglobulin use compared to other induction strategies [HR = 0·17(0·03-0.95); p-value = 0·044] had a lower risk for AR. Degree of Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) DR mismatch had the highest risk of AR [HR = 10.2(1·74-65·83); p-value = 0·011]. With competing risk analysis, with death as a competing event, HLA DR mismatch, and oxygen requirement continued to be associated with AR. Age, gender, obesity, inflammatory markers, dialysis vintage, steroid use, sensitization and ABO-incompatibility have not been associated with a higher risk of AR. The median duration between COVID-19 real time polymerase test negativity to transplant was 88(40-145) days (overall), and ranged from 88(40-137), 65(42-120), 110(49-190), and 127(64-161) days in World Health Organization ordinal scale ≤ 3, 4, 5, and 6-7, respectively. There was no difference in quality of life, tacrolimus levels, blood counts, and mean serum creatinine assessed in patients with a past COVID-19 infection independent of severity. Interpretation: Our findings support that the outcomes of KT after COVID-19 recovery are excellent with absence of COVID-19 sequelae during follow-up. Additionally, there does not seem to be a need for changes in the induction/immunosuppression regimen based on the severity of COVID-19. Funding: Sanofi.

Two Decades of Deceased Donor Kidney Transplantation at Ahmedabad, India.

OBJECTIVES: Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Maharashtra, Kerala, Chandigarh, and Karnataka are states in India with active programs for deceased donor kidney transplant. We report our experience of 2 decades of deceased donor kidney transplant at the Institute of Kidney Diseases and Research Center, Dr. H. L. Trivedi Institute of Transplantation Sciences, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This single-center retrospective study comprised data from 831 deceased donor kidney transplant recipients between January 1, 1997 and December 31, 2018. Mean recipient age was 38 ± 14 years; 564 were male, and 267 were female. Mean donor age was 45.3 ± 17.13 years; 565 were men, and 266 were women. RESULTS: Between January 1, 1997 and March 15, 2020, 5838 kidney transplants were completed, including 4895 living donor kidney transplants, 943 deceased donor kidney transplants, and 440 kidney paired donation transplants. Over the mean follow-up time of 8 ± 5.4 years, patient survival rate was 70% (n = 581) and death-censored graft survival rate was 84% (n = 698). Delayed graft function was shown in 210 patients (25%) and biopsy-proven acute rejection rate in 180 patients (21%). Our experience of favorable outcomes with deceased donor kidney transplants has expanded the donor pool in many ways, including transplant from expanded criteria donors to younger recipients; transplant from older donors to older recipients; donation after cardiac death; successful intercity organ procurement; dual-kidney transplant; en bloc transplant from a pediatric deceased donor; and transplant from brain death deceased donors who died from neurotoxic snakebite, recurrent primary brain tumor, bacterial meningitis, or head injury, or with disseminated intravascular coagulation and deranged renal functions. The pathway to increase organ donation was investigated. CONCLUSIONS: Deceased donor kidney transplant can achieve acceptable graft function with patient/graft survival, which may encourage the use of this approach to increase the number of available organs.

Bladder Perforation: A Missed Diagnosis Posttransobturator Tape.

The advent of transobturator tape (TOT) in 2001 reduced the risk of bladder perforation to 1% in TOT as compared to 5% in tension-free vaginal tape (TVT). We present a case of bladder perforation in TOT where the diagnosis was missed for 5 years. This patient presented with dysuria and dyspareunia repeatedly and was treated for repeated urinary tract infection. The mesh was excised by cystoscopy, following which the symptoms were relieved. Thus, bladder perforation through a rare complication of TOT should always be ruled out in patients presenting with the failure of surgery or irritable detrusor activity such as dysuria and urgency.

A Case of Primary Amenorrhea with Swyer Syndrome.

Swyer syndrome with complete gonadal dysgenesis is associated with an absence of testicular differentiation in a phenotypic female with a 46, XY karyotype. A 14-year-old unmarried girl was referred with complaints of primary amenorrhea and nondevelopment of breast. Her built was normal. Examination of her secondary sexual characteristics revealed no breast development, absent axillary hairs, and sparse pubic hairs. External genitalia was of female type. Karyotype showed genotype of 46, XY. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed hypoplastic uterus with absent fallopian tubes and ovaries. A diagnosis of Swyer syndrome was made. Laparoscopy showed infantile uterus, normal fallopian tubes, and streak gonads. Laparoscopic removal of streak gonads was done as there is a risk of gonadoblastoma in such cases. The patient was started on hormonal replacement therapy. Swyer syndrome results mainly due to mutation in certain genes such as SRY gene, which leads to failure of development of testis.

Effects of Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor (GCSF) on Persistent Thin Endometrium in Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET) Cycles.

OBJECTIVE: To predict the effectiveness of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (GCSF) in the treatment of persistent thin endometrium resistant to other treatments in frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycles. STUDY DESIGN: This is a hospital-based prospective study. PATIENTS: Thirty-five women with persistent thin endometrium (<7 mm) resistant to standard treatments were involved in this study. INTERVENTIONS: Intrauterine infusion of GCSF (300 mcg/1 ml) was done in patients with thin endometrium on day 14 of FET cycles, and their endometrial thicknesses were measured after 48 h of infusion. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was an increase in endometrial thickness and the secondary outcome measures were chemical and clinical pregnancies. RESULTS: The endometrial thickness increased from 5.86 ± 0.58 to 6.58 ± 0.84 mm after GCSF infusion. In 19 of the 35 participants (54.28 %) endometrial thickness increased to ≥7 mm and they subsequently underwent embryo transfer. Of these, 3 (15.78 %) patients had chemical pregnancy, but there was no clinical pregnancy. In 16 participants, embryo transfer was canceled in view of insufficient endometrial thickness (<7 mm). CONCLUSION: GCSF caused a small increase in endometrial thickness in women with persistent thin endometrium, but there was no improvement in their pregnancy rates.

A transvaginal removal and repair of vesicovaginal fistula due to mesh erosion.

Vesicovaginal fistula (VVF) is a devastating social problem. It can either result from obstetric trauma or following gynecological surgeries, malignancy, or radiation. We present a case of a 70-year-old woman who had a VVF following mesh augmentation surgery for anterior compartment prolapse. She required a transvaginal removal of the eroded mesh followed by a transvaginal repair of VVF using a Martius flap, 6 weeks later. Transvaginal removal of mesh is technically feasible and a good approach. Timing and route of surgery should be individualized.

Unusual presentation of twisted ovarian cyst.

Ovarian torsion (also termed as adnexal torsion) refers to partial or complete rotation of the ovary and a portion of fallopian tube along its supplying vascular pedicle. It occurs commonly in reproductive age group; more on the right side (60%) and often presents with acute lower abdominal pain lasting for few hours and up to 24 h, accounting for 2.7% of acute gynecological conditions. It is one of the devastating conditions, hampering blood supply of ovary which may lead to total necrosis of ovarian tissue and complications, if not diagnosed and managed in time. Hence, we present a case on a twisted ovarian cyst in postmenopausal woman with unusual symptomatology leading to delayed diagnosis and loss of an ovary.

Oral contraceptive pills: A risk factor for retinal vascular occlusion in in-vitro fertilization patients.

Retinal vascular occlusion is the most common cause of retinopathy leading to severe visual loss in all age groups. Central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) is usually seen in older age group and is often associated with systemic vascular diseases. Although the exact cause and effect relationship has not been proven, central retinal vein occlusion has been associated with various systemic pathological conditions, hence a direct review of systems toward the various systemic and local factors predisposing the central retinal vein occlusion is advocated. We describe the development of central retinal venous occlusion with associated cystoid macular edema (CME) in two healthy infertile women who were recruited for in vitro fertilization cycle for infertility. Predisposing risk factors associated with central retinal vein occlusion are obesity, sedentary life style, smoking, and some systemic diseases such as hyperlipidemia, hypertension, associated autoimmune disorders e.g., antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, lupus, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disorders, bleeding or clotting disorders, vasculitis, closed-head trauma, alcohol consumption, primary open-angle glaucoma or angle-closure glaucoma. In our patients, they were ruled out afterdoing allpertaining investigations. The cases were managed with further avoidance of oral contraceptives and intra-vitreal injections of Bevacizumab (Avastin), an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF drug) and Triamcinolone acetonide (a long acting synthetic steroid). Hence, even if no systemic diseases are detected. Physical examinations are recommended periodically for young women on oral contraceptive pills.