Ribavirin for Hepatitis E Virus Infection After Organ Transplantation: A Large European Retrospective Multicenter Study.

BACKGROUND: Ribavirin is currently recommended for treating chronic hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection. This retrospective European multicenter study aimed to assess the sustained virological response (SVR) in a large cohort of solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients with chronic HEV infection treated with ribavirin monotherapy (N = 255), to identify the predictive factors for SVR, and to evaluate the impact of HEV RNA mutations on virological response. METHODS: Data from 255 SOT recipients with chronic HEV infection from 30 European centers were analyzed. Ribavirin was given at the median dose of 600 (range, 29-1200) mg/day (mean, 8.6 ± 3.6 mg/kg/day) for a median duration of 3 (range, 0.25-18) months. RESULTS: After a first course of ribavirin, the SVR rate was 81.2%. It increased to 89.8% when some patients were offered a second course of ribavirin. An increased lymphocyte count at the initiation of therapy was a predictive factor for SVR, while poor hematological tolerance of ribavirin requiring its dose reduction (28%) and blood transfusion (15.7%) were associated with more relapse after ribavirin cessation. Pretreatment HEV polymerase mutations and de novo mutations under ribavirin did not have a negative impact on HEV clearance. Anemia was the main adverse event. CONCLUSIONS: This large-scale retrospective study confirms that ribavirin is highly efficient for treating chronic HEV infection in SOT recipients and shows that the predominant HEV RNA polymerase mutations found in this study do not affect the rate of HEV clearance.This large-scale retrospective study that included 255 solid organ transplant recipients confirms that ribavirin is highly efficient for treating chronic hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection and shows that HEV RNA polymerase mutations do not play a role in HEV clearance.

Comparison of machine perfusion versus cold storage in kidney transplant recipients from expanded criteria donors: a cohort-based study.

BACKGROUND: Most studies comparing the efficacy of hypothermic machine perfusion (HMP) versus static cold storage (SCS) are based on short-term outcomes. We aimed to better evaluate the mid-term impact of HMP in patients receiving expanded criteria donor (ECD) kidneys. METHODS: The analyses were based on the French Données Informatisées et VAlidées en Transplantation (DIVAT) observational cohort. Patients aged ≥45 years transplanted for the first or second times from an ECD donor since 2010 were studied. Our study reported the graft and/or patient survivals and the incidence of acute rejection episode. The Cox models and the Kaplan-Meier estimators, weighted on the propensity score, were used to study the times-to-events. RESULTS: Among the 2019 included patients, 1073 were in the SCS group versus 946 in the HMP group. The mean life expectancy with functioning graft was 5.7 years [95% confidence interval (CI) 5.4-6.1] for the HMP cohort followed-up for 8 years post-transplantation versus 6.0 years (95% CI 5.7-6.2) for the SCS group. These mid-term results were comparable in the patients receiving grafts from donors aged ≥70 years and in the transplantations with cold ischaemia time ≥18 h. CONCLUSIONS: Our study challenges the utility of using HMP to improve mid-term patient and graft survival. Nevertheless, the improvement of the short-term outcomes is indisputable. It is necessary to continue technological innovations to obtain long-term results.

The weekend effect in kidney transplantation outcomes: a French cohort-based study.

Numerous studies have reported a weekend effect on outcomes for diseases treated at hospitals. No study has been conducted in France for kidney transplantation. We therefore performed a cohort-based study to evaluate whether outcomes of kidney transplant recipients display a weekend effect. Data were extracted from the French DIVAT cohort. Patients aged 18 years and older, transplanted with a single kidney from deceased donors between 2005 and 2017 were studied. Linear regression, logistic regression, and cause-specific Cox model were used. Among the 6652 studied patients, 4653 patients were transplanted during weekdays (69.9%) versus 1999 during weekends (30.1%). The only statistically significant difference was the percentage of patients with vascular surgical complication(s) at 30 days: 13.3% in the weekend group versus 16.2% in the weekday group 0.79 (95% CI: 0.68; 0.92). We did not observe other significant differences for the other outcomes: patient or graft survival, the risk of acute rejection episodes, the 30-day percentage of urological complications, and the 1-year estimated glomerular filtration rate. Our study highlights a small protective weekend effect with less post-surgery vascular complications compared to weekdays. This paradox might be explained by a different handling of weekend transplantations.

Comparison of longitudinal quality of life outcomes in preemptive and dialyzed patients on waiting list for kidney transplantation.

PURPOSE: The waiting list period for kidney transplantation can be lengthy and associated with a deteriorated health-related quality of life (HRQoL). It might also be experienced differently depending on the experience of renal replacement therapy (preemptive or dialyzed patients), and the type of dialysis. The main objective of this study is to measure and compare HRQoL changes in preemptive, hemodialysis (HD), and peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients during the waiting list period for kidney transplantation. METHODS: A sample of adult patients on kidney transplant waiting list from three French University Hospital centers was recruited. HRQoL was measured using the SF-36 and a specific questionnaire (ReTransQol), which were collected every 6 months before transplantation in preemptive, HD, and PD patients. Mixed-effects models taking into account time and possible confounding factors were used to compare HRQoL changes between the three groups. RESULTS: Preemptive (n = 230), HD (n = 177), and PD patients (n = 39) were enrolled. The renal replacement therapy modalities, time (time on waiting list and age at registration), and gender were associated with HRQoL changes. The HD and PD patients had a significantly lower perceived HRQoL on Role Physical, Social Functioning, and Role Emotional dimensions than the preemptive patients, with lower scores for PD compared to HD patients. The HRQoL scores of all patients were lower compared to the French general population for all dimensions. CONCLUSIONS: A better understanding of pre-transplantation patients' experience can help improving patient care with adapted educational programs and psychological support depending on the type of renal replacement therapy.

Epitope load identifies kidney transplant recipients at risk of allosensitization following minimization of immunosuppression.

Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) mismatching and minimization of immunosuppression are two major risk factors for the development of de novo donor-specific antibodies, which are associated with reduced kidney graft survival. Antibodies do not recognize whole HLA antigens but rather individual epitopes, which are short sequences of amino acids in accessible positions. However, compatibility is still assessed by the simple count of mismatched HLA antigens. We hypothesized that the number of mismatched epitopes, or ("epitope load") would identify patients at the highest risk of developing donor specific antibodies following minimization of immunosuppression. We determined epitope load in 89 clinical trial participants who converted from cyclosporine to everolimus 3 months after kidney transplantation. Twenty-nine participants (32.6%) developed de novo donor specific antibodies. Compared to the number of HLA mismatches, epitope load was more strongly associated with the development of donor specific antibodies. Participants with an epitope load greater than 27 had a 12-fold relative risk of developing donor-specific antibodies compared to those with an epitope load below that threshold. Using that threshold, epitope load would have missed only one participant who subsequently developed donor specific antibodies, compared to 8 missed cases based on a 6-antigen mismatch. DQ7 was the most frequent antigenic target of donor specific antibodies in our population, and some DQ7 epitopes appeared to be more frequently involved than others. Assessing epitope load before minimizing immunosuppression may be a more efficient tool to identify patients at the highest risk of allosensitization.

Lack of impact of pre-emptive deceased-donor kidney transplantation on graft outcomes: a propensity score-based study.

BACKGROUND: A significant number of studies have compared graft outcomes between patients with Pre-emptive Kidney Transplantation (PreKT) and patients on Dialysis before their Kidney Transplantation (DiaKT). These studies have suffered from the limitation that the DiaKT group is composed of all the dialysed patients, including those placed on a waiting list at the time of their first dialysis session. This seriously questions the comparability of these patients with those placed on the waiting list a long time before the need for renal replacement therapy. The aim of this study was to precisely evaluate the causal effect of PreKT from deceased donors. METHODS: Data were extracted from the multicentric French DIVAT (Données Informatisées et VAlidées en Transplantation) cohort. The DiaKT group was composed of patients placed on the waiting list with an initial intention of pre-emptive transplantation. Cause-specific Cox models with propensity scores (inverse probability weighting) were used to study the patient and graft outcomes. RESULTS: Among the 1138 included patients, 554 patients were in the PreKT group. The outcomes of the PreKT group were similar compared with the DiaKT group. In particular, the life expectancy with a functioning graft was 8.51 years [95% confidence interval (CI) 8.20-8.81] for the PreKT recipients versus 8.49 years (95% CI 8.15-8.84) for the DiaKT recipients. CONCLUSIONS: Our results challenge the utility of PreKTs from deceased donors, especially with regard to the consequential increase in the waiting list.

Comparative clinical trial of the variability factors of the exposure indices used for the drug monitoring of two tacrolimus formulations in kidney transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND: Several studies found differences in tacrolimus whole blood trough levels (C0) or area-under-the curve (AUC) between the twice-daily (Tac-BID) and once-daily (Tac-OD) formulations given to kidney transplant recipients at equal doses. As C0 is widely used as a surrogate of the AUC for individual dose adjustment, this study investigated the correlation and proportionality between C0 and the 24h-AUC, depending on the formulation, time post-transplantation, pharmacogenetics traits and other individual characteristics. METHODS: 45 adult kidney transplant recipients were randomized to receive either Tac OD or Tac BID. On days 8±1 (D8) and 90±3 (month 3, M3), blood samples were collected over 24h in both groups. Tacrolimus concentrations were determined using HPLC-MS/MS and common CYP3A5, CYP3A4 and ABCB1 genotypes characterized using allelic discrimination assays. Tacrolimus population pharmacokinetics was studied in the two patient groups using the Iterative Two Stage (ITS) technique, considering a one-compartment model with two gamma laws to describe the absorption phase. Bayesian estimation based on the C0, C1h and C3h concentrations was employed to estimate individual Tac AUC0-12h and AUC12-24h (for Tac BID), or AUC0-24h (for Tac OD). Multiple linear regression was used to evaluate the influence of Tac formulation, post-transplantation period, recipient gender, existing glucose metabolism disorders, and CYP3A5, CYP3A4 and ABCB1 genotypes on C0, AUC0-24h and the AUC-to-trough concentration ratios. RESULTS: The Full Analysis Set comprised 22 patients on Tac OD and 20 on Tac BID. Tac exposure indices as well as their time evolution were similar in the two groups. Multi-linear modeling analysis showed that the Tac dose was higher with Tac-OD than Tac-BID, on D8 than at M3 and in CYP3A5 expressors (p<0.0001 for all). No such influence was found on C0 or C24h, while the AUC0-24h was significantly higher on D8 than at M3. The AUC0-24h/C0 ratio was not affected by the drug formulation and the polymorphisms studied, but it was significantly lower on D8 than at M3 (p=7.8×10-5). In contrast, both the post-transplantation period (p=1.53×10-4), and CYP3A5 expression (p=0.003) had a significant influence on the AUC0-24h/C24h ratio, explaining 19% and 12% of its variability, respectively. Consistently, for both Tac formulations, the AUC0-24h was better correlated with C24h than C0, and for Tac-BID the AUC0-12h was better correlated with C12h than C0. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms that the precisely timed 12h- or 24h-post-dose blood concentration (as opposed to the vaguely defined 'trough level') is a convenient surrogate of the 24h-AUC of tacrolimus for the two TAC formulations over the first 3 months post-transplantation. Still, for a given C24h value, AUC0-24h was higher on D8 and in CYP3A5 expressors. Bayesian estimation of AUC0-12h for TAC BID and AUC0-24h for TAC OD is feasible using only 3 time points within the first 3h, thus giving access to the actual overall exposure.

Pharmacokinetic Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Advagraf in More Than 500 Adult Renal Transplant Patients, Using an Expert System Online.

BACKGROUND: Immunosuppressant Bayesian dose adjustment (ISBA) is an online expert system, routinely used by approximately 140 transplantation centers in the world for the dose adjustment of immunosuppressive drugs in transplant patients. This system determines the area under the curve (AUC) of the drug by pharmacokinetic modeling and Bayesian estimation. The purpose of this study was to analyze tacrolimus exposure after administration of its modified-release formulation (Advagraf) in kidney allograft recipients, to optimize its therapeutic drug monitoring. METHODS: This is a retrospective study of exposure indices measured locally [trough tacrolimus concentration (C0), C0/dose] or estimated through ISBA (AUC, AUC/dose, AUC/C0), of their evolution over posttransplantation time, and of the correlations between them. RESULTS: A total of 922 requests posted by 28 different centers for routine Advagraf adjustment in 530 different patients treated with Advagraf were studied. The exposure to, and dose requirement of, tacrolimus significantly increased across the first posttransplant months before reaching steady state. The AUC:C0 ratio (on which C0 monitoring is implicitly based) was stable across the different posttransplant periods, although with high interindividual variability. C0-AUC correlation was stronger in the late than in the early posttransplant period (r = 0.75 versus 0.63; P = 0.0075). Using the regression equations obtained, AUC ranges corresponding to different applicable C0 target ranges were calculated to guide dose adjustment. When one of the doses recommended was administered, the following AUC was significantly more often in the predicted target ranges (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: This study improves our knowledge of Advagraf pharmacokinetic variability and relations between exposure indices and the scientific background of the expert service provided through the ISBA Web site.

Actinomycosis: An infrequent disease in renal transplant recipients?

Actinomycosis is a rare and heterogeneous infection involving Gram-positive anaerobic bacteria, which are commensals in the oral cavity and digestive tract. Only four cases of actinomycosis in renal transplant recipients have been reported to date. We performed a retrospective study in French renal transplantation centers to collect data about actinomycosis, patients, and transplantation. Seven cases were reported between 2000 and 2017; mean age was 55.7 years, and prevalence of actinomycosis was 0.02%. Median time between transplantation and infection was 104 months (4-204 months). Locations of actinomycosis were cervicofacial (n = 2), pulmonary (n = 2), abdominopelvic (n = 2), or cutaneous (n = 1). Two patients (28.5%) had acute kidney injury. Diagnosis was made possible by microbiology (71%) or histopathology (filaments and sulfur granules) (14%) of the infection site. The suspected gate of entry for the infection was dental (57%), abdominal (28.5%) or through the sinuses (14%). All patients were treated with amoxicillin for 30-200 days (median duration of 115 days), and clavulanic acid was added for 28.5% of cases. Three patients (43%) required surgery. All patients, except one, recovered completely after a few months. Actinomycosis is a rare, slow, progressive disease in French renal transplant recipients. The location and clinical features of this infection are miscellaneous. Global and renal outcomes do not seem to be affected by actinomycosis.

Factors associated with Health-Related Quality of Life in Kidney Transplant Recipients in France.

BACKGROUND: Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) assessment after kidney transplantation has become an important tool in evaluating outcomes. This study aims to identify the associated factors with HRQoL among a representative sample size of Kidney Transplant Recipients (KTR) at the time of their inclusion in the study. METHODS: Data of this cross-sectional design is retrieved from a longitudinal study conducted in five French kidney transplant centers in 2011, and included KTR aged 18 years with a functioning graft for at least 1 year. Measures include demographic, psycho-social and clinical characteristics. To evaluate HRQoL, the Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36) and a HRQoL instrument for KTR (ReTransQol) were administered. Multivariate linear regression models were performed. RESULTS: A total of 1424 patients were included, with 61.4% males, and a mean age of 55.7 years (±13.1). Demographic and clinical characteristics were associated with low HRQoL scores for both questionnaires. New variables were found in our study: perceived poor social support and being treated by antidepressants were associated with low scores of Quality of Life (QoL), while internet access was associated with high QoL scores. CONCLUSION: The originality of our study's findings was that psycho-social variables, particularly KTR treated by antidepressants and having felt unmet needs for any social support, have a negative effect on their QoL. It may be useful to organize a psychological support specifically adapted for patients after kidney transplantation.

Prospective, multicenter, controlled study of quality of life, psychological adjustment process and medical outcomes of patients receiving a preemptive kidney transplant compared to a similar population of recipients after a dialysis period of less than three years--The PreKit-QoL study protocol.

BACKGROUND: Treatment of end stage renal disease has an impact on patients' physical and psychological health, including quality of life (QoL). Nowadays, it is known that reducing the dialysis period has many advantages regarding QoL and medical outcomes. Although preemptive transplantation is the preferred strategy to prevent patients undergoing dialysis, its psychological impact is unknown. Moreover, transplantation can be experienced in a completely different manner among patients who were on dialysis and those who still had a functioning kidney at the time of surgery. Longitudinal data are often collected to allow analyzing the evolution of patients' QoL over time using questionnaires. Such data are often difficult to interpret due to the patients' changing standards, values, or conceptualization of what the questionnaire is intended to measure (e.g. QoL). This phenomenon is referred to as response shift and is often linked to the way the patients might adapt or cope with their disease experience. Whether response shift is experienced in a different way among patients who were on dialysis and those who still had a functioning kidney at time of surgery is unknown and will be studied in the PreKit-QoL study (trial registration number: NCT02154815). Understanding the psychological impact of pre-emptive transplantation is an important issue since it can be associated with long-term patient and graft survival. METHODS/DESIGN: Adult patients with a pre-emptive transplantation (n = 130) will be prospectively included along with a control group of patients with a pre-transplant dialysis period < 36 months (n = 260). Only first and single kidney transplantation will be considered. Endpoints include: comparison of change between groups in QoL, anxiety and depressive disorders, perceived stress, taking into account response shift. These criteria will be evaluated every 6 months prior to surgery, at hospital discharge, at three and six months, one and two years after transplantation. DISCUSSION: The PreKit-QoL study assesses and compares the evolution of QoL and other psychological criteria in preemptive and dialyzed patients taking patients' adaptation into account through response shift analyses. Our study might help to conceive specific, adapted educational programs and psychological support to prevent a possible premature loss of the kidney as a consequence of non-compliance in patients that may be insufficiently prepared for transplantation. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT02154815 , registered on May 28, 2014.

C3 nephritic factor can be associated with membranous glomerulonephritis.

BACKGROUND: C3 nephritic factor (C3NeF) has been described in association with membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis and is involved in 80 % of cases of dense deposit disease. C3NeF is an immunoglobulin G (IgG) autoantibody which binds to the complement component 3 (C3) convertase C3bBb, thereby inhibiting its decay and leading to massive C3 cleavage. Commonly associated with C3NeF are low C3 levels, decreased total haemolytic complement (CH50) and normal C4 levels. C3NeF patients often present with proteinuria, haematuria and high blood pressure. Evolution to end-stage renal disease is common. Treatment consists of steroids and/or immunosuppressants, with variable efficiency. Renal transplantation is marked by histological recurrence, leading to higher rates of allograft loss. CASES: We report C3NeF in association with membranous glomerulonephritis type 3-4 in two unrelated children. We also demonstrate that, under adequate immunosuppressive therapy, proteinuria is significantly lowered, blood pressure is kept within normal range and long-term renal function remains normal. CONCLUSIONS: C3NeF can be associated with membranous glomerulonephritis in children. Clinical presentation is mild, and mid-term outcome is favourable under adequate therapy. However, complement anomalies persist for several years.

Visceral leishmaniasis due to Leishmania infantum with renal involvement in HIV-infected patients.

BACKGROUND: We describe histological, clinical findings and outcomes of renal involvement during Leishmania infantum infection in four HIV-infected patients in South France and North Italy hospital settings. CASES PRESENTATION: Four HIV-infected Caucasian patients (age 24-49) performed renal biopsy during episodes of visceral leishmaniasis. They presented severe immunosuppression, frequent relapses of visceral leishmaniasis during a follow-up period of several years and partial or complete recovery of renal function after anti-parasitic treatment. Main clinical presentations were nephrotic or nephritic syndrome and/or acute renal failure secondary to membranoproliferative type III glomerulonephritis or acute interstitial nephritis. Clinical outcome was poor, probably as a consequence of insufficient immuno-virological control of the HIV infection. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the main histological findings in case of renal involvement due to Leishmania infantum infection in HIV-infected patients are type III MPGN and acute interstitial nephritis, with a histological specificity similar to that observed in canine leishmaniasis. Poor immune status in HIV-infected patients, altering the capacity for parasite clearance, and prolonged course of chronic active VL in this population may lead to the development of specific renal lesions.

Everolimus plus early tacrolimus minimization: a phase III, randomized, open-label, multicentre trial in renal transplantation.

There is increasing interest in tacrolimus-minimization regimens. ASSET was an open-label, randomized, 12-month study of everolimus plus tacrolimus in de-novo renal-transplant recipients. Everolimus trough targets were 3-8 ng/ml throughout the study. Tacrolimus trough targets were 4-7 ng/ml during the first 3 months and 1.5-3 ng/ml (n = 107) or 4-7 ng/ml (n = 117) from Month 4. All patients received basiliximab induction and corticosteroids. The primary objective was to demonstrate superior estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR; MDRD-4) at Month 12 in the tacrolimus 1.5-3 ng/ml versus the 4-7 ng/ml group. Secondary endpoints included incidence of biopsy-proven acute rejection (BPAR; Months 4-12) and serious adverse events (SAEs; Months 0-12). Statistical significance was not achieved for the primary endpoint (mean eGFR: 57.1 vs. 51.7 ml/min/1.73 m(2)), potentially due to overlapping of achieved tacrolimus exposure levels (Month 12 mean ± SD, tacrolimus 1.5-3 ng/ml: 3.4 ± 1.4; tacrolimus 4-7 ng/ml: 5.5 ± 2.0 ng/ml). BPAR (months 4-12) and SAE rates were comparable between groups (2.7% vs. 1.1% and 58.7% vs. 51.3%; respectively). Everolimus-facilitated tacrolimus minimization, to levels lower than previously investigated, achieved good renal function, low BPAR and graft-loss rates, and an acceptable safety profile in renal transplantation over 12 months although statistically superior renal function of the 1.5-3 ng/ml tacrolimus group was not achieved.

A multicenter, randomized trial of increased mycophenolic acid dose using enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium with reduced tacrolimus exposure in maintenance kidney transplant recipients.

Mycophenolic acid (MPA) dose is frequently reduced in tacrolimus-treated kidney transplant patients, but alternatively the recommended MPA dose can be maintained with reduced tacrolimus exposure. In a 6-month, multicenter, randomized, openlabel study, maintenance kidney transplant patients receiving MPA (mycophenolate mofetil 1g/d or enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium (EC-MPS) 720 mg/d) and tacrolimus were randomized to convert to EC-MPS 1,440 mg/d with reduced tacrolimus (n = 46), or receive EC-MPS 720 mg/d with unchanged tacrolimus (n = 48). Mean estimated GFR (eGFR, aMDRD) at Month 6 was 49.1 ± 11.1 and 44.7 ± 11.5 ml/min/1.73 m2 in the EC-MPS 1,440 mg and 720 mg groups, respectively (p = 0.07). The primary endpoint, change in eGFR from Day 0 to Month 6, was 2.48 ± 0.95 ml/min/1.73 m2 with EC-MPS 1,440 mg and -0.48 ± 0.93 ml/min/1.73 m2 with EC-MPS 720 mg (difference 2.96 ml/min/1.73 m2; 95% CI 0.32 - 5.60; p = 0.028). There were no deaths, graft losses or acute rejections. Adverse events were more frequent with EC-MPS 1,440 mg than 720 mg (66.7% vs. 44.7%, p = 0.034). Adverse events with suspected relation to EC-MPS occurred in 26.7% and 21.3% of patients, respectively (p = 0.59). Conversion of kidney transplant patients to increased MPA dosing using EC-MPS 1,440 mg/d, with reduced tacrolimus exposure, appears an effective immunosuppression strategy and may improve renal function. Adverse events overall, but not those with a suspected relation to EC-MPS, were higher with ECMPS 1,440 mg/d.

Efficacy and safety of de novo or early everolimus with low cyclosporine in deceased-donor kidney transplant recipients at specified risk of delayed graft function: 12-month results of a randomized, multicenter trial.

Immediate or early use of proliferation signal inhibitor (PSI)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor therapy can avoid high exposure to calcineurin inhibitors but concerns exist relating to the risk of delayed graft function (DGF) and impaired wound healing with the mTOR sirolimus. CALLISTO was a 12-month, prospective, multicenter, open-label study. Deceased-donor kidney transplant patients at protocol-specified risk of DGF were randomized to start everolimus on day 1 (immediate everolimus, IE; n = 65) or week 5 (delayed everolimus, DE; n = 74). Incidence of the primary endpoint (biopsy-proven acute rejection, BPAR; graft loss, death, DGF, wound healing complications related to transplant surgery or loss to follow-up) was 64.6% and 66.2% in the IE and DE groups, respectively, at month 12 (P = 0.860). The overall incidence of BPAR was 20.1%. Median estimated glomerular filtration rate was 48 ml/min/1.73 m(2) and 49 ml/min/1.73 m(2) in the IE and DE groups, respectively, at month 12. DGF and wound healing complications were similar between groups. Adverse events led to study drug discontinuation in 17 IE patients (26.2%) and 28 DE patients (37.8%) (NS). In conclusion, introduction of everolimus immediately or early posttransplant in DGF-risk patients is associated with good efficacy, renal function and safety profile. There seems no benefit in delaying initiation of everolimus.

Monitoring of CMV-Specific Cell-Mediated Immunity in Kidney Transplant Recipients With a High Risk of CMV Disease (D+/R-): A Case Series.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most common viral pathogen in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs), and CMV disease impacts patient and graft survivals. CMV-specific CD8 T cell mediated-immunity (CMI) may help to assess the risk of CMV disease and to adapt preventive treatment strategies. High-risk KTRs with CMV seropositive donors/seronegative recipients (D+/R-) were prospectively monitored after CMV prophylaxis discontinuation and during the first year post transplant for CMV viremia (World Health Organization standardization) and CMI (QuantiFERON-CMV). We analyzed the ability of CMI test to predict either subsequent spontaneous viral clearance or CMV disease after prophylaxis discontinuation in patients with asymptomatic viremia. We enrolled 12 consecutive (D+/R-) KTRs. Eleven patients developed a viremia during follow-up, but 7 of them (64%) exhibited a spontaneous viral clearance. At viremia onset, 6 of 11 patients (55%) had a positive CMI test, and all of them (6 of 6, 100%) had subsequent spontaneous viral clearance, compared with only 1 of 5 patients (20%) displaying a nonreactive CMI (P = .02). This latter patient exhibited a positive CMI test 15 days after viremia onset. Four of the 11 patients (36%) developed a CMV disease, and their CMI either remained nonreactive or became positive only after antiviral treatment. We conclude that D+/R- KTRs with asymptomatic viremia after prophylaxis discontinuation may benefit from QuantiFERON-CMV to predict when positive for the spontaneous viral clearance or when persistently negative or the development of a CMV disease.

A Randomized Prospective Study Comparing Anti-T-Lymphocyte Igs to Basiliximab in Highly Sensitized Kidney Transplant Patients.

BACKGROUND: Two prospective studies that were performed before the era of highly sensitive solid-phase assays have shown a lower incidence of acute rejection in highly sensitized kidney-transplant patients given polyclonal antibodies compared with those given anti-CD25 monoclonal antibodies. METHODS: This prospective pilot randomized French multicenter study aimed to compare anti-T-lymphocyte Ig (ATLG) (n = 32) and basiliximab (n = 27) in highly sensitized kidney-transplant patients without preformed donor-specific antibodies (pDSAs) as assessed by a Luminex Single-Antigen flow bead assay. Only patients with a calculated panel reactive antibody ≥50%, with at least 1 antibody with a mean fluorescence intensity ≥5000 and without a historical pDSA and without a pDSA on the day of transplantation were included. RESULTS: Treatment failure as defined by biopsy-proven acute rejection, patient lost to follow-up, graft loss, and death was observed in 18.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 8.9%-37.1%) and 18.8% (95% CI, 8.9%-37.1%) in patients who received ATLG and 14.8% (95% CI, 5.8%-34.8%) and 28.2% (95% CI, 14.2%-51.2%) of patients who received basiliximab, respectively at 6 (P = 0.66) and 12 (P = 0.62) months post-transplantation. One T cell-mediated rejection was observed in ATLG-treated patients (3.1%). One antibody-mediated rejection due to a de novo donor-specific antibody (DSA) occurred in basiliximab-treated patients (3.7%). Patient survival, graft survival, kidney parameters, and infection rate were similar in the 2 groups. CONCLUSION: This pilot study indicates that in highly sensitized kidney-transplant patients without pDSAs, both ATLG and basiliximab can be used efficiently and safely. However, because of the lack of power, these results should be interpreted with caution.

Induction Therapy in Elderly Kidney Transplant Recipients With Low Immunological Risk.

BACKGROUND: In nonimmunized patients, similar rejection rates are observed for patients who have undergone thymoglobulin (antithymocyte globulins [ATG]) or basiliximab (BSX) therapy. While ATG may improve delayed graft function, it may also be associated with higher infection rates and malignancy risk. We compared survival and clinical outcomes in elderly recipients with low immunological risk according to their induction therapy. METHODS: We conducted a multicentric study on nonimmunized patients ≥65 years of age receiving a first kidney transplant between 2010 and 2017. The principal outcome was patient and graft survival. Secondary outcomes were cumulative probabilities of infection, first acute rejection episode, malignancy, de novo donor specific antibody, posttransplant diabetes (PTD), cardiac complications, estimated glomerular filtration rate, and occurrence of delayed graft function. Cox, logistic, or linear statistical models were used depending on the outcome studied, and models were weighted on the propensity scores. RESULTS: Two hundred and four patients were included in the BSX group and 179 in the ATG group with the average age of 71.0 and 70.5 years, respectively. Patient and graft survival at 3 years posttransplantation were 74% (95% CI, 65%-84%) and 68% (95% CI, 60%-78%) in ATG and BSX group, respectively, without significant difference. Occurrence of PTD was significatively higher in BSX group (23% versus 15%, P = 0.04) due to higher trough levels of Tacrolimus on month 3 (9.48 versus 7.30 ng/mL, P = 0.023). There was no difference in other evaluated outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: In elderly recipients, ATG does not lead to poorer outcomes compared with BSX and could permit lower trough levels of Tacrolimus, thus reducing occurrence of PTD.

Evidence that graft-site candidiasis after kidney transplantation is acquired during organ recovery: a multicenter study in France.

BACKGROUND: Infections of renal grafts with Candida species can induce life-threatening complications in the recipient. METHODS: A 9-year retrospective study involving all of the transplant centers in France was designed to determine the incidence, origin, characteristics, and outcome of graft-site candidiasis that occurred after kidney transplantation. Yeasts cultured from preservation or drainage solutions and graft specimens were recorded. RESULTS: Among 18,617 kidney grafts, 18 recipients corresponding to 12 donors developed culture-confirmed graft-site candidiasis (incidence, 1 case per 1000 grafts) a median of 25 days after the graft procedure. Clinical presentations included 14 cases of renal arteritis (13 were complicated by aneurysm), 1 urinoma, 2 graft site abscesses, and 1 surgical site infection. Candida albicans was involved in 13 cases. A unique C. albicans genotype or a single rare Candida species was involved in each episode. Together with the clinical history, these findings demonstrate that organ contamination followed by transmission to the recipient occurred during recovery. Therapeutic management varied from simple monitoring in 1 case to a combination of surgery (nephrectomy in 9 cases and arterial bypass in 9 cases) and antifungal therapy (14 cases). Overall, 3 of 18 kidney transplant recipients died, and 9 had their graft surgically removed. CONCLUSION: Graft-transmitted candidiasis that ends most often in fungal arteritis is associated with high morbidity and mortality after kidney transplantation and is related to organ contamination during recovery in the donor.