IgG3 donor-specific antibodies with a proinflammatory glycosylation profile may be associated with the risk of antibody-mediated rejection after kidney transplantation.

The pathogenicity of de novo donor-specific antibodies (dnDSA) varies according to their characteristics. While their MFI, complement-fixing ability, and IgG3 subclass are associated with ABMR occurrence and graft loss, they are not fully predictive of outcomes. We investigated the role of the Fc glycosylation of IgG3 dnDSA in ABMR occurrence using mass spectrometry after isolation by single HLA antigen beads. Between 2014 and 2018, we enrolled 54 patients who developed dnDSA (ABMR- n = 24; ABMR+ n = 30) in two French transplant centers. Fucosylation, galactosylation, GlcNAc bisection, and sialylation of IgG3 dnDSA were compared between ABMR+ and ABMR- patients. IgG3 dnDSA from ABMR+ patients exhibited significantly lower sialylation (7.5% vs. 10.5%, p < .001) and higher GlcNAc bisection (20.6% vs. 17.4%, p = .008). Fucosylation and galactosylation were similar in both groups. DSA glycosylation was not correlated with DSA MFI. In a multivariate analysis, low IgG3 sialylation, high IgG3%, time from transplantation to kidney biopsy, and tacrolimus-free regimen were independent predictive factors of ABMR. We conclude that a proinflammatory glycosylation profile of IgG3 dnDSA is associated with a risk of ABMR occurrence. Further studies are needed to confirm the clinical interest of DSA glycosylation and to clarify its role in determining the risk of ABMR and graft survival.

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.

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.

Comparison of graft and patient survival according to the transplantation centre policy for 1-year screening biopsy among stable kidney recipients: a propensity score-based study.

BACKGROUND: The clinical utility of screening biopsies (SBs) at 1 year post-transplantation is still debated, especially for stable kidney graft recipients. Given the heterogeneity in practices between transplantation centres, the objective of this study was to compare graft and patient survival of stable patients according to whether they were followed up in a transplantation centre with or without a policy for having an SB at 1 year post-transplantation. MATERIALS: From a French multicentre cohort, we studied 1573 kidney recipients who were alive with stable graft function at 1 year post-transplantation, with no acute rejection in their first year post-transplantation. RESULTS: Using propensity score-based analyses, we did not observe any significant difference in the relative risk for graft failure between patients from centres with a 1-year SB policy and those from other centres [hazard ratio = 1.15, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.86-1.53]. The corresponding adjusted survival probability at 8 years post-transplantation was 69% (95% CI 61-74%) for patients from centres with a 1-year SB policy versus 74% (95% CI 67-79%) for those from other centres. CONCLUSION: A 1-year SB policy for stable patients may not lead to therapeutical benefits for improved graft and patient survival. Further studies examining the benefits versus the risks of a 1-year SB policy are warranted to demonstrate the long-term utility of this intervention.

Dynamic predictions of long-term kidney graft failure: an information tool promoting patient-centred care.

BACKGROUND: Informing kidney transplant recipients of their prognosis and disease progression is of primary importance in a patient-centred vision of care. By participating in decisions from the outset, transplant recipients may be more adherent to complex medical regimens due to their enhanced understanding. METHODS: We proposed to include repeated measurements of serum creatinine (SCr), in addition to baseline characteristics, in order to obtain dynamic predictions of the graft failure risk that could be updated continuously during patient follow-up. Adult recipients from the French Données Informatisées et VAlidées en Transplantation (DIVAT) cohort transplanted for the first or second time from a heart-beating or living donor and alive with a functioning graft at 1 year post-transplantation were included. RESULTS: The model was composed of six baseline parameters, in addition to the SCr evolution. We validated the dynamic predictions by evaluating both discrimination and calibration accuracy. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve varied from 0.72 to 0.76 for prediction times at 1 and 6 years post-transplantation, respectively, while calibration plots showed correct accuracy. We also provided an online application tool (https://shiny.idbc.fr/DynPG). CONCLUSION: We have created a tool that, for the first time in kidney transplantation, predicts graft failure risk both at an individual patient level and dynamically. We believe that this tool would encourage willing patients into participative medicine.

Preemptive second kidney transplantation is associated with better graft survival compared with non-preemptive second transplantation: a multicenter French 2000-2014 cohort study.

The impact of preemptive second kidney transplantation (2KT) on graft and patient survival is poorly established. The association between preemptive 2KT (p2KT, N = 93) and outcomes was estimated in a multicenter French cohort of 2KT (N = 1314) recipients using propensity score methods. During the follow-up, there were 274 returns to dialysis and 134 deaths. p2KT was associated with lower death-censored graft loss (HR = 0.39 [0.18-0.88], P = 0.024) and graft failure from any cause including death (HR = 0.42 [0.22-0.80], P = 0.008). Similar associations were observed for death with a functioning graft, although not reaching statistical significance (HR = 0.47 [0.17-1.26], P = 0.13). There was a significant interaction between donor type and p2KT (P for interaction = 0.016). Indeed, p2KT was not significantly associated with the risk of graft failure from any cause including death in living donor 2KT (P = 0.39), whereas the association was substantial in the deceased donor subset (HR = 0.30 [0.14-0.64], P = 0.002). Of note, the adjusted graft survival of p2KT with deceased donor paralleled that of 2KT with living donor, either preemptive or not (93.8% vs. 88.6% at 4 years and 76.1% vs. 70.5% at 8 years, P = 0.13). This large French multicenter study analyzed using propensity scores suggests that p2KT is associated with better graft prognosis.

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.

Renal graft intolerance syndrome in late graft failure patients: efficacy and safety of embolization as first-line treatment compared to surgical removal.

Although renal graft percutaneous embolization was introduced to avoid the risk associated with graft nephrectomy, there is no universal consensus about its indications and results. In order to evaluate the efficacy of graft embolization in the treatment of graft intolerance syndrome as well as its safety compared to surgical removal with respect to complications and other morbidity measures, We performed a retrospective observational study comparing two groups of patients treated for graft intolerance syndrome: Group 1: patients who had embolization as first-line treatment and Group 2: patients directly treated by surgical removal. 72 patients were included, (32 in Group 1 and 40 in Group 2); the postintervention follow-up continued for 12 months. Patients in Group 1 are older than those in Group 2. Otherwise, the two groups are similar concerning sex, manifestations of graft intolerance syndrome, diabetes and nutritional and functional status. The overall success rate of embolization in complete resolution of graft intolerance syndrome and ultimately avoidance of surgical removal was 84.37%. The surgical removal group had more serious complications, a longer hospital stay and needed more blood transfusions. We conclude that embolization of symptomatic renal grafts has considerable efficacy with less morbidity, and no serious complications compared to the standard surgical graft removal.

Pregnancy outcomes in simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplant recipients: a national French survey study.

Simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplantation (SPK) is currently the best therapeutic option for patients with type 1 diabetes and terminal renal failure. Renal transplantation restores fertility enabling women to pursue pregnancies. However, scarcity of available data on pregnancy outcomes in SPK impedes fair medical counseling. Medical files of all pregnancies that lasted ≥3 months among recipients of functional SPK performed between 1990 and 2015 in France were retrospectively analyzed. Twenty-six pregnancies in 22 SPK recipients were identified. Main maternal complications included gestational hypertension (53.8%) and infections (50%). Cesarean section was performed in 73% of cases. Overall fetal survival was 92.6% with a mean gestational age of 34.2 ± 3 weeks. Four children (16.7% of live births) had a birth weight <10th percentile. Endocrine pancreas graft function remained stable during pregnancy. An acute kidney rejection occurred in two patients, one of which resulting in graft loss. Kidney and pancreas graft survival was, respectively, 96% and 100% at 1 year postconception and did not differ from controls. Pregnancy in SPK is feasible, but patients should be informed of the risks for the fetus, the mother, and the grafts. Planning of pregnancy in SPK women is key to allow a personalized multidisciplinary monitoring, which represents the most straightforward approach to optimize outcomes.

Standardized Method to Measure Muscle Force at the Bedside in Hemodialysis Patients.

OBJECTIVES: In hemodialysis, diminution of muscle strength constitutes a major prognostic factor of mortality. Currently, measurement of quadriceps isometric maximal voluntary force (MVF) represents the reference method to investigate muscle strength. However, reduction of MVF is rarely detected in these patients due to the absence of portative bedside tools in clinical practice. The purposes of this study were therefore to assess the agreement of a belt-stabilized handheld dynamometer (HHD) with the dynamometer chair (reference method) and to determine intratester and intertester reliability of the quadriceps MVF measurements using belt-stabilized HHD in healthy subjects and in hemodialysis patients. DESIGN: Repeated-measures cross-sectional study. SETTING: Clinical and academic hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Fifty-three healthy adult subjects (23 males, 36.5 + 12.5 y.o.) and 21 hemodialysis patients (14 males, 72.4 + 13.3 y.o., dialysis vintage 30 + 75.1 months). INTERVENTION: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: MVF measurements were assessed with belt-stabilized HHD and dynamometer chair, by two independent investigators. The agreement between the two devices would be quantified using the Bland-Altman 95% limits of agreement (LOA) method and the Spearman correlation. RESULTS: For healthy subjects and hemodialysis patients, Spearman coefficients between belt-stabilized HHD and dynamometer chair were 0.63 and 0.75, respectively (P < .05). In hemodialysis group, reliability was excellent for both the intratester and intertester reliability R2 = 0.85 (P < .01) and R2 = 0.90 (P < .01), respectively. In all individuals, the mean difference between the dynamometer chair and the belt-stabilized HHD was -13.07 ± 21.77 N.m. (P < .001). The LOA for the upper and the lower was 29.59 and -55.73 N.m., respectively. CONCLUSION: In healthy subjects and in hemodialysis patients, the belt-stabilized HHD dynamometer appears as a valid and reliable method to measure in clinical practice isometric MVF of quadriceps in hemodialysis patients. Therefore, the belt-stabilized HHD appears as a suitable and a relevant diagnostic tool for the identification of muscle dysfunction in hemodialysis patients.

Evaluation of the New Siemens Tacrolimus Assay on the Dimension EXL Integrated Chemistry System Analyzer: Comparison With an Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry Method.

BACKGROUND: Many patients are maintained at the lower end of the tacrolimus (TAC) reference range (3-7 ng/mL), requiring the use of analytical methods displaying a very low limit of quantification for their follow-up. Therefore, the new Dimension TAC, based on affinity chrome-mediated immunoassay technology, was evaluated on the Dimension EXL Integrated Chemistry System (Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc). The aims of this study were (1) to evaluate the analytical performances with special emphasis on sensibility at low levels of TAC, (2) to compare the results with an ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC/MS/MS) method. METHODS: Analytical performance (imprecision, linearity, limit of detection, and limit of quantification) was evaluated. Comparison to UPLC/MS/MS was performed on 106 whole blood samples from 88 transplant recipients using regression analysis and Bland-Altman plot analysis. RESULTS: Repeatability and within-laboratory coefficients of variation were <6% at mean TAC control levels of 3.7, 11.7, and 19.2 ng/mL. Linearity was confirmed between 1.0 and 22 ng/mL. Passing-Bablok regression analysis of Siemens TAC assay in comparison with UPLC/MS/MS values displayed a slope of 1.09 and an intercept of -0.42. Using Bland-Altman analysis, the mean bias was 0.27 ng/mL with 1.96 SD limits of -2.14 and 2.67 ng/mL. CONCLUSIONS: The new Dimension TAC immunoassay on the EXL analyzer demonstrated reliable and reproducible performances allowing routine monitoring in transplant patients, even at TAC concentrations at the lower end of the therapeutic range.

Arterial stiffness: an independent determinant of adaptive glomerular hyperfiltration after kidney donation.

After kidney donation, the remaining kidney tends to hyperfiltrate, thus limiting the initial loss of renal function. The potential determinants of this adaptive glomerular hyperfiltration (GHF) and specifically the influence of arterial function are poorly known. In 45 normotensive healthy kidney donors [51 ± 10 yr (mean ± SD), 39 females], glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was measured as the clearance of continuously infused (99m)Tc-DTPA and timed urine collections at baseline, i.e., before donation, and 1 yr after donation. GHF was computed as postdonation GFR minus half of baseline GFR. Arterial function was assessed as baseline carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) and carotid augmentation index (AIx). After kidney donation, no significant change in blood pressure (BP) was observed, but two subjects developed hypertension. GFR decreased from 107 ± 19 to 73 ± 15 ml·min(-1)·1.73 m(-2), and mean GHF was 20 ± 10 ml·min(-1)·1.73 m(-2). In univariate analysis, GHF was inversely correlated to age (r(2) = 0.24, P = 0.01), baseline PWV (r(2) = 0.23, P = 0.001), and Aix (r(2) = 0.11, P = 0.031). Nevertheless, GHF was not correlated to baseline peripheral or central BP. In multivariate analysis, baseline PWV, but not AIx, remained inversely correlated to GHF, independently of age, baseline mean BP, and GFR (model r(2) = 0.34, P < 0.001). In healthy subjects selected for renal donation, increased arterial stiffness is associated with decreased postdonation compensatory hyperfiltration.

Each additional hour of cold ischemia time significantly increases the risk of graft failure and mortality following renal transplantation.

Although cold ischemia time has been widely studied in renal transplantation area, there is no consensus on its precise relationship with the transplantation outcomes. To study this, we sampled data from 3839 adult recipients of a first heart-beating deceased donor kidney transplanted between 2000 and 2011 within the French observational multicentric prospective DIVAT cohort. A Cox model was used to assess the relationship between cold ischemia time and death-censored graft survival or patient survival by using piecewise log-linear function. There was a significant proportional increase in the risk of graft failure for each additional hour of cold ischemia time (hazard ratio, 1.013). As an example, a patient who received a kidney with a cold ischemia time of 30 h presented a risk of graft failure near 40% higher than a patient with a cold ischemia time of 6 h. Moreover, we found that the risk of death also proportionally increased for each additional hour of cold ischemia time (hazard ratio, 1.018). Thus, every additional hour of cold ischemia time must be taken into account in order to increase graft and patient survival. These findings are of practical clinical interest, as cold ischemia time is among one of the main modifiable pre-transplantation risk factors that can be minimized by improved management of the peri-transplantation period.

Evaluation of QMS everolimus assay using Indiko analyzer: comparison with an ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method.

BACKGROUND: A new particle-enhanced turbidimetric immunoassay, Quantitative Microsphere System (QMS) everolimus, was evaluated using an Indiko analyzer (Thermo Fisher Scientific). METHODS: Analytical performances (imprecision, linearity, limit of detection, and limit of quantification) of this new immunoassay were evaluated. The method was compared with an ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC/MS/MS) method and with the previously available Innofluor Certican immunoassay on 120 whole-blood samples from 74 transplant recipients. Passing-Bablok regression and Bland-Altman plot were used for method comparisons. RESULTS: Within- and between-day coefficients of variation were <10% at mean levels of 4.3, 8.2, and 15.9 ng/mL, respectively. This assay could be used at everolimus concentrations between 1.7 and 20 ng/mL. We obtained a Passing-Bablok regression of y = 0.99 × -0.15 (r = 0.95) when comparing with the UPLC/MS/MS method and of y = 0.81 × -0.09 (r = 0.94) when comparing with Innofluor assay. The mean and limits of agreement (mean ± 1.96 SD) of the difference between QMS everolimus and UPLC/MS/MS were -0.13 (from -2.0 to 1.74) ng/mL and were -1.19 (from -3.39 to 1.01) ng/mL between QMS everolimus and Innofluor. CONCLUSIONS: The QMS everolimus method on Indiko analyzer demonstrated reliable and reproducible performances allowing routine monitoring in transplant patients.

Similar patient survival following kidney allograft failure compared with non-transplanted patients.

Data from the national French Renal Epidemiology and Information Network (REIN) registry were used to compare survival between transplant recipients under age 65 who resumed dialysis after graft failure during 2007-2009 and transplant-naïve incident dialysis patients matched for age, gender, diabetes mellitus, and year of starting dialysis. Among 911 transplant patients who returned to dialysis, 103 had died by 1 January 2011. Multivariate analysis showed that age over 48 years, coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease, and inability to walk unassisted were significant predictors of death. In the case-control analysis, the observed mortality rates in 778 transplant failure and 778 transplant-naïve dialysis patients were 11.8 and 10.8%, respectively. Kaplan-Meier estimates of survival after transplant failure vs. the transplant-naïve controls were 95.2 vs. 94.1% at 1 year, 90.3 vs. 88.8% at 2 years, and 84.2 vs. 80.2% at 3 years (log rank P=0.197 overall). Dialysis in transplant failure vs. transplant-naïve patients was not associated with significantly increased mortality. At the start of dialysis, the serum creatinine levels and the rate of unplanned dialysis were significantly lower in transplant failure patients compared with transplant-naïve controls. Thus, in patients under 65 years of age in France, survival of dialysis patients after graft loss is similar to that of incident dialysis patients who have not undergone transplantation.

A useful scoring system for the prediction and management of delayed graft function following kidney transplantation from cadaveric donors.

Delayed graft function (DGF) is a common complication in kidney transplantation and is known to be correlated with short- and long-term graft outcomes. Here we explored the possibility of developing a simple tool that could predict with good confidence the occurrence of DGF and could be helpful in current clinical practice. We built a score, tentatively called DGFS, from a French multicenter and prospective cohort of 1844 adult recipients of deceased donor kidneys collected since 2007, and computerized in the Données Informatisées et VAlidées en Transplantation databank. Only five explicative variables (cold ischemia time, donor age, donor serum creatinine, recipient body mass index, and induction therapy) contributed significantly to the DGF prediction. These were associated with a good predictive capacity (area under the ROC curve at 0.73). The DGFS calculation is facilitated by an application available on smartphones, tablets, or computers at www.divat.fr/en/online-calculators/dgfs. The DGFS should allow the simple classification of patients according to their DGF risk at the time of transplantation, and thus allow tailored-specific management or therapeutic strategies.

An alternative approach to estimate age-related mortality of kidney transplant recipients compared to the general population: results in favor of old-to-old transplantations.

Compared to dialysis, kidney transplantation appears to be the best treatment for chronic kidney failure, even for older aged patients. Nevertheless, the individual benefit of transplanting elderly patients has to be balanced against the corresponding increase in the number of patients awaiting grafts. We analyzed the excess mortality related to kidney transplant recipients by taking into account the expected mortality of the general population (additive regression model for relative survival). We applied this method to a cohort of patients who received a first deceased-donor kidney transplant between 1998 and 2009 in France (DIVAT, n = 3641). Overall 10-year mortality was 13%. As expected, recipient age was the main risk factor associated with overall mortality. In contrast, recipient age was no longer significantly associated with the excess of mortality related to kidney transplant status by subtracting the expected mortality of the general population. Delayed graft function (DGF), pretransplantation immunization, and past history of diabetes appeared as the main risk factors of this higher mortality rate. Our results constitute a strong argument in favor of kidney transplantation, regardless of the patient's age. Preventing DGF may be more effective for decreasing the risk of death specifically attributable to the disease.

Impact of graft nephrectomy on outcomes of second kidney transplantation.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the impact of renal graft nephrectomy on second kidney transplantation survival. METHODS: We carried out a retrospective single-center study by analyzing cases performed from January 2000 to December 2011. Retransplanted patients who underwent previous allograft nephrectomy more than 3 months post-transplantation (group 1) were compared with those who did not (group 2) in terms of graft survival, incidences of acute rejection and delayed graft function. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard models were used to assess risk factors of graft loss after retransplantation. RESULTS: Overall, 146 patients were analyzed, including 52 (35.6%) in group 1 and 94 (64.4%) in group 2. Group 1 patients presented a significantly shorter first graft survival (0.8 vs 8.6 years, P < 0.001) and more anti-class I antibodies (90.5% vs 74.2%, P = 0.03). A total of 10 patients (19%) in group 1 and 16 patients (17%) in group 2 had at least one acute rejection episode (P = 0.74). Delayed graft function was observed in 13 patients (25%) in group 1 and 17 patients (18%) in group 2 (P = 0.32). Graft survival at 1, 5 and 10 years was, respectively, 94%, 81% and 58% in group 1, and 99%, 93% and 66% in group 2 (P = 0.10). Graft survival was decreased by increased donor age and serum creatinine, and tended to be associated with post-transplantation presence of anti-class I and II antibodies. Graft nephrectomy was not associated with graft survival in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Graft nephrectomy, probably a marker of high immunological risk patients, is not a risk factor of increased retransplant failure.

Effect of early stage kidney disease on cardiac mass: comparison to post-donation renal function.

BACKGROUND/AIM: In chronic renal failure the increase in cardiovascular risk is in part related to the high prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy. The aim of the present monocentric retrospective study was to evaluate the influence of the presence of parenchymal kidney disease on left ventricular geometry in normotensive (arterial pressure <140/90 mm Hg) patients (KD+, n = 50, mean age 39 ± 19 years) with mild to moderate renal failure (stage 2-3 chronic kidney disease). METHODS: Left ventricular geometry was estimated by echocardiography and compared to a group of healthy subjects with similarly reduced renal function as a consequence of renal donation (KD-, n = 63, mean age 52 ± 12 years). RESULTS: Subjects with and without kidney disease had similar blood pressure, body mass index and isotopic glomerular filtration rate. Left ventricular mass (LVM) indexed to body surface area was greater in KD+ as compared to KD- subjects and the difference was more pronounced in women than in men. The increase in LVM in KD+ patients was associated with lower albuminemia and hematocrit, and a higher plasma renin activity and aldosterone as compared to KD- subjects. In multivariate analysis, kidney disease emerged as an important determinant of LVM index independently of age, gender and blood pressure. CONCLUSION: This observation suggests that the presence of kidney disease has an independent amplifying effect on LVM which could be related to volume overload and/or prohypertrophic factors such as aldosterone.

Steroid avoidance with early intensified dosing of enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium: a randomized multicentre trial in kidney transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND: Short-term intensified dosing using enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium (EC-MPS) reduces rejection after kidney transplantation without compromising safety and may facilitate steroid avoidance. METHODS: In a 6-month, multicentre open-label trial, 222 de novo kidney transplant recipients at low-immunological risk were randomized to steroid avoidance or maintenance steroids with interleukin (IL)-2 receptor antibody (IL-2RA) induction, EC-MPS (2160 mg/day to Week 6, 1440 mg/day thereafter) and cyclosporine. RESULTS: The primary end point; treatment failure at Month 6 [biopsy-proven acute rejection (BPAR), graft loss, death or loss to follow-up], occurred in 17.9% (20/112) of steroid-avoidance patients and 14.5% (16/110) of controls (difference 3.4%, 95% confidence interval -6.3 to 13.1, P = 0.47 for superiority testing). BPAR occurred in 11.6 and 7.3% of patients in the steroid-avoidance and control arms, respectively (P = 0.27). Creatinine clearance was similar at Month 6 (steroid-avoidance 56 ± 18 mL/min/1.73 m(2), controls 60 ± 22 mL/min/1.73 m(2), P = 0.34). Cytomegalovirus infection, as reported by investigators, occurred in 12.5% of steroid-avoidance patients and 22.7% of controls (P = 0.045). CONCLUSIONS: A regimen of early intensified EC-MPS dosing with calcineurin inhibitor and IL-2RA induction permits oral steroid avoidance in adult kidney transplant patients at low-immunological risk without compromising efficacy at 6 months' follow-up.