Simultaneous Liver and Kidney Transplantation in Patients Aged 70 y and Older: Proceed With Caution.

Background: The number of elderly patients aged 70 y and older with liver and kidney failure is increasing, mainly because of increasing prevalence of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis. At present, limited data are available on the outcomes of elderly patients who fit the criteria for dual organ transplantation since the implementation of the simultaneous liver and kidney (SLK) allocation policy. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network database of adults aged 18 y and older undergoing SLK and kidney transplantation only from August 11, 2017, to December 31, 2022. We examined patient and graft survivals and compared the outcomes of the recipients aged 70 y and older undergoing SLK transplantation to those who received kidney transplant alone and kidney after liver transplant. Results: During the study period, there has been a significant rise in the number of patients aged 70 y and older undergoing SLK transplantation, with 6 patients undergoing SLK transplantation in 2017 and 63 in 2021. Patients aged 70 y and older had significantly lower survival with 82.9% at 1 y and 66.5% at 3 y compared with 89.3% and 78.8% in the 50-69 y age group and 93.2% and 88.6% in the 18-49 y age group, respectively. Overall, kidney allograft survival was significantly lower in the 70 y and older group, with 80.9% at 1 y and 66.4% at 3 y compared with 91.1% and 75.5%, respectively, in those undergoing kidney transplant alone. There was no difference in kidney allograft survival in those undergoing SLK and kidney after liver transplantation. Conclusions: Although the outcomes are inferior in recipients of SLK transplant aged 70 y and older, chronologic age should not preclude them from undergoing transplantation. Kidney transplantation after liver transplantation could be considered to avoid futile transplants.

Impact of Obesity on Kidney Transplant Outcomes in Older Adults.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of obesity in older patients undergoing kidney transplantation is increasing. Older age and obesity are associated with higher risks of complications and mortality post-transplantation. The optimal management of this group of patients remains undefined. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the United Network for Organ Sharing database of adults ≥70 years of age undergoing primary kidney transplant from January 1, 2014, to December 31, 2022. We examined patient and graft survival stratified by body mass index (BMI) in 3 categories, <30 kg/m2, 30 to 35 kg/m2, and >35 kg/m2. We also analyzed other risk factors that impacted survival. RESULTS: A total of 14,786 patients ≥70 years underwent kidney transplantation. Of those, 9,731 patients had a BMI <30 kg/m2, 3,726 patients with a BMI of 30 to 35 kg/m2, and 1,036 patients with a BMI >35 kg/m2. During the study period, there was a significant increase in kidney transplants in patients ≥70 years old across all BMI groups. Overall, patient survival, death-censored graft survival, and all-cause graft survival were lower in obese patients compared with nonobese patients. Multivariable analysis showed worse patient survival and graft survival in patients with a BMI of 30 to 35 kg/m2, a BMI >35 kg/m2, a longer duration of dialysis, diabetes mellitus, and poor functional status. CONCLUSION: Adults ≥70 years should be considered for kidney transplantation. Obesity with a BMI of 30 to 35 kg/m2 or >35 kg/m2, longer duration of dialysis, diabetes, and functional status are associated with worse outcomes. Optimization of these risk factors is essential when considering these patients for transplantation.

Development and First Clinical Use of an Extracorporeal Artificial Multiorgan System in Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure Patients.

Multiple organ failure (MOF) is a common and deadly condition. Patients with liver cirrhosis with acute-on-chronic liver failure (AOCLF) are particularly susceptible. Excess fluid accumulation in tissues makes routine hemodialysis generally ineffective because of cardiovascular instability. Patients with three or more organ failures face a mortality rate of more than 90%. Many cannot survive liver transplantation. Extracorporeal support systems like MARS (Baxter, Deerfield, IL) and Prometheus (Bad Homburg, Germany) have shown promise but fall short in bridging patients to transplantation. A novel Artificial Multi-organ Replacement System (AMOR) was developed at the University of Washington Medical Center. AMOR removes protein-bound toxins through a combination of albumin dialysis, a charcoal sorbent column, and a novel rinsing method to prevent sorbent column saturation. It removes excess fluid through hemodialysis. Ten AOCLF patients with over three organ failures were treated by the AMOR system. All patients showed significant clinical improvement. Fifty percent of the cohort received liver transplants or recovered liver function. AMOR was successful in removing large amounts of excess body fluid, which regular hemodialysis could not. AMOR is cost-effective and user-friendly. It removes excess fluid, supporting the other vital organs such as liver, kidneys, lungs, and heart. This pilot study's results encourage further exploration of AMOR for treating MOF patients.