Kidney transplantation in multiple myeloma in 2023: A short review.

Patients with multiple myeloma (MM) frequently present with kidney involvement, of which a non-negligible proportion will progress to end-stage kidney disease. Kidney transplantation (KT) is the preferred kidney replacement therapy for selected patients; however, there are still many uncertainties regarding its application in MM patients. The risk of hematological relapse and subsequent graft loss or patient death often leads nephrologists to deem these patients unfit for KT. As such, data on KT in MM patients are heterogeneous and originate from individual case reports and small case series. Although MM is still an incurable disease, the addition of newer drugs and autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) in the standard of care has been increasing patients' overall survival in recent decades. Risk stratification using cytogenetic studies and minimal residual disease detection are helpful in assessing the risk of relapse in patients who attain a complete response after HSCT. The greatest challenges remain the correct identification of patients who will most probably benefit from KT from a survival perspective and the determination of how long relapse-free survival should be before the transplant is performed.

Severe Acute Kidney Injury in Hospitalized Cancer Patients: Epidemiology and Predictive Model of Renal Replacement Therapy and In-Hospital Mortality.

BACKGROUND: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication among cancer patients, often leading to longer hospital stays, discontinuation of cancer treatment, and a poor prognosis. This study aims to provide insight into the incidence of severe AKI in this population and identify the risk factors associated with renal replacement therapy (RRT) and in-hospital mortality. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included 3201 patients with cancer and severe AKI admitted to a Comprehensive Cancer Center between January 1995 and July 2023. Severe AKI was defined according to the KDIGO guidelines as grade ≥ 2 AKI with nephrological in-hospital follow-up. Data were analyzed in two timelines: Period A (1995-2010) and Period B (2011-2023). RESULTS: A total of 3201 patients (1% of all hospitalized cases) were included, with a mean age of 62.5 ± 17.2 years. Solid tumors represented 75% of all neoplasms, showing an increasing tendency, while hematological cancer decreased. Obstructive AKI declined, whereas the incidence of sepsis-associated, prerenal, and drug-induced AKI increased. Overall, 20% of patients required RRT, and 26.4% died during hospitalization. A predictive model for RRT (AUC 0.833 [95% CI 0.817-0.848]) identified sepsis and hematological cancer as risk factors and prerenal and obstructive AKI as protective factors. A similar model for overall in-hospital mortality (AUC 0.731 [95% CI 0.71-0.752]) revealed invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV), sepsis, and RRT as risk factors and obstructive AKI as a protective factor. The model for hemato-oncological patients' mortality (AUC 0.832 [95% CI 0.803-0.861]) included IMV, sepsis, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and drug-induced AKI. Mortality risk point score models were derived from these analyses. CONCLUSIONS: This study addresses the demographic and clinical features of cancer patients with severe AKI. The development of predictive models for RRT and in-hospital mortality, along with risk point scores, may play a role in the management of this population.

Acute kidney injury after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation – Predictors and survival impact: A single center retrospective study / Lesión renal aguda después de trasplante de células madre hematopoyéticas alogénicas, factores predictivos e impacto en la supervivencia: un estudio retrospectivo en un solo centro

Introduction and objectives: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a frequent complication of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and appears to be linked to increased morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence, etiology, predictors and survival impact of early AKI in the post-allogeneic HSCT setting. Patients and methods: We performed a retrospective single center study that included 155 allogeneic transplant procedures from June 2017 through September 2019. Results: AKI was observed in 50 patients (32%). In multivariate analysis, age (OR 31.55, 95% CI [3.42; 290.80], p=0.002), evidence of disease at the time of transplant (OR 2.54, 95% CI [1.12; 5.75], p=0.025), cytomegalovirus reactivation (OR 5.77, 95% CI [2.43; 13.72], p<0.001) and hospital stay >35 days (OR 2.66, 95% CI [1.08; 6.52], p=0.033) were independent predictors for AKI. Increasing age (HR 1.02, 95% CI [1.00; 1.04], p=0.029), increasing length of hospital stay (HR 1.02, 95% CI [1.01; 1.03], p=0.002), matched unrelated reduced intensity conditioning HSCT (HR 1.91, 95% CI [1.10; 3.33], p=0.022), occurrence of grade III/IV acute graft-versus-host disease (HR 2.41, 95% CI [1.15; 5.03], p=0.019) and need for mechanical ventilation (HR 3.49, 95% CI [1.54; 7.92], p=0.003) predicted an inferior survival in multivariate analysis. Early AKI from any etiology was not related to worse survival. Conclusion: Patients submitted to HSCT are at an increased risk for AKI, which etiology is often multifactorial. Due to AKI incidence, specialized nephrologist consultation as part of the multidisciplinary team might be of benefit. (AU)

Introducción y objetivos: La lesión renal aguda (LRA) es una complicación frecuente del trasplante de células madre hematopoyéticas (TCMH) y parece estar asociado a un incremento en la morbilidad y la mortalidad. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la incidencia, la etiología, los factores predictivos y el impacto en la supervivencia de la LRA temprana en el contexto posterior al TCMH alogénico. Pacientes y métodos: Se realizó un estudio retrospectivo en un único centro que incluyó 155 procedimientos de trasplante alogénico desde junio de 2017 hasta septiembre de 2019. Resultados: Se observó LRA en 50 pacientes (32%). En el análisis de múltiples variables, la edad (OR 31,55, IC del 95% [3,42; 290,80], p=0,002), la evidencia de enfermedad en el momento del trasplante (OR 2,54, IC del 95% [1,12; 5,75], p=0,025), reactivación de citomegalovirus (OR 5,77, IC del 95% [2,43; 13,72], p<0,001) y estancia hospitalaria>35 días (OR 2,66, IC del 95% [1,08; 6,52], p=0,033) fueron los factores predictivos independientes para LRA. La mayor edad (HR 1,02, IC del 95% [1,00; 1,04], p=0,029), la mayor duración de la estancia hospitalaria (HR 1,02, IC del 95% [1,01; 1,03], p=0,002), TCMH con acondicionamiento de intensidad reducida no relacionados emparejados (HR 1,91, IC del 95% [1,10; 3,33], p=0,022), aparición de enfermedad injerto contra huésped aguda de grado iii/iv (HR 2,41, IC del 95% [1,15; 5,03], p=0,019) y necesidad de ventilación mecánica (HR 3,49, IC del 95% [1,54; 7,92], p=0,003) predijeron una supervivencia inferior en el análisis de múltiples variables. La LRA temprana de cualquier etiología no se asoció con una peor supervivencia. Conclusión: Los pacientes sometidos a TCMH presentan un mayor riesgo de LRA, cuya etiología es con frecuencia multifactorial. Debido a la incidencia de LRA, la consulta a un nefrólogo especializado como parte del equipo multidisciplinario podría ser beneficiosa. (AU)

Thrombotic microangiopathy in oncology - a review.

Thrombotic microangiopathy is a syndrome triggered by a wide spectrum of situations, some of which are specific to the Oncology setting. It is characterized by a Coombs-negative microangiopathic haemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia and organ injury, with characteristic pathological features, resulting from platelet microvascular occlusion. TMA is rare and its cancer-related subset even more so. TMA triggered by drugs is the most common within this group, including classic chemotherapy and the latest targeted therapies. The neoplastic disease itself and hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation could also be potential triggers. Evidence-based medical guidance in the management of cancer-related TMA is scarce and the previous knowledge about primary TMA is valuable to understand the disease mechanisms and the potential treatments. Given the wide spectrum of potential causes for TMA in cancer patients, the aim of this review is to gather the vast information available. For each entity, pathophysiology, clinical features, therapeutic approaches and prognosis will be covered.