A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study on Management Protocols and Clinical Outcomes After ABO-incompatible Kidney Transplantation in India.

BACKGROUND: There is no robust evidence-based data for ABO-incompatible kidney transplantation (ABOiKT) from emerging countries. METHODS: Data from 1759 living donor ABOiKT and 33 157 ABO-compatible kidney transplantations (ABOcKT) performed in India between March 5, 2011, and July 2, 2022, were included in this retrospective, multicenter (n = 25) study. The primary outcomes included management protocols, mortality, graft loss, and biopsy-proven acute rejection (BPAR). RESULTS: Protocol included rituximab 100 (232 [13.18%]), 200 (877 [49.85%]), and 500 mg (569 [32.34%]); immunoadsorption (IA) (145 [8.24%]), IVIG (663 [37.69%]), and no induction 200 (11.37%). Mortality, graft loss, and BPAR were reported in 167 (9.49%), 136 (7.73%), and 228 (12.96%) patients, respectively, over a median follow-up of 36.3 mo. In cox proportional hazard model, mortality was higher with IA (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.53 [1.62-3.97]; P < 0.001), BPAR (HR: 1.83 [1.25-2.69]; P = 0.0020), and graft loss (HR: 1.66 [1.05-2.64]; P = 0.0310); improved graft survival was associated with IVIG (HR: 0.44 [0.26-0.72]; P = 0.0010); higher BPAR was reported with conventional tube method (HR: 3.22 [1.9-5.46]; P < 0.0001) and IA use (HR: 2 [1.37-2.92]; P < 0.0001), whereas lower BPAR was reported in the prepandemic era (HR: 0.61 [0.43-0.88]; P = 0.008). Primary outcomes were not associated with rituximab dosing or high preconditioning/presurgery anti-A/anti-B titers. Incidence of overall infection 306 (17.39%), cytomegalovirus 66 (3.75%), and BK virus polyoma virus 20 (1.13%) was low. In unmatched univariate analysis, the outcomes between ABOiKT and ABOcKT were comparable. CONCLUSIONS: Our largest multicenter study on ABOiKT provides insights into various protocols and management strategies with results comparable to those of ABOcKT.

Influence of Religious Affiliations on Attitudes Toward Homosexuality Among Physicians: A Cross-Sectional Study From India.

Objective: To examine the attitudes among practicing physicians of various specialties toward homosexuality and its association with participants' religious affiliations in India.Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among physicians about their attitudes toward homosexuality between December 2018 and January 2019. Participants completed a survey anonymously in hardcopy form or online. The survey was developed based on the Attitude Toward Homosexuality Scale for Indians (AHSI). A higher AHSI score indicates less homonegativity. It was modified by adding demographic details, career status, and personal experience with homosexual individuals.Results: The study results showed that among 106 respondents, 81 were men with a mean (SD) age of 32.2 (7.3) years. Of the participants, 40 (37.7%) were MBBS graduates with no specialization, while 34 (32.1%) and 32 (30.2%) respondents were from medical and surgical specialties, respectively. The majority of the respondents were Muslim (43.4%), followed by Hindu (35.8%), Christian (10.4%), those not conforming to any religion (5.7%), and other religions (4.7%). The mean ± SD total score on the AHSI was 69.6 ± 17.7, which was higher than the mean neutral score of 60. The AHSI total score was significantly higher among women (P < .001). The total AHSI score was highest among the no religion category followed by Hindus, with the lowest for biblical religions; the difference was statistically significant (P < .001). No significant difference was seen between Muslims and Christians.Conclusions: This study showed an overall positive attitude among the respondents toward homosexuality; however, those belonging to Abrahamic religions, especially Muslims, had more negative attitudes. The results highlight the need for antistigma campaigns and educational interventions targeting the physician population of India to reduce negative attitudes toward homosexuality and improve their knowledge of this topic.

Clinical Profile and Outcome in Long-term Hemodialysis: A Comparative Study of Hospital-based Versus Standalone Units.

Introduction: Chronic hemodialysis (CHD) remains the most "resorted to" renal-replacement option in India. Pursuit for accessible and affordable dialysis has resulted in setting up standalone centers (SACs). We need more Indian data on the profile of CHD population and outcome of SAC compared to hospital-based units (HBUs). Material and Methods: We analyzed the clinical profile of patients on CHD for >5 years, compared the outcome between HBU and SAC, and analyzed the factors associated with mortality. Patients initiated between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2012 and who have survived 5 years on CHD at HBU or SAC were enrolled and followed up prospectively for 2 years. Their clinical and biochemical profile, comorbidities, long-term complications, and mortality were analyzed. Results: The study included 137 patients, 41 (30%) from HBU and 96 (70%) from SACs. In both groups, the patients were predominantly male, aged 51-70 yrs, diabetic, unplanned initiation through catheters, and had average-dialysis vintage between 83 and 85 months. SAC had more patients with hemoglobin (> 11 gm/dL) and hyperparathyroidism with elevated SAP levels (P < 0.05). Both groups had comparable iron stores, serum calcium, and phosphorus. Comparable between groups, infections, coronary artery disease, and access complications accounted for most hospitalizations and sudden cardiac death and sepsis accounted for most mortality. A trend of better survival was seen in SAC. Multivariate analysis showed anemia, DM and hospitalizations were associated with mortality. Conclusion: We conclude that the outcomes of long-term CHD at SACs are not inferior to HBUs. Anemia, diabetes, and hospitalizations were associated with overall mortality. Benefits of SACs in cost, QOL, and employment opportunities need to be studied in the Indian context.

Outcomes of Spousal versus Parental Donor Kidney Transplants: A Comparative Study.

INTRODUCTION: Parents and spouse constitute 70% of organ donors in India. Some centres use induction immunosuppression (IS) for all spousal transplants considering it as an immunologically high risk. This study was designed to compare the outcomes of transplant recipients who received parental donors (PDs) and spousal donors (SDs) without any induction IS. METHODS: It was a retrospective study conducted at a tertiary care hospital in South India. Adults aged 18 years or above who underwent renal transplantation from a SD or PD between January 2006 and December 2016 were included in the study. RESULTS: Our study included 154 patients with PDs and 75 patients with SDs. The mean recipient age of the PD group was 27.79 ± 6.85 years and of the SD group was 45.62 ± 7.96 years (P < 0.001). However, the follow-up period was significantly higher for the PD group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between acute rejection, patient loss, mean survival, graft survival (uncensored), and death censored graft survival between two groups. CONCLUSION: The outcomes of immunologically low-risk transplant recipients who have received PD and SD are similar and induction immunosuppression can be avoided in these patients.

The Prevalence of Frailty and its Association with Cognitive Dysfunction among Elderly Patients on Maintenance Hemodialysis: A Cross-Sectional Study from South India.

Data are scarce regarding the prevalence of frailty in elderly patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (HD) in India. We conducted a cross-sectional observational study aimed to study the prevalence of frailty and cognitive dysfunction in patients aged 75 years or more undergoing maintenance HD in three tertiary care hospitals and associated stand-alone dialysis centers in North Kerala. Frailty was ascertained by two methods. In method 1 (physical performance measurement based), dichotomous scoring (0 or 1) of five domains, namely weight loss, exhaustion, low physical activity, weak grip, and slow walking, was done, and a score of 3/5 was used to define frailty. In method 2 (self-report measure based), scores on the Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form 36-item Questionnaire (SF-36) physical function domain were used instead of hand grip strength and walking speed, and a score of <75 was defined as meeting the criteria for weakness and slow walking. Cognitive function was documented using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Instrument. A total of 899 patients were screened, of whom 44 were aged 75 years or more and 39 met the criteria for inclusion. The majority (n = 31, 79.5%) had ages between 75 and 80 years and were male. Dialysis vintage was <1 year in 15.4%, 1-3 years in 51.3%, and >3 years in 33.3% of patients. Frailty was documented in 22 (56.4%) patients by method 1 and in 25 (64.1%) by method 2. There was a statistically significant difference between the two methods in documenting frailty (P < 0.001, Chi-square test). Cognitive impairment was present in 89.7% of patients and significantly associated with frailty (P < 0.001, Fisher's exact test). Frailty and cognitive dysfunction are highly prevalent in elderly people undergoing maintenance HD in North Kerala. Physical performance and self-report measure-based methods correlate well in frailty documentation.

ABO-incompatible transplantation without conventional induction immunosuppression (IL-2RB or depleting agents).

Transplantation across the ABO blood group (ABOI-Tx) has facilitated to increase in donor pool for living donor kidney transplantation. Increased risk of rejection despite augmented immunosuppression has been the concern for many transplant programs in initiating an ABOI-TX program. The benefits of induction immunosuppression on long-term graft survival in immunologically low-risk individuals are still not clear. Increased immunosuppression of ABOI-Tx recipients before transplantation could provide an opportunity to transplant without induction with IL2-R blockers or Lymphocyte depleting agents. The aim of our study is to analyze the outcome of our series of 25 consecutive ABOI-Tx patients who underwent transplantation without routine thymoglobulin or IL2R-blocker induction. Our study is a prospective observational study for the first 25 consecutive patients who had undergone ABOI-Tx from two tertiary care centers in Kerala, India, having the same IS protocol. Anti-A and anti-B titers ≤1:512 by Gel-method (Biorad) were accepted for desensitization. Patients underwent CDC-crossmatch, Flow-crossmatch, and Luminex-anti-HLA-antibody-screen. Desensitization regimen included- Rituximab 200 mg on Day-21, Triple IS Prednisolone 10 mg, mycophenolate mofetil 1000 mg, and Tacrolimus 0.06 mg/bodywt from Day-14 and Plasma-exchange (PLEX) 3-4 sessions from day -7 to attain titer of 1:8 before transplantation. Transplantation was done without induction IS. Twenty-five patients underwent ABOI-Tx from both centers. Twenty recipients were male. The average age was 34.5 ± 8 years with follow-up of 503 ± 120 days. Eight donors were spouse, 13 were parents and three siblings. The average age of the donor was 46.3 ± 10.5 years. Twenty-two patients have normal functioning transplant with creatinine 1.23 ± 0.2 mg/dL. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed patient survival of 91.2% and death censored graft survival of 95.6% at 36 months. Two patients were lost; one on the postoperative day (POD)-3 due to ACS and second on POD-22 due to sepsis. One graft loss occurred due to posttransplant HUS. Of the functioning 22 allograft-recipients, one had cellular rejection, which resolved with pulse steroids; one developed HUS due to CNI, which recovered with PLEX and switch to non-CNI based IS. One patient developed AMR on POD-4, which was completely reversed with PLEX, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), and augmentation of IS. Three patients had CMV viremia and another three patients had BKV viremia, all resolved with treatment and tailoring of IS. Achieving acceptable anti-A/B titers prior to transplantation is the most critical step in ABOI-Tx. Avoidance of induction IS can reduce cost and infectious complications. Our data showed that there is no increased incidence of rejections in the first post-transplant year for immunologically low-risk individuals from histocompatibility standpoint undergoing ABOI-Tx without induction immunosuppression.

The expanding role of "Stand-Alone" hemodialysis units in chronic renal replacement therapy: A descriptive study from North Kerala.

Renal replacement therapy in India is predominantly a private health-care-driven initiative making it an expensive treatment option due to high out-of-pocket expenditures. Moreover, with the rapid increase in the number of chronic kidney disease patients requiring dialysis, hemodialysis units (HDUs) are getting saturated. Community "stand-alone" dialysis centers could be an important alternative to HDUs in meeting the growing demand in an affordable model. The aim of this study was to find hemodialysis (HD) delivery in "stand-alone" dialysis units (SAUs) with respect to expanding coverage, patient costs, and patient safety safeguards. The total number of HD sessions was collected at three points. The information regarding patient safety safeguards at SAUs and impact of SAUs on patient costs were collected by interviews and from hospital records. There was 11.5 times increase in HD sessions from 2008 to 2017, out of which 75.3% was provided at SAUs. Following objective clinical and safety measures, high-quality dialysis was delivered at SAUs and it significantly reduced the mean patient cost of treatment per session.