Renal Allograft Histology at 10 Years After Transplantation in the Tacrolimus Era: Evidence of Pervasive Chronic Injury.

Improving long-term renal allograft survival remains an important unmet need. To assess the extent of histologic injury at 10 years after transplantation in functioning grafts, we studied 575 consecutive adult solitary renal transplants performed between 2002 and 2005: 77% from living donors and 81% maintained on tacrolimus-based immunosuppression. Ten-year graft survival was 59% and death-censored graft survival was 74%. Surveillance allograft biopsies were assessed at implantation, 5 years, and 10 years from 145 patients who reached 10 years. At implantation, 5% of biopsies had major histologic abnormalities (chronic transplant glomerulopathy score > 0, other chronic Banff scores ≥ 2, global glomerulosclerosis > 20%, or mesangial sclerosis ≥ 2). This increased to 54% at 5 years and 82% at 10 years. Major lesions at 10 years included the following: arteriolar hyalinosis (66%), mesangial sclerosis (67%), and global glomerulosclerosis > 20% (43%), with 48% of grafts having more than one major lesion. Transplant glomerulopathy and moderate-to-severe interstitial fibrosis were uncommon (12% each). Major lesions were associated with increased proteinuria and decreased graft function. In patients with diabetes at baseline, 52% had diabetic nephropathy/mesangial sclerosis at 10 years. We conclude that almost all renal allografts sustain major histologic injury by 10 years after transplantation. Much damage appears nonimmunologic, suggesting that new approaches are needed to decrease late injury.

The bridge between transplantation and regenerative medicine: Beginning a new Banff classification of tissue engineering pathology.

The science of regenerative medicine is arguably older than transplantation-the first major textbook was published in 1901-and a major regenerative medicine meeting took place in 1988, three years before the first Banff transplant pathology meeting. However, the subject of regenerative medicine/tissue engineering pathology has never received focused attention. Defining and classifying tissue engineering pathology is long overdue. In the next decades, the field of transplantation will enlarge at least tenfold, through a hybrid of tissue engineering combined with existing approaches to lessening the organ shortage. Gradually, transplantation pathologists will become tissue-(re-) engineering pathologists with enhanced skill sets to address concerns involving the use of bioengineered organs. We outline ways of categorizing abnormalities in tissue-engineered organs through traditional light microscopy or other modalities including biomarkers. We propose creating a new Banff classification of tissue engineering pathology to standardize and assess de novo bioengineered solid organs transplantable success in vivo. We recommend constructing a framework for a classification of tissue engineering pathology now with interdisciplinary consensus discussions to further develop and finalize the classification at future Banff Transplant Pathology meetings, in collaboration with the human cell atlas project. A possible nosology of pathologic abnormalities in tissue-engineered organs is suggested.

The Banff 2017 Kidney Meeting Report: Revised diagnostic criteria for chronic active T cell-mediated rejection, antibody-mediated rejection, and prospects for integrative endpoints for next-generation clinical trials.

The kidney sessions of the 2017 Banff Conference focused on 2 areas: clinical implications of inflammation in areas of interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy (i-IFTA) and its relationship to T cell-mediated rejection (TCMR), and the continued evolution of molecular diagnostics, particularly in the diagnosis of antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR). In confirmation of previous studies, it was independently demonstrated by 2 groups that i-IFTA is associated with reduced graft survival. Furthermore, these groups presented that i-IFTA, particularly when involving >25% of sclerotic cortex in association with tubulitis, is often a sequela of acute TCMR in association with underimmunosuppression. The classification was thus revised to include moderate i-IFTA plus moderate or severe tubulitis as diagnostic of chronic active TCMR. Other studies demonstrated that certain molecular classifiers improve diagnosis of ABMR beyond what is possible with histology, C4d, and detection of donor-specific antibodies (DSAs) and that both C4d and validated molecular assays can serve as potential alternatives and/or complements to DSAs in the diagnosis of ABMR. The Banff ABMR criteria are thus updated to include these alternatives. Finally, the present report paves the way for the Banff scheme to be part of an integrative approach for defining surrogate endpoints in next-generation clinical trials.

The Value of Protocol Biopsies to Identify Patients With De Novo Donor-Specific Antibody at High Risk for Allograft Loss.

De novo donor-specific antibody (dnDSA) is associated with antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) and allograft loss, yet the allograft histology associated with dnDSA remains unclear. The aim of this study was to examine the allograft histology associated with dnDSA in patients with serial surveillance biopsies. We retrospectively studied adult conventional solitary kidney transplant recipients from October 2007 to May 2014. The definition of dnDSA was new donor-specific antibody (DSA) with mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) >1000. The incidence of dnDSA was 7.0% (54 of 771) over mean follow-up of 4.2 ± 1.9 years. Patients with dnDSA had reduced death-censored allograft survival (87.0% vs. 97.0% no dnDSA, p < 0.01). Moreover, 94% of patients received a biopsy after dnDSA (mean of three biopsies per patient). AMR was present in 25.0% and 52.9% of patients at dnDSA detection and at 1 year, respectively. Patients with both class I and II dnDSA had the highest rate of allograft loss. The higher the sum MFI at dnDSA detection, the higher the incidence of AMR. In conclusion, patients with dnDSA without AMR at time of detection may benefit from a follow-up biopsy within 1 year because AMR can be missed initially. In addition, the dnDSA class and sum MFI at baseline appear to be prognostic. The higher the sum MFI of dnDSA at baseline, the higher the incidence of AMR.

The Banff 2015 Kidney Meeting Report: Current Challenges in Rejection Classification and Prospects for Adopting Molecular Pathology.

The XIII Banff meeting, held in conjunction the Canadian Society of Transplantation in Vancouver, Canada, reviewed the clinical impact of updates of C4d-negative antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR) from the 2013 meeting, reports from active Banff Working Groups, the relationships of donor-specific antibody tests (anti-HLA and non-HLA) with transplant histopathology, and questions of molecular transplant diagnostics. The use of transcriptome gene sets, their resultant diagnostic classifiers, or common key genes to supplement the diagnosis and classification of rejection requires further consensus agreement and validation in biopsies. Newly introduced concepts include the i-IFTA score, comprising inflammation within areas of fibrosis and atrophy and acceptance of transplant arteriolopathy within the descriptions of chronic active T cell-mediated rejection (TCMR) or chronic ABMR. The pattern of mixed TCMR and ABMR was increasingly recognized. This report also includes improved definitions of TCMR and ABMR in pancreas transplants with specification of vascular lesions and prospects for defining a vascularized composite allograft rejection classification. The goal of the Banff process is ongoing integration of advances in histologic, serologic, and molecular diagnostic techniques to produce a consensus-based reporting system that offers precise composite scores, accurate routine diagnostics, and applicability to next-generation clinical trials.

Temporal IgG Subtype Changes in Recurrent Idiopathic Membranous Nephropathy.

Determination of the IgG subtypes within the immune deposits in membranous nephropathy (MN) may be helpful in the differential diagnosis. IgG4 is the predominant subtype in idiopathic MN and recurrent MN, while IgG1, IgG2, and IgG3 subtypes are more common in secondary MN and de novo disease in the allograft. The temporal change of IgG subclasses in individual patients and its correlation with clinical variables have not been studied. We reviewed all posttransplantation protocol and indication biopsies (49) in 18 patients with recurrent MN who underwent transplantation at our center between 1998 and 2013 and performed IgG subtyping (IgG1-4). We tested serum for M-type phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2 R) autoantibodies or performed PLA2 R antigen staining on the kidney biopsy. IgG4 was the (co)dominant IgG subtype in 10 of 14 biopsies at the diagnosis of recurrence regardless of PLA2 R association. In 8 of 12 transplantations with serial biopsies, the (co)dominant subtype did not change over time. There was a trend toward IgG1 and IgG3 (co)dominance in biopsies >1 year from recurrence and more IgG1 (co)dominant subtyping in the setting of more-advanced EM deposits. Treatment with rituximab did not affect the IgG subtype. In conclusion, the dominant IgG subtype did not change over time in recurrent MN.

Changing Kidney Allograft Histology Early Posttransplant: Prognostic Implications of 1-Year Protocol Biopsies.

Allograft histology 1 year posttransplant is an independent correlate to long-term death-censored graft survival. We assessed prognostic implications of changes in histology first 2 years posttransplant in 938 first kidney recipients, transplanted 1999-2010, followed for 93.4 ± 37.7 months. Compared to implantation biopsies, histology changed posttransplant showing at 1 year that 72.6% of grafts had minor abnormalities (favorable histology), 20.2% unfavorable histology, and 7.2% glomerulonephritis. Compared to favorable, graft survival was reduced in recipients with unfavorable histology (hazards ratio [HR] = 4.79 [3.27-7.00], p < 0.0001) or glomerulonephritis (HR = 5.91 [3.17-11.0], p < 0.0001). Compared to unfavorable, in grafts with favorable histology, failure was most commonly due to death (42% vs. 70%, p < 0.0001) and less commonly due to alloimmune causes (27% vs. 10%, p < 0.0001). In 80% of cases, favorable histology persisted at 2 years. However, de novo 2-year unfavorable histology (15.3%) or glomerulonephritis (4.7%) related to reduced survival. The proportion of favorable grafts increased during this period (odds ratio = 0.920 [0.871-0.972], p = 0.003, per year) related to fewer DGF, rejections, polyoma-associated nephropathy (PVAN), and better function. Graft survival also improved (HR = 0.718 [0.550-0.937], p = 0.015) related to better histology and function. Evolution of graft histologic early posttransplant relate to long-term survival. Avoiding risk factors associated with unfavorable histology relates to improved histology and graft survival.

Positive crossmatch kidney transplant recipients treated with eculizumab: outcomes beyond 1 year.

This study examined outcomes beyond 1 year in eculizumab-treated (EC) positive crossmatch kidney transplants (+XMKTx) compared to a historical control group. +XMKTx received desensitization with either plasma exchange (PE) alone (N = 48) or PE and EC (N = 30). EC, given for at least 1 month, was continued in the setting of persistently high DSA (B flow cytometric crossmatch [BFXM] >200) including: 4 weeks (n = 14); 9 weeks (n = 6), 6 months (n = 2), and 12 months (n = 8). All patients had at least 2 years follow-up. The incidence of acute clinical ABMR was lower in the EC group than controls (6.7% vs. 43.8% p < 0.01). Death-censored allograft survival was similar between groups. Chronic ABMR was the main cause of graft loss. On 1-year protocol biopsies, no differences were noted between EC and controls including: cg score >0, 26.7% versus 31.9% (p = 0.62), ptc score ≥ 2, 60.0% versus 60.0% (p = 1.00), or C4d + , 33.8% versus 13.5% (p = 0.08). A persistently high BFXM in EC-treated patients was associated with cg score >0 at 1 year, while EC appeared to protect against cg if the BFXM remained low. We conclude that despite decreasing acute clinical ABMR rates, EC treatment does not prevent chronic ABMR in recipients with persistently high BFXM after +XMKTx.

Banff 2013 meeting report: inclusion of c4d-negative antibody-mediated rejection and antibody-associated arterial lesions.

The 12th Banff Conference on Allograft Pathology was held in Comandatuba, Brazil, from August 19-23, 2013, and was preceded by a 2-day Latin American Symposium on Transplant Immunobiology and Immunopathology. The meeting was highlighted by the presentation of the findings of several working groups formed at the 2009 and 2011 Banff meetings to: (1) establish consensus criteria for diagnosing antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR) in the presence and absence of detectable C4d deposition; (2) develop consensus definitions and thresholds for glomerulitis (g score) and chronic glomerulopathy (cg score), associated with improved inter-observer agreement and correlation with clinical, molecular and serological data; (3) determine whether isolated lesions of intimal arteritis ("isolated v") represent acute rejection similar to intimal arteritis in the presence of tubulointerstitial inflammation; (4) compare different methodologies for evaluating interstitial fibrosis and for performing/evaluating implantation biopsies of renal allografts with regard to reproducibility and prediction of subsequent graft function; and (5) define clinically and prognostically significant morphologic criteria for subclassifying polyoma virus nephropathy. The key outcome of the 2013 conference is defining criteria for diagnosis of C4d-negative ABMR and respective modification of the Banff classification. In addition, three new Banff Working Groups were initiated.

Disseminated microsporidiosis in a renal transplant recipient: case report and review of the literature.

Microsporidia are opportunistic pathogens that usually cause a limited disease in the gastrointestinal tract. Occasionally, they can cause disseminated disease. In solid organ transplant recipients, disseminated disease has been reported only rarely. We describe a 68-year-old woman who presented with fever, cough, and acute kidney injury 6 months after kidney transplantation. Dissemination was confirmed by identification of microsporidial spores in urine and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Polymerase chain reaction analysis identified the species as Encephalitozoon cuniculi.

Five-year outcomes in living donor kidney transplants with a positive crossmatch.

Renal transplant candidates with high levels of donor-specific anti-HLA antibodies have low transplantation rates and high mortality rates on dialysis. Using desensitization protocols, good short-term outcomes are possible in "positive crossmatch kidney transplants (+XMKTx)", but long-term outcome data are lacking. The aim of the current study was to determine actual 5-year graft outcomes of +XMKTx. We compared graft survival and the functional and histologic status of 102 +XMKTx to 204 -XMKTx matched for age and sex. Actual 5-year death-censored graft survival was lower in the +XMKTx group (70.7% vs. 88.0%, p < 0.01) and chronic injury (glomerulopathy) was present in 54.5% of surviving grafts. Graft survival was higher in recipients with antibody against donor class I only compared with antibody against class II (either alone or in combination with class I) (85.3% vs. 62.6%, p = 0.05) and was similar to -XMKTx (85.3 vs. 88.0%, p = 0.64). Renal function and proteinuria ranged across a wide spectrum in all groups reflecting the different histological findings at 5 years. We conclude that when compared to -XMKTx, +XMKTx have inferior outcomes at 5 years, however, almost half of the surviving grafts do not have glomerulopathy and avoiding antibodies against donor class II may improve outcomes.

Intragraft gene expression in positive crossmatch kidney allografts: ongoing inflammation mediates chronic antibody-mediated injury.

We studied intragraft gene expression profiles of positive crossmatch (+XM) kidney transplant recipients who develop transplant glomerulopathy (TG) and those who do not. Whole genome microarray analysis and quantitative rt-PCR were performed on RNA from protocol renal allograft biopsies in three groups: (1) +XM/TG+ biopsies before and after TG; (2) +XM/NoTG; and (3) negative crossmatch kidney transplants (control). Microarray comparisons showed few differentially expressed genes between paired biopsies from +XM/TG+ recipients before and after the diagnosis of TG. Comparing +XM/TG+ and control groups, significantly altered expression was seen for 2447 genes (18%) and 3200 genes (24%) at early and late time points, respectively. Canonical pathway analyses of differentially expressed genes showed inflammatory genes associated with innate and adaptive immune responses. Comparing +XM/TG+ and +XM/NoTG groups, 3718 probe sets were differentially expressed but these were over-represented in only four pathways. A classic accommodation phenotype was not identified. Using rt-PCR, the expression of inflammatory genes was significantly increased in +XM/TG+ recipients compared to the +XM/NoTG and control groups. In conclusion, pretransplant donor-specific anti-HLA antibodies results in a gene expression profile characterized by inflammation and cellular infiltration and the majority of +XM grafts are exposed to chronic injury.

The pathology and clinical features of early recurrent membranous glomerulonephritis.

We assessed the earliest manifestations of recurrent membranous glomerulonephritis (MGN) in renal allografts. Clinical, laboratory and pathologic data were reviewed in 21 patients at the initial biopsy within 4 months post-transplant with evidence of MGN and on follow-up biopsies, compared to a biopsy control group of eight transplants without recurrent MGN. The mean time of first biopsy with pathologic changes was 2.7 months. In each earliest biopsy, immunofluorescence (IF) showed granular glomerular basement membrane (GBM) staining for C4d, IgG, kappa and lambda. IF for C3 was negative or showed trace staining in 16/21. On each MGN biopsy positive by IF, 14/19 showed absence of deposits or rare tiny subepithelial deposits by electron microscopy (EM). At the earliest biopsy, the mean proteinuria was 1.1 g/day; 16 patients had <1 g/day proteinuria. Follow-up was available in all patients (mean 35 months posttransplant). A total of 13 patients developed >1 g/day proteinuria; 12 were treated with: rituximab (n = 8), ACEI and increased prednisone dose (n = 2), ACEI or ARB only (n = 2). All patients showed reduction in proteinuria after treatment. A total of 11/16 patients showed progression of disease by EM on follow-up biopsy. Recognition of early allograft biopsy features aids in diagnosis of recurrent MGN before patients develop significant proteinuria.

Kidney allograft inflammation and fibrosis, causes and consequences.

This study assessed the development of allograft interstitial fibrosis and inflammation (GIF+"i"), a histologic pattern associated with reduced graft survival. Included are 795 adults, recipients of kidney allografts from 2000 to 2006. GIF+"i" was diagnosed in surveillance and clinical biopsies that had no transplant glomerulopathy. With time, posttransplant increasing number of grafts showed GIF+"i" and these patients had reduced death-censored graft survival (HR = 4.33 (2.49-7.53), p < 0.0001). Development of GIF+"i" was related to prior acute cellular rejection (ACR), BK nephropathy (PVAN), increasing number of HLA mismatches, retransplantation and DGF. However, 46.4% of GIF+"i" cases had no history of ACR or PVAN. Anti-HLA antibodies at transplant did not relate to GIF+"i" and these patients had no increased frequency of new antibody formation posttransplant. Post-ACR biopsies showed that GIF+"i" developed more commonly after clinically and/or histologically more severe ACR. Graft inflammation persisted in 38.7 and 29.6% of grafts 2 and 12 months post-ACR. Twelve months post-ACR, 27.1% of biopsies developed moderate-severe GIF and 51.8% showed GIF and inflammation. Persistent inflammation and progressive GIF is often subclinical but may lead to graft failure. GIF+"i" can be initiated by multiple etiologies but it is often postinfectious or due to persistent cellular immune-mediated injury.

Changes in partial pressures of respiratory gases during submerged voluntary breath hold across odontocetes: is body mass important?

Odontocetes have an exceptional range in body mass spanning 10(3) kg across species. Because, size influences oxygen utilization and carbon dioxide production rates in mammals, this lineage likely displays an extraordinary variation in oxygen store management compared to other marine mammal groups. To examine this, we measured changes in the partial pressures of respiratory gases ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]), pH, and lactate in the blood during voluntary, quiescent, submerged breath holds in Pacific white-sided dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens), bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), and a killer whale (Orcinus orca) representing a mass range of 96-3,850 kg. These measurements provided an empirical determination of the effect of body size on the variability in blood biochemistry during breath hold and experimentally determined aerobic dive limits (ADL) within one taxonomic group (odontocetes). For the species in this study, maximum voluntary breath-hold duration was positively correlated with body mass, ranging from 3.5 min in white-sided dolphins to 13.3 min for the killer whale. Variation in breath-hold duration was associated with differences in the rate of change for [Formula: see text] throughout breath hold; [Formula: see text] decreased twice as fast for the two smaller species (-0.6 mmHg O(2) min(-1)) compared to the largest species (-0.3 mmHg O(2) min(-1)). In contrast, the rate of increase in [Formula: see text] during breath hold was similar across species. These results demonstrate that large body size in odontocetes facilitates increased aerobic breath-hold capacity as mediated by decreased mass-specific metabolic rates (rates of change in [Formula: see text] served as a proxy for oxygen utilization). Indeed the experimentally determined 5 min ADL for bottlenose dolphins was surpassed by the 13.3 min maximum breath hold of the killer whale, which did not end in a rise in lactate. Rather, breath hold ended voluntarily as respiratory gases and pH fell within a narrow range for both large and small species, likely providing cues for ventilation.

Terminal complement inhibition decreases antibody-mediated rejection in sensitized renal transplant recipients.

Sensitized renal transplant recipients with high levels of donor-specific alloantibody (DSA) commonly develop antibody-mediated rejection (AMR), which may cause acute graft loss or shorten allograft survival. We examined the efficacy of terminal complement inhibition with the humanized anti-C5 antibody, eculizumab, in the prevention AMR in renal transplant recipients with a positive crossmatch against their living donor. The incidence of biopsy-proven AMR in the first 3 months posttransplant in 26 highly sensitized recipients of living donor renal transplants who received eculizumab posttransplant was compared to a historical control group of 51 sensitized patients treated with a similar plasma exchange (PE)-based protocol without eculizumab. The incidence of AMR was 7.7% (2/26) in the eculizumab group compared to 41.2% (21/51) in the control group (p = 0.0031). Eculizumab also decreased AMR in patients who developed high levels of DSA early after transplantation that caused proximal complement activation. With eculizumab, AMR episodes were easily treated with PE reducing the need for splenectomy. On 1-year protocol biopsy, transplant glomerulopathy was found to be present in 6.7% (1/15) eculizumab-treated recipients and in 35.7% (15/42) of control patients (p = 0.044). Inhibition of terminal complement activation with eculizumab decreases the incidence of early AMR in sensitized renal transplant recipients (ClincalTrials.gov number NCT006707).

De novo AL amyloidosis in the kidney allograft.

We report four cases of de novo amyloidosis occurring after 16, 18, 28 and 31 years following kidney transplantation. These patients presented with proteinuria and progressive allograft dysfunction. Kidney biopsy showed AL amyloidosis in all compartments of the allograft kidney. Serum immunofixation studies revealed monoclonal lambda light chains in all four cases. Bone marrow examination showed 10% plasma cells in one case, 5-10% in two cases and less than 5% in one case. Two patients died unexpectedly within 3 months and 1 year of the diagnosis of allograft AL amyloidosis. Of the remaining two, one underwent autologous stem cell transplant that resulted in complete hematologic remission. However, the patient relapsed within 2 years and also developed progressive kidney allograft failure. The patient received a second autologous stem cell transplant with complete hematologic response, followed by a second kidney transplant, which showed no evidence of amyloid at 1-year posttransplant. The remaining case was treated with prednisone and bortezomib, which has stabilized kidney function in the short term. In conclusion, this study shows that AL amyloidosis is an uncommon but important cause of late onset proteinuria in the kidney allograft that results in kidney allograft failure.

The histology of solitary renal allografts at 1 and 5 years after transplantation.

Previous studies suggest that the majority of renal allografts are affected by progressive, severe chronic histologic injury, yet studies using current protocols are lacking. The goal of this study was to examine the prevalence and progression of histologic changes using protocol allograft biopsies at 1 and 5 years after solitary kidney transplantation in patients transplanted between 1998 and 2004. Chronic histologic changes generally were mild at both 1 and 5 years and were similar in deceased and living donor kidneys. The overall prevalence of moderate or severe fibrosis was 13% (60/447) at 1 year and 17% (60/343) at 5 years. In a subgroup of 296 patients who underwent both 1- and 5-year biopsies, mild fibrosis present at 1 year progressed to more severe forms at 5 years in 23% of allografts. The prevalence of moderate or severe arteriolar hyalinosis was similar in tacrolimus and calcineurin inhibitor-free immunosuppression. These results in the recent era of transplantation demonstrate fewer, less severe and less progressive chronic histologic changes in the first 5 years after transplantation than previously reported.

Clinical and molecular characterization of a family with a dominant renin gene mutation and response to treatment with fludrocortisone.

BACKGROUND: A family was identified with autosomal dominant inheritance of anemia, polyuria, hyperuricemia, and chronic kidney disease. Mutational analysis revealed a novel heterozygous mutation c.58T > C resulting in the amino acid substitution of cysteine for arginine in the preprorenin signal sequence (p.cys20Arg) occurring in all affected members. METHODS: Effects of the identified mutation were characterized using in vitro and in vivo studies. Affected individuals were clinically characterized before and after administration of fludrocortisone. RESULTS: The mutation affects endoplasmic reticulum co-translational translocation and posttranslational processing, resulting in massive accumulation of non-glycosylated preprorenin in the cytoplasm. This affects expression of intra-renal RAS components and leads to ultrastructural damage of the kidney. Affected individuals suffered from anemia, hyperuricemia, decreased urinary concentrating ability, and progressive chronic kidney disease. Treatment with fludrocortisone in an affected 10-year-old child resulted in an increase in blood pressure and estimated glomerular filtration rate. CONCLUSIONS: A novel REN gene mutation resulted in an alteration in the amino acid sequence of the renin signal sequence and caused childhood anemia, polyuria, and kidney disease. Treatment with fludrocortisone improved renal function in an affected child. Nephrologists should consider REN mutational analysis in families with autosomal dominant inheritance of chronic kidney disease, especially if they suffer from anemia, hyperuricemia, and polyuria in childhood.

Mitochondrial changes in cidofovir therapy for BK virus nephropathy.

Polyoma (BK) virus nephropathy (BKVN) is often treated with the nucleotide analog cidofovir. An adverse effect of this drug class is proximal tubular toxicity, and ultrastructural abnormalities in proximal tubular mitochondria have been observed in patients treated with similar drugs for other viral infections. We report similar changes in biopsies from BKVN treated with cidofovir. Renal allograft biopsies showing BKVN, on which electron microscopy was performed, were categorized into 3 groups: initial diagnosis (BD), postcidofovir treatment (CT), and posttreatment with immunosuppression reduction (IR). Nineteen cases from each group were randomly selected. Mitochondrial changes were present in 6 biopsies from patients receiving CT therapy (31.5%), ranging from diffuse mitochondrial swelling to profound morphologic changes. No similar abnormalities were seen in other groups. In those with atypical mitochondria, the mean number of cidofovir doses was 2.67, with an average interval between last dose and biopsy of 2.17 weeks. CT patients without mitochondrial changes had a mean of 4.6 doses and an average interval between last dose and biopsy of 27.2 weeks. Some renal transplant patients treated with cidofovir display alterations in proximal tubular mitochondria akin to those seen with similar drugs. The findings support the mitochondrial toxicity of nucleotide analogs.