Kidney Allograft Rejection and Coronavirus Disease 2019 Infection: A Narrative Review.

The world has experienced a global medical and socioeconomic burden following the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. COVID-19 is a systemic disease and may affect different organs including the kidneys. Current literature contains reports on COVID-19-related conditions such as acute kidney injury, and complications experienced by chronic kidney disease, end stage kidney disease, and kidney transplant patients. Here, we discuss the incidence of kidney allograft rejection, immunosuppression management and rejection risk, donor-specific antibodies and previous rejection episodes, and rejection outcomes in kidney transplant recipients with COVID-19 by reviewing current studies.

Efficacy of Sinopharm® COVID-19 Vaccine in Hemodialysis Patients: A Preliminary Report.

INTRODUCTION: SARS-CoV-2 infection have been reported to have a greater mortality rate in adults receiving dialysis, as compared to general population. Hence, vaccination is very important in this vulnerable population group, in order to achieve an acceptable level of immunity. The aim of this study was to compare the level of anti-SARS-CoV-2 anti-spike protein receptor-binding domain IgG neutralizing antibody before and after vaccination with two doses of Sinopharm® vaccine, in patients undergoing hemodialysis. METHODS: Ninety patients on maintenance in-center hemodialysis received two doses of Sinopharm® COVID-19 vaccine with an interval of about 28 days. Anti-SARS-CoV-2 anti-spike protein receptor-binding domain IgG (Anti-RBD) neutralizing antibody was measured with an ELISA kit. All statistical analyses were performed by SPSS-26 software. RESULTS: The absolute mean (± SE) change in antibody titer following full-scheduled vaccination was 8.98 ± 1.49 µg/mL. The rate of seroconversion was 31.1% after two doses of vaccine. In addition, the rate of seroconversion was higher in those with a history of COVID-19 than in those without a history of COVID-19. CONCLUSION: The administration of booster doses, doubling of the dose in each episode of vaccination schedule as well as combination of different vaccine platforms are recommended to increase COVID-19 vaccine efficacy in hemodialysis patients.  DOI: 10.52547/ijkd.7024.

Investigation of FADS Gene Cluster Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in End-Stage Renal Disease Compared With Normal Controls.

End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is a public health problem with a high burden. The condition is associated with abnormalities in lipid metabolism. The fatty acid desaturase (FADS) gene cluster includes three genes that are significantly correlated with a number of pathologic conditions related to abnormal lipid levels. In the current study, we genotyped rs174556, rs99780, and rs7115739 single nucleotide polymorphisms within the FADS cluster in a population of ESRD patients and healthy controls. The rs174556 of the FADS1 gene and rs99780 of the FADS2 gene were not associated with the risk of ESRD in any inheritance model. However, the rs7115739 of FADS3 was associated with the risk of ESRD in all models except for the recessive model. The T allele of this SNP was significantly less prevalent among cases compared with controls [odds ratio (OR) (95% CI) = 0.44 (0.25-0.77), P value = 0.004]. GT and TT genotypes has been shown to decrease the risk of ESRD in a codominant model [OR (95% CI) = 0.49 (0.26-0.92) and OR (95% CI) = 0.18 (0.02-1.6), respectively; P value = 0.019]. In the dominant model, GT + TT status was associated with lower risk of ESRD [OR (95% CI) = 0.45 (0.24-0.82), P value = 0.0078]. Assessment of association between this SNP and risk of ESRD in an overdominant model revealed that GT genotype decreases the risk of this condition [OR (95% CI) = 0.5 (0.27-0.94), P value = 0.029]. Taken together, the rs7115739 of FADS3 is suggested as a putative modulator of the risk of ESRD in the Iranian population.

Brucellosis with kidney failure.

Brucellosis is a multisystem disease that may present with a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations. The most frequent symptoms are constitutional symptoms. While involvement of the bones, joints, and liver is not rare, brucellosis may rarely involve the kidney. We present a case of brucellosis with hepatitis, pancytopenia, peripheral arthritis, and kidney failure.

Successful treatment of mucormycosis after kidney transplantation.

Fungal infections are rare but represent serious complications following organ transplantation. We present a case of mucormycosis primarily affecting the paranasal sinuses in a 51-year-old man with a kidney allograft. The patient presented with headache, left facial and orbital pain, nasal discharge, and elevation of serum creatinine 18 months after kidney transplantation. Laboratory tests revealed cyclosporine nephrotoxicity, cytomegalovirus infection, and prediabetes. Imaging findings were compatible with left maxillary, ethmoidal, and sphenoidal sinusitis. Diagnosis was made based on pathologic findings and detection of typical fungal hyphea in the infected tissues. The patient was successfully treated by discontinuation of cyclosporine and mycophenolate mofetil, initiation of systemic amphotericin B, and aggressive surgical debridement.