Prospective evaluation of a closed-incision negative pressure wound therapy system in kidney transplantation and its association with wound complications.

Introduction: Wound complications can cause considerable morbidity in kidney transplantation. Closed-incision negative pressure wound therapy (ciNPWT) systems have been efficacious in reducing wound complications across surgical specialties. The aims of this study were to evaluate the use of ciNPWT, Prevena™, in kidney transplant recipients and to determine any association with wound complications. Material and methods: A single-center, prospective observational cohort study was performed in 2018. A total of 30 consecutive kidney transplant recipients deemed at high risk for wound complications received ciNPWT, and the results were compared to those of a historical cohort of subjects who received conventional dressings. Analysis for recipients with obesity and propensity score matching were performed. Results: In total, 127 subjects were included in the analysis. Of these, 30 received a ciNPWT dressing and were compared with 97 subjects from a non-study historical control group who had conventional dressing. The overall wound complication rate was 21.3% (27/127). There was no reduction in the rate of wound complications with ciNPWT when compared with conventional dressing [23.3% (7/30) and 20.6% (20/97), respectively, p = 0.75]. In the obese subset (BMI ≥30 kg/m2), there was no significant reduction in wound complications [31.1% (5/16) and 36.8% (7/19), respectively, p = 0.73]. Propensity score matching yielded 26 matched pairs with equivalent rates of wound complications (23.1%, 6/26). Conclusion: This is the first reported cohort study evaluating the use of ciNPWT in kidney transplantation. While ciNPWT is safe and well tolerated, it is not associated with a statistically significant reduction in wound complications when compared to conventional dressing. The findings from this study will be used to inform future studies associated with ciNPWT in kidney transplantation.

Kidney transplantation in people living with human immunodeficiency virus: An overview of the Australian experience.

Kidney transplantation in people living with HIV (PLWHIV) is occurring with increasing frequency. Limited international data suggest comparable patient and graft survival in kidney transplant recipients with and without HIV. All PLWHIV aged ≥18 years who received a kidney transplant between 2000 and 2020 were identified by retrospective data initially extracted from Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant Registry (ANZDATA), with additional HIV-specific clinical data extracted from linked local health-care records. Twenty-five PLWHIV and kidney failure received their first kidney transplant in Australia between January 2000 and December 2020. Majority were male (85%), with median age 54 years (interquartile range, IQR 43-57). Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis was the most common primary kidney disease (20%), followed by polycystic kidney disease (16%). 80% of patients underwent induction with basiliximab and none with anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG). Participants were followed for median time of 3.5 years (IQR 2.0-6.5). Acute rejection occurred in 24% of patients. Two patients lost their allografts and three died. Virological escape occurred in 28% of patients, with a maximum viral load of 190 copies/mL. In conclusion, kidney transplantation in PLWHIV in Australia is occurring with increasing frequency. Acute rejection is more common than in Australia's general transplant population, but this does not appear to be associated with higher rates of graft failure or mortality out to four years.

ABO Incompatible Kidney Transplantation Without B-cell Depletion is Associated With Increased Early Acute Rejection: A Single-Center Australian Experience.

We performed a single-center retrospective cohort study of 66 consecutive ABO incompatible kidney transplants (ABOiKT) performed without B-cell depleting therapy. Outcomes were compared to an earlier era performed with rituximab (n = 18) and a contemporaneous cohort of ABO compatible live donor transplants (ABOcKT). Acute rejection within 3 months of transplant was significantly more common after rituximab-free ABOiKT compared to ABOiKT with rituximab (OR 8.8, p = 0.04) and ABOcKT (OR 2.9, p = 0.005) in adjusted analyses. Six recipients of rituximab-free ABOiKT experienced refractory antibody mediated rejection requiring splenectomy, and a further two incurred early graft loss with no such episodes amongst ABOiKT with rituximab or ABOcKT cohorts. Patient and graft survival were similar between groups over a median follow-up of 3.1 years. This observational evidence lends strong support to the continued inclusion of rituximab in desensitization protocols for ABOiKT.

BK viraemia as a cause of anaemia in after ABO-incompatible liver transplant: a case report.

BACKGROUND: While anaemia following liver transplant is common, anaemia in the context of BK viraemia is not a commonly recognised phenomenon. CASE PRESENTATION: We present the case of 59-year old gentleman with severe anaemia in the context of BK viraemia and nephropathy following ABO incompatible liver transplant. Severity of anaemia appeared to correlate with high titres of BK virus in the serum. Bone marrow biopsy revealed hypocellular marrow with normal cytogenetics. Anaemia improved with treatment with cidofovir, intravenous immunoglobulin, reduction in immunosuppression and erythropoietin stimulating agent. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first case of anaemia post liver transplant contributed to by BK viraemia.

Comparison of CG, CKD-EPI[AS] and CKD-EPI[ASR] equations to estimate glomerular filtration rate and predict mortality in treatment naïve people living with HIV in Zimbabwe.

BACKGROUND: Renal impairment in people living with HIV (PWH) in Sub-Saharan Africa is common and associated with increased morbidity and mortality. The ideal equation to estimate glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in this population remains unclear. That which best predicts clinical risk may be the most appropriate while validation studies are awaited. Here we compare the Cockcroft-Gault (CG), Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI[ASR]) and the CKD-EPI equation with the race coefficient removed (CKD-EPI[AS]), in a population of anti-retroviral therapy (ART) naïve PWH in Zimbabwe to assess which equation best predicts mortality. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of treatment naïve PWH at the Newlands Clinic in Harare, Zimbabwe was completed. The study included all patients commencing ART between 2007 and 2019. Predictors of mortality were assessed by multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 2991 patients were followed-up for a median of 4.6 years. The cohort was 62.1% female, with 26.1% of patients having at least one comorbidity. The CG equation identified 21.6% of patients as having renal impairment compared with 17.6% with CKD-EPI[AS] and 9.3% with CKD-EPI[ASR]. There was a mortality rate of 9.1% across the study period. The highest mortality risk was seen in those with renal impairment as determined by the CKD-EPI[ASR] equation for both eGFR < 90 and eGFR < 60 with OR 2.97 (95%CI 1.86-4.76) and OR 10.6 (95%CI 3.15-18.04) respectively. CONCLUSION: In treatment naïve PWH in Zimbabwe, the CKD-EPI[ASR] equation identifies patients at highest risk of mortality when compared to the CKD-EPI[AS] and CG equations.

Renal impairment associated with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate for antiretroviral therapy and HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis: An observational cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) is associated with adverse renal outcomes when prescribed for HIV infection. There are few data concerning real-world renal outcomes amongst patients prescribed TDF for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). METHODS AND FINDINGS: Data were extracted from 52 sexual health clinics across Australia from 2009-2019. All patients prescribed TDF-containing antiretroviral therapy and PrEP were included. Rates of renal impairment (a fall in eGFR to <60 ml/min/1·73m2) were calculated for people living with HIV (PLWHIV) prescribed TDF and HIV negative PrEP-users. Risk factors were assessed using Cox-proportional hazards models. Sensitivity analysis of risk using 1:1 propensity-score matching to adjust for potential imbalance in HIV and PrEP cohorts was conducted. 5,973 patients on PrEP and 1,973 PLWHIV were included. There were 39 (0.7%) instances of renal impairment in the PrEP group and 81 (4.1%) in the PLWHIV cohort (hazard ratio [HR]:0.35 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.22-0.56). Rates of renal impairment were 4.01/1000 person-years (95%CI:2.93-5.48) in the PrEP cohort and 16.18/1000 person-years (95%CI:13.01-20.11) in the PLWHIV cohort (p<0.001). Predictors of renal impairment were: older age (40-49 years (HR:5.09 95%CI: 2.12-12.17) and 50-82 years (HR:13.69 95%CI: 5.92-31.67) (compared with 30-39 years) and baseline eGFR<90ml/min (HR:61.19 95%CI: 19.27-194.30). After adjusting for age and baseline eGFR the rate of renal impairment remained lower in the PrEP cohort (aHR:0.62 95%CI: 0.40-0.94, p = 0.023). In propensity-matched analysis using 1,622 patients per cohort the risk of renal impairment remained higher in the PLWHIV cohort (log-rank p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Patients prescribed TDF-based PrEP had lower rates of renal impairment than patients prescribed TDF for HIV infection. In propensity analysis, after matching for some risk factors, rates of renal impairment remained higher amongst patients with HIV.

Assessing renal impairment in treatment-naïve adolescents living with HIV commencing antiretroviral therapy in Zimbabwe.

OBJECTIVE: People with HIV (PWH) are increasingly experiencing non-communicable complications, including renal impairment, which are associated with worse clinical outcomes. Limited information exists surrounding renal impairment in paediatric PWH, of which the majority live in sub-Saharan Africa, and further information is required to guide clinical practice. This study describes the prevalence of new or worsening renal impairment in adolescents commencing antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Zimbabwe and associated risk factors. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. METHODS: Data were collected between January 2010 to January 2019 from the medical records of adolescents aged 12-17 years initiating ART at an outpatient HIV clinic in Zimbabwe. Renal function (estimated glomerular filtration rate, eGFR) was calculated using the Full Age Spectrum formula. Proteinuria was defined as a single urine dipstick score of ≥1+. Potential predictors of renal impairment at follow-up were assessed by logistical regression. RESULTS: Two hundred and sixty-six adolescents were included in analysis. Baseline renal impairment (eGFR < 90 ml/min/1.73 m 2 ) and proteinuria were present in 13% and 7% of the cohort, respectively. After a median of 4.1 years (interquartile range: 1.9-6.9) following ART commencement, mean eGFR increased by 10 ml/min/1.73 m 2 ( P  < 0.01), and the prevalence of renal impairment decreased to 8% ( P  < 0.01). Baseline renal impairment predicted renal impairment at follow-up (odds ratio [OR] 8.98; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.81-28.68; P  < 0.01). Proteinuria trended towards association with renal impairment at follow-up (OR 4.39; 95% CI 0.95-20.31; P  = 0.06). CONCLUSIONS: Renal impairment is common in adolescent ART-naïve PWH, and baseline renal impairment is associated with longstanding renal impairment, whereas baseline proteinuria trended towards an association with longstanding renal impairment.

Comparison of predictors for early and late mortality in adults commencing HIV antiretroviral therapy in Zimbabwe: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: People living with HIV (PLWHIV) commencing antiretroviral therapy (ART) in sub-Saharan Africa experience significant mortality within the first year. Previously, identified risk factors for mortality may be biased towards these patients, as compared to those who experience late mortality. AIM: To compare risk factors for early and late mortality in PLWHIV commencing ART. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of ART-naïve patients aged ≥ 18 years from an outpatient HIV clinic in Zimbabwe. Data were collected between January 2010 and January 2019. Predictors for early (≤ 1 year) and late mortality (> 1 year) were determined by multivariable cox proportional hazards analyses, with patients censored at 1 year and landmark analysis after 1 year, respectively. RESULTS: Three thousand and thirty-nine PLWHIV were included in the analysis. Over a median follow-up of 4.6 years (IQR 2.5-6.9), there was a mortality rate of 8.8%, with 50.4% of deaths occurring within 1 year. Predictors of early mortality included CD4 count < 50 cells/µL (HR 1.84, 95% CI 1.24-2.72, p < 0.01), WHO Stage III (HR 2.05, 95% CI 1.28-3.27, p < 0.01) or IV (HR 2.83, 95% CI 1.67-4.81, p < 0.01), and eGFR < 90 mL/min/1.73 m2 (HR 2.48, 95% CI 1.56-3.96, p < 0.01). Other than age (p < 0.01), only proteinuria (HR 2.12, 95% CI 1.12-4.01, p = 0.02) and diabetes mellitus (HR 3.51, 95% CI 1.32-9.32, p = 0.01) were associated with increased risk of late mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Traditional markers of mortality risk in patients commencing ART appear to be limited to early mortality. Proteinuria and diabetes are some of the few predictors of late mortality, and should be incorporated into routine screening of patients commencing ART.

A suspected case of hyponatraemia induced rhabdomyolysis: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Hyponatraemia is a documented but under-recognised cause of rhabdomyolysis, with the contrasting treatment strategies for the two conditions posing a unique challenge. Balancing the need for aggressive fluid replacement for the treatment of rhabdomyolysis, with the risk of rapidly correcting hyponatraemia is imperative. CASE PRESENTATION: A 52-year-old gentleman with a background of HIV infection and hypertension presented with seizures following methamphetamine use, acute water intoxication, and thiazide use. He was found to have severe hyponatraemia, and following initial correction with hypertonic saline, was commenced on a fluid restriction. After two days he developed abdominal wall and thigh pain, along with oliguria. Laboratory data demonstrated markedly elevated creatine kinase levels and deteriorating renal function. A diagnosis of rhabdomyolysis and severe acute kidney injury was made and aggressive fluid replacement commenced, leading to full resolution of the hyponatraemia, rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney injury. CONCLUSION: Hyponatraemia-induced rhabdomyolysis is rare but can cause significant morbidity and mortality if left untreated. Physicians should consider measuring creatine kinase levels in all patients presenting with severe hyponatraemia, particularly in the presence of other risk factors for rhabdomyolysis. Fluid replacement strategies must be considered in relation to the relative onset and risk of over-correcting hyponatraemia.

Fanconi syndrome in a patient receiving pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV infection: case report.

BACKGROUND: Tenofovir disoproxil is efficacious in the preventing HIV infection as part of a pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) regimen. Although its use has been associated with impaired renal function, instances of Fanconi syndrome are extremely rare. This may change with increased uptake of PrEP. METHODS: A 55-year-old male patient (he/him/his) was commenced on PrEP with a baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of approximately 60mL/min/1.73m2 . RESULTS: Within 6months, he developed new and worsening proteinuria, glycosuria and aminoaciduria despite no apparent change in eGFR. PrEP was discontinued and his urinary abnormalities rapidly resolved. The patient remains off PrEP. CONCLUSIONS: Fanconi syndrome is a rare, but known complication of tenofovir disoproxil. This is the first report related to PrEP in Australia. While tenofovir associated nephrotoxicity in patients taking PrEP is uncommon, the patient's age and pre-existing renal impairment placed him at substantially higher risk. At-risk patients need more frequent monitoring of their eGFR and proteinuria. Urinary protein to creatinine ratio is the preferred to dipstick testing for proteinuria and the latter does not readily detect the low molecular wight proteinuria characteristic of tenofovir toxicity. Early recognition of these patients is essential, as prompt cessation of PrEP can often reverse renal abnormalities.

The Utility of Pre- and Post-Transplant Oral Glucose Tolerance Tests: Identifying Kidney Transplant Recipients With or at Risk of New Onset Diabetes After Transplant.

Background: New onset diabetes after transplant (NODAT) is common in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). Identifying patients at risk prior to transplant may enable strategies to mitigate NODAT, with a pre-transplant oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) suggested by the KDIGO 2020 Guidelines for this purpose. Methods: We investigated the utility of pre- and post-transplant OGTTs to stratify risk and diagnose NODAT in a retrospective, single-centre cohort study of all non-diabetic KTRs transplanted between 2003 and 2018. Results: We identified 597 KTRs who performed a pre-transplant OGTT, of which 441 had their post-transplant glycaemic status determined by a clinical diagnosis of NODAT or OGTT. Pre-transplant dysglycaemia was identified in 28% of KTRs and was associated with increasing age (p < 0.001), BMI (p = 0.03), and peritoneal dialysis (p < 0.001). Post-transplant dysglycaemia was common with NODAT and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) occurring in 143 (32%) and 121 (27%) patients, respectively. Pre-transplant IGT was strongly associated with NODAT development (OR 3.8, p < 0.001). Conclusion: A pre-transplant OGTT identified candidates at increased risk of post-transplant dysglycaemia and NODAT, as diagnosed by an OGTT. Robust prospective trials are needed to determine whether various interventions can reduce post-transplant risk for candidates with an abnormal pre-transplant OGTT.

Predictors of renal impairment and proteinuria after commencement of antiretroviral therapy in a Zimbabwean HIV cohort.

BACKGROUND: Renal disease prevalence varies widely amongst reported cohorts of people living with HIV (PLWHIV) in sub-Saharan Africa. Renal function testing is not routine in those commencing antiretroviral therapy (ART) in the region, however. Further data on renal disease prevalence and the change associated with ART use are therefore needed. AIM: To explore changes in renal function and associated predictors after 1 year of ART in an adult cohort of PLWHIV from Zimbabwe. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of patients who attended the Newlands Clinic between January 2007 and September 2019. Eligible patients were aged ≥18 years and had measures of serum creatinine at baseline and after 1 year of ART. Predictors of renal function change were assessed by multiple linear regression. RESULTS: 1729 patients were eligible for inclusion. Median age was 36 years (IQR 30-43) and 62.8% were female. After 1 year of ART, the proportion of patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <60 ml/min/1.732 did not significantly change (2.0% vs. 1.2%; p = 0.094), but there was a decrease in the proportion of patients with proteinuria (11.0% vs. 5.6%; p < 0.001). Hypertension (B = -6.43; 95% CI -8.97 to -3.89; p < 0.001) and baseline proteinuria (B = -7.33; 95% CI -10.25 to -4.42; p < 0.001) were negative predictors of change in eGFR from baseline, whereas diabetes status was not associated (p = 0.476). CONCLUSION: Proteinuria was common, but its prevalence halved after 1 year of ART. Screening for hypertension could be a simple way to identify patients at risk of renal function decline.

Brief Report: Validation of the D:A:D Chronic Kidney Disease Risk Score Incorporating Proteinuria in People Living With HIV in Harare, Zimbabwe.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to validate the D:A:D risk score for chronic kidney disease (CKD) in people living with HIV in a cohort from Harare, Zimbabwe. In addition, we aimed to evaluate proteinuria as a predictive variable in the risk score model, being the first study to do so. DESIGN: Data from people living with HIV attending a clinic in Harare were evaluated. Those with a baseline estimated the glomerular filtration rate >60 mL/min/1.73 m 2 , and at least 2 subsequent estimated glomerular filtration rate measurements were included. A modified version of the D:A:D risk score model was applied to categorize participants as "low," "medium," and "high-risk" of progression to CKD. Potential predictors of renal impairment were assessed by logistic regression in univariate and multivariate models. Proteinuria was evaluated in a nested model using D:A:D risk categories. RESULTS: Two thousand seven hundred ninety-three participants were included. Forty participants (1.4% of the cohort) progressed to CKD during the median follow-up time of 4.2 years. Progression rates were 1%, 3%, and 12% in the low, medium, and high-risk groups, respectively. Proteinuria data were available for 2251 participants. The presence of proteinuria was strongly associated with progression to CKD [(OR 7.8, 95% CI: 3.9 to 15.7), and its inclusion in the risk score improved the discrimination of the model with the c-statistic increasing from 0.658 to 0.853]. CONCLUSION: A modified version of the D:A:D CKD risk score performed well in predicting CKD events among this sub-Saharan African cohort of people living with HIV. Inclusion of proteinuria into the risk score model significantly improved predictability.

Patterns of biopsy-proven renal disease in people living with HIV: 10 years experience in Sydney, Australia.

BACKGROUND: Acute and chronic kidney diseases are important comorbidities in People Living With HIV (PLWH). Biopsy is often pursued in this cohort with ongoing renal impairment without a clear aetiology, in order to establish the diagnosis and to guide management. Despite the importance of renal disease in PLWH, there is a paucity of biopsy data-especially in the Australian setting. Consequently, who and when to biopsy is mainly based on clinical experience. The aims of this study were to describe biopsy-proven renal disease in PLWH at our institution and to assess for correlation between any demographic or laboratory characteristics with histological diagnosis. METHODS: A retrospective review of all PLWH who underwent renal biopsy between January 2010 and December 2020 at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia was performed. All PLWH over 18 years, who were not transplant recipients were included. Demographic, laboratory and biopsy data was extracted from the electronic medical records. Basic descriptive statistics were performed, and correlation was assessed using chi square and Kendall's coefficient of rank test. RESULTS: 19 renal biopsies were included in the study. The majority of PLWH were Australian born (53%), male (84%) and had a mean age of 48 years (SD 13). Comorbid hypertension and diabetes were present in 74% and 21% of people respectively. The mean serum creatinine was 132 µmol/L (SD 55) and the mean estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was 61 ml/min/1.73m2 (SD 24). The most common histological diagnosis was tubulointerstial nephritis in 5 people (24%). Hypertensive glomerulosclerosis and IgA nephropathy were present in 4 (19%) and 3 (14%) people respectively. There were no cases of HIV-associated nephropathy. There was no significant correlation between any cohort characteristics and diagnoses. CONCLUSIONS: This study represents the first description of biopsy-proven kidney disease in the HIV-infected population of Australia. Our results support the use of renal biopsy in PLWH with ongoing renal impairment for accurate diagnosis and to guide further management. Although a small sample size, our study is larger than other published international biopsy studies.

Renal function and associated mortality risk in adults commencing HIV antiretroviral therapy in Zimbabwe.

BACKGROUND: People with HIV (PWH) in sub-Saharan Africa appear to have a higher incidence of renal disease than other global regions but data are limited. This renal impairment may be associated with an increased mortality risk. AIMS: To define the prevalence of renal disease and explore its association with mortality risk in a cohort from Zimbabwe commencing antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV infection. METHODS: A retrospective study of all patients aged at least 18 years, commenced on ART for HIV infection at the Newlands Clinic in Harare, Zimbabwe between January 2007 and September 2019 was conducted. Data were extracted from electronic medical records. Patients with no baseline creatinine measurement were excluded. Baseline characteristics were assessed as potential predictors for mortality by Cox proportional hazard regression. RESULTS: Three thousand and thirty-nine patients were eligible for inclusion. Most were female (62.1%), with a median age of 36 years (IQR 30-43). At baseline, 7.3% had an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) 90 ml/min per 1.73 m2 or less and 11.4% had proteinuria. Over a median follow-up period of 4.6 years (IQR 2.5-6.9), the mortality rate was 8.7%. One half of deaths (49.2%) occurred within the first year. In multivariable analysis, a baseline eGFR between 60 and 90 ml/min per 1.73 m2 [hazard ratio 2.22, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.46-3.33, P < 0.001] and proteinuria (hazard ratio 2.10, 95% CI 1.35-3.27, P < 0.001) were associated with increased mortality risk. CONCLUSION: Baseline renal impairment was common. Both a reduced eGFR or proteinuria were independently associated with a doubling of mortality risk. These should serve as markers in the clinical setting of at-risk patients.

Primary membranous glomerulonephritis with negative serum PLA2R in haemophilia A successfully managed with rituximab - case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cause a wide range of glomerular pathologies. In people with haemophilia, transfusion-associated infections with these viruses are common and definitive pathological diagnosis in this population is complicated by the difficulty of safely obtaining a renal biopsy. Membranous nephropathy (MN) is a common cause of adult onset nephrotic syndrome occurring in both primary and secondary forms. Primary MN is associated with podocyte autoantibodies, predominantly against phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R). Secondary disease is often associated with viral infection; however, infrequently with HIV or HCV. Distinguishing these entities from each other and other viral glomerular disease is vital as treatment strategies are disparate. CASE PRESENTATION: We present the case of a 48-year-old man with moderate haemophilia A and well-controlled transfusion-associated HCV and HIV coinfection who presented with sudden onset nephrotic range proteinuria. Renal biopsy demonstrated grade two membranous nephropathy with associated negative serum PLA2R testing. Light and electron microscopic appearances were indeterminant of a primary or secondary cause. Given his extremely stable co-morbidities, treatment with rituximab and subsequent angiotensin receptor blockade was initiated for suspected primary MN and the patient had sustained resolution in proteinuria over the following 18 months. Subsequent testing demonstrated PLA2R positive glomerular immunohistochemistry despite multiple negative serum results. CONCLUSIONS: Pursuing histological diagnosis is important in complex cases of MN as the treatment strategies between primary and secondary vary significantly. Serum PLA2R testing alone may be insufficient in the presence of multiple potential causes of secondary MN.

Renal impairment in a large-scale HIV preexposure prophylaxis implementation cohort.

BACKGROUND: HIV preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) with fixed-dose tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) and emtricitabine has been associated with low rates of renal impairment in clinical trials. Large-scale PrEP implementation may result in higher rates, as the prevalence of associated risk factors may be higher than in trial populations. METHODS: A posthoc analysis of EPIC-NSW, a large Australian multicentre PrEP implementation trial for patients at high risk of HIV infection. Participants were eligible for inclusion if they commenced PrEP between 1 March 2016 and 30 April 2018, and had renal function assessed at baseline and at least once more before the censor date. The primary outcome was new-onset renal impairment, defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <60 ml/min per 1.73 m2. RESULTS: A total of 6808 participants were eligible for inclusion. Almost all were male (99%), with a median age of 35 years [interquartile range (IQR): 28-44]. Approximately one-quarter (26%) had a baseline eGFR <90 ml/min per 1.73 m2. Over a median follow-up period of 1.2 years (IQR: 0.6-1.7), the rate of renal impairment was 5.8 episodes per 1000 person-years [95% confidence interval (CI): 4.0-7.8]. In multivariable Cox regression, there was a higher risk of renal impairment in participants aged ≥50 years [hazard ratio (HR) 14.7, 95% CI: 5.0-43.3, P < 0.001] and those with an eGFR <90 ml/min per 1.73 m2 (HR 28.9, 95% CI: 6.9-121.9) at baseline. CONCLUSION: In a large-scale implementation study, TDF-containing PrEP was associated with a low risk of renal impairment overall, whereas older patients and those with preexisting renal dysfunction were at substantially increased risk.

Transplant-associated penile Kaposi sarcoma managed with single agent paclitaxel chemotherapy: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Kaposi's sarcoma is an uncommon complication in renal transplant patients, and typically presents with cutaneous lesions on the lower extremities. Penile involvement has been reported only rarely. Management of cutaneous-limited disease is primarily reduction of immunosuppression and conversion to an mTOR-inhibitor, whereas the treatment of disseminated disease in transplant patients is more variable. CASE PRESENTATION: A 75-year-old male, originally from Somalia, received a deceased-donor kidney transplant for diabetic and hypertensive nephropathy. Seven months post-transplant he presented with lower limb lesions, oedema and bilateral deep vein thromboses. He then developed a fast-growing painful lesion on his penile shaft. A biopsy of this lesion confirmed KS, and a PET scan demonstrated disseminated disease in the lower extremities, penis and thoracic lymph nodes. His tacrolimus was converted to sirolimus, and his other immunosuppression was reduced. He was treated with single agent paclitaxel chemotherapy in view of his rapidly progressing, widespread disease. The penile lesion completely resolved, and the lower extremity lesions regressed significantly. His kidney allograft function remained stable throughout treatment. CONCLUSION: This case illustrates a rare presentation of an uncommon post-transplant complication and highlights the need for a high index of suspicion of KS in transplant patients presenting with atypical cutaneous lesions. It serves to demonstrate that the use of single agent paclitaxel chemotherapy, switch to an mTORi and reduction in immunosuppression where possible produces excellent short-term outcomes, adding to the body of evidence for this management strategy in disseminated Kaposi's sarcoma.

Trends and Outcomes in Simultaneous Liver and Kidney Transplantation in Australia and New Zealand.

AIM: Rates of simultaneous liver and kidney transplantation (SLKT) have increased, but indications for SLKT remain poorly defined. Additional data are needed to determine which patients benefit from SLKT to best direct use of scarce donor kidneys. METHODS: Data were extracted from the Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant Registry (ANZDATA) database for all SLKT performed until the end of 2017. Patients were divided by pretransplant dialysis status into no dialysis before SLKT (preemptive kidney transplant) and any dialysis before SLKT (nonpreemptive). Baseline characteristics and outcomes were compared. RESULTS: Between 1989 and 2017, inclusive, 84 SLKT procedures were performed in Australia, of which 24% were preemptive. Preemptive and nonpreemptive SLKT recipients did not significantly differ in age (P = .267), sex (P = .526), or ethnicity (P = .870). Over a median follow-up time of 4.5 years, preemptively transplanted patients had a statistically equivalent risk of kidney graft failure (hazard ratio (HR) 1.83, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.36-12.86, P = .474) and all-cause mortality (HR 1.69, 95% CI: 0.51-5.6, P = .226) compared to nonpreemptive patients. Overall, 1- and 5-year survival rates for all SLKTs were 92% (95% CI: 86-96) and 60% (95% CI: 45-75), respectively. CONCLUSION: Kidney graft and overall patient survival were similar between patients with preemptive kidney transplant and those who were dialysis dependent.