Efficacy and safety of single-dose anti-thymocyte globulin versus basiliximab induction therapy in pediatric kidney transplant recipients: A retrospective comparative cohort study.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of basiliximab (BAS) versus a single dose of anti-thymocyte globulin (r-ATG) induction therapy in pediatric kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). METHODS: This single-center retrospective comparative cohort study included all pediatric KTRs from May 2013 to April 2018 and followed up to 12 months. In the first period, all recipients received BAS, while from May 2016, a single 3 mg/kg dose of r-ATG was instituted. Maintenance therapy consisted of a calcineurin inhibitor plus prednisone plus azathioprine or mycophenolate. RESULTS: A total of 227 patients were included (BAS, n = 113; r-ATG, n = 114). The main combination of immunosuppressive drugs was tacrolimus, prednisone, and azathioprine in both groups (87% vs. 88%, p = .718). Patients receiving r-ATG showed superior survival-free of the composite endpoint (acute rejection, graft loss, or death; 76% vs. 61%, p = .003; HR 2.08, 1.29-3.34, p = .003) and lower incidence of biopsy-proven acute rejection (10% vs. 21%, p = .015). There was no difference in the overall incidence of CMV infection (33% vs. 37%, p = .457), PTLD (1% vs. 3%, p = .309), 30-day hospital readmissions (24% vs. 23%, p = .847), and kidney function at 12 months (86 ± 29 vs. 84 ± 30 mL/min/1.73m2, p = .614). CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that induction therapy with a single 3 mg/kg dose of r-ATG is associated with higher efficacy for preventing acute rejection and similar safety profile compared to BAS.

The challenges of the pandemic and the vaccination against covid-19 in pediatric patients with kidney disease / Os desafios da pandemia e a vacinação covid-19 na população pediátrica com doenças renais

ABSTRACT The covid-19 vaccine confers direct protection and reduces transmission rates of the virus and new variants. Vaccines from Pfizer/BioNTech and CoronaVac have been cleared for children in Brazil. They are safe, effective, and immunogenic. There are no known complications associated with the use of steroids or vaccines in pediatric patients with covid-19 and nephrotic syndrome. With or without immunosuppression, these patients are not at increased risk of severe covid-19, and steroids are safe for them. A milder form of covid-19 occurs in patients with chronic kidney disease without the need for hospitalization. The vaccine response may be reduced and/or the duration of antibodies after vaccination may be shorter than in the general population. However, considering risk of exposure, vaccination against covid-19 is recommended. It is believed that patients with hemolytic-uremic syndrome are at higher risk of severe covid-19. Vaccination is recommended, although specific data on the safety and efficacy of the covid-19 vaccine are limited. There is agreement that the benefits of induced immunity outweigh the risks of immunization. Vaccination against covid-19 is recommended for children and adolescents needing kidney transplantation or who have undergone transplantation. These patients present decreased immune response after vaccination, but immunization is recommended because the benefits outweigh the risks of vaccination. Current recommendations in Brazil stipulate the use of the messenger RNA vaccine. This paper aims to provide pediatric nephrologists with the latest knowledge about vaccination against covid-19 for children with kidney disease.

Resumo A vacina covid-19 confere proteção direta, reduz as taxas de transmissão do vírus e de novas variantes. No Brasil, estão liberadas para a população pediátrica as vacinas Pfizer/BioNTech e a CoronaVac, ambas seguras, eficazes e imunogênicas. Pacientes pediátricos com síndrome nefrótica e covid-19 têm curso clínico regular sem complicações relacionadas ao uso de esteroides ou vacinas. Esses pacientes, com ou sem imunossupressão, não apresentam maior risco de covid-19 grave e o tratamento com esteroides é seguro. Os pacientes com doença renal crônica têm covid-19 mais leve, sem necessidade de hospitalização. A resposta vacinal pode ser reduzida e/ou a duração dos anticorpos pós-vacinação pode ser menor do que na população geral. Entretanto, a vacina covid-19 está recomendada, considerando o risco de exposição. Acredita-se que pacientes com síndrome hemolítico-urêmica teriam maior risco de covid-19 grave. A vacina é recomendada, embora dados específicos sobre segurança e eficácia da vacina covid-19 sejam limitados. Há concordância que os benefícios da imunidade induzida superam quaisquer riscos da imunização. A vacina covid-19 é recomendada para crianças e adolescentes candidatos ao transplante renal ou já transplantados. Esses pacientes têm resposta imunológica reduzida após a vacina, entretanto ela é recomendada porque os benefícios superam qualquer risco dessa vacinação. A recomendação atual no Brasil é a vacina de tecnologia RNA mensageiro. O objetivo deste documento é levar aos nefrologistas pediátricos os conhecimentos mais recentes sobre a vacinação contra contra-19 em crianças com doenças renais.

The challenges of the pandemic and the vaccination against covid-19 in pediatric patients with kidney disease.

The covid-19 vaccine confers direct protection and reduces transmission rates of the virus and new variants. Vaccines from Pfizer/BioNTech and CoronaVac have been cleared for children in Brazil. They are safe, effective, and immunogenic. There are no known complications associated with the use of steroids or vaccines in pediatric patients with covid-19 and nephrotic syndrome. With or without immunosuppression, these patients are not at increased risk of severe covid-19, and steroids are safe for them. A milder form of covid-19 occurs in patients with chronic kidney disease without the need for hospitalization. The vaccine response may be reduced and/or the duration of antibodies after vaccination may be shorter than in the general population. However, considering risk of exposure, vaccination against covid-19 is recommended. It is believed that patients with hemolytic-uremic syndrome are at higher risk of severe covid-19. Vaccination is recommended, although specific data on the safety and efficacy of the covid-19 vaccine are limited. There is agreement that the benefits of induced immunity outweigh the risks of immunization. Vaccination against covid-19 is recommended for children and adolescents needing kidney transplantation or who have undergone transplantation. These patients present decreased immune response after vaccination, but immunization is recommended because the benefits outweigh the risks of vaccination. Current recommendations in Brazil stipulate the use of the messenger RNA vaccine. This paper aims to provide pediatric nephrologists with the latest knowledge about vaccination against covid-19 for children with kidney disease.

Long-term Efficacy and Safety of Everolimus Versus Mycophenolate in Kidney Transplant Recipients Receiving Tacrolimus.

BACKGROUND: The short-term efficacy and safety of everolimus in combination with tacrolimus have been described in several clinical trials. Yet, detailed long-term data comparing the use of everolimus or mycophenolate in kidney transplant recipients receiving tacrolimus are lacking. METHODS: This is a 5-y follow-up post hoc analysis of a prospective trial including 288 patients who were randomized to receive a single 3-mg/kg dose of rabbit antithymocyte globulin, tacrolimus, everolimus (EVR), and prednisone (rabbit antithymocyte globulin/EVR, n = 85); basiliximab, tacrolimus, everolimus, and prednisone (basiliximab/EVR, n = 102); or basiliximab, tacrolimus, mycophenolate, and prednisone (basiliximab/mycophenolate, n = 101). RESULTS: There were no differences in the incidence of treatment failure (31.8% versus 40.2% versus 34.7%, P = 0.468), de novo donor-specific HLA antibodies (6.5% versus 11.7% versus 4.0%, P = 0.185), patient (92.9% versus 94.1% versus 92.1%, P = 0.854), and death-censored graft (87.1% versus 90.2% versus 85.1%, P = 0.498) survivals. Using a sensitive analysis, the trajectories of estimated glomerular filtration rate were comparable in the intention-to-treat (P = 0.145) and per protocol (P = 0.354) populations. There were no differences in study drug discontinuation rate (22.4% versus 30.4% versus 17.8%, P = 0.103). CONCLUSIONS: In summary, this analysis in a cohort of de novo low/moderate immunologic risk kidney transplant recipients suggests that the use of a single 3 mg/kg rabbit antithymocyte globulin dose followed by EVR combined with reduced tacrolimus concentrations was associated with similar efficacy and renal function compared with the standard of care immunosuppressive regimen.

Dramatic Impact of Centralization and a Multidisciplinary Bladder Cancer Program in Reducing Mortality: The CABEM Project.

PURPOSE: Muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) is an aggressive disease with a complex treatment. In Brazil, as in most developing countries, data are scarce, but mortality seems exceedingly high. We have created a centralization program involving a multidisciplinary clinic in a region comprising seven municipalities. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of a multidisciplinary clinic and a centralization-of-care program (CABEM program) on MIBC treatment in Brazil. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 116 consecutive patients were evaluated. In group 1, 58 patients treated for MIBC before establishing a bladder cancer program from 2011 to 2017 were retrospectively evaluated. Group 2 represented 58 patients treated for MIBC after the implementation of the CABEM centralization program. Age, sex, staging, comorbidity indexes, mortality rates, type of treatment, and perioperative outcomes were compared. RESULTS: Patients from group 2 versus 1 were older (68 v 64.2 years, P = .02) with a higher body mass index (25.5 v 22.6 kg/m2, P = .017) and had more comorbidities according to both age-adjusted Charlson Comorbidity Index (4.2 v 2.8, P = .0007) and Isbarn index (60.6 v 43.9, P = .0027). Radical cystectomy (RC) was the only treatment modality for patients in group 1, whereas in group 2, there were 31 (53%) RC; three (5%) partial cystectomies; seven (12%) trimodal therapies; 13 (22%) palliative chemotherapies; and three (5%) exclusive transurethral resections of the bladder tumor. No patient in group 1 received neoadjuvant chemotherapy, whereas it was offered to 69% of patients treated with RC. Ninety-day mortality rates were 34.5% versus 5% for groups 1 versus 2 (P < .002). One-year mortality was also lower in group 2. CONCLUSION: Our data support that a centralization program, a structured bladder clinic associated with protocols, a multidisciplinary team, and inclusion of chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments can pleasingly improve outcomes for patients with MIBC.

A phase 2 randomized clinical trial of abiraterone plus ADT, apalutamide, or abiraterone and apalutamide in patients with advanced prostate cancer with non-castrate testosterone levels (LACOG 0415).

BACKGROUND: Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) combined with apalutamide, abiraterone acetate plus prednisone, enzalutamide, or docetaxel are the standard treatments for advanced castration-sensitive prostate cancer (CSPC). We investigated ADT-free alternatives for advanced CSPC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: LACOG 0415 is a phase 2, open-label, non-comparative, randomized trial. Patients with advanced CSPC were randomized (1:1:1) to receive goserelin plus abiraterone acetate and prednisone (ADT plus AAP arm), apalutamide (APA arm), or apalutamide plus abiraterone acetate and prednisone (APA plus AAP arm). The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients with PSA of ≤0.2 ng/mL at week 25 in the modified intention-to-treat population. Safety analyses were performed in all patients with at least one dose of the study drug. RESULTS: Of 128 randomized patients, 120 patients were evaluable for PSA response at week 25; 17.2% had a high-risk biochemical recurrence, 8.6% had locally advanced disease, and 74.2% had distant metastases. At week 25, PSA of ≤0.2 ng/mL was observed in 75.6% (95%CI 59.7%-87.6%), 60.0% (95%CI 43.3%-75.1%), and 79.5% (95%CI 63.5%-90.7%) of patients in ADT plus AAP, APA, and APA plus AAP arms, respectively. PSA decline of ≥80% was observed in 100%, 90.0%, and 97.4%, respectively. Grade 3-4 AEs were observed in 31.0%, 21.4% and 36.4%, respectively. Testosterone levels increased significantly in the APA arm and decreased significantly in ADT plus AAP and APA plus AAP arms. CONCLUSIONS: ADT-free alternatives provide a high PSA response in advanced CSPC, although the APA arm did not reach the expected rate of PSA of ≤0.2 ng/mL at week 25. These results warrant further investigation of ADT-free treatments as alternatives in advanced CSPC. SOURCE STUDY REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.govNCT02867020.

Strategies to keep kidney transplant alive amid the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to describe the result of the strategies adopted to maintain the transplant program amid the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Since March 2020, several measures have been adopted sequentially, including the compulsory use of personal protective equipment and the real-time polymerase chain reaction testing of collaborators, symptomatic patients, potential deceased donors, candidates for recipients, and in-hospital readmissions, regardless of symptoms. The living-donor transplantation was restricted to exceptional cases. RESULTS: Among 1013 health professionals, 201 cases of COVID-19 were confirmed between March and August 2020, with no severe cases reported. In this period, we observed a 19% institutional increase in the number of transplants from deceased donors compared with that observed in the same period in 2019. There was no donor-derived severe acute respiratory syndrome virus (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Four COVID-19-positive patients underwent transplantation; after 28 days, all were alive and with functioning allograft. Among the 11,875 already transplanted patients being followed up, there were 546 individuals with confirmed diagnosis, 372 who required hospitalization, and 167 on mechanical ventilation, resulting in a 27% mortality rate. CONCLUSIONS: These data confirm that the adoption of sequential and coordinated measures amid the pandemic was able to successfully maintain the transplant program and ensure the safety of health professionals and transplanted patients who were already in follow-up.

The Full Spectrum of COVID-19 Development and Recovery Among Kidney Transplant Recipients.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) fatality rate is high among kidney transplant recipients. Among survivors, kidney outcomes, seroconversion, and persistence of viral shedding are unexplored. METHODS: Single-center prospective cohort study including data from kidney transplant recipients with confirmed COVID-19 between March 20, 2020 and July 31, 2020. Outcomes were adjudicated until August 31, 2020 or the date of death. RESULTS: There were 491 patients with COVID-19 among the 11 875 recipients in follow-up. The majority were middle aged with ≥1 comorbidities. Thirty-one percent were treated at home, and 69% required hospitalization. Among the hospitalized, 61% needed intensive care, 75% presented allograft dysfunction, and 46% needed dialysis. The overall 28-day fatality rate was 22% and among hospitalized patients it was 41%. Age (odds ratio, 3.08; 95% confidence interval, 1.86-5.09), diabetes mellitus (odds ratio, 1.69; 95% confidence interval, 1.06-2.72), and cardiac disease (odds ratio, 2.00; 95% confidence interval, 1.09-3.68) were independent factors for death. Among the 351 survivors, 19% sustained renal graft dysfunction, and there were 13 (4%) graft losses. Biopsy (n = 20) findings were diverse but decisive to guide treatment and estimate prognosis. Seroconversion was observed in 79% of the survivors and was associated with disease severity. Persistence of viral shedding was observed in 21% of the patients without detectable clinical implications. CONCLUSIONS: This prospective cohort analysis confirms the high 28-day fatality rate of COVID-19, associated primarily with age and comorbidities. The high incidence of allograft dysfunction was associated with a wide range of specific histologic lesions and high rates of sequelae and graft loss. Seroconversion was high and the persistence of viral shedding deserves further studies.

Kidney transplantation in the time of COVID-19: Dilemmas, experiences, and perspectives.

INTRODUCTION: Hospital do Rim is a high-volume kidney transplant (KT) center located in São Paulo, a city with 12.2 million inhabitants. Over the last 18 years, we performed 11 436 KT, 70% of which from deceased donors. To mitigate the effects of reduction in the number of transplants on the waiting list, sequential measures were implemented when COVID-19 was declared pandemic. METHODS: The first step was to provide SARS-COV-2 RT-PCR testing for all symptomatic employees and patients and the compulsory use of personal protective equipment in the hospital facilities. Living donor KT were postponed, and all deceased donors and recipients were tested before the transplantation. The immunosuppressive protocols were maintained, and telehealth strategies were developed. RESULTS: Among the 1013 employees, there were 214 cases of COVID-19, nine required ward hospitalization, and no deaths occurred. In 26%, the probable source of contamination was occupational. From the first patient diagnosed with COVID-19 in 03/20/2020 till 10/21/2020, 523 deceased KT were performed, a 21% increase compared with 2019, with no confirmed donor-derived SARS-CoV-2 infection. Four patients were transplanted with a positive pretransplant SARS-CoV-2 test, but none of them developed the disease. Overall, of 11 875 KT followed in our center, 674 developed COVID-19. Among the hospitalized, 53% required mechanical ventilation, and 45% required hemodialysis. Their overall mortality rate was 27.5%. CONCLUSION: This experience shows the challenges that transplant centers faced as the pandemic unfolded and illustrates the effectiveness of the sequential measures implemented to provide a safe environment for transplantation.

Prediction equation of hip external rotators maximum torque in healthy adults and older adults using the measure of hip extensors maximum torque.

BACKGROUND: The use of predictive equation of muscular torque can reduce physical effort and time spent during evaluation. OBJECTIVES: To establish, validate, and test the accuracy of a prediction equation to estimate the hip external rotators (HER) torque in adults and older adults by means of hip extensors (HEX) torque measurement. METHODS: Eighty-three healthy adults (development set) were assessed to test the association of HEX and HER torques and to establish the prediction equation. A separate 36 adults and 15 older adults (validation sets) were assessed to test the ability of the equation to estimate HER torque. Hip isometric strength was assessed by a handheld dynamometer. RESULTS: Simple linear regression analysis revealed that HEX torque was associated with HER torque (r=0.80; p<0.0001), resulting in the following prediction equation: HERtorque=-0.02+(0.58 * HEXtorque). Paired t-test revealed no difference between directly measured and predicted values of HER torque in adults (mean difference=0.02; 95% CI=-0.115, 0.072) and older adults (mean difference=0.05; 95% CI=-0.02, 0.12). CONCLUSION: The HEX and HER torques were strongly correlated. The prediction equation was valid, accurate, and can be used to estimate HER muscle strength in healthy adults and older adults, requiring only the direct measurement of HEX torque.

Strategies to keep kidney transplant alive amid the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: This study aims to describe the result of the strategies adopted to maintain the transplant program amid the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Since March 2020, several measures have been adopted sequentially, including the compulsory use of personal protective equipment and the real-time polymerase chain reaction testing of collaborators, symptomatic patients, potential deceased donors, candidates for recipients, and in-hospital readmissions, regardless of symptoms. The living-donor transplantation was restricted to exceptional cases. RESULTS: Among 1013 health professionals, 201 cases of COVID-19 were confirmed between March and August 2020, with no severe cases reported. In this period, we observed a 19% institutional increase in the number of transplants from deceased donors compared with that observed in the same period in 2019. There was no donor-derived severe acute respiratory syndrome virus (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Four COVID-19-positive patients underwent transplantation; after 28 days, all were alive and with functioning allograft. Among the 11,875 already transplanted patients being followed up, there were 546 individuals with confirmed diagnosis, 372 who required hospitalization, and 167 on mechanical ventilation, resulting in a 27% mortality rate. CONCLUSIONS: These data confirm that the adoption of sequential and coordinated measures amid the pandemic was able to successfully maintain the transplant program and ensure the safety of health professionals and transplanted patients who were already in follow-up.

Lower limb kinematics and hip extensors strengths are associated with performance of runners at high risk of injury during the modified Star Excursion Balance Test.

BACKGROUND: Reduced trunk and lower limb movement and hip and trunk muscles weakness may compromise the athletes' performance on the modified Star Excursion Balance Test (mSEBT). OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship of trunk and lower limb kinematics and strength with the performance on the mSEBT of runners at high risk of injury. METHODS: Thirty-nine runners performed the mSEBT with the dominant limb as the support limb. An Inertial System was used to capture the trunk, hip, knee and ankle movement during the mSEBT. A handheld dynamometer was used to measure the strength of trunk extensors and lateral flexors muscles, and hip extensors, lateral rotators and abductors of the support limb. Multiple regressions were used to investigate if trunk and lower limbs kinematics and trunk and hip muscles strength are associated with performance during the mSEBT. RESULTS: Reduced hip flexion and greater knee flexion range of motion (ROM) were associated with anterior reach in the mSEBT (r2=0.45; p<.001), greater hip flexion ROM was associated with posteromedial reach (r2=0.15; p=.012) and greater knee flexion ROM was associated with posterolateral reach (r2=0.23; p<.001). Hip extensor strength was associated with posteromedial (r2=0.14; p=.017), posterolateral (r2=0.10; p=.038) and composite reaches (r2=0.16; p=.009). CONCLUSION: Hip and knee kinematics in the sagittal plane explained 15-45% of the runners' performance on the mSEBT and hip extensor strength explained 10-16% of the mSEBT performance. These findings provide useful information on the contribution of joints kinematics and strength when evaluating dynamic postural control in runners at high risk of injury.

Collaborative Brazilian pediatric renal transplant registry (CoBrazPed-RTx): A report from 2004 to 2018.

The Brazilian collaborative registry for pediatric renal transplantation began in 2004 as a multicenter initiative aimed at analyzing, reporting, and disseminating the results of pediatric renal transplantation in Brazil. Data from all pediatric renal transplants performed from January 2004 to May 2018 at the 13 participating centers were analyzed. A total of 2744 pediatric renal transplants were performed in the thirteen participating centers. The median age at transplantation was 12.2 years, with the majority being male recipients (56%). The main underlying diseases were CAKUT (40.5%) and glomerulopathy (28%). 1981 (72%) of the grafts were from deceased donors (DD). Graft survival at one year (censored by death) was 94% in the live donor group (LD) and 91% in the DD group (log-rank test P < 0.01). The patient's survival at one and 5 years was 97% and 95% for the LD group and 96% and 93% for the DD group (log-rank test P = 0.02). The graft loss rate was 19% (n = 517), more frequently caused by vascular thrombosis (n = 102) and chronic graft nephropathy (n = 90). DD recipients had 1.6 (1.0-2.2) times greater chance of death and 1.5 (1.2-1.8) times greater chance of graft loss compared to LD recipients. The mortality rate was 5.4% (n = 148), mainly due to infection (n = 69) and cardiovascular disease (n = 28). The results of this collaborative pediatric renal transplant record are comparable to other international registries, although we still have a high infection rate as a cause of death.

The LACOG-0415 phase II trial: abiraterone acetate and ADT versus apalutamide versus abiraterone acetate and apalutamide in patients with advanced prostate cancer with non-castration testosterone levels.

BACKGROUND: Testosterone suppression is the standard treatment for advanced prostate cancer, and it is associated with side-effects that impair patients' quality of life, like sexual dysfunction, osteoporosis, weight gain, and increased cardiovascular risk. We hypothesized that abiraterone acetate with prednisone (AAP) and apalutamide, alone or in combination, can be an effective hormonal therapy also possibly decreasing castration-associated side effects. METHODS: Phase II, open-label, randomized, efficacy trial of abiraterone acetate plus prednisone (AAP) and Androgen Deprivation Therapy (ADT) versus apalutamide versus the combination of AAP (without ADT) and apalutamide. Key eligibility criteria are confirmed prostate adenocarcinoma; biochemical relapse after definitive treatment (PSA ≥ 4 ng/ml and doubling time less than 10 months, or PSA ≥ 20 ng/ml); newly diagnosed locally advanced or metastatic prostate cancer; asymptomatic to moderately symptomatic regarding bone symptoms. Patients with other histology besides adenocarcinoma or previous use of hormonal therapy or chemotherapy were excluded. DISCUSSION: There is an urgent need to study and validate regimens such as new hormonal agents that may add benefit to castration with an acceptable safety profile. We aim to evaluate if apalutamide in monotherapy or in combination with AAP is an effective and safety hormonal treatment that can spare patients of androgen deprivation therapy. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial was registered in ClinicalTrials.gov on October 16, 2017, under Identifier: NCT02867020.

Clinical features and outcomes of kidney transplant recipients with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis recurrence.

AIM: Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis recurs in up to 30% and up to 80% of adult and pediatric kidney transplant recipients, respectively. There is no standard of care treatment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate clinical characteristics, treatments and outcomes of patients with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis recurrence (FSGSr). METHODS: This was a retrospective single-center cohort study including FSGSr patients treated with plasmapheresis (PP) and combinations of high dose steroids, cyclosporine and rituximab. RESULTS: Among 61 patients included in this analysis the median time to diagnosis was 19 days. The incidence of first biopsy-confirmed FSGSr was 18% reaching 52.4% with follow-up biopsies. During PP treatment 54% of the patients developed infectious complications. PP was discontinued in 37% of patients due to treatment failure (no remission or graft loss) and in 26% due to an adverse event. All patients who discontinued PP due to adverse event did not show clinical response or lost the allograft. The incidence of acute rejection was 34.4%. The incidences of partial and complete remissions were 16.4% and 27.8%, respectively. Overall 6-years patient and graft survivals were 90.7% and 64.5%, respectively. CONCLUSION: This analysis confirms the low, variable and unpredictable rate of FSGSr remission, inconsistencies among available therapeutic options and its high rate of adverse events, and the negative impact on graft survival.

The effect of anti-thymocyte globulin and everolimus on the kinetics of cytomegalovirus viral load in seropositive kidney transplant recipients without prophylaxis.

BACKGROUND: The use of mTOR inhibitors is associated with lower incidence of CMV infections but its effect on viral load has not been investigated. AIMS, MATERIALS AND METHODS: This post-hoc analysis included data from 273 CMV seropositive kidney transplant recipients randomized to receive anti-thymocyte globulin and everolimus (rAGT/TAC/EVR, n = 81), basiliximab and everolimus (BAS/TAC/EVR, n = 97) or basiliximab and mycophenolate (BAS/TAC/MPS, n = 95). All patients received tacrolimus (TAC) and corticosteroids. Preemptive CMV therapy based on weekly pp65 antigenemia test was used during the first 6 months. Blinded weekly CMV DNAemia was compared among the groups. RESULTS: The proportion of patients with undetectable CMV DNAemia (23.4% vs 56.7% vs 22.1%, P < .001) was higher in the BAS/TAC/EVR. The median number of study visits with positive CMV DNAemia (2.0 vs 0.0 vs 4.6, rATG/EVR vs BAS/MPS, P = .354; BAS/EVR vs BAS/MPS, P < .0001; rATG/EVR vs BAS/EVR, P < .001) were lower in the BAS/TAC/EVR. The proportion of patients with positive CMV DNAemia who were not treat for CMV infection/disease based on pp65 antigenemia was higher in rATG/TAC/EVR group (74.1% vs 36.1% vs 44.2%, P < .001) but mean CMV DNAemia was comparable to BAS/TAC/EVR and lower than BAS/TAC/MPS (8536 ± 15 899 vs 7975 ± 17 935 vs 16 965 ± 37 694 copies/mL, P < .05), respectively. The proportion of patients with CMV DNAemia below 5000 copies/mL was higher in patients receiving EVR (74.1% vs 83.5% vs 50.0%, P = .000), respectively. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: These data suggest that mTOR inhibitors reduce the incidence of CMV infection by limiting CMV viral replication.