Long-term effect of eplerenone treatment in children with chronic allograft nephropathy.

BACKGROUND: Literature supports the protective role of mineralocorticoid antagonist (MRA) against the renal injury induced by aldosterone in kidney transplant recipients. However, there is limited data available regarding the safety and efficacy of MRAs in pediatric renal transplant patients. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effect of long-term eplerenone administration in children with chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN). METHODS: Twenty-six renal transplant children with biopsy-proven CAN, an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR ) > 40 mL/min per 1.73 m2 and with a significant proteinuria were included. Selected patients were randomly divided into two groups as follows; Group 1 (n = 10) patients received 25 mg/day eplerenone and Group 2 (n = 16) patients did not receive eplerenone for 36 months. Patients were examined in the renal transplant outpatient clinic biweekly for the first month and once a month thereafter. The primary outcome of the patients was compared. RESULTS: Mean eGFR stayed stable in group 1 patients, but significantly decreased in group 2 at 36 months (57.53 ± 7.53 vs. 44.94 ± 8.04 mL/min per 1.73 m2 , p = .001). Similarly, spot protein-creatinine ratio was significantly lower in group 1 compared to group 2 patients at 36 months (1.02 ± 7.53 vs. 3.61 ± 0.53, p < .001). Eplerenone associated hyperkalemia was not observed in group 1 patients (4.6 ± 0.2 vs. 4.56 ± 0.3, p = .713). CONCLUSION: The long-term eplerenone administration blunted the chronic allograft nephropathy by maintaining a stable eGFR levels and decreasing urine protein-creatinine ratio. Eplerenone associated hyperkalemia was not observed in our study.

Effect of Post-Transplant Cardiac Angiographic Procedures on Post-Transplant Renal Function.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac interventions often are performed before and after renal transplant for coronary artery disease. The aim of this study was to investigate whether post-transplant cardiac coronary procedures affect post-transplant renal function. METHOD: We retrospectively included renal transplant recipients who underwent renal transplant procedures at Baskent University between April 28, 1997 and January 20, 2020. We analyzed the effect of cardiac catheterization in renal transplant recipients between 6 and 12 months post-transplant with post-transplant renal function assessed by glomerular filtration rate (GFR). We compared the effect of the type of coronary intervention on GFR change in group 1, whereby group 1 was divided into 2 subgroups (coronary artery bypass grafting [CABG] and stenting). Group 1 included patients who underwent cardiac intervention, whereas group 2 included those who had not undergone cardiac intervention. RESULTS: In all, 108 patients underwent coronary angiography; 45 (41.7%) had normal coronaries or minimal coronary artery disease (CAD); 37 (34.3%) underwent stent implantation; 26 (24.1%) underwent CABG. The mean post- transplantation GFR of all patients after cardiac catheterization was 84.26+25.91 (mL/min/1.73 m2). The final, after 12 months mean GFR of all patients was 69.55+27.05. The final GFR was significantly lower than the initial post-renal GFR value in patients who underwent cardiac intervention but not in non-intervened patients. CONCLUSION: Invasive cardiac revascularization procedures showed a negative effect on post-transplant renal function in renal transplant recipients. All renal transplant recipients who underwent cardiac intervention survived the intervention, and there was no mortality. The reason for this outcome was assumed to be because of the short follow-up period.

Tacrolimus intrapatient variability in BK virus nephropathy and chronic calcineurin toxicity in kidney transplantation.

Intrapatient variability (IPV) in tacrolimus has been increasingly acknowledged as a risk factor for poor graft survival after kidney transplantation. Although past studies have mainly accounted for IPV in acute or chronic rejection states as due to underimmunosuppression, this is not yet clear. So far, tacrolimus IPV for BK virus-associated nephropathy (BKVN) and chronic calcineurin inhibitor toxicity (CNIT) has not been investigated. Here, we evaluated IPV in tacrolimus for BKVN and chronic CNIT, which are mainly considered as overimmunosuppression states. In this case-control study, kidney allograft biopsies conducted between 1998 and 2018 were included, with patients grouped by biopsy results as BKVN alone group, CNIT alone group, and normal graft function (control group). IPV was estimated as mean absolute deviation. Our study groups included 25 kidney transplant recipients with BKVN alone, 91 patients with CNIT alone, and 60 patients with normal 5-year graft survival (control group). In analyses of IPV in tacrolimus six months before graft biopsy, IPV was highest in the BKVN group (P = 0.001). The BKVN group also had the highest IPV in tacrolimus at 12 months after biopsy (P = 0.001), with all pairwise comparisons statistically different between groups. At 12 months after biopsy, five patients (20%) in the BKVN group and 10 patients (10.9%) in the CNIT group had graft loss. Among other risk factors, BKVN and chronic CNIT are consequences related to high IPV. Quantification of IVP for tacrolimus in clinical practice would help to optimize kidney transplant outcomes.

Spontaneous spleen rupture and rectus sheath hematoma in a patient with Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome: report of a case.

We report a case of Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome (KTS) with serious morbidity caused by the rupture of hemangiomas of the spleen and inferior epigastric artery (IEA). A 40-year-old woman, who had suffered from edema and varicose veins in her left leg and toes since birth, underwent emergency laparotomy and splenectomy for a spontaneous splenic rupture. Pathological examination revealed hemangiomatosis of the spleen. She presented again 40 days later with a rectus muscle hematoma, which computed tomography revealed to be actively bleeding. Arteriography confirmed a bleeding IEA, which was then embolized. Hematological investigation revealed a heterozygous form of factor VIII and fibrinogen deficiency. The patient recovered well and was asymptomatic at her 1-year follow-up. We report this case to reinforce that investigations for KTS should involve all organ systems, and include detailed hematologic tests. By defining coagulation and vascular abnormalities, life-threatening bleeding episodes may be prevented.