Recycling transplanted organs: An exceptional case and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Recycling transplant kidneys, in other words using an allograft which has previously been transplanted in one recipient for transplant in a second recipient, can be a source of opportunity for expanding the pool of available grafts in the United States and beyond. SUMMARY: We describe a case of renal transplantation from a donor who had undergone a kidney transplant 3 years prior and had good graft function at the time of procurement. The recipient underwent transplantation uneventfully and to date has demonstrated excellent graft function. We also include a literature review of reported cases of recycled/retransplanted kidneys. KEY MESSAGES: -Recycling transplanted kidneys is a largely untapped resource which could help decrease the transplant waitlist. -Utilizing such kidneys does need special considerations in terms of procurement technique, backtable, crossmatch, recipient selection and follow-up.

Differences in Responses of Immunosuppressed Kidney Transplant Patients to Moderna mRNA-1273 versus Pfizer-BioNTech.

Immunosuppressed kidney transplant (KT) recipients produce a weaker response to COVID-19 vaccination than immunocompetent individuals. We tested antiviral IgG response in 99 KT recipients and 66 healthy volunteers who were vaccinated with mRNA-1273 Moderna or BNT162b2 Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines. A subgroup of participants had their peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs) evaluated for the frequency of T helper 1 (Th1) cells producing IL-2, IFN-γ and/or TNF-α, and IL-10-producing T-regulatory 1 (Tr) cells. Among KT recipients, 45.8% had anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG compared to 74.1% of healthy volunteers (p = 0.009); also, anti-viral IgG levels were lower in recipients than in volunteers (p = 0.001). In terms of non-responders (≤2000 U/mL IgG), Moderna's group had 10.8% and Pfizer-BioNTech's group had 34.3% of non-responders at 6 months (p = 0.023); similarly, 15.7% and 31.3% were non-responders in Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech groups at 12 months, respectively (p = 0.067). There were no non-responders among controls. Healthy volunteers had higher Th1 levels than KT recipients, while Moderna produced a higher Th1 response than Pfizer-BioNTech. In contrast, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine induced a higher Tr1 response than the Moderna vaccine (p < 0.05); overall, IgG levels correlated with Th1(fTTNF-α)/Tr1(fTIL-10) ratios. We propose that the higher number of non-responders in the Pfizer-BioNTech group than the Moderna group was caused by a more potent activity of regulatory Tr1 cells in KT recipients vaccinated with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

Electronic Patient Portal Use After Kidney Transplant: A Single-Center Retrospective Study.

INTRODUCTION: Online patient portals have become a core component of patient-centered care. Limited research exists on such portal use in patients after kidney transplantation. The aim of this study was to examine preoperative, perioperative, and postoperative factors associated with post-transplantation portal use. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included all patients who underwent kidney transplantation from April 2016 to May 2019 at the University of Toledo Medical Center. Exclusion criteria included international travel for transplantation and those without available postoperative lab or follow-up records. Data were collected for 2 y post-transplantation. Univariable and multivariable linear regression was performed to determine associations with portal use. RESULTS: Two hundred and forty-seven kidney transplant recipients were included in the study; 35.6% (n = 88) used the portal versus 64.4% (n = 159) did not. Preoperative factors associated with increased use included income >$40,000 (odds ratio [OR], 2.95; P = 0.006) and cancer history (OR, 2.46; P = 0.007), whereas diabetes history had reduced use (OR, 0.51; P = 0.021). The Black race had the least use. Perioperatively, reduced use was associated with dialysis before transplant (OR, 0.25; P < 0.001) and hospital stay ≥4 d (OR, 0.49; P = 0.009). Postoperatively, associations with increased use included average eGFR >30 (P = 0.04) and hospital readmissions (n = 102), whereas those with ER (n = 138) visits had decreased use. Multivariable analysis revealed increased use with income >$40,000 (OR, 2.51; P = 0.033). CONCLUSIONS: There was no observed difference in clinical outcomes for portal users and nonusers undergoing kidney transplantation, although portal use may decrease the likelihood of ER visits. Socioeconomic status and ethnicity may play a role on who utilizes the patient portals.

False Positive Pregnancy Test Before Kidney Transplant: Case Report and Review of Literature.

Pregnancy tests are routinely done before any surgery under general anesthesia including kidney transplantation. Positive test usually leads to more investigations to detect a possible pregnancy or malignancy and the surgery gets canceled or postponed. Because a kidney transplant from a deceased donor is not elective, it usually gets canceled in this scenario. Some groups have reported on normally elevated human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) levels in perimenopausal women and in patients with chronic kidney disease. This is thought to be from the pituitary. We present a highly sensitized prospective kidney transplant recipient with a positive pregnancy test with low levels of serum human chorionic gonadotrophin. She underwent additional preoperative testing after which we proceeded with the kidney transplant. Herein, we discuss the management of patients who have an unexpected positive pregnancy test before transplant.

Optimal Timing of COVID-19 Vaccination in the Peri-Transplant Period: A Single Institution Case Series.

The outcomes of vaccination against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 in organ transplant recipients are unclear. Recent studies have investigated outcomes for patients who are several years post transplant. There has not been much data in peri-transplant patients. This is important because patients are highly immunosuppressed during this period owing to induction immunosuppression and are thus susceptible to infection. We looked at 6 patients who were transplanted at our center after receiving their first dose of mRNA vaccines. We assessed their antibody response after 1, 2, and in two patients, 3 doses of the vaccine. Out of the two patients who received their third booster dose, one had a detectable antibody level after the third dose. We report that the overall antibody response to vaccination was weaker in transplant patients compared with the general population, with a rapid attrition of antibody response over time. There is a need for more studies that follow-up antibody levels in transplant patients over time, especially those in the peri-transplant period to help guide the vaccination plan for immunosuppressed transplant patients.

Auscultation Serendipitously Leading to the Discovery of a Type A Aortic Dissection: The Lost Art of Physical Examination.

In the current era of rapidly advancing and evolving medicine, a huge emphasis has been placed on the utilization of diagnostic tests and imaging, as well as on following updated guidelines, at the expense of focusing on clinical exams and honing these skills. Poor physical exam skills is a definite risk to patient safety, as they might lead to the misdiagnosis of, sometimes, fatal diseases. In this case, we discuss a case of complicated aortic dissection type A that initially presented to us as a case of worsening chronic graft rejection. Aortic dissection type A was solely uncovered by clinical exam despite unusual presenting symptoms and grossly benign basic labs and initial chest radiograph.

Evaluation and enhancement of medical knowledge competency by monthly tests: a single institution experience.

BACKGROUND: In-training examination (ITE) has been used as a predictor of performance at the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) certifying examination. ITE however may not be an ideal modality as it is held once a year and represents snapshots of performance as compared with a trend. We instituted monthly tests (MTs) to continually assess the performance of trainees throughout their residency. OBJECTIVE: To determine the predictors of ABIM performance and to assess whether the MTs can be used as a tool to predict passing the ABIM examination. METHODS: The MTs, core competencies, and ITE scores were analyzed for a cohort of graduates who appeared for the ABIM examination from 2010 to 2013. Logistic regression was performed to identify the predictors of a successful performance at the ABIM examination. RESULTS: Fifty-one residents appeared for the ABIM examination between 2010 and 2013 with a pass rate of 84%. The MT score for the first year (odds ratio [OR] =1.302, CI =1.004-1.687, P=0.04) and second year (OR =1.125, CI =1.004-1.261, P=0.04) were independent predictors of ABIM performance along with the second-year ITE scores (OR =1.248, CI =1.096-1.420, P=0.001). CONCLUSION: The MT is a valuable tool to predict the performance at the ABIM examination. Not only it helps in the assessment of likelihood of passing the certification examination, it also helps to identify those residents who may require more assistance earlier during their residency. It may also highlight the areas of weakness in program curriculum and guide curriculum development.

Early acute antibody-mediated rejection of a negative flow crossmatch 3rd kidney transplant with exclusive disparity at HLA-DP.

Donor-specific alloantibodies (DSA) to HLA-DP may cause antibody-mediated rejection (AMR), especially in re-transplants. We describe the immunization history of a patient who received 3 kidney transplants; the 3rd kidney was completely matched except at DPA1 and DPB1. Prior to the 3rd transplant, single antigen bead analysis (SAB) showed DSA reactivity against DPA1 shared by the 1st and 3rd donors, but B and T flow crossmatch (FXM) results were negative. Within 11 days the 3rd transplant underwent acute C4d+ AMR which coincided with the presence of complement (C1q)-binding IgG1 DSA against donor DPA1 and DPB1. Using HLAMatchmaker and SAB, we provide evidence that eplet (epitope) spreading on DPA1 and eplet sharing on differing DPB1 alleles of the 1st and 3rd transplants was associated with AMR. Since weak DSA to DPA1/DPB1 may induce acute AMR with negative FXM, donor DPA1/DPB1 high resolution typing should be considered in sensitized patients with DP-directed DSA.

Prevalence and factors associated with left ventricular remodeling in renal artery stenosis.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the prevalence, geometric patterns, and factors associated with left ventricular remodeling in patients with renal artery stenosis (RAS). Demographic, clinical, and echocardiographic data were assessed in 77 patients with RAS prior to endovascular stenting. The left ventricular mass index (LVMI) and relative wall thickness were calculated using American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) recommendations. Patients were classified based on LVMI and relative wall thickness into four ventricular remodeling patterns: normal geometry, concentric remodeling (CR), concentric hypertrophy (CH), and eccentric hypertrophy (EH). Logistic regression was done to investigate the determinants of the different ventricular remodeling patterns. Mean LVMI and relative wall thickness were 118 ± 40 g/m(2) and 0.45 ± 0.1. Left ventricular hypertrophy was observed in 65%. CH was the most prevalent geometric pattern of remodeling (normal, 16.9%; CR, 18.2%; CH, 40%; EH, 24.6%). Thirty (39%) patients had an abnormal LV systolic function (ejection fraction <55%), with 14 (46%) of them having eccentric hypertrophy. Independent predictor of EH was glomerular filtration rate (odds ratio [OR], 0.943; confidence interval [CI], 0.899-0.989; P = .01). Systolic elevation of blood pressure (OR, 1.030; CI, 1.003-1.058; P = .03) was associated with CH, and elevated diastolic blood pressure was associated with CR (OR, 0.927; CI, 0.867-0.992; P = .02). Patients with RAS have a high prevalence of left ventricular remodeling and LVH. Even though CH was the most prevalent pattern of left ventricular remodeling, EH was commonplace and was associated with renal dysfunction and heart failure.

Caecum perforation after renal transplantation: a case report and review of literature.

Gastrointestinal (GI) complication used to be the second most common complication in renal transplant patients after infection (Bardaxoglou et al. in Transpl Int 6(3):148-152, 1993). Review of transplant registry reveals that GI complication is no longer the second most common type of complication after renal transplant, but that it is still a common cause of significant amount of deaths in renal transplant recipients (De Bartolomeis et al. in Transpl Proc 37(6):2504-2506, 2005). In a study of 1,515 adults with severe GI complication after renal transplant, Sarkio et al. (Transpl Int 17(9):505-510, 2004) reported that gastroduodenal ulcers followed by colon perforation were the two biggest groups of GI complications during the first year after renal transplantation. Colonic perforation is estimated to occur in about 1 % of all cases of renal transplant patients, and it does predispose to potentially fatal complication. About 50 % of all colonic perforation is due to complication of acute inflammation of diverticular disease (Bardaxoglou et al. in Transpl Int 6(3):148-152, 1993; Guice et al. in Am J Surg 138(1):43-48, 1979; Koneru et al. in Arch Surg 125(5):610-613, 1990; Coccolini et al. in Transpl Proc 41(4):1189-1190, 2009). This is particularly so because these patients were previously exposed to uremia before transplantation which alters their protein metabolism hence interfering with tissue healing there after (Carson et al. in Ann Surg 188(1):109-113, 1978). GI complications including colon perforation after renal transplantation have effect on a patient's long-term survival (Gil-Vernet et al. in Transpl Proc 39(7):2190-2193, 2007). Despite this, the role of renal transplantation medication compared to anatomic anomaly in GI complication has been equivocal.

Hydralazine-induced ANCA vasculitis with pulmonary renal syndrome: a rare clinical presentation.

Hydralazine is a commonly used drug for treatment of hypertension and is known to cause drug-induced lupus erythematosus. It has rarely been reported to cause anti neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody positive vasculitis, a life-threatening complication. Presentation could be extremely variable delaying diagnosis. Although drug-induced vasculitis has been infrequently associated with rapidly progressing glomerulonephritis, pulmonary involvement presenting as pulmonary renal syndrome is extremely rare. We report a case of hydralazine-induced vasculitis presenting as pulmonary renal syndrome with fatal outcome even after aggressive treatment. Numerous antibodies are associated with hydralazine including anti myeloperoxidase antibody, anti-nuclear antibody, anti-histone antibody, and anti-elastase antibody. Additionally, we also report the presence of anti-phospholipid antibodies specific to anti-cardiolipin, anti-beta2 glycoprotein, and anti-phosphatid that have not been previously reported. We conclude that early diagnosis and prompt discontinuation of the drug is necessary for the treatment of hydralazine-induced anti neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody vasculitis.

Rapidly progressing glomerulonephritis secondary to henoch-schonlein purpura treated with mycophenolate mofetil: a case report with atypical etiology and presentation.

Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP) is an acute leukocytoclastic vasculitis that primarily affects children but also affects approximately 1% of adults. We discuss a case of HSP that started after pantoprazole ingestion. Clinical manifestation included terminal ileitis and rapidly progressing glomerulonephritis. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of HSP secondary to pantoprazole ingestion. The patient presented with renal failure requiring hemodialysis and was initially unresponsive to intravenous pulse steroids. The patient was treated with mycophenolate mofetil, and his renal function recovered. There are limited data regarding use of mycophenolate mofetil for treating crescentic glomerulonephritis secondary to HSP.

Platelet dysfunction and end-stage renal disease.

Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) develop hemostatic disorders mainly in the form of bleeding diatheses. Hemorrhage can occur at cutaneous, mucosal, or serosal sites. Retroperitoneal or intracranial hemorrhages also occur. Platelet dysfunction is the main factor responsible for hemorrhagic tendencies in advanced kidney disease. Anemia, dialysis, the accumulation of medications due to poor clearance, and anticoagulation used during dialysis have some role in causing impaired hemostasis in ESRD patients. Platelet dysfunction occurs both as a result of intrinsic platelet abnormalities and impaired platelet-vessel wall interaction. The normal platelet response to vessel wall injury with platelet activation, recruitment, adhesion, and aggregation is defective in advanced renal failure. Dialysis may partially correct these defects, but cannot totally eliminate them. The hemodialysis process itself may in fact contribute to bleeding. Hemodialysis is also associated with thrombosis as a result of chronic platelet activation due to contact with artificial surfaces during dialysis. Desmopressin acetate and conjugated estrogen are treatment modalities that can be used for uremic bleeding. Achieving a hematocrit of 30% improves bleeding time in ESRD patients.

Pseudomonas sternoclavicular pyarthrosis.

Most cases of Pseudomonas pyarthrosis affecting the sternoclavicular joint have been reported in immunosuppressed intravenous drug users. We report a case of Pseudomonas pyarthrosis in a man who was otherwise immunocompetent, except for his age. A 66-year-old white man presented to the clinic with a 1-month history of right-sided shoulder and arm pain associated with swelling of the upper part of the chest in the region of the right sternoclavicular joint. The chest radiograph revealed opacity in the right superior mediastinum. Computed tomography scan of the chest confirmed a mass in the right sternoclavicular region with associated osteolysis of the clavicular head. A needle biopsy of the mass was negative for malignancy. An open biopsy specimen showed evidence of chronic inflammation without evidence of malignancy, and culture of the tissue grew Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The patient's symptoms improved after extensive incision and drainage of the affected area followed by treatment with antibiotics for 6 weeks.