Use and Safety of Remdesivir in Kidney Transplant Recipients With COVID-19.

INTRODUCTION: Remdesivir has demonstrated antiviral activity against coronavirus, shortening the time to recovery in adults hospitalized with moderate/severe COVID-19. Severe adverse events such as acute kidney injury have been reported. Scant data are available on the use and safety of remdesivir in kidney transplant recipients. METHODS: We present a multicenter cohort study of 51 kidney transplant recipients with COVID-19 treated with remdesivir. Outcomes and safety were assessed. RESULTS: Mean age at diagnosis was 60 years, with a median time since kidney transplant of 4.5 years. Mean time since admission to remdesivir was 2 days. Twenty-eight patients (54.9%) required mechanical ventilation (19 noninvasive). Mortality was 18.9% and markedly higher if aged ≥65 years (45% vs. 3.2% in younger patients). Acute kidney injury was present in 27.7% of patients, but was diagnosed in 50% before treatment. No patients required remdesivir discontinuation because of adverse events. We did not find significant hepatoxicity or systemic symptoms resulting from the drug. CONCLUSION: In our cohort of kidney transplant recipients, remdesivir was well tolerated and safe in renal and hepatic toxicity, but randomized trials are needed to assess its efficacy.

Predictors of severe COVID-19 in kidney transplant recipients in the different epidemic waves: Analysis of the Spanish Registry.

SARS-CoV-2 infection has produced high mortality in kidney transplant (KT) recipients, especially in the elderly. Until December 2020, 1011 KT with COVID-19 have been prospectively included in the Spanish Registry and followed until recovery or death. In multivariable analysis, age, pneumonia, and KT performed ≤6 months before COVID-19 were predictors of death, whereas gastrointestinal symptoms were protective. Survival analysis showed significant increasing mortality risk in four subgroups according to recipient age and time after KT (age <65 years and posttransplant time >6 months, age <65 and time ≤6, age ≥65 and time >6 and age ≥65 and time ≤6): mortality rates were, respectively, 11.3%, 24.5%, 35.4%, and 54.5% (p < .001). Patients were significantly younger, presented less pneumonia, and received less frequently specific anti-COVID-19 treatment in the second wave (July-December) than in the first one (March-June). Overall mortality was lower in the second wave (15.1 vs. 27.4%, p < .001) but similar in critical patients (66.7% vs. 58.1%, p = .29). The interaction between age and time post-KT should be considered when selecting recipients for transplantation in the COVID-19 pandemic. Advanced age and a recent KT should foster strict protective measures, including vaccination.

Plasma Cell-Rich Acute Rejection in Renal Transplantation: A Case Report.

Plasma cell-rich acute rejection (PCAR) is a rare type of allograft rejection in renal transplantation. It is characterized by the presence of mature plasma cells that compromise more than 10% of inflammatory cells infiltrating the renal graft. The pathogenesis of PCAR is unknown, appears late, and has been related mainly to insufficient immunosuppression or infections. The treatment is not clearly defined, and the graft survival is poor. Here, we report a case series of 3 Spanish patients diagnosed with PCAR accompanied by donor-specific antibodies (DSA) after kidney transplantation. Mean to diagnosis was 2-12 years post-transplantation, and they began with abrupt deterioration of renal function. All patients were women and had preceding viral infection. In addition, two of the three patients recognize a doubtful adherence to immunosuppression. About treatment, 2 of the 3 patients, because the biopsy of the renal graft showed signs suggestive of incipient antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR) (glomerulitis, capilaritis, transplant glomerulopathy), were started with corticosteroids, anti-thymoglobulin, plasmapheresis, and intravenous immunoglobulins. The last patient, who only showed PCAR at biopsy, was treated with corticosteroids and anti-thymoglobulin. After treatment, graft function improved in all of them, but one patient developed an ABMR and another required a dialysis program, all of which indicates the difficulty in management and treatment of PCAR.

El paciente trasplantado renal en urgencias / Renal transplant patient in emergency department

No disponible