A large, international study on post-transplant glomerular diseases: the TANGO project.

BACKGROUND: Long-term outcomes in kidney transplantation (KT) have not significantly improved during the past twenty years. Despite being a leading cause of graft failure, glomerular disease (GD) recurrence remains poorly understood, due to heterogeneity in disease pathogenesis and clinical presentation, reliance on histopathology to confirm disease recurrence, and the low incidence of individual GD subtypes. Large, international cohorts of patients with GD are urgently needed to better understand the disease pathophysiology, predictors of recurrence, and response to therapy. METHODS: The Post-TrANsplant GlOmerular Disease (TANGO) study is an observational, multicenter cohort study initiated in January 2017 that aims to: 1) characterize the natural history of GD after KT, 2) create a biorepository of saliva, blood, urine, stools and kidney tissue samples, and 3) establish a network of patients and centers to support novel therapeutic trials. The study includes 15 centers in America and Europe. Enrollment is open to patients with biopsy-proven GD prior to transplantation, including IgA nephropathy, membranous nephropathy, focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis, atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome, dense-deposit disease, C3 glomerulopathy, complement- and IgG-positive membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis or membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis type I-III (old classification). During phase 1, patient data will be collected in an online database. The biorepository (phase 2) will involve collection of samples from patients for identification of predictors of recurrence, biomarkers of disease activity or response to therapy, and novel pathogenic mechanisms. Finally, through phase 3, we will use our multicenter network of patients and centers to launch interventional studies. DISCUSSION: Most prior studies of post-transplant GD recurrence are single-center and retrospective, or rely upon registry data that frequently misclassify the cause of kidney disease. Systematically determining GD recurrence rates and predictors of clinical outcomes is essential to improving post-transplant outcomes. Furthermore, accurate molecular phenotyping and biomarker development will allow better understanding of individual GD pathogenesis, and potentially identify novel drug targets for GD in both native and transplanted kidneys. The TANGO study has the potential to tackle GD recurrence through a multicenter design and a comprehensive biorepository.

Posterior reversible leukoencephalopathy syndrome (PRES) after kidney transplantation: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Posterior reversible leukoencephalopathy syndrome (PRES) was first described by Hinchey in 1996. The syndrome is characterized by altered level of consciousness, headache, visual changes, and seizures associated with a vasogenic edema of the white matter that occurs predominantly in the occipital and parietal lobes. Imaging tests such as computed tomography (CT) and especially magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) support the diagnosis. CASE REPORT: We report a case of a 48-year-old female patient who underwent a deceased donor kidney transplant and received tacrolimus as a part of the immunosuppressive regimen. Five weeks after transplantation she was admitted to the emergency due to sudden onset of confusion, disorientation, visual disturbances, and major headache. PRES was suspected and the diagnosis confirmed by brain MRI. Tacrolimus was withdrawn and rapid improvement of the neurological signs occurred leading to the conclusion that this drug triggered the syndrome. CONCLUSION: PRES is an unusual complication after organ transplantation and should be considered in the appropriate clinical setting. Physicians must be aware of this condition in order to provide early detection and appropriate treatment since delay in removing the cause may lead to permanent sequelae.

Posterior reversible leukoencephalopathy syndrome (PRES) after kidney transplantation: a case report / Síndrome da leucoencefalopatia posterior reversível (PRES) após transplante renal: um relato de caso

ABSTRACT Introduction: Posterior reversible leukoencephalopathy syndrome (PRES) was first described by Hinchey in 1996. The syndrome is characterized by altered level of consciousness, headache, visual changes, and seizures associated with a vasogenic edema of the white matter that occurs predominantly in the occipital and parietal lobes. Imaging tests such as computed tomography (CT) and especially magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) support the diagnosis. Case Report: We report a case of a 48-year-old female patient who underwent a deceased donor kidney transplant and received tacrolimus as a part of the immunosuppressive regimen. Five weeks after transplantation she was admitted to the emergency due to sudden onset of confusion, disorientation, visual disturbances, and major headache. PRES was suspected and the diagnosis confirmed by brain MRI. Tacrolimus was withdrawn and rapid improvement of the neurological signs occurred leading to the conclusion that this drug triggered the syndrome. Conclusion: PRES is an unusual complication after organ transplantation and should be considered in the appropriate clinical setting. Physicians must be aware of this condition in order to provide early detection and appropriate treatment since delay in removing the cause may lead to permanent sequelae.

RESUMO Introdução: A síndrome da leucoencefalopatia posterior reversível (PRES) foi descrita pela primeira vez por Hinchey, em 1996. A síndrome é caracterizada por nível alterado de consciência, cefaleia, alterações visuais e convulsões associadas a edema vasogênico da substância branca, oriundo predominantemente nos lobos occipital e parietal. Exames de imagem como tomografia computadorizada (TC) e em particular a ressonância magnética (MRI) corroboram o diagnóstico. Relato de caso: relatamos o caso de uma paciente do sexo feminino de 48 anos submetida a transplante renal com doador falecido em regime imunossupressor com tacrolimus. Cinco semanas após o transplante, a paciente deu entrada no pronto-socorro por conta de aparecimento súbito de confusão, desorientação, distúrbios visuais e cefaleia intensa. As suspeitas diagnósticas recaíram sobre PRES, e a confirmação foi feita por imagens de ressonância magnética do cérebro. Tacrolimus foi suspenso e os sinais neurológicos da paciente melhoraram rapidamente, indicando que o medicamento desencadeou a síndrome. Conclusão: PRES é uma complicação incomum após o transplante de órgãos e deve ser considerada em ambiente clínico adequado. O corpo clínico deve estar ciente dessa patologia, de modo a detectá- -la precocemente e dar início ao tratamento, uma vez que atrasos na eliminação da causa podem levar a sequelas permanentes.