Early-Isolated V Lesion in Kidney Allograft: Acute Rejection or Ischemic Injury? A Case Report of Primary Nonfunction and Graft Loss.

Intimal arteritis (v-lesion) is a negative prognostic factor for kidney allograft survival. Early isolated v-lesions do not always represent a pathologic marker of acute T cell- or antibody-mediated rejection. In particular, in the case of transplant negative for C4d and donor-specific antibodies, such a finding can suggest an ischemic-reperfusion injury. There is an intense debate in the literature concerning the origin of this histologic feature. In the present study, we analyze how this argument can have a clinical relevance. Here we report a case of a 61-year-old woman with end-stage renal disease due to autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. The patient underwent kidney transplant from expanded criteria donor. Organs from expanded criteria donors are more prone to ischemic-reperfusion injury. Postoperative course was characterized by primary nonfunction of the graft. A first biopsy showed early isolated v-lesion in otherwise normal renal parenchymal. Simultaneously, a computed tomography scan revealed stenosis of the main renal artery. An endovascular stent was placed. Despite improved vascularization of the graft, no clinical response was observed and the patient remained anuric. A second biopsy was performed, showing T-cell mediated rejection (Banff Classification 1A). Despite pulse steroid, the patient lost the graft.

Psychosomatic interactions in kidney transplantation: role of personality dimensions in mental health-related quality of life.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The increase in innovative and personalized medicine solutions in kidney surgery can improve patients' chances of survival; however, during the transplantation process, patients are exposed to many psychological challenges. This study aimed to evaluate the role and impact of personality dimensions on the behaviour of waiting-list patients towards the post-surgery adaptation process. METHOD: The participants were 113 out-patients aged 18-70 years (mean age 54.7 years, SD ± 9.9) who had received a kidney transplant at least 3 years prior to the study. RESULTS: The results of the study revealed that personality dimensions can predict mental health-related quality of life after kidney transplantation; in particular, the dimensions play an important role in patients' behavioural ability to manage their quality of life both during end-stage renal disease and after kidney transplantation. Psychological distress and anxiety were associated with a low level of the conscientiousness dimension, while a high level of the openness dimension was associated with a high level of psychological distress and stress. In addition, body self-perception was associated with personality dimensions. CONCLUSION: Personality dimensions were found to predict behavioural reactions when emotional traits and body self-perception for each patient were combined; clinical psychologists could apply personalized intervention by modeling the treatments step by step and mitigating the negative effects of the whole kidney transplantation disease, thus helping the individual to adapt to a new life.

Transplant Patients' Isolation and Social Distancing Because of COVID-19: Analysis of the Resilient Capacities of the Transplant in the Management of the Coronavirus Emergency.

BACKGROUND: One of the peculiar aspects of the transplant patient's life is that, in the post-surgery phase, the patient lives in an "isolation" condition, having to pay particular attention to the living environment and preferring a limited social life given that the immunosuppressive treatment entails immunodepression in the patient. With coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID)-19, as in a post-surgery situation, social isolation is being implemented. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study started on March 17, 2020, and ended on April 24, 2020. Consulting/phone interviews were made. The phone questionnaire, submitted to 71 patients, consisted of a set of 15 questions that investigated structure and psychological resistance. Eight patients have been monitored exclusively for the psychological aspect through a more articulate supporting path. RESULTS: In essence, from the overall analysis of the data derived from the study of the positioning of patients based on the stage of renal function, the bands related to the development of psychopathological aspects, and the use of positive personal resources, it emerges that patients in stage V kidney failure are in the first bracket as regards the development of psychopathological aspects (absence of these experiences) and in the third bracket as regards the good use of positive resources to deal with isolation. Therefore, it can be deduced that, although with data that can be expanded, a serious or medium-serious situation from an organic point of view in this socio-health emergency situation is well addressed by the transplanted patient. CONCLUSION: Transplant patients have faced the measure of social distancing adequately and in adherence to the treatment thanks to the phone assistance of all the medical-surgical and psychological team.

Analysis of Psychopathologic Elements as a Compliance Limitation: Team Work as a Therapeutic Response.

INTRODUCTION: The psychological evaluation of the patient, carried out through psychodiagnostic tests, clinical interviews, and a joint work with the medical-surgical team, provided useful information to assess the compliance of the kidney transplant recipient. METHODOLOGY: Two hundred and forty-five visits were carried out between September 2018 and May 2019 in the General Surgery and Organ Transplant Department of the San Salvatore Hospital, L'Aquila. The visits consisted of clinical interviews, targeted psychodiagnostic evaluations, graphic-projective tests, and personality and cognitive structure evaluation tests. These assessments were key not only to defining the patient's personality picture but also to offering suitable psychological support to patients on waiting lists for transplantation, during hospitalization, and during follow-up visits from transplantation phases. RESULTS: From the analysis of the tests and from the clinical and support interviews, some of the patients presented forms of psycho-emotional immaturity that impaired the predisposition to compliance and ultimately the establishment of the therapeutic alliance. During 8 months, 18 compliance limit cases were observed, 5 patients were sent to mental health centers, and 13 psychological support courses were activated within the Regional Transplant Center-Abruzzo Region Molise Region. No structured psychological support courses were deemed necessary for 9 of these 13 cases, whereas 4 were sent to the mental health centers. CONCLUSIONS: By assessing the complexity of each patient from a medical and a psychological point of view and by considering the high number of transplant surgeries currently occurring, it can be noted that compliance to therapy is strongly linked to the reliability of the relationships between patients and caregivers.

Psychodiagnostic Examination of a Living Kidney Donor. Correlation Between the Scales Referred to the Paranoia of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2: A Case Report.

INTRODUCTION: The study involves the psychodiagnostic evaluation of a 53-year-old female living kidney donor. The donation is in favor of the 56-year-old sister. The potential donor is separated, is currently unemployed, and holds a lower secondary education diploma. METHODOLOGY: The psychodiagnostic evaluation of the donor was carried out by means of clinical-anamnestic interviews, followed by Graphic-Projective Tests. The MMPI-2 Personality Test was administered at a later stage. RESULTS: It was noted that the patient showed: an initial lack of collaboration to undergo the psychodiagnostic evaluation; limited cognitive aspects of flexibility, criticism, and judgment; a distinct emotive response, which manifested as closure, anxiety, and dependence on the other; and elements that resulted from MMPI-2. The analysis of the clinical interviews, of the tests and their correlations, shows the existence of a simple personality framework characterized by concrete thinking that seldom performs functions exceeding the limits by a tendency toward closure and introversion and by consistent mood tone. No elements of psychopathology were identified. CONCLUSIONS: The psychodiagnostic evaluation resulted in excluding the subsistence of psychopathologies and allowed for a positive judgment of the suitability for donation. The evaluation also provided significant information on the limited capacity for therapeutic alliance and on the general attitude of closure and rejection of inputs coming from the external world. Patient monitoring is recommended in case of actual donation.

Follow-up and Management of Kidney Transplant Recipients During the COVID-19 Lockdown: The Experience of an Italian Transplant Center, Including Two Cases of COVID-19 Pneumonia.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a new infectious disease that emerged in China in late 2019 and is now spreading around the world. Social distancing measures were needed to reduce transmission, and lockdown included restricted access to health care facilities. The impact of COVID-19 on transplant recipients is unknown, but considering their immunosuppression status and associated comorbidities, they should be considered a high-risk population. METHODS: A kidney transplant center in Central Italy implemented a strategy to maintain follow-up of kidney transplant recipients by phone and e-mail during lockdown. Telephone interviews were used to administer a clinical questionnaire to patients, and e-mail was used to receive the results of diagnostic tests conducted in outpatient settings. RESULTS: From March 17 to April 23, 2020, a total of 143 kidney transplant recipients were contacted. Twenty-eight patients needed in-hospital consultation for problems unrelated to COVID-19, 3 of whom needed hospitalization. Eleven patients were managed at home for mild urinary or respiratory diseases, and 1 was referred to the hematologist. We identified 2 suspected cases of COVID-19 infection, and the patients were referred to hospital care. Immunosuppressive therapy was modulated, and intravenous corticosteroids and potentially effective antiviral therapy were administered with a favorable outcome. CONCLUSIONS: In the context of a lockdown, such as that occurring in response to COVID-19, we suggest implementing remote surveillance programs in kidney transplant recipients with the help of any available technology and offering medical consulting and logistic support as needed.