De novo CMV-associated collapsing focal segmental glomerulosclerosis in a kidney transplant recipient.

Collapsing focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is a variant of FSGS and is associated with severe nephrotic syndrome and acute kidney injury and can occur after kidney transplantation. The exact mechanism of collapsing FSGS after kidney transplantation is unknown, but potential causes include autoimmune diseases, certain malignancies, bisphosphonates, m-TOR inhibitors, interferon-alpha, HIV infection, and other viruses. We describe a case of de novo Cytomegalovirus (CMV)-associated collapsing FSGS in a kidney transplant recipient with a UL97 phosphotransferase mutation that was successfully treated with intravenous ganciclovir, intravenous immunoglobulin, and steroids.

Characteristics of compatible pair participants in kidney paired donation at a single center.

Compatible pairs of living kidney donors and their intended recipients can enter into kidney paired donation (KPD) and facilitate additional living donor kidney transplants (LDKTs). We examined 11 compatible pairs (the intended recipients and their intended, compatible donors) who participated in KPD, along with the recipients' 11 matched, exchange donors. The 11 pairs participated in 10 separate exchanges (three were multicenter exchanges) that included 33 total LDKTs (22 additional LDKTs). All the intended donors were blood group O and female, with a mean living kidney donor profile index (LKDPI) of 27.6 (SD 16.8). The matched donors had a mean LKDPI of 9.4 (SD 31.7). Compatible pairs entered KPD for altruistic reasons (N=2) or due to mismatch of age (N=7) or body/kidney size (N=2) between the recipient and intended donor. In four cases, retrospective calculation of the LKDPI revealed that the matched donor had a higher LKDPI than the intended donor. Of the 22 recipients of LDKTs enabled by the compatible pairs, three were highly sensitized, with PRA >80%. In conclusion, most compatible pairs entered into KPD so that the recipient could receive a LDKT transplant from a donor whose age or body/kidney size were more favorable to post-transplant outcomes.

Racial differences in outcomes of the evaluation of potential live kidney donors: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: In the USA, the lower rate of live donor kidney transplant among Black transplant candidates may stem from lower rates of donation among potential live donors who are Black. We determined whether outcomes of the evaluation of potential live kidney donors varied according to the potential donors' demographic characteristics. METHODS: We performed a single-center, retrospective observational cohort study of 1,179 potential live kidney donors, who came forward between 2000 and 2007. Potential donors' intended recipients were first-time transplant recipients who were evaluated between 2000 and 2005. RESULTS: There were 268 (22.7%) potential live kidney donors who were Black, of whom 93.7% were recruited by Black transplant candidates. Donor outcomes included actual donation (38.3%), exclusion due to blood group or crossmatch incompatibility (20.4%), exclusion due to medical contraindication to donation (13.7%), and lack of further donor interest (11.2%). Black (vs. non-Black) potential donors were less likely to actually donate (27.2 vs. 41.6%, p < 0.001). Black potential donors were more likely to stop pursuing live donation (p = 0.047) or be excluded from donation for medical reasons (p = 0.008) or blood group or crossmatch incompatibility (p = 0.01). These racial differences persisted in a multivariable multinomial logistic regression model of factors associated with outcomes of the donor evaluation. CONCLUSIONS: Potential live kidney donors who are Black are less likely to actually donate. Future studies should determine whether paired exchange and desensitization programs decrease these racial differences and why Black potential donors appear more likely to stop pursuing live donation.

Oral ganciclovir versus low-dose valganciclovir for prevention of cytomegalovirus disease in recipients of kidney and pancreas transplants.

BACKGROUND: The optimal regimen for prophylaxis of cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease after kidney and/or pancreas transplantation remains unclear. We compared the effectiveness of three months of oral ganciclovir (3 g/day) versus low-dose valganciclovir (450 mg/day) for CMV prophylaxis. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients at our center who received kidney and/or pancreas transplants between January 2000 and April 2003. We used a Cox proportional hazards model to examine the relationship between baseline covariates, including type of CMV prophylaxis, and time to development of CMV disease. RESULTS: Of the 500 patients (295 ganciclovir, 205 valganciclovir), 22 patients (4.4%) developed CMV disease (mean time to CMV disease, 163+/-85 days). Sixteen of the ganciclovir patients (5.4%) and six of the valganciclovir patients (2.9%) developed CMV disease (P=0.18). By CMV serostatus, the incidence of CMV disease during the first posttransplant year was 8.5% among donor-seropositive, recipient-seronegative (D+/R-) patients, 8.6% among D+/R+ patients, 2.9% among D-/R+ patients, 1.0% among D-/R- patients, and 0.9% among patients for whom documentation of CMV serostatus was incomplete. In the unadjusted Cox proportional hazards analysis, race/ethnicity, type of transplant, type of antiviral prophylaxis, CMV serostatus, and use of mycophenolate mofetil were each associated with risk of developing CMV disease. In the adjusted, multivariable model, only CMV serostatus was associated with development of CMV disease. CONCLUSIONS: Three months of low-dose valganciclovir (450 mg/day) was as effective as ganciclovir (3 g/day) for prophylaxis of CMV disease after kidney and/or pancreas transplantation.

Ionizing radiation exposure among kidney transplant recipients due to medical imaging during the pretransplant evaluation.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Kidney transplant recipients are at increased risk for malignancies. One recognized risk for malignancy is ionizing radiation. The purpose of this study was to determine, among kidney transplant recipients, the medical imaging procedures that contribute to radiation exposure and their cumulative radiation exposure, as a result of their pretransplant evaluation. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS: Medical records of patients who received a first, kidney-alone transplant during 2008 at a single transplant center were examined. This study identified medical imaging procedures that were performed as prerequisites for deceased donor wait-listing or receipt of live donor kidney transplants and to maintain active status on the wait list. Frequencies of medical imaging procedures and cumulative effective doses of radiation were calculated. RESULTS: Among the 172 kidney transplant recipients, 905 procedures were performed. Seventy patients (40.7%) were exposed to low dose (0-20 mSv), 51 (29.7%) were exposed to moderate dose (>20-50 mSv), 28 (16.3%) were exposed to high dose (>50-100 mSv), and 23 (13.4%) were exposed to very high dose (>100 mSv) cumulative effective radiation. Nuclear stress tests accounted for 82.9% of the total radiation exposure. In multivariate analysis, older age, diabetes, and black race were associated with exposure to >20 mSv radiation during the pretransplant evaluation. CONCLUSIONS: Kidney transplant recipients are exposed to large amounts of ionizing radiation from medical imaging during the pretransplant evaluation. The effects of radiation upon malignancy risk and strategies to reduce this radiation exposure warrant further investigation.

Barriers to living donor kidney transplantation among black or older transplant candidates.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Lower rates of living donor kidney transplant (LDKT) among transplant candidates who are black or older may stem from lower likelihoods of (1) recruiting potential living donors or (2) potential donors actually donating (donor "conversion"). DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS: A single-center, retrospective cohort study was performed to determine race, age, and gender differences in LDKT, donor recruitment, and donor conversion. RESULTS: Of 1617 kidney transplant candidates, 791 (48.9%) recruited at least one potential living donor, and 452 (28.0%) received LDKTs. Black transplant candidates, versus non-blacks, were less likely to receive LDKTs (20.5% versus 30.6%, relative risk [RR] = 0.67), recruit potential living donors (43.9% versus 50.7%, RR = 0.86), and receive LDKTs if they had potential donors (46.8% versus 60.3%, RR = 0.78). Transplant candidates ≥60 years, versus candidates 18 to <40 years old, were less likely to receive LDKTs (15.1% versus 43.2%, RR = 0.35), recruit potential living donors (34.0% versus 64.6%, RR = 0.53), and receive LDKTs if they had potential donors (44.5% versus 66.8%, RR = 0.67). LDKT and donor recruitment did not differ by gender. Race and age differences persisted in multivariable logistic regression models. Among 339 candidates who recruited potential donors but did not receive LDKTs, blacks (versus non-blacks) were more likely to have potential donors who failed to donate because of a donor-related reason (86.9% versus 72.5%). CONCLUSIONS: Black or older kidney transplant candidates were less likely to receive LDKTs because of lower likelihoods of donor recruitment and donor conversion.