Tuberculosis after renal transplantation

Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Infection after Kidney Transplantation: A Comprehensive Review

Tuberculosis (TB) in kidney transplant (KT) recipients is an important opportunistic infection with higher incidence and prevalence than in the general population and is associated with important morbidity and mortality. We performed an extensive literature review of articles published between 1 January 2000 and 15 June 2022 to provide an evidence-based review of epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment and outcomes of TB in KT recipients. We included all studies which reported epidemiological and/or outcome data regarding active TB in KT, and we approached the diagnostic and treatment challenges according to the current guidelines. Prevalence of active TB in KT recipients ranges between 0.3–15.2%. KT recipients with active TB could have a rejection rate up to 55.6%, a rate of graft loss that varies from 2.2% to 66.6% and a mortality rate up to 60%. Understanding the epidemiological risk, risk factors, transmission modalities, diagnosis and treatment challenges is critical for clinicians in providing an appropriate management for KT with TB. Among diagnostic challenges, which are at the same time associated with delay in management, the following should be considered: atypical clinical presentation, association with co-infections, decreased predictive values of screening tests, diverse radiological aspects and particular diagnostic methods. Regarding treatment challenges in KT recipients with TB, drug interactions, drug toxicities and therapeutical adherence must be considered.

Tuberculosis in renal transplant recipients: the evidence for prophylaxis

BACKGROUND

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a leading cause of death in endemic countries and is 20 to 70 times more common in renal transplant recipients, where it contributes to both increased morbidity and mortality. This review will focus on the epidemiology of TB in renal transplant recipients and critically appraise the published literature on isoniazid prophylaxis in renal transplantation.

METHODS

A literature search for randomized and nonrandomized studies investigating the use of isoniazid prophylaxis in renal transplant recipients was conducted using Ovid MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library, the Transplant Library, and EMBASE. Relative risks (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) are reported. Meta-analysis of the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was performed with a fixed-effects model.

RESULTS

Eleven relevant studies were identified; six nonrandomized and five RCTs. The nonrandomized studies indicate a reduced risk of TB with isoniazid prophylaxis. The RCTs demonstrated conflicting results, with two studies finding a reduction in TB with prophylaxis and two studies finding no difference. Meta-analysis of the 709 patients from the four RCTs demonstrated a reduced risk of TB with isoniazid prophylaxis (RR, 0.31; 95% CI, 0.19-0.51). No significant difference was found in the incidence of hepatitis (RR, 1.22; 95% CI, 0.91-1.65).

CONCLUSION

Both randomized and nonrandomized studies support the value of isoniazid as TB prophylaxis in renal transplant recipients at risk of active infection. Clinicians should consider prophylaxis in renal transplant recipients in endemic areas or in recipients in nonendemic countries who are at risk. However, the evidence for the benefit of isoniazid prophylaxis in renal transplantation is not robust and there is still a need for a large multicenter trial of isoniazid prophylaxis in kidney transplantation in an endemic area.