Risk variables associated with the outcome of kidney recipients >70 years of age in the new millennium

Kidney Transplant Outcomes in elderly Recipients: An Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant (ANZDATA) Registry Study

BACKGROUND

There is an increase in elderly patients receiving kidney transplant internationally. This study describes elderly kidney transplant recipient outcomes in Australia and New Zealand.

METHODS

The study included all adult first kidney transplant recipients in Australia and New Zealand from 2000 to 2015. Survival and graft outcomes were compared between elderly (≥70 years) and younger (18-69 years) recipients using Cox proportional hazards regression.

RESULTS

Overall, 10651 kidney transplant recipients were included, of which 279 (2.6%) were elderly adults. The proportion of elderly recipients increased from 0.6 to 4.4% from 2000 to 2015. Compared with younger recipients, elderly recipients were more likely to receive kidneys from deceased donors, elderly donors, and expanded criteria donors. Elderly recipients experienced poorer patient survival with 1- and 5-year survival ranging from 96% to 97% and 79% to 81%, respectively, compared with 97% to 99% and 90% 95% in younger recipients, respectively. Elderly recipients experienced comparable rates of delayed graft function and, in living donor kidney recipients, lower rates of acute rejection.

CONCLUSIONS

Kidney transplantation in the elderly population is increasing. Although elderly recipients had inferior survival and graft outcomes, elderly recipients generally received poorer quality kidneys. The outcomes achieved in this cohort of elderly adults are encouraging, and improving elderly recipient outcomes should be an important focus for research.

[Kidney transplantation in the elderly: A benefit for all patients?]

Age per se should not be a contraindication to kidney transplantation. The first studies have shown a benefit for the survival of elderly eligible patients getting a kidney transplant compared to be maintained on the waiting list. However, more recent data suggest that this benefit is not as constant, notably with a significant early mortality period. The eligibility of elderly patients for transplantation must be based on the usual consideration of co-morbidities, but should also include, for some patients, a geriatric evaluation to detect clinical symptoms of frailty. The decision to transplant an elderly recipient must also integrate the characteristics of the donors, since the use of donors with increasingly expanding criteria can have a negative impact on the survival of these patients.

Analysis of Factors Influencing Kidney Function of Recipients After Renal Transplantation in Southwestern China: A Retrospective Study

Background: Factors influencing the kidney function of patients after renal transplantation include both recipient-related factors and donor-related factors. To gain a better understanding of these factors and to improve clinical decision-making, we performed a retrospective study of southwestern Chinese people receiving kidney transplantation.

Methods: In this retrospective analysis, a total of 2,462 recipients receiving allogeneic kidney transplantation in West China Hospital of Sichuan University from December 13, 2008 to January 10, 2018 were included. Data on recipient and donor characteristics were extracted from the Transplant Center Database and stratified by discrete time points after kidney transplantation. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were carried out on the study variables, and kidney function of postoperative patients was monitored using cystatin C (CysC) as the outcome indicator.

Results: From the univariate analysis, several factors showed statistically significant short-term impact on kidney function based on CysC after kidney transplantation, including age, ethnicity, body mass index (BMI), and HLA A-B-DR-DQ loci mismatch. Gender of recipients and gender-consistency between donors and recipients revealed both short-term and long-term influence. Younger donors had significantly better medium-and-long-term influence on kidney function. From the multivariate logistic regression analysis, recipient gender, ethnicity, BMI, and donor age were independent factors affecting postoperative CysC recovery at discrete time points.

Conclusion: Several factors of recipients related to renal function after kidney transplantation, such as gender, ethnicity, BMI and donor's age should be paid more attention to. Moreover, female and non-Han recipients decreased the risk of poor outcome during postoperative kidney function recovery while large BMI of recipients and higher donor age increased the risk. It is useful to predict the postoperative renal function earlier according to corresponding factors, and improve the patient's quality of life.

Long-Term Function of Kidneys From an Acute Renal Failure Donor on Continuous Venovenous Hemofiltration: A Case Report

The organ shortage has induced many transplant centers to use suboptimal grafts, such as those from expanded criteria donors and donors after cardiac death. Acute renal failure donors, sometimes present in intensive therapy units, have been used in a very low number of cases due to the fear of primary nonfunction of this type of graft. There are few published studies about the utilization of donors with severe acute renal failure and there is no general consensus identifying unequivocal criteria for their use by different transplant centers. We transplanted 2 kidneys from a 67-year-old donor who suffered from acute renal failure as a consequence of extracorporeal circulation in cardiac surgery and died of a massive cerebral edema with cistern obliteration. The kidneys were discarded by other transplant centers due to the patient's acute renal failure, treated by continuous venovenous hemofiltration. Both transplants were successful and both grafts showed very good renal function after 6 months. One recipient suffered from delayed graft function and renal drug toxicity, which resolved 1 month post transplant. The long-term graft function at 10 years is acceptable, with very low proteinuria. As a growing gap between the inadequate supply and constantly high demand for kidney transplantation has led doctors to explore novel policies to increase the number of available organs over the last 2 decades, acute renal failure treated by continuous venovenous hemofiltration does not seem to be a contraindication for the utilization of grafts.

Transplantation of Marginal Organs: Immunological Aspects and Therapeutic Perspectives in Kidney Transplantation

Recent data from the World Population Prospects projects that, by 2050, nearly all regions in the world will have a quarter or more of the population aged 60 and above. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has a high global prevalence (~13%) worldwide, and the prevalence of chronic kidney disease and end-stage kidney disease increase with age. Kidney transplantation remains the best therapeutic option for end-stage kidney disease, offering a survival benefit in comparison with dialysis maintenance for most patients. This review focuses on immunological aspects of kidney transplantation in older patients and marginal donors, i.e., 60 years or older deceased kidney donors or 50–59 years old deceased kidney donors with comorbidities. Clinical outcomes of kidney recipients in terms of renal and patient survival are more than acceptable even for patients over 70. In this population, the first cause of graft loss is death with a functional graft. However, the inherent issues of these transplantations are the acceptance or refusal of frail kidney from an old donor and the increased immunogenicity of these organs in balance with potential frail and immunosenescent recipients. Finally, the immunosuppressive regimen itself is a challenge for the future of the transplant, to prevent adverse effects such as nephrotoxicity and higher risk of infections or cancer in a population already at risk. Belatacept may have a good place in the immunosuppressive strategy to improve efficacy and the safety posttransplantation.

Risk Factors for 1-Year Graft Loss After Kidney Transplantation: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

With expansion of the pool of kidney grafts, through the use of higher-risk donors, and increased attention to donor management strategies, the 1-year graft survival rate is subject to change. It is, therefore, useful to elucidate 1-year graft survival rates by dissecting the characteristics of the low-risk and high-risk kidney transplant cases. The objective of our study was to evaluate factors purported to influence the risk of 1-year graft loss in kidney transplant recipients.

DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS

We searched bibliographic databases from 2000 to 2017 and included observational studies that measured the association between donor, recipient, the transplant operation, or early postoperative complications, and 1-year death-censored graft loss.

RESULTS

We identified 35 eligible primary studies, with 20 risk factors amenable to meta-analysis. Six factors were associated with graft loss, with moderate to high degree of certainty: donor age (hazard ratio [HR], 1.11 per 10-year increase; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.04 to 1.18), extended criteria donors (HR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.28 to 1.42), deceased donors (HR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.32 to 1.82), number of HLA mismatches (HR, 1.08 per one mismatch increase; 95% CI, 1.07 to 1.09), recipient age (HR, 1.17 per 10-year increase; 95% CI, 1.09 to 1.25), and delayed graft function (HR, 1.89; 95% CI, 1.46 to 2.47) as risk factors for 1-year graft loss. Pooled analyses also excluded, with a high degree of certainty, any associations of cold ischemia time, recipient race, pretransplant body mass index, diabetes, and hypertension with 1-year graft loss.

CONCLUSIONS

Recipient age, donor age, standard versus extended criteria donor, living versus deceased donor, HLA mismatch, and delayed graft function all predicted 1-year graft survival. The effect of each risk factor is small.

Kidney transplant registries: How to optimise their utility?

The scientific Registries (RE) in renal transplantation (Tx) are very useful since they allow us to identify risk factors in this population and facilitate contrasting the information with other national and international registries, contributing to establishing strategies which improve outcomes in terms of survival. They constitute an organised and planned system that uses observational methods and standardised systematic processes, including adjusted risk models, to essentially evaluate survival outcomes. The scientific RE are complemented with clinical trials providing scientific evidence, but inexcusably need adequate statistical analysis to generate reliable clinical data that contribute to optimising the prognosis of the transplant population. In addition, scientific RE provide valuable information on the performance of Tx programmes and help generate prognostic indexes, which could contribute to improving survival. Under these prerequisites, this review will assess the following aspects related to the scientific RE in the Tx: 1) the concept and importance of implementing RE in Tx; 2) the measures that are needed for the correct execution of the scientific RE; 3) the benefits, quality and limitations of RE; 4) the statistical tools for the adequate analysis of survival; and 5) utility of RE in the evaluation of performance, quality and surveillance of transplant programmes and the generation of comorbidity índices.

Improved Health-Related Quality of Life in Older Kidney Recipients 1 Year After Transplantation

Background

We aimed to evaluate changes in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients 65 years or older from time of kidney transplantation (KTx) until 1 year postengraftment.

Methods

A single-center prospective study was conducted. HRQoL was measured pre-KTx and at 2, 6, and 12 months postengraftment using self-reported Kidney Disease and Quality of Life short-form version 1.3. Intraindividual scores before and after KTx were evaluated. Liu Comorbidity Index was registered at enlisting. short-form-36 scores were additionally compared with scores from an age-matched population.

Results

From January 1, 2013, until November 30, 2016, a total of 289 waitlisted patients were included. By September 1, 2017, 134 had reached 1 year postengraftment, and valid questionnaires were available in 120 (90%) patients. Mean age at KTx was 71.6 years (±4.3 years), 71% were male. Living donor was used in 21%, and preemptive KTx was performed in 30% of the recipients. Median waiting time for KTx from deceased donor was 16 months (range, 0.6-50.5 months). A total of 79 (66%) recipients had a Liu Comorbidity Index score of 3 or less.

All HRQoL scores except the domain social function improved at 2 months postengraftment and remained stable or continued to improve at 1 year.

HRQoL scores 12 months postengraftment were similar to those described in an age-matched general population except for the domain social function which remained at a significantly lower level. Time in dialysis was the most important variable associated with impaired HRQoL postengraftment.

Conclusions

HRQoL scores showed clinically significant improvement in older KTx recipients 1 year posttransplant.

Mortality in Elderly Waiting-List Patients Versus Age-Matched Kidney Transplant Recipients: Where is the Risk?

The number of elderly patients on the waiting list (WL) for kidney transplantation (KT) has risen significantly in recent years. Because KT offers a better survival than dialysis therapy, even in the elderly, candidates for KT should be selected carefully, particularly in older waitlisted patients. Identification of risk factors for death in WL patients and prediction of both perioperative risk and long-term post-transplant mortality are crucial for the proper allocation of organs and the clinical management of these patients in order to decrease mortality, both while on the WL and after KT. In this review, we examine the clinical results in studies concerning: a) risk factors for mortality in WL patients and KT recipients; 2) the benefits and risks of performing KT in the elderly, comparing survival between patients on the WL and KT recipients; and 3) clinical tools that should be used to assess the perioperative risk of mortality and predict long-term post-transplant survival. The acknowledgment of these concerns could contribute to better management of high-risk patients and prophylactic interventions to prolong survival in this particular population, provided a higher mortality is assumed.

Diabetes Mellitus Following Renal Transplantation: Clinical and Pharmacological Considerations for the Elderly Patient

Post-transplant diabetes mellitus occurs in 30-50% of cases during the first year post-renal transplantation. It is associated with increased morbidity, mortality and healthcare costs. Risk factors include age and specific immunosuppression regimens. At the same time, renal transplantation is increasingly indicated in elderly (aged >65 years) patients as this proportion of older patients in the prevalent dialysis population has increased. The immune system and β cells undergo senescence and this impacts on the risk for developing post-transplant diabetes and our ability to prevent such development. It may, however, be possible to identify patients at risk of developing post-transplant diabetes, enabling treatment protocols that prevent or reduce the impact of post-transplant diabetes. Much work remains to be completed in this area and is facilitated by the growing base of knowledge regarding the pathophysiology of post-transplant diabetes. Should post-transplant diabetes develop, there are a range of treatment options available. There is increasing interest in using newer agents, although their safety and efficacy in transplant recipients remains to be conclusively established.

Are Octogenarians With End-Stage Renal Disease Candidates for Renal Transplantation?

Background

Elderly patients are the fastest-growing group in need of renal transplantation. This study puts focus on renal transplant recipients in their 80th year or longer at time of engraftment. Is there evidence to support an absolute upper age limit for renal transplantation?

Methods

Recipients in their 80th year or longer, transplanted between 1983 and 2015, were included. Data were retrieved from the Norwegian Renal Registry in the end of October 2015. Graft and patient survivals were compared with recipients aged 70 to 79 years at transplantation.

Results

Forty-seven patients older than 79 years were transplanted in the defined period. Median age 80.1 years, 81% were men. Median time on dialysis before transplantation was 18.5 months. All patients received an allograft from a deceased donor (median donor age, 61.8 years). In the death-censored graft survival model, there was no statistical difference between the groups. We found improved patient and graft survivals after introduction of mycophenolate mofetil and induction with basiliximab. Patients transplanted before 2000 had increased risk of death compared with those transplanted after 2000 (hazard ratio, 3.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-8.7). Median uncensored graft survival for patients transplanted after the year 2000 was 5.0 year (95% confidence interval, 2.4-7.6). Median patient survival was 5.0 years (3.1-6.9) and 5-year patient survival was 55%.

Conclusions

Age by itself should not be an absolute contraindication against renal transplantation. An estimated 5-year survival rate of 55% post-engraftment for an 80-year-old patient is in our opinion more than acceptable.

The authors reveal an estimated 5 years survival rate of 55% postengraftment for an 80 years old patient with end-stage renal disease. In carefully selected octogenarians, kidney transplantation has an acceptable estimated 5 years survival rate in their opinion.

Should patients older than 65 years be offered a second kidney transplant?

Background

Age and number of recipients in need of kidney re-transplantation are increasing. Re-transplantation practices and outcomes in elderly recipients are not previously explored. We aimed to retrospectively evaluate the outcomes of recipients 65 years and older receiving their second deceased donor allograft.

Methods

The study was designed as a retrospective registry based study. All recipients 65 years or older who received a deceased donor kidney transplant at Oslo University Hospital between 2000 and 2014 were included in the study. Survival outcomes were compared between recipients of first (TX1) and second (TX2) allograft. Survival analyses were performed using the Kaplan–Meier method and Cox proportional hazard models with patient survival, uncensored graft survival and death-censored graft survival as outcomes in the analyses.

Results

Seven hundred and thirty-tree recipients > 65 years received a first (n = 687) or second (n = 46) deceased donor kidney transplant. Five years uncensored graft survival rates were 64% in TX 2 and 67% in TX 1 (P= 0.789). Estimated five years graft survival rates censored for death with functioning graft were 88% in TX2 and 90% in TX1 (P=0.475). Adjusted hazard ratio for uncensored graft loss (TX2 vs. TX1) was 1.24 (95% CI 0.77 – 2.00). Adjusted hazard ratio for graft loss censored for death with functioning graft (TX2 vs. TX1) was 1.70 (0.72-4.02).

Conclusions

Older recipients of second transplants have outcomes that are comparable to the outcomes of age-matched first transplant recipients, and far better than previously documented for older transplant candidates remaining on dialysis treatment. Advanced age by itself should not be a contraindication for re-transplantation. Best results are achieved with short time on dialysis before re-transplantation.

Profiling risk for acute rejection in kidney transplantation: recipient age is a robust risk factor

Careful management of immunosuppression is paramount to prevent acute rejection in kidney transplantation. We studied a cohort of 139,875 kidney transplant recipients from the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) database between 2002 and 2013. We confirmed the analysis with a cohort of 35,277 who received thymoglobulin induction with tacrolimus maintenance, and a third cohort of 12,161 recipients who received basiliximab induction with tacrolimus maintenance. We performed multivariate logistic regression analyses on data from all three cohorts and identified independent risk factors for treated acute rejection at 1 year. Recipient age was a robust risk factor for rejection in all three cohorts in a dose response pattern. Young age (18-25 years) was among the strongest risk factors for rejection in all three cohorts; thymoglobulin cohort: OR 1.87 (1.59-2.19); basiliximab cohort: OR 2.41 (1.89-3.05); and inclusive cohort: OR 1.97 (1.83-2.12). The opposite was true for old age (65-69 years); thymoglobulin cohort: OR 0.69 (0.59-0.81); basiliximab cohort: OR 0.77 (0.62-0.96); and inclusive cohort: OR 0.75 (0.70-0.80). This study is unique because it is the largest and most comprehensive multivariate analysis that demonstrates recipient age is a robust risk factor for acute rejection in an inverse dose response pattern.

Managing transplant rejection in the elderly: the benefits of less aggressive immunosuppressive regimens

Organ transplantation is increasingly common in the older population, particularly among end-stage renal disease patients. The outcomes of transplantation are often inferior in older people compared with younger recipients, partly because of the side effects of immunosuppressive medication used after organ transplantation. In this paper, we explore treatment considerations for older transplant patients. The current commonly used immunosuppressive protocols have not been validated sufficiently in older organ recipients. The primary objective for the management of transplant recipients of all ages is to prevent rejection without increasing the risk of infection or other long-term complications. To avoid serious side effects related to immunosuppressive treatment, the clinician should consider modifying and tailoring the long-term regimen for individual patients. Modifications for older recipients include reduction in the dosage or avoidance of calcineurin inhibitors, with or without the introduction of a mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor and discontinuing the use of corticosteroids. Such modifications must consider the individual risks and needs of each recipient. Treatment of an acute rejection episode should follow the same protocol as for younger recipients, but special attention is needed to ensure reduction in the total immunosuppressive load. One way to achieve this is to avoid anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) induction and to use on-demand ATG treatment of rejection on the basis of the patient's CD3 T cell count.

Induction with interleukin-2 antagonist for transplantation of kidneys from older deceased donors: an observational study

Background

The most important limiting factor in kidney transplantation is the scarcity of donor organs. Consequently, there is an increased use worldwide of kidneys from older deceased donors. High donor age is a known risk factor for acute cellular rejection and premature graft failure, and the optimal immunosuppressive regimen in these circumstances remains to be established.

Methods

We investigated whether induction treatment with an interleukin 2 (IL-2) receptor antagonist improves graft survival and reduces rejection episodes in recipients of kidneys from deceased donors aged ≥ 60 years. Data were retrieved for all recipients transplanted at our center from 2004 to 2009 with a kidney from a deceased donor aged > 60 years. The outcome was compared between recipients treated with (IL-2 plus) or without (IL-2 minus) an IL-2 receptor antagonist. All recipients received a calcineurin inhibitor, steroids and mycophenolate.

Results

A total of 232 first-transplant recipients were included (IL-2 plus = 149, IL-2 minus = 83). IL-2 minus was associated with increased risk of early acute rejection (OR 2.42; 95% CI 1.25 to 4.68, P = 0.009) and steroid-resistant rejection (OR 8.04; 2.77 to 23.25, P< 0.001). IL-2 plus patients had superior two-year estimated uncensored (87% versus 70%, P = 0.001) and death-censored (95% versus 79%, P< 0.001) graft survival.

Conclusions

Induction treatment with IL-2 receptor antagonist was associated with a reduction in acute rejection episodes and improved two-year graft survival in patients transplanted with kidneys from older deceased donors.

Genetic polymorphisms located in TGFB1, AGTR1, and VEGFA genes are associated to chronic renal allograft dysfunction

BACKGROUND

Persistent inflammation and fibrosis have been related to active progression of renal deterioration and reduced survival of kidney transplant. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located in regions related to inflammatory and immune processes on the development of chronic renal allograft dysfunction (CRAD).

METHODS

A retrospective study was carried out on 276 patients who received kidney transplant (KT). SNPs were genotyped via the SNPlex platform. Statistical analysis was performed with SNPstat and regression logistic analyses were adjusted by age and gender of recipients and donors, cold ischemia time and the number of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) mismatches.

RESULTS

From 276 patients with KT, 118 were non-CRAD and 158 were CRAD. Three SNPs showed significant associations with CRAD development: rs1800471 in transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFB1), rs5186 in angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AGTR1), and rs699947 in vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA). GC genotype of rs1800471 was associated with increased odds of CRAD compared to GG genotype (OR=2.65 (95% confidence interval (CI)=1.09; 6.47), p=0.025), as well as AC and AA genotype of rs699947 assuming a dominant model (OR=1.80 (95% CI=1.02; 3.20), p=0.044). Besides, AC and CC genotypes of rs5186 were associated with reduced odds of CRAD assuming a dominant model (OR=0.56 (95% CI=0.33; 0.96), p=0.033).

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that three genes related to immunity and inflammation (rs1800471, rs5186 and rs699947) are associated to susceptibility or protection to CRAD, and might have diagnostic utility in predicting the likelihood of developing CRAD.

Renal transplantation is also an option for patients over 70

BACKGROUND

Kidney transplantation is generally regarded as the best treatment option for patients with end-stage renal disease. Because of an increase in the elderly population, the number of elderly patients with end-stage renal disease is expected to increase. The scope of this paper is to present existing knowledge about the survival after kidney transplantation of patients over 70 years of age at the time of transplantation.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The paper is based on existing literature retrieved through a systematic search in MEDLINE as well as on the authors' own experience and research.

RESULTS

Among patients who fulfill the established medical criteria, kidney transplantation results in better survival than lifelong dialysis treatment. The best prognosis is achieved if time on dialysis prior to transplantation is reduced and acute rejection episodes are avoided after transplantation.

INTERPRETATION

Kidney transplantation is a safe treatment for selected elderly patients with end-stage renal disease. Given a sufficient supply of organs, selected patients over 70 years of age with end-stage renal disease should be offered kidney transplantation following a standard medical assessment.