Survival Benefit in Renal Transplantation Despite High Comorbidity

Early Kidney Transplantation or Conversion to Peritoneal Dialysis after First-Time Arteriovenous Access Creation

BACKGROUND

After autogenous arteriovenous (AV) access creation for end-stage renal disease, a majority of patients will continue on hemodialysis (HD), a minority will receive definitive treatment with kidney transplantation, and a subset of patients will convert to peritoneal dialysis (PD). Our goal was to identify patient factors associated with early transition from HD to either kidney transplantation or PD.

METHODS

This is a case-control study of all patients with first-time AV access creation in the Vascular Quality Initiative (2011-2022) who had long-term follow-up. Patients who remained on HD after AV access creation were the control group while patients who received early kidney transplant or who converted to PD were the 2 case groups. Relationship among demographics, comorbidities, neighborhood social disadvantage, and functional status as they relate to renal replacement therapy modality was assessed.

RESULTS

There were 19,782 patients included; the average age was 62 ± 15 years and 57% were male. During the follow-up period of a median 306 (71-403) days, 1.3% underwent a kidney transplantation and 2.3% underwent conversion to PD. On univariable analysis, rates of kidney transplantation or conversion to PD varied with race (P < 0.001), insurance status (P < 0.001), area deprivation index (ADI) quintile (P < 0.001), and several medical comorbidities. On multivariable analysis, impaired ambulation, current smoking, Medicaid or Medicare insurance, Black race, heart failure, body mass index, and older age were associated with decreased transplantation rates. Conversion to PD was associated with ADI Q5, Q4, and Q3. Decreased conversion to PD was associated with impaired ambulation, Hispanic ethnicity, Black race, former smoking, medication-controlled diabetes, and older age.

CONCLUSIONS

Decreased kidney transplantation was associated with Black race and noncommercial health insurance but not ADI quintile, suggesting disparities exist beyond community-level access to care. Early kidney transplantation conveyed a 3-year survival benefit compared with HD and PD, which had similar survival. Furthermore work is required to increase access to kidney transplantation and PD.

Antihypertensive treatment for kidney transplant recipients

BACKGROUND

The comparative effects of specific blood pressure (BP) lowering treatments on patient-important outcomes following kidney transplantation are uncertain. Our 2009 Cochrane review found that calcium channel blockers (CCBs) improved graft function and prevented graft loss, while the evidence for other BP-lowering treatments was limited. This is an update of the 2009 Cochrane review.

OBJECTIVES

To compare the benefits and harms of different classes and combinations of antihypertensive drugs in kidney transplant recipients.

SEARCH METHODS

We contacted the Information Specialist and searched the Cochrane Kidney and Transplant Register of Studies up to 3 July 2024 using search terms relevant to this review. Studies in the Register were identified through searches of CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, conference proceedings, the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) Search Portal, and ClinicalTrials.gov.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-RCTs evaluating any BP-lowering agent in recipients of a functioning kidney transplant for at least two weeks were eligible.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two authors independently assessed the risks of bias and extracted data. Treatment estimates were summarised using the random-effects model and expressed as relative risk (RR) or mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Evidence certainty was assessed using Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) processes. The primary outcomes included all-cause death, graft loss, and kidney function.

MAIN RESULTS

Ninety-seven studies (8706 participants) were included. One study evaluated treatment in children. The overall risk of bias was unclear to high across all domains. Compared to placebo or standard care alone, CCBs probably reduce all-cause death (23 studies, 3327 participants: RR 0.83, 95% CI 0.72 to 0.95; I2 = 0%; moderate certainty evidence) and graft loss (24 studies, 3577 participants: RR 0.84, 95% CI 0.75 to 0.95; I2 = 0%; moderate certainty evidence). CCBs may make little or no difference to estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (11 studies, 2250 participants: MD 1.89 mL/min/1.73 m2, 95% CI -0.70 to 4.48; I2 = 48%; low certainty evidence) and acute rejection (13 studies, 906 participants: RR 10.8, 95% CI 0.85 to 1.35; I2 = 0%; moderate certainty evidence). CCBs may reduce systolic BP (SBP) (3 studies, 329 participants: MD -5.83 mm Hg, 95% CI -10.24 to -1.42; I2 = 13%; low certainty evidence) and diastolic BP (DBP) (3 studies, 329 participants: MD -3.98 mm Hg, 95% CI -5.98 to -1.99; I2 = 0%; low certainty evidence). CCBs have uncertain effects on proteinuria. Compared to placebo or standard care alone, angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors (ACEi) may make little or no difference to all-cause death (7 studies, 702 participants: RR 1.13, 95% CI 0.58 to 2.21; I2 = 0%; low certainty evidence), graft loss (6 studies, 718 participants: RR 0.75, 95% CI 0.49 to 1.13; I2 = 0%; low certainty evidence), eGFR (4 studies, 509 participants: MD -2.46 mL/min/1.73 m2, 95% CI -7.66 to 2.73; I2 = 64%; low certainty evidence) and acute rejection (4 studies, 388 participants: RR 1.75, 95% CI 0.76 to 4.04; I2 = 0%; low certainty evidence). ACEi may reduce proteinuria (5 studies, 441 participants: MD -0.33 g/24 hours, 95% CI -0.64 to -0.01; I2 = 67%; low certainty evidence) but had uncertain effects on SBP and DBP. Compared to placebo or standard care alone, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) may make little or no difference to all-cause death (6 studies, 1041 participants: RR 0.69, 95% CI 0.36 to 1.31; I2 = 0%; low certainty evidence), eGRF (5 studies, 300 participants: MD -1.91 mL/min/1.73 m2, 95% CI -6.20 to 2.38; I2 = 57%; low certainty evidence), and acute rejection (4 studies, 323 participants: RR 1.00, 95% CI 0.44 to 2.29; I2 = 0%; low certainty evidence). ARBs may reduce graft loss (6 studies, 892 participants: RR 0.35, 95% CI 0.15 to 0.84; I2 = 0%; low certainty evidence), SBP (10 studies, 1239 participants: MD -3.73 mm Hg, 95% CI -7.02 to -0.44; I2 = 63%; moderate certainty evidence) and DBP (9 studies, 1086 participants: MD -2.75 mm Hg, 95% CI -4.32 to -1.18; I2 = 47%; moderate certainty evidence), but has uncertain effects on proteinuria. The effects of CCBs, ACEi or ARB compared to placebo or standard care alone on cardiovascular outcomes (including fatal or nonfatal myocardial infarction, fatal or nonfatal stroke) or other adverse events were uncertain. The comparative effects of ACEi plus ARB dual therapy, alpha-blockers, and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists compared to placebo or standard care alone were rarely evaluated. Head-to-head comparisons of ACEi, ARB or thiazide versus CCB, ACEi versus ARB, CCB or ACEi versus alpha- or beta-blockers, or ACEi plus CCB dual therapy versus ACEi or CCB monotherapy were scarce. No studies reported outcome data for cancer or life participation.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

For kidney transplant recipients, the use of CCB therapy to reduce BP probably reduces death and graft loss compared to placebo or standard care alone, while ARB may reduce graft loss. The effects of ACEi and ARB compared to placebo or standard care on other patient-centred outcomes were uncertain. The effects of dual therapy, alpha-blockers, and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists compared to placebo or standard care alone and the comparative effects of different treatments were uncertain.

Age-modified risk factors for mortality of non-elderly adult kidney transplant recipients: a retrospective database analysis

PURPOSE

We aimed to investigate the role of the recipient's age strata in modifying the associations between risk factors and mortality in non-elderly adult kidney transplant (KT) recipients (KTR).

METHODS

We stratified 108,695 adult KTRs between 2000 and 2016 with conditional 1-year survival after KT into cohorts based on age at transplant: 18-49 years and 50-64 years. We excluded KTRs aged < 18 years or > / = 65 years. KTRs were observed for 5 years during the 2nd through 6th years post-KT for the outcome, all-cause mortality.

RESULTS

Increasing recipient age strata (18-49-year-old and 50-64-year-old) correlated with decreasing 6-year post-KT survival rates conditional on 1-year survival (79% and 57%, respectively, p < 0.0001). Middle adult age stratum was associated with a higher risk of all-cause mortality than young adult age stratum in KTRs of Hispanic/Latino and other races [HR = 1.23, 95% CI = 1.04-1.45 and HR = 1.51, 95% CI = 1.16-1.97, respectively] and with a primary native renal diagnosis of hypertension or glomerulonephritis [HR = 1.32, 95% CI = 1.12-1.55 and HR = 1.29, 95% CI = 1.10-151, respectively]. When compared with the young adult age stratum, the middle adult age stratum had a mitigating effect on the higher risk of mortality associated with sirolimus-mycophenolate or sirolimus-tacrolimus than the standard calcineurin inhibitor-mycophenolate regimen [HR = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.57-0.99 and HR = 0.71, 95% CI = 0.57-0.89, respectively].

CONCLUSION

Among adult non-elderly KTRs, the age strata, 18-49 years, and 50-64 years, have varying modifying effects on the strength and direction of associations between some specific risk factors and all-cause mortality.

Quantifying the Effect of Consent for High-Kidney Donor Profile Index Deceased Donor Transplants in the United States

Key Points

Nationally, 41% of kidney transplant candidates consented to receive high–Kidney Donor Profile Index (KDPI) donor offers in the United States. There was wide variation in consent proportion for high-KDPI donors on the basis of individual characteristics and transplant centers. Consent for high-KDPI kidneys was associated with 15% higher adjusted rates of deceased donor transplantation.

Background

Despite known benefits of kidney transplantation, including transplantation from donors with increased risk factors, many waitlisted candidates die before transplantation. Consent to receive donor kidneys with lower expected survival (e.g ., Kidney Donor Profile Index [KDPI] >85%) is typically obtained at waitlist placement. The presumed benefit of consent to receive high-KDPI donor kidneys is higher likelihood and timeliness of donor offers for transplantation. However, the specific effect of consent on access to transplantation is unclear. Our aims were to evaluate the characteristics of candidates consenting to high-KDPI donor kidneys and the likelihood of receiving a deceased donor transplant over time on the basis of consent.

Methods

We used national Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients data between 2015 and 2022 (n =213,364). We evaluated the likelihood of consent using multivariable logistic models and time to deceased donor transplant with cumulative incidence plots accounting for competing risks and multivariable Cox models.

Results

Overall, high-KDPI consent was 41%, which was higher among candidates who were older, were Black or Hispanic, had higher body mass index, had diabetes, had vascular disease, and had 12–48 months prelisting dialysis time, with significant center-level variation. High-KDPI consent was associated with higher rates of deceased donor transplant (adjusted hazard ratio=1.15; 95% confidence interval, 1.13 to 1.17) with no difference in likelihood of deceased donor transplant from donors with KDPI <85%. The effect of high-KDPI consent on higher rates of deceased donor transplantation was higher among candidates older than 60 years and candidates with diabetes and variable on the basis of center characteristics.

Conclusions

There is significant variation of consent for high-KDPI donor kidneys and higher likelihood of transplantation associated with consent.

Stratification of Kidney Transplant Recipients Into Five Subgroups Based on Temporal Disease Trajectories

Background

Kidney transplantation is the treatment of choice for patients with end-stage renal disease. Considerable clinical research has focused on improving graft survival and an increasing number of kidney recipients die with a functioning graft. There is a need to improve patient survival and to better understand the individualized risk of comorbidities and complications. Here, we developed a method to stratify recipients into similar subgroups based on previous comorbidities and subsequently identify complications and for a subpopulation, laboratory test values associated with survival.

Methods

First, we identified significant disease patterns based on all hospital diagnoses from the Danish National Patient Registry for 5752 kidney transplant recipients from 1977 to 2018. Using hierarchical clustering, these longitudinal patterns of diseases segregate into 3 main clusters of glomerulonephritis, hypertension, and diabetes. As some recipients are diagnosed with diseases from >1 cluster, recipients are further stratified into 5 more fine-grained trajectory subgroups for which survival, stratified complication patterns as well as laboratory test values are analyzed.

Results

The study replicated known associations indicating that diabetes and low levels of albumin are associated with worse survival when investigating all recipients. However, stratification of recipients by trajectory subgroup showed additional associations. For recipients with glomerulonephritis, higher levels of basophils are significantly associated with poor survival, and these patients are more often diagnosed with bacterial infections. Additional associations were also found.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates that disease trajectories can confirm known comorbidities and furthermore stratify kidney transplant recipients into clinical subgroups in which we can characterize stratified risk factors. We hope to motivate future studies to stratify recipients into more fine-grained, homogenous subgroups to better discover associations relevant for the individual patient and thereby enable more personalized disease-management and improve long-term outcomes and survival.

Survival benefit of living donor kidney transplantation in patients on hemodialysis

BACKGROUND

Donors bravely donate their kidneys because they expect that living donor kidney transplantation (LKT) confers benefits to recipients. However, the magnitude of the survival benefit of LKT is uncertain.

METHODS

This prospective cohort study used two Japanese nationwide databases for dialysis and kidney transplantation and included 862 LKT recipients and 285,242 hemodialysis (HD) patients in the main model and 5299 LKT recipients and 151,074 HD patients in the supplementary model. We employed time-dependent model in the main model and assessed the hazard ratio and the difference in the restricted mean survival time (RMST) between LKT recipients and HD patients. In the main analysis of the main model (LKT, N = 675; HD, N = 675), we matched LKT recipients with HD patients by age, sex, dialysis vintage, and cause of renal failure and excluded HD patients with dementia or performance status grades 2, 3, or 4.

RESULTS

The median observational period was 8.00 (IQR 3.58-8.00) years. LKT was significantly associated with a lower risk of mortality (hazard ratios (95% confidence interval (CI)), 0.50 (0.35-0.72)) and an increase in life expectancy (7-year RMST differences (95% CI), 0.48 (0.35-0.60) years) compared with HD. In subgroup analysis, the survival benefit of LKT was greater in female patients than in male patients in the Cox model; whereas older patients gained longer life expectancy compared with younger patients.

CONCLUSIONS

LKT was associated with better survival benefits than HD, and the estimated increase in life expectancy was 0.48 years for 7 years.

Advancement in preoperative desensitization therapy for ABO incompatible kidney transplantation recipients

ABO incompatibility has long been considered an absolute contraindication for kidney transplantation. However, with the increasing number of patients with ESRD in recent years, ABO-incompatible kidney transplantation (ABOi-KT) has expanded the types of donors by crossing the blood group barrier through preoperative desensitization therapy. At present, the desensitization protocols consist of removal of preexisting ABO blood group antibody titers and prevention of ABO blood group antibody return. Studies have suggested similar patient and graft survival among ABOi-KT and ABOc-KT recipients. In this review, we will summarize the effective desensitization regimens of ABOi-KT, aiming to explore effective ways to improve the success rate and the long-term survival rate of ABOi-KT recipients.

Survival Benefit of Kidney Transplantation in Patients With End-Stage Kidney Disease and Prior Acute Myocardial Infarction

Patients with end stage kidney disease (ESKD) and a previous acute myocardial infarction (AMI) have less access to KT. Data on ESKD patients with an AMI history who underwent first KT or dialysis between January 2007 and December 2018 were extracted from the Korean National Health Insurance Service. Patients who underwent KT (n = 423) were chronologically matched in a 1:3 ratio with those maintained on dialysis (n = 1,269) at the corresponding dates, based on time-conditional propensity scores. The 1, 5, and 10 years cumulative incidences for all-cause mortality were 12.6%, 39.1%, and 60.1% in the dialysis group and 3.1%, 7.2%, and 14.5% in the KT group. Adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) of KT versus dialysis were 0.17 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.12-0.24; p < 0.001) for mortality and 0.38 (95% CI, 0.23-0.51; p < 0.001) for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Of the MACE components, KT was most protective against cardiovascular death (HR, 0.23; 95% CI, 0.12-0.42; p < 0.001). Protective effects of KT for all-cause mortality and MACE were consistent across various subgroups, including patients at higher risk (e.g., age >65 years, recent AMI [<6 months], congestive heart failure). KT is associated with lower all-cause mortality and MACE than maintenance dialysis patients with a prior AMI.

The Importance Of Avoiding Time-Dependent Bias When Testing The Prognostic Value Of An Intervening Event - Two Acute Cellular Rejection Examples In Intestinal Transplantation

In testing the prognostic value of the occurrence of an intervening event (clinical event that occurs post-transplant), 3 proper statistical methodologies for testing its prognostic value exist (time dependent covariate, landmark, and semi-Markov modelling methods). However, time-dependent bias has appeared in many clinical reports, whereby the intervening event is statistically treated as a baseline variable (as if it occurred at transplant). Using a single-center cohort of 445 intestinal transplant cases to test the prognostic value of 1^st acute cellular rejection (ACR) and severe (grade of) ACR on the hazard rate of developing graft loss, we demonstrate how the inclusion of such time-dependent bias can lead to severe underestimation of the true hazard ratio (HR). The (statistically more powerful) time dependent covariate method in Cox's multivariable model yielded significantly unfavorable effects of 1^st ACR (P<.0001; HR=2.492) and severe ACR (P<.0001; HR=4.531). In contrast, when using the time-dependent biased approach, multivariable analysis yielded an incorrect conclusion for the prognostic value of 1^st ACR (P=.31, HR=0.877, 35.2% of 2.492) and a much smaller estimated effect of severe ACR (P=.0008; HR=1.589; 35.1% of 4.531). In conclusion, this study demonstrates the importance of avoiding time-dependent bias when testing the prognostic value of an intervening event.

Distinct phenotypes of kidney transplant recipients aged 80 years or older in the USA by machine learning consensus clustering

Objectives

This study aimed to identify distinct clusters of very elderly kidney transplant recipients aged ≥80 and assess clinical outcomes among these unique clusters.

Design

Cohort study with machine learning (ML) consensus clustering approach.

Setting and participants

All very elderly (age ≥80 at time of transplant) kidney transplant recipients in the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network/United Network for Organ Sharing database database from 2010 to 2019.

Main outcome measures

Distinct clusters of very elderly kidney transplant recipients and their post-transplant outcomes including death-censored graft failure, overall mortality and acute allograft rejection among the assigned clusters.

Results

Consensus cluster analysis was performed in 419 very elderly kidney transplant and identified three distinct clusters that best represented the clinical characteristics of very elderly kidney transplant recipients. Recipients in cluster 1 received standard Kidney Donor Profile Index (KDPI) non-extended criteria donor (ECD) kidneys from deceased donors. Recipients in cluster 2 received kidneys from older, hypertensive ECD deceased donors with a KDPI score ≥85%. Kidneys for cluster 2 patients had longer cold ischaemia time and the highest use of machine perfusion. Recipients in clusters 1 and 2 were more likely to be on dialysis at the time of transplant (88.3%, 89.4%). Recipients in cluster 3 were more likely to be preemptive (39%) or had a dialysis duration less than 1 year (24%). These recipients received living donor kidney transplants. Cluster 3 had the most favourable post-transplant outcomes. Compared with cluster 3, cluster 1 had comparable survival but higher death-censored graft failure, while cluster 2 had lower patient survival, higher death-censored graft failure and more acute rejection.

Conclusions

Our study used an unsupervised ML approach to cluster very elderly kidney transplant recipients into three clinically unique clusters with distinct post-transplant outcomes. These findings from an ML clustering approach provide additional understanding towards individualised medicine and opportunities to improve care for very elderly kidney transplant recipients.

Utility of geriatric assessments in evaluation of older adults for kidney transplantation

BACKGROUND

While kidney transplantation has favorable outcomes in patients aged 65 years and older, many are not referred for evaluation despite having no contraindications. We wanted to determine whether incorporating geriatrics and geriatric assessments (GA), as part of kidney transplant evaluation at the University of Chicago Medicine, would help identify suitable candidates and improve transplantation outcomes among older adults.

METHODS

Between 2012 and 2016, as part of their multi-disciplinary transplant evaluation, 171 patients underwent an initial GA with the study geriatrician, who rated them on a five-point scale from "poor" to "excellent," and presented their cases to multidisciplinary transplant review meetings. Patients were followed until June 1st, 2021. Predictor variables included geriatric recommendation, clinical characteristics, and demographics. Outcomes of interest were mortality, receipt of transplant, and waitlist placement.

RESULTS

Compared to patients rated "poor," "marginal," or "fair," we found that patients that the geriatrician recommended as "good" or "excellent" were more likely to be waitlisted and receive a transplant. Favorably rated patients were also less likely to be removed from the waitlist due to becoming medically unfit, meaning worsening medical morbidity, frailty, and cognitive status.

CONCLUSION

Including geriatricians to perform GAs as part of the transplant evaluation process can help identify suitable elderly candidates.

IRF1/ZNF350/GPX4-mediated ferroptosis of renal tubular epithelial cells promote chronic renal allograft interstitial fibrosis

Renal interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy are essential pathological characteristics of chronic renal allograft dysfunction (CAD). Herein, we revealed that ferroptosis of renal tubular epithelial cells (RTECs) might contribute to renal tubular injury in CAD. Mechanistically, TNF-α induced ferroptosis by inhibiting GPX4 transcription through upregulating IRF1 in RTECs. IRF1 could bind with ZNF350 to form a transcription factor complex, which directly binds to the GPX4 promoter region to inhibit GPX4 transcription. Ferroptotic RTECs might secrete profibrotic factors, including PDGF-BB and IL-6, to activate neighboring fibroblasts to transform into myofibroblasts or induce EMT in adjacent RTECs. In conclusion, our results confirmed a novel role of ferroptosis in renal tubular injury and interstitial fibrosis, thereby providing insights into the pathogenesis of chronic renal allograft interstitial fibrosis during CAD.

Survival Benefit of First Single-Organ Deceased Donor Kidney Transplantation Compared With Long-term Dialysis Across Ages in Transplant-Eligible Patients With Kidney Failure

IMPORTANCE

Kidney transplant is considered beneficial in terms of survival compared with continued dialysis for patients with kidney failure. However, randomized clinical trials are infeasible, and available evidence from cohort studies is at high risk of bias.

OBJECTIVE

To compare restricted mean survival times (RMSTs) between patients who underwent transplant and patients continuing dialysis across transplant candidate ages and depending on waiting time, applying target trial emulation methods.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

In this retrospective cohort study, patients aged 18 years or older appearing on the wait list for their first single-organ deceased donor kidney transplant between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2018, in Austria were evaluated. Available data were obtained from the Austrian Dialysis and Transplant Registry and Eurotransplant and included repeated updates on wait-listing status and relevant covariates. Data were analyzed between August 1, 2019, and December 23, 2021.

EXPOSURES

A target trial was emulated in which patients were randomized to either receive the transplant immediately (treatment group) or to continue dialysis and never receive a transplant (control group) at each time an organ became available.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

The primary outcome was time from transplant allocation to death. Effect sizes in terms of RMSTs were obtained using a sequential Cox approach.

RESULTS

Among the 4445 included patients (2974 men [66.9%]; mean [SD] age, 52.2 [13.2] years), transplant was associated with increased survival time across all considered ages compared with continuing dialysis and remaining on the wait list within a 10-year follow-up. The estimated RMST differences were 0.57 years (95% CI, -0.14 to 1.84 years) at age 20 years, 3.01 years (95% CI, 2.50 to 3.54 years) at age 60 years, and 2.48 years (95% CI, 1.88 to 3.04 years) at age 70 years. The survival benefit for patients who underwent transplant across ages was independent of waiting time.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

The findings of this study suggest that kidney transplant prolongs the survival time of persons with kidney failure across all candidate ages and waiting times.

Transplant or dialysis: What’s the better choice for RCC-induced ESRD patients? A 20-year analysis of OPTN/UNOS data

Purpose

The incidence of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) caused by renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is increasing with the high prevalence of RCC as well as those with treatment-related renal function impairment. Worries about tumor recurrence after transplant-related immunosuppression hinder the recommendation of kidney transplantation for RCC-induced ESRD patients. However, no direct analysis has been performed to identify whether kidney transplantation can offer better survival than maintaining dialysis.

Materials and methods

This retrospective population-based cohort study was based on Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network data released in March 2021. Characteristics and outcomes were compared, including the patient and graft survival of candidates and recipients with RCC-induced ESRD etiology as well as other primary diseases.

Results

Patients with RCC-induced ESRD were older; more likely to be male, White, and obese; and more likely to have a history of diabetes and dialysis. They also had higher creatinine levels, more delayed graft function, more primary non-function, and higher Kidney Donor Profile Index score donors, compared with the glomerulonephritis (GN) group. While waiting, RCC candidates suffered the worst outcomes of all groups, a 44% (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.44 [1.27–1.62]) higher risk of removal than GN patients. After transplantation, RCC recipients demonstrated comparable patient survival and better graft survival (p=0.21 and p=0.13, respectively). Compared with still-waiting RCC patients, the RCC recipients who received kidney transplants had significantly better outcomes (13.6 [9.3–17.8] vs. 61 [52–68.4] %), decreasing the death or deteriorating risk by 84% (aHR, 0.16 [0.13–0.20]).

Conclusions

Patients with RCC-induced ESRD can dramatically benefit from kidney transplantation. Hence, these patients should not be limited to transplantation by strict strategies or a delayed waiting time out of their malignancy history.

Association of Abdominal Arterial Calcification Score with Patients' Survival and Kidney Allograft Function after Kidney Transplant

BACKGROUND

Abdominal arterial calcification (AAC) is common among candidates for kidney transplant. The aim of this study is to correlate AAC score value with post-kidney transplant outcomes.

METHODS

We modified the coronary calcium score by changing the intake data points and used it to quantitate the AAC. We conducted a retrospective clinical study of all adult patients who were transplanted at our center, between 2010 and 2013, and had abdominal computed tomography scan done before transplantation. Outcomes included mortality, pulse pressure (PP) measured by 24 h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring system, and kidney allograft function measured by iothalamate clearance.

RESULTS

For each 1000 increase of AAC score value, there is an associated 1.05 increase in the risk of death (95% CI 1.02, 1.08) (p < 0.001). Overall median AAC value for all patients was 1784; Kaplan-Meier curve showed reduced survival of all-cause mortality for patients with AAC score value above median and reduced survival among patients with cardiac related mortality. The iothalamate clearance was lower among patients with total AAC score value above the median. Patients with abnormal PP (< 40 or > 60 mmHg) had an elevated median AAC score value at 4319.3 (IQR 1210.4, 11097.1) compared to patients with normal PP with AAC score value at 595.9 (IQR 9.9, 2959.9) (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

We showed an association of AAC with patients' survival and kidney allograft function after kidney transplant. The AAC score value could be used as a risk stratification when patients are considered for kidney transplant.

Why Donors Do Not Donate: A Living Donation Program Experience

BACKGROUND

A living donor (LD) kidney transplant is the best therapeutic option for end-stage kidney disease. Potential donors must undergo multiple analyses and the rates of live donation can be as low as 8% to 18%. Here, we report on the live kidney donor program in our unit with emphasis on the reasons why potential donors do not proceed to donation.

METHODS

We performed a single-center retrospective study of all potential kidney donors with a first LD appointment at Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Porto between January 2016 and December 2020.

RESULTS

In our cohort there were 395 potential donors. From the potential donors who finished assessment, 131 were approved for donation and 239 dropped out. After assessment, 104 (28.1%) recipients received a living kidney transplant, 24 of which received a living kidney transplant through the kidney paired exchange program. The individuals who did not proceed to the surgery (n = 239) had a median age of 46.5 years, 64.4% were female, and 34 pairs were ABO-incompatible. The most frequent donor-recipient relationships were spouses, siblings and parents. The 2 most important causes of dropout were due to medical, surgical or psychological contraindications and the donor's voluntary withdrawal. When we evaluated the variables most related to dropout, they were not because of being a spouse and ABO incompatibility.

CONCLUSIONS

When compared to other studies, we showed a relatively higher rate of successful live donations, possibly aided by the presence of cross-over transplantation. Targeted education and support at an earlier stage of the donor assessment process may lead to a better engagement and lower probability of early dropout.

Survival for waitlisted kidney failure patients receiving transplantation versus remaining on waiting list: systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the survival benefit of transplantation versus dialysis for waitlisted kidney failure patients with a priori stratification.

DESIGN

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

DATA SOURCES

Online databases MEDLINE, Ovid Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Collection, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched between database inception and 1 March 2021.

INCLUSION CRITERIA

All comparative studies that assessed all cause mortality for transplantation versus dialysis in patients with kidney failure waitlisted for transplant surgery were included. Two independent reviewers extracted the data and assessed the risk of bias of included studies. Meta-analysis was done using the DerSimonian-Laird random effects model, with heterogeneity investigated by subgroup analyses, sensitivity analyses, and meta-regression.

RESULTS

The search identified 48 observational studies with no randomised controlled trials (n=1 245 850 patients). In total, 92% (n=44/48) of studies reported a long term (at least one year) survival benefit associated with transplantation compared with dialysis. However, 11 of those studies identified stratums in which transplantation offered no statistically significant benefit over remaining on dialysis. In 18 studies suitable for meta-analysis, kidney transplantation showed a survival benefit (hazard ratio 0.45, 95% confidence interval 0.39 to 0.54; P<0.001), with significant heterogeneity even after subgroup/sensitivity analyses or meta-regression analysis.

CONCLUSION

Kidney transplantation remains the superior treatment modality for most patients with kidney failure to reduce all cause mortality, but some subgroups may lack a survival benefit. Given the continued scarcity of donor organs, further evidence is needed to better inform decision making for patients with kidney failure.

STUDY REGISTRATION

PROSPERO CRD42021247247.

Retransplanting a previously transplanted kidney: A safe strategy in times of organ shortage?

BACKGROUND

The shortage of organs for transplantation remains a global problem. The retransplantation of a previously transplanted kidney might be a possibility to expand the pool of donors. We provide our experience with the successful reuse of transplanted kidneys in the Eurotransplant region.

METHODS

A query in the Eurotransplant database was performed between January 1, 1995 and December 31, 2015, to find kidney donors who themselves had previously received a kidney graft.

RESULTS

Nine out of a total of 68,554 allocated kidneys had previously been transplanted. Four of these kidneys were transplanted once again. The mean interval between the first transplant and retransplantation was 1689±1682 days (SD; range 55-5,333 days). At the time of the first transplantation the mean serum creatinine of the donors was 1.0 mg/dl (.6-1.3 mg/dl) and at the second transplantation 1.4 mg/dl (.8-1.5 mg/dl). The mean graft survival in the first recipient was 50 months (2-110 months) and in the second recipient 111 months (40-215 months).

CONCLUSION

Transplantation of a previously transplanted kidney may successfully be performed with well-preserved graft function and long-term graft survival, even if the first transplantation was performed a long time ago. Such organs should be considered even for younger recipients in carefully selected cases.

National and international kidney failure registries: characteristics, commonalities, and contrasts

Registries are essential for health infrastructure planning, benchmarking, continuous quality improvement, hypothesis generation, and real-world trials. To date, data from these registries have predominantly been analyzed in isolated "silos," hampering efforts to analyze "big data" at the international level, an approach that provides wide-ranging benefits, including enhanced statistical power, an ability to conduct international comparisons, and greater capacity to study rare diseases. This review serves as a valuable resource to clinicians, researchers, and policymakers, by comprehensively describing kidney failure registries active in 2021, before proposing approaches for inter-registry research under current conditions, as well as solutions to enhance global capacity for data collaboration. We identified 79 kidney-failure registries spanning 77 countries worldwide. International Society of Nephrology exemplar initiatives, including the Global Kidney Health Atlas and Sharing Expertise to support the set-up of Renal Registries (SharE-RR), continue to raise awareness regarding international healthcare disparities and support the development of universal kidney-disease registries. Current barriers to inter-registry collaboration include underrepresentation of lower-income countries, poor syntactic and semantic interoperability, absence of clear consensus guidelines for healthcare data sharing, and limited researcher incentives. This review represents a call to action for international stakeholders to enact systemic change that will harmonize the current fragmented approaches to kidney-failure registry data collection and research.

[Prevalence and factors associated with non-enrollment for kidney transplant]

This study evaluated the prevalence and factors associated with lack of enrollment for kidney transplant among patients in chronic dialysis in Greater Metropolitan Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil. The sample excluded patients with insufficient clinical status and those already in pre-kidney transplant evaluation. A semi-structured questionnaire was applied, including options for the question, "What is the main reason why you are not enrolled for kidney transplant?" Prevalence of patients considered fit but not enrolled or in pre- kidney transplant evaluation was 50.7%. The main reasons were fear of failure/loss of grafting (32.5%), difficulty with transportation or access to tests (20.9%), and temporary personal or family problems (13.7%). In the multivariate analysis, the variables associated with fear of failure or loss of graft were female sex (OR = 1.763; 95%CI: 1.224-2.540) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) due to hypertension (OR = 1.732; 95%CI: 1.178-2.547), while monthly income (number of minimum wages) showed a protective association (OR = 0.882; 95%CI: 0.785-0.991). Time on dialysis (months) was a risk factor for difficulty with transportation and access to tests (OR = 1.004; 95%CI: 1.001-1.007), and female sex showed a protective association (OR = 0.576; 95%CI: 0.368-0.901). These results show high prevalence of patients in dialysis not enrolled on the kidney transplant waitlist. The main causes were lack of information and lack of access. Female sex, low income, and ESRD due to hypertension were risk factors for lack of enrollment on the kidney transplant waitlist due to fear of loss of graft, resulting from lack of information on this treatment modality. Male sex and longer time on dialysis were risk factors for difficulty in access to kidney transplant.

Uraemic solutes as therapeutic targets in CKD-associated cardiovascular disease

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is characterized by the retention of a myriad of solutes termed uraemic (or uremic) toxins, which inflict damage to several organs, including the cardiovascular system. Uraemic toxins can induce hallmarks of cardiovascular disease (CVD), such as atherothrombosis, heart failure, dysrhythmias, vessel calcification and dysregulated angiogenesis. CVD is an important driver of mortality in patients with CKD; however, reliance on conventional approaches to managing CVD risk is insufficient in these patients, underscoring a need to target risk factors that are specific to CKD. Mounting evidence suggests that targeting uraemic toxins and/or pathways induced by uraemic toxins, including tryptophan metabolites and trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), can lower the risk of CVD in patients with CKD. Although tangible therapies resulting from our growing knowledge of uraemic toxicity are yet to materialize, a number of pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches have the potential to abrogate the effects of uraemic toxins, for example, by decreasing the production of uraemic toxins, by modifying metabolic pathways induced by uraemic toxins such as those controlled by aryl hydrocarbon receptor signalling and by augmenting the clearance of uraemic toxins.

Minimizing Population Health Loss in Times of Scarce Surgical Capacity During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Crisis and Beyond: A Modeling Study

OBJECTIVES

Coronavirus disease 2019 has put unprecedented pressure on healthcare systems worldwide, leading to a reduction of the available healthcare capacity. Our objective was to develop a decision model to estimate the impact of postponing semielective surgical procedures on health, to support prioritization of care from a utilitarian perspective.

METHODS

A cohort state-transition model was developed and applied to 43 semielective nonpediatric surgical procedures commonly performed in academic hospitals. Scenarios of delaying surgery from 2 weeks were compared with delaying up to 1 year and no surgery at all. Model parameters were based on registries, scientific literature, and the World Health Organization Global Burden of Disease study. For each surgical procedure, the model estimated the average expected disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) per month of delay.

RESULTS

Given the best available evidence, the 2 surgical procedures associated with most DALYs owing to delay were bypass surgery for Fontaine III/IV peripheral arterial disease (0.23 DALY/month, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.13-0.36) and transaortic valve implantation (0.15 DALY/month, 95% CI: 0.09-0.24). The 2 surgical procedures with the least DALYs were placing a shunt for dialysis (0.01, 95% CI: 0.005-0.01) and thyroid carcinoma resection (0.01, 95% CI: 0.01-0.02).

CONCLUSION

Expected health loss owing to surgical delay can be objectively calculated with our decision model based on best available evidence, which can guide prioritization of surgical procedures to minimize population health loss in times of scarcity. The model results should be placed in the context of different ethical perspectives and combined with capacity management tools to facilitate large-scale implementation.

The HLA-DR4-DQ8 phenotype of the recipient is associated with increased mortality after kidney transplantation

The importance of the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) system in kidney transplantation is well-known, but it remains unexplored if patient HLA antigens constitute independent risk factors in complications after transplantation. We hypothesized that specific HLA class II phenotypes associated with immune-mediated disease (HLA-IMD) predispose to immunological activity and/or complications after kidney transplantation. Based on the literature we defined HLA-DR2-DQ6; -DR3-DQ2 and -DR4-DQ8 as HLA-IMD phenotypes. We investigated associations between HLA-IMD phenotypes in patients, biomarkers of systemic chronic inflammation at the time of transplantation, and the outcome after kidney transplantation in a retrospective cohort study of 611 kidney transplanted patients. The HLA-IMD phenotypes were associated with higher levels of biomarkers of systemic inflammation. The HLA-DR4-DQ8 phenotype was associated with mortality after transplantation in Cox analyses with adjustments for confounders. Data support the hypothesis that specific HLA class II phenotypes affects immunological pathways that determine the midterm clinical outcome of kidney transplantation.

Survival benefit of renal transplantation in octogenarians

BACKGROUND

Elderly patients are the fastest growing population requiring renal replacement therapy. As previous studies have shown a survival benefit of kidney transplantation compared to dialysis for end-stage renal disease, we sought to evaluate if this survival benefit extends to octogenarians.

METHODS

This was a single-center retrospective cohort study of renal allograft recipients ≥80 years transplanted from 1999 to 2014 who were compared to patients listed during the same period that did not proceed to transplantation. A secondary matched group was selected from the UNOS transplant waitlist database. The primary outcome was patient survival. Secondary outcomes included graft survival and rejection incidence.

RESULTS

Thirty-three transplanted patients were compared to 71 patients waitlisted at our center and 66 patients from the UNOS database. Patients in the study group were transplanted 20.8 ± 16.1 months after listing. Patient survival was 87.8% at 6 months and 1 year and 71.4% at 3 years. Kidney transplantation was associated with a significant decrease in the risk of death after listing (HR: 0.22, CI: 0.11-0.45, P < .001).

CONCLUSION

With escalating life expectancy, kidney transplantation is a suitable treatment option in eligible octogenarians.

Kidney-transplant patients receiving living- or dead-donor organs have similar psychological outcomes (findings from the PI-KT study)

Purpose

Kidney transplantation (KT) is the treatment of choice for end-stage chronic kidney disease (CKD) and is well known to improve the clinical outcome of patients. However, the impact of KT on comorbid psychological symptoms, particularly depression and anxiety, is less clear, and recipients of living-donor (LD) organs may have a different psychological outcome from recipients of dead-donor (DD) organs.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 152 patients were included and analyzed using a cross-sectional design. Of these patients, 25 were pre-KT, 13 were post-KT with a LD transplant and 114 were post-KT with a DD transplant. The patients were tested for a variety of psychometric outcomes using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (assessing physical and mental health-related quality of life), the Resilience Scale, the Coping Self-Questionnaire and the Social Support Questionnaire.

Findings

The mean age of the patients was 51.25 years and 40 per cent of the patients were female. As expected, the post-KT patients had significantly better scores on the physical component of the Short Form Health Survey than the pre-KT patients, and there were no significant differences between the two post-KT groups. There were no significant differences among the groups in any of the other psychometric outcome parameters tested, including anxiety, depression and the mental component of health-related quality of life.

Research limitations/implications

KT and the origin of the donor organ do not appear to have a significant impact on the psychological well-being of transplant patients with CKD. Although the diagnosis and early treatment of psychological symptoms, such as depression and anxiety, remain important for these patients, decisions regarding KT, including the mode of transplantation, should not be fundamentally influenced by concerns about psychological impairments at the population level.

Originality/value

CKD is a serious condition involving profound impairment of the physical and psychological well-being of patients. KT is considered the treatment of choice for most of these patients. KT has notable advantages over dialysis with regard to the long-term physical functioning of the renal and cardiovascular system and increases the life expectancy of patients. However, the data on the improvement of psychological impairments after KT are less conclusive.

Renal Transplantation in Patients Older Than 60 Years With High Comorbidity. Is There a Survival Benefit? A Multicenter Study in Argentina

BACKGROUND

The impact of renal transplantation (RT) in the elderly with many comorbid conditions is a matter of concern. The aim of our study was to assess the impact of RT on the survival of patients older than 60 years compared with those remaining on the waiting list (WL) according to their comorbidities.

METHODS

In this multicentric observational retrospective cohort study, we included all patients older than 60 years old admitted on the WL from 01 January 2006 to 31 December 2016. The Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) score was calculated for each patient at inclusion on the WL. Kidney donor risk index was used to assess donor characteristics.

RESULTS

One thousand and thirty-six patients were included on the WL of which 371 (36%) received an RT during a median follow-up period of 2.5 (1.4-4.1) years. Patient survival was higher after RT compared to patients remaining on the WL, 87%, 80%, and 72% versus 87%, 55%, and 30% at 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively. After RT survival at 5 years was 37% higher for patients with CCI ≥ 3, and 46% higher in those with CCI < 3, compared with patients remaining on the WL. On univariate and multivariate analysis, patient survival was independently associated with a CCI of ≥3 (hazard ratio 1.62; confidence interval 1.09-2.41; P < 0.02) and the use of calcineurin-based therapy maintenance therapy (hazard ratio 0.53; confidence interval 0.34-0.82; P < 0.004).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study showed that RT improved survival in patients older than 60 years even those with high comorbidities. The survival after transplantation was also affected by comorbidities.

Outcomes of Patients Suspended From the National Kidney Transplant Waiting List in the United Kingdom Between 2000 and 2010

BACKGROUND

In the United Kingdom, 1 in 3 patients on the National Kidney Transplant Waiting List (NKTWL) is suspended from the list at least once during their wait. The mortality of this large cohort of patients remains underreported and poorly described.

METHODS

We linked patient records from the UK transplant registry to mortality data from the Office of National Statistics and evaluated the impact of a clinically induced suspension event by estimating hazard ratios (HRs) that compared mortality and graft survival between those who had experienced a suspension event and those who had not.

RESULTS

Between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2010, 16.7% (2221/13 322) of all patients registered on the NKTWL were suspended. Forty-eight percent (588/1225) of those who were suspended and who were never transplanted died, most often from cardiothoracic causes. A suspension event was associated with increased mortality from the time of listing (adjusted HR [aHR], 1.79; 1.64-1.95) and from the time of transplantation (aHR, 1.20; 1.06-1.37; P = 0.005). Graft survival was also poorer in those who had been suspended (aHR, 1.13; 1.01-1.28; P = 0.04).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients suspended on the NKTWL have a significantly higher rate of mortality both on the waiting list and following transplantation. Earlier prioritization of patients at risk of experiencing a suspension event may improve their outcomes.

Pharmacologic targeting of renal ischemia-reperfusion injury using a normothermic machine perfusion platform

Normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) is an emerging modality for kidney preservation prior to transplantation. NMP may allow directed pharmacomodulation of renal ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) without the need for systemic donor/recipient therapies. Three proven anti-IRI agents not in widespread clinical use, CD47-blocking antibody (αCD47Ab), soluble complement receptor 1 (sCR1), and recombinant thrombomodulin (rTM), were compared in a murine model of kidney IRI. The most effective agent was then utilized in a custom NMP circuit for the treatment of isolated porcine kidneys, ascertaining the impact of the drug on perfusion and IRI-related parameters. αCD47Ab conferred the greatest protection against IRI in mice after 24 hours. αCD47Ab was therefore chosen as the candidate agent for addition to the NMP circuit. CD47 receptor binding was demonstrated by immunofluorescence. Renal perfusion/flow improved with CD47 blockade, with a corresponding reduction in oxidative stress and histologic damage compared to untreated NMP kidneys. Tubular and glomerular functional parameters were not significantly impacted by αCD47Ab treatment during NMP. In a murine renal IRI model, αCD47Ab was confirmed as a superior anti-IRI agent compared to therapies targeting other pathways. NMP enabled effective, direct delivery of this drug to porcine kidneys, although further efficacy needs to be proven in the transplantation setting.

Prediction of Three-Year Mortality After Deceased Donor Kidney Transplantation in Adults with Pre-Transplant Donor and Recipient Variables

Background

Prognostic models for 3-year mortality after kidney transplantation based on pre-transplant donor and recipient variables may avoid futility and thus improve donor organ allocation.

Material/Methods

There were 1546 consecutive deceased-donor kidney transplants in adults (January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2012) used to identify pre-transplant donor and recipient variables with significant independent influence on long-term survival (Cox regression modelling). Detected factors were used to develop a prognostic model for 3-year mortality in 1289 patients with follow-up of >3 years (multivariable logistic regression). The sensitivity and specificity of this model’s prognostic ability was assessed with the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC).

Results

Highly immunized recipients [hazard ratio (HR: 2.579, 95% CI: 1.272–4.631], high urgency recipients (HR: 3.062, 95% CI: 1.294–6.082), recipients with diabetic nephropathy (HR: 3.471, 95% CI: 2.476–4.751), as well as 0, 1, or 2 HLA DR mismatches (HR: 1.349, 95% CI: 1.160–1.569) were independent and significant risk factors for patient survival. Younger recipient age ≤42.1 years (HR: 0.137, 95% CI: 0.090–0.203), recipient age 42.2–52.8 years (HR: 0.374, 95% CI: 0.278–0.498), recipient age 52.9–62.8 years (HR: 0.553, 95% CI: 0.421–0.723), short cold ischemic times ≤11.8 hours (HR: 0.602, 95% CI: 0.438–0.814) and cold ischemic times 11.9–15.3 hours (HR: 0.736, 95% CI: 0.557–0.962) reduced this risk independently and significantly. The AUROC of the derived model for 3-year post-transplant mortality with these variables was 0.748 (95% CI: 0.689–0.788).

Conclusions

Older, highly immunized or high urgency transplant candidates with anticipated longer cold ischemic times, who were transplanted with the indication of diabetic nephropathy should receive donor organs with no HLA DR mismatches to improve their mortality risk.

Alemtuzumab Induction Is Associated With Equalization of Graft Outcomes Between Elderly and Nonelderly Kidney Transplant Recipients: A Single-Center Report

OBJECTIVES

Alemtuzumab (monoclonal anti-CD52 antibody) provides profound lymphocyte depletion and offers numerous advantages as an induction agent. Elderly recipients (> 65 years old) traditionally have inferior posttransplant outcomes versus younger recipients. We investigated short-term and long-term patient and graft survival rates following alemtuzumab induction in elderly recipients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective analysis, which included 676 renal allograft transplant recipients with alemtuzumab induction, was conducted at the University of Toledo Medical Center between March 2006 and November 2015. We used 2-sided t test, Pearson chi-square test, Fisher exact test, and Cox proportional hazard regressions with 95% confidence interval for analyses. P < .05 was significant.

RESULTS

Elderly recipients were more likely to receive a kidney from an inferior donor (deceased donor: 82% vs 72.4%; P = .030) and have higher mean kidney donor profile index (46.2 vs 38.4; P = .024) than nonelderly recipients. Elderly recipients were more likely to experience delayed graft function (15.1% vs 8.5%; P = .038). Elderly recipients demonstrated death-censored graft survival (1 year: 95.4% vs 93.1%; 3 years: 88.5% vs 93.3%; 5 years: 83.1% vs 86.4%) and rejection rates (1 year: 19.8% vs 21.2%; 3 years: 22.1% vs 25.3%; 5 years: 23.8% vs 26.9%) similar to nonelderly recipients. Elderly recipients had significantly higher overall mortality rates than recipients under 65 years old (29.8% vs. 13.2%; P = .001). Although 1-year patient survival was similar to younger recipients (94.8% vs 96.3%; P = .431), 3-year (80.0% vs 91.5%; P = .006) and 5-year (72.9% vs 86.2%; P = .19) rates were significantly decreased in elderly recipients.

CONCLUSIONS

Elderly age is not a predictor of rejection or death-censored graft loss in individuals who receive alemtuzumab induction. Despite elevated overall mortality, elderly recipients induced with alemtuzumab demonstrated rejection, graft, and short-term patient survival rates similar to younger recipients.

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.

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.