Nephrotic Syndrome Associated With Graft Rejection After Unrelated Double Cord Blood Transplantation

Acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease in umbilical cord blood transplant recipients

Introduction

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a frequent early complication post hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT), associated with high morbidity and mortality. Cord blood transplant (CBT) recipients are potentially exposed to more nephrotoxic insults, compared to patients undergoing HSCT from other donor sources. We aimed to identify risk factors for AKI in patients undergoing CBT. We also aimed to identify the impact of AKI on chronic kidney disease (CKD) and survival outcomes by one-year post-CBT.

Methods

Adults and children who underwent a first CBT at our Institution were retrospectively evaluated. AKI was staged according to Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) definitions. Cox regression models were used to estimate the association of demographic factors and post-CBT parameters with the cause-specific hazard of AKI.

Results

We identified 276 patients. Median age was 32 years, 28% (77/276) were children (<18 years) and 129 (47%) were white. A myeloablative conditioning regimen was administered to 243 patients (88%) and 248 (90%) received cyclosporine for GVHD prophylaxis. One-hundred and eighty-six patients (67%) developed AKI by day 60 post-transplant, with 72 (26%) developing severe AKI (stage 2 and 3). In a multivariable analysis, each increase in bilirubin level of 1 mg/dL was associated with a 23% increase in the risk of severe AKI (adjusted HR 1.23, 95% CI 1.13 - 1.34, p<.0001). Conversely, systemic steroid administration appeared to be protective of severe AKI (unadjusted HR 0.36, 95% CI 0.18 - 0.72, p=.004) in a univariate model . Two-hundred-forty-seven patients were evaluable at the one-year time point. Among those, 100 patients (40%) developed CKD one-year post-CBT. Severe AKI was associated with a higher hazard of non-relapse mortality (adjusted HR=3.26, 95% CI 1.65-6.45, p=.001) and overall mortality (adjusted HR=2.28, 95% CI 1.22-4.27, p=.01).

Discussion

AKI is a frequent complication after CBT and is associated with worse outcomes. Questions remain as to the mechanism of the protective role of steroids on kidney function in the setting of CBT.

Post-Transplant Lymphoproliferative Disease (PTLD) after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: Biology and Treatment Options

Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) is a serious complication occurring as a consequence of immunosuppression in the setting of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT) or solid organ transplantation (SOT). The majority of PTLD arises from B-cells, and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection is present in 60-80% of the cases, revealing the central role played by the latent infection in the pathogenesis of the disease. Therefore, EBV serological status is considered the most important risk factor associated with PTLDs, together with the depth of T-cell immunosuppression pre- and post-transplant. However, despite the advances in pathogenesis understanding and the introduction of novel treatment options, PTLD arising after alloHSCT remains a particularly challenging disease, and there is a need for consensus on how to treat rituximab-refractory cases. This review aims to explore the pathogenesis, risk factors, and treatment options of PTLD in the alloHSCT setting, finally focusing on adoptive immunotherapy options, namely EBV-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (EBV-CTL) and chimeric antigen receptor T-cells (CAR T).

Umbilical Cord Blood Transplantation-associated Nephrotic Syndrome Successfully Treated by Low-density Lipoprotein Apheresis

The development of nephrotic syndrome (NS) after umbilical cord transplantation (UBT) has been reported in only four cases to date. We herein report the case of a 50-year-old woman who developed NS 94 days after UBT. She fell into oliguria and required dialysis. A kidney biopsy revealed focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis. Although glucocorticoid monotherapy did not improve her condition, the addition of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) apheresis resulted in remission of NS, a drastic improvement in her renal function, and withdrawal from dialysis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of UBT-associated NS treated with LDL apheresis.

Renal pathology associated with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

The kidney is subject to a large variety of injurious factors before, during, and after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT), leading to a high incidence of acute kidney injury in the peritransplant period. Chronic kidney disease is estimated to impact 15% to 20% of HCT recipients. Although renal biopsies may be deferred in the setting of thrombotic microangiopathy, acute self-limited impairment, or slowly progressive functional decline, in many patients renal biopsy yields important diagnostic insight to guide treatment. Light microscopic, immunofluorescence, and ultrastructural analysis often reveals a number of concurrent abnormalities in glomeruli, tubules, interstitium, and vessels. Meta-analysis of the literature reveals that membranous nephropathy is the most commonly reported glomerular lesion in the setting of HCT, followed by minimal change disease. Autopsy and biopsy studies show that clinical criteria lack sensitivity and specificity for renal acute and chronic thrombotic microangiopathy. Viral infection and other causes of interstitial nephritis and tubular injury are important findings in HCT renal biopsies, which in many instances may not be clinically suspected. Given the complexity and variability of HCT protocols, clinicopathologic correlation is needed.

Chronic kidney diseases in long-term survivors after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: monitoring and management guidelines

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) occurs commonly (prevalence of approximately 20% in a large series) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). There are three distinct clinical entities that occur after HSCT: thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA), nephrotic syndrome (NS), and idiopathic or graft-versus-host disease (GVHD)-related CKD. Acute renal function decline occurs in the majority of patients in the first months after transplantation. This acute kidney injury can persist and is a risk factor for the later development of CKD. However, the potentially independent role of GVHD, chronic inflammation, and chronic exposure to calcineurin inhibitors in the development and progression of CKD warrants further investigation. Careful monitoring of blood pressure, renal function, and proteinuria is mandatory in patients undergoing HSCT, especially older patients with pre-existent renal impairment. Renal function should be evaluated before HSCT and monitoring should occur at least every 6 to 12 months in these patients. Renal biopsies are indicated in patients with proteinuria and persistent or progressive rises in serum creatinine to determine etiology and prevent progression to end-stage renal disease (ESRD).