The efficacy of isoniazid prophylaxis in renal transplant recipients in a high tuberculosis burden country

Isoniazid prophylaxis based on tuberculosis risk factors in living kidney transplantation recipients: A retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Tuberculosis (TB) is a major and severe opportunistic infection among solid organ transplant recipients. Chemoprophylaxis is advised for those with latent tuberculosis infection. However, the effectiveness of an isoniazid (INH) prophylactic approach based on TB risk factors remains uncertain.

METHODS

This study included all living-donor kidney transplant recipients between January 2016 and December 2022. The recipients were categorized into three groups: the risk group with INH (R-INH), the risk group without INH (R-NINH), and the non-risk group (NR), based on the presence of TB risk factors and INH usage. The R-INH group received a 6-month INH prophylactic regimen to prevent post-transplant TB infection. The incidence of active TB among the groups was assessed.

RESULTS

A total of 1348 patients were divided into R-INH (n = 108), R-NINH (n = 371), and NR (n = 869). Forty-seven patients (3.49%) developed TB with an incidence rate of 16.0 per 1000 person-years. Compared to NR, the TB incidence in R-INH was not statistically different (hazard ratios, 0.55, 95% confidence interval, 0.07-4.21, P = 0.564), whereas it was significantly higher in R-NINH (hazard ratios, 5.04, 95% confidence interval, 2.64-9.62, P < 0.001). The median time from transplantation to TB was 19 months (interquartile range: 6-39), and 18 patients (38.3%) were diagnosed within 1 year of transplantation. Ninety-four patients (87.0%) completed INH prophylaxis, with adverse events including two cases of hepatotoxicity (1.85%) and one case of peripheral neuritis (0.93%).

CONCLUSIONS

A 6-month INH regimen based on TB risk factors is effective and well-tolerated for preventing post-transplant TB in kidney transplant recipients.

Chemoprophylaxis for the prevention of tuberculosis in kidney transplant recipients: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to investigate the efficacy and safety of isoniazid (INH) prophylaxis to prevent tuberculosis (TB) infection in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). Methods: Web of Science, SCOPUS, and PubMed were searched to identify relevant studies that compared the effects among patients who received INH prophylaxis after transplantation. Results: A total of 13 studies (involving 6,547 KTRs) were included in our analysis. We found that the risk of active TB infection (RR: 0.35, 95%CI 0.27-0.45, p < 0.01) for KTRs was lower in the INH treatment group than in those without prophylaxis. However, there was no significant difference between the two groups in mortality (RR: 0.93, 95%CI 0.67-1.28, p = 0.64), acute rejection (RR: 0.82, 95%CI 0.44-1.51, p = 0.52), and hepatotoxicity (RR: 1.25, 95%CI 0.94-1.65, p = 0.12). Conclusion: Isoniazid prophylaxis is a safe and effective for KTRs on reactivation of latent TB infection.

Mycobacterial infections in solid organ transplant recipients

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients remains a major challenge for physicians and surgeons. Active tuberculosis (TB) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in SOT recipients. MTB usually develops after transplantation in a recipient with latent TB infection (LTBI) before transplantation and may also be transmitted from the donor or acquired from the community. Therefore, screening for LTBI in donors and recipients before transplantation is very important in preventing active disease after transplantation. This review article is based on recently published data, case series, and expert recommendations. We reviewed updated information about the epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of latent and active TB before and after transplantation. We also reviewed recent treatments for multidrug-resistant TB.