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Kotton CN, Kamar N, Wojciechowski D, Eder M, Hopfer H, Randhawa P, Sester M, Comoli P, Tedesco Silva H, Knoll G, Brennan DC, Trofe-Clark J, Pape L, Axelrod D, Kiberd B, Wong G, Hirsch HH. The Second International Consensus Guidelines on the Management of BK Polyomavirus in Kidney Transplantation. Transplantation 2024:00007890-990000000-00727. [PMID: 38605438 DOI: 10.1097/tp.0000000000004976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
BK polyomavirus (BKPyV) remains a significant challenge after kidney transplantation. International experts reviewed current evidence and updated recommendations according to Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE). Risk factors for BKPyV-DNAemia and biopsy-proven BKPyV-nephropathy include recipient older age, male sex, donor BKPyV-viruria, BKPyV-seropositive donor/-seronegative recipient, tacrolimus, acute rejection, and higher steroid exposure. To facilitate early intervention with limited allograft damage, all kidney transplant recipients should be screened monthly for plasma BKPyV-DNAemia loads until month 9, then every 3 mo until 2 y posttransplant (3 y for children). In resource-limited settings, urine cytology screening at similar time points can exclude BKPyV-nephropathy, and testing for plasma BKPyV-DNAemia when decoy cells are detectable. For patients with BKPyV-DNAemia loads persisting >1000 copies/mL, or exceeding 10 000 copies/mL (or equivalent), or with biopsy-proven BKPyV-nephropathy, immunosuppression should be reduced according to predefined steps targeting antiproliferative drugs, calcineurin inhibitors, or both. In adults without graft dysfunction, kidney allograft biopsy is not required unless the immunological risk is high. For children with persisting BKPyV-DNAemia, allograft biopsy may be considered even without graft dysfunction. Allograft biopsies should be interpreted in the context of all clinical and laboratory findings, including plasma BKPyV-DNAemia. Immunohistochemistry is preferred for diagnosing biopsy-proven BKPyV-nephropathy. Routine screening using the proposed strategies is cost-effective, improves clinical outcomes and quality of life. Kidney retransplantation subsequent to BKPyV-nephropathy is feasible in otherwise eligible recipients if BKPyV-DNAemia is undetectable; routine graft nephrectomy is not recommended. Current studies do not support the usage of leflunomide, cidofovir, quinolones, or IVIGs. Patients considered for experimental treatments (antivirals, vaccines, neutralizing antibodies, and adoptive T cells) should be enrolled in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille N Kotton
- Transplant and Immunocompromised Host Infectious Diseases Unit, Infectious Diseases Division, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Nassim Kamar
- Department of Nephrology and Organ Transplantation, Toulouse Rangueil University Hospital, INSERM UMR 1291, Toulouse Institute for Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases (Infinity), University Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
| | - David Wojciechowski
- Department of Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Michael Eder
- Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Department of Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Helmut Hopfer
- Division of Medical Genetics and Pathology, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Parmjeet Randhawa
- Division of Transplantation Pathology, The Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Martina Sester
- Department of Transplant and Infection Immunology, Saarland University, Homburg, Germany
| | - Patrizia Comoli
- Cell Factory and Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Unit, Department of Mother and Child Health, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - Helio Tedesco Silva
- Division of Nephrology, Hospital do Rim, Fundação Oswaldo Ramos, Paulista School of Medicine, Federal University of São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Greg Knoll
- Department of Medicine (Nephrology), University of Ottawa and The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | | | - Jennifer Trofe-Clark
- Renal-Electrolyte Hypertension Division, Associated Faculty of the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, PA
- Transplantation Division, Associated Faculty of the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, PA
| | - Lars Pape
- Pediatrics II, University Hospital of Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - David Axelrod
- Kidney, Pancreas, and Living Donor Transplant Programs at University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
| | - Bryce Kiberd
- Division of Nephrology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Germaine Wong
- Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Centre for Kidney Research, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Centre for Transplant and Renal Research, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Hans H Hirsch
- Division of Transplantation and Clinical Virology, Department of Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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Yang B, Ye Q, Huang C, Ding X. Impact of Infection-Related Immunosuppressant Reduction on Kidney Transplant Outcomes: A Retrospective Study Considering the Temporal Dynamics of Immunosuppressive Requirements. Transpl Int 2023; 36:11802. [PMID: 38058354 PMCID: PMC10697076 DOI: 10.3389/ti.2023.11802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
Immunosuppressant reduction (ISR) is a common treatment for kidney transplant recipients experiencing infections, but its impacts on kidney transplant outcomes remains unclear. This retrospective single-center study included 300 patients who underwent kidney transplantation between January 2017 and April 2020. The post-transplant timeline was divided into four distinct phases: ≤1 month, 2-6 months, 7-12 months, and >12 months. Patients were categorized based on the presence of clinically relevant infections and whether they received ISR. Significant differences were observed in the spectrum of clinically relevant infections across the post-transplant phases. During the ≤1 month phase, primary infections were associated surgical operation, such as urinary tract infections involving Enterococcus spp. and Candida spp. Cytomegalovirus and BK polyomavirus (BKPyV) infections increased during the 2-6 months and 7-12 months periods. Approximately one-third of patients experienced ISR due to infection, with BKPyV infections being the primary causes. Recipients who experienced their first ISR due to infection between 2-6 months and 7-12 months had worse graft survival comparing with patients without any infections. ISR due to infections between 2 and 6 months was associated with a higher risk of rejection. Tailored ISR strategies should be developed according to temporal dynamics of immunosuppressive intensity to prevent rejection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Yang
- Department of Organ Transplantation, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Qianqian Ye
- Department of Pharmacy, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Changhao Huang
- Department of Organ Transplantation, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Xiang Ding
- Department of Organ Transplantation, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Liver Cancer Laboratory, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
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Dulek DE. Update on Epidemiology and Outcomes of Infection in Pediatric Organ Transplant Recipients. Infect Dis Clin North Am 2023; 37:561-575. [PMID: 37532391 DOI: 10.1016/j.idc.2023.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
Pediatric solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients are at risk for infection following transplantation. Data from adult SOT recipients are often used to guide prevention and treatment of infections associated with organ transplantation in children. This article highlights key recent pediatric SOT-specific publications for an array of infectious complications of organ transplantation. Attention is given to areas of need for future study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel E Dulek
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, Nashville, TN, USA.
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Peruzzi L, Deaglio S. Rejection markers in kidney transplantation: do new technologies help children? Pediatr Nephrol 2023; 38:2939-2955. [PMID: 36648536 PMCID: PMC10432336 DOI: 10.1007/s00467-022-05872-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2022] [Revised: 12/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Recent insights in allorecognition and graft rejection mechanisms revealed a more complex picture than originally considered, involving multiple pathways of both adaptive and innate immune response, supplied by efficient inflammatory synergies. Current pillars of transplant monitoring are serum creatinine, proteinuria, and drug blood levels, which are considered as traditional markers, due to consolidated experience, low cost, and widespread availability. The most diffuse immunological biomarkers are donor-specific antibodies, which are included in routine post-transplant monitoring in many centers, although with some reproducibility issues and interpretation difficulties. Confirmed abnormalities in these traditional biomarkers raise the suspicion for rejection and guide the indication for graft biopsy, which is still considered the gold standard for rejection monitoring. Rapidly evolving new "omic" technologies have led to the identification of several novel biomarkers, which may change the landscape of transplant monitoring should their potential be confirmed. Among them, urinary chemokines and measurement of cell-free DNA of donor origin are perhaps the most promising. However, at the moment, these approaches remain highly expensive and cost-prohibitive in most settings, with limited clinical applicability; approachable costs upon technology investments would speed their integration. In addition, transcriptomics, metabolomics, proteomics, and the study of blood and urinary extracellular vesicles have the potential for early identification of subclinical rejection with high sensitivity and specificity, good reproducibility, and for gaining predictive value in an affordable cost setting. In the near future, information derived from these new biomarkers is expected to integrate traditional tools in routine use, allowing identification of rejection prior to clinical manifestations and timely therapeutic intervention. This review will discuss traditional, novel, and invasive and non-invasive biomarkers, underlining their strengths, limitations, and present or future applications in children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Licia Peruzzi
- Pediatric Nephrology Unit, Regina Margherita Department, City of Health and Science University Hospital, Piazza Polonia 94, 10126, Turin, Italy.
| | - Silvia Deaglio
- Immunogenetics and Transplant Biology Service, City of Health and Science University Hospital, Turin, Italy
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
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Betjes MGH, De Weerd A. Lowering maintenance immune suppression in elderly kidney transplant recipients; connecting the immunological and clinical dots. Front Med (Lausanne) 2023; 10:1215167. [PMID: 37502354 PMCID: PMC10368955 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1215167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The management of long-term immune suppressive medication in kidney transplant recipients is a poorly explored field in the area of transplant medicine. In particular, older recipients are at an increased risk for side effects and have an exponentially increased risk of infection-related death. In contrast, an aged immune system decreases the risk of acute T-cell-mediated rejection in older recipients. Recent advances in alloimmunity research have shown a rapid and substantial decline in polyfunctional, high-risk CD4+ T cells post-transplantation. This lowers the direct alloreactivity responsible for T-cell-mediated rejection, also known as donor-specific hyporesponsiveness. Chronic antibody-mediated rejection (c-aABMR) is the most frequent cause of kidney graft loss in the long term. However, in older adults, c-aABMR as a cause of graft loss is outnumbered by death with a functioning graft. In addition, DSA development and a diagnosis of c-aABMR plateau ~10 years after transplantation, resulting in a very low risk for rejection thereafter. The intensity of immune suppression regimes could likely be reduced accordingly, but trials in this area are scarce. Tacrolimus monotherapy for 1 year after transplantation seems feasible in older kidney transplant recipients with standard immunological risk, showing the expected benefits of fewer infections and better vaccination responses.
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Haupenthal F, Rahn J, Maggi F, Gelas F, Bourgeois P, Hugo C, Jilma B, Böhmig GA, Herkner H, Wolzt M, Doberer K, Vossen M, Focosi D, Neuwirt H, Banas M, Banas B, Budde K, Viklicky O, Malvezzi P, Rostaing L, Rotmans JI, Bakker SJL, Eller K, Cejka D, Pérez AM, Rodriguez-Arias D, König F, Bond G. A multicentre, patient- and assessor-blinded, non-inferiority, randomised and controlled phase II trial to compare standard and torque teno virus-guided immunosuppression in kidney transplant recipients in the first year after transplantation: TTVguideIT. Trials 2023; 24:213. [PMID: 36949445 PMCID: PMC10032258 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-023-07216-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Immunosuppression after kidney transplantation is mainly guided via plasma tacrolimus trough level, which cannot sufficiently predict allograft rejection and infection. The plasma load of the non-pathogenic and highly prevalent torque teno virus (TTV) is associated with the immunosuppression of its host. Non-interventional studies suggest the use of TTV load to predict allograft rejection and infection. The primary objective of the current trial is to demonstrate the safety, tolerability and preliminary efficacy of TTV-guided immunosuppression. METHODS For this purpose, a randomised, controlled, interventional, two-arm, non-inferiority, patient- and assessor-blinded, investigator-driven phase II trial was designed. A total of 260 stable, low-immunological-risk adult recipients of a kidney graft with tacrolimus-based immunosuppression and TTV infection after month 3 post-transplantation will be recruited in 13 academic centres in six European countries. Subjects will be randomised in a 1:1 ratio (allocation concealment) to receive tacrolimus either guided by TTV load or according to the local centre standard for 9 months. The primary composite endpoint includes the occurrence of infections, biopsy-proven allograft rejection, graft loss, or death. The main secondary endpoints include estimated glomerular filtration rate, graft rejection detected by protocol biopsy at month 12 post-transplantation (including molecular microscopy), development of de novo donor-specific antibodies, health-related quality of life, and drug adherence. In parallel, a comprehensive biobank will be established including plasma, serum, urine and whole blood. The date of the first enrolment was August 2022 and the planned end is April 2025. DISCUSSION The assessment of individual kidney transplant recipient immune function might enable clinicians to personalise immunosuppression, thereby reducing infection and rejection. Moreover, the trial might act as a proof of principle for TTV-guided immunosuppression and thus pave the way for broader clinical applications, including as guidance for immune modulators or disease-modifying agents. TRIAL REGISTRATION EU CT-Number: 2022-500024-30-00.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederik Haupenthal
- Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Department of Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jette Rahn
- Coordination Center for Clinical Trials, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Fabrizio Maggi
- Laboratory of Virology, National Institute for Infectious Diseases L. Spallanzani, Rome, Italy
| | - Fanny Gelas
- bioMérieux SA, Centre Christophe Merieux, Grenoble, France
| | | | - Christian Hugo
- Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus an der Technischen Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Bernd Jilma
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Georg A Böhmig
- Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Department of Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Harald Herkner
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Michael Wolzt
- Clinical Trials Coordination Centre, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Konstantin Doberer
- Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Department of Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Matthias Vossen
- Division of Infectious diseases and Tropical Medicine, Department of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Hannes Neuwirt
- Department of Internal Medicine IV, Nephrology and Hypertension, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Miriam Banas
- Department of Nephrology, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Bernhard Banas
- Department of Nephrology, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Klemens Budde
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ondrej Viklicky
- Transplant Center, Department of Nephrology, Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Paolo Malvezzi
- Department of Nephrology, Hemodialysis, Apheresis and Kidney Transplantation, CHU-Grenoble-Alpes, Grenoble, France
| | - Lionel Rostaing
- Department of Nephrology, Hemodialysis, Apheresis and Kidney Transplantation, CHU-Grenoble-Alpes, Grenoble, France
| | - Joris I Rotmans
- Department of Internal Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Stephan J L Bakker
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Kathrin Eller
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Daniel Cejka
- Ordensklinikum Linz GmbH Elisabethinen, Linz, Austria
| | - Alberto Molina Pérez
- Institute for Advanced Social Studies, Spanish National Research Council, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Franz König
- Center for Medical Statistics, Informatics and Intelligent Systems, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Gregor Bond
- Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Department of Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
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Iwamoto T, Nishikawa K. Monitoring of blood immunosuppressant concentrations and lymphocyte activation for predicting viral infections following kidney transplantation: A pilot study. Medicine (Baltimore) 2022; 101:e31783. [PMID: 36401367 PMCID: PMC9678530 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000031783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The current standard pharmacokinetic monitoring of immunosuppressive therapy does not consider inter- and intra-individual differences in the biological response to multidrug immunosuppressive therapy. The authors evaluated the blood levels of the immunosuppressive drugs IL-2 and IFN-γ in circulating lymphocytes as surrogate indicators of the development of viral infections after living kidney transplantation. This single-center prospective study included 20 kidney transplant recipients who underwent living-donor transplantation at the Mie University Hospital. All the study participants received tacrolimus, mycophenolic acid, methylprednisolone, and basiliximab. The area under the concentration curves (AUCs) of blood tacrolimus and serum mycophenolic acid were measured 1 day prior to transplantation and on post-transplantation days (PTD) for up to 5 months. IL-2 and IFN-γ levels in circulating lymphocytes were measured simultaneously. One recipient experienced an acute graft rejection. Although the AUC of tacrolimus at PTD 7 was significantly higher in the virus-infected group than that in the non-infected group, the AUC of mycophenolic acid did not differ significantly between the 2 groups. The expression levels of IFN-γ+ NK, IFN-γ+ CD4+ T, and CD8+ T cells in the infected group also tended to be higher than those in the noninfected group. During the study period, there was a clear difference in the expression of IFN-γ+ CD8+ T cells, which increased significantly during or after infection. Circulating IFN-γ+ CD8+ T cell counts may serve as promising biomarkers for predicting opportunistic viral infections early after kidney transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takuya Iwamoto
- Department of Pharmacy, Mie University Hospital, Tsu, Mie, Japan
- *Correspondence: Takuya Iwamoto, Department of Pharmacy, Mie University Hospital, 2-174 Edobashi, Tsu, Mie 514-8507, Japan (e-mail: )
| | - Kohei Nishikawa
- Department of Nephro-Urologic Surgery and Andrology, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, Tsu, Mie, Japan
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Integrated Immunologic Monitoring in Solid Organ Transplantation: The Road Toward Torque Teno Virus-guided Immunosuppression. Transplantation 2022; 106:1940-1951. [PMID: 35509090 PMCID: PMC9521587 DOI: 10.1097/tp.0000000000004153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Potent immunosuppressive drugs have been introduced into clinical care for solid organ transplant recipients. It is now time to guide these drugs on an individual level to optimize their efficacy. An ideal tool simultaneously detects overimmunosuppression and underimmunosuppression, is highly standardized, and is straightforward to implement into routine. Randomized controlled interventional trials are crucial to demonstrate clinical value. To date, proposed assays have mainly focused on the prediction of rejection and were based on the assessment of few immune compartments. Recently, novel tools have been introduced based on a more integrated approach to characterize the immune function and cover a broader spectrum of the immune system. In this respect, the quantification of the plasma load of a highly prevalent and apathogenic virus that might reflect the immune function of its host has been proposed: the torque teno virus (TTV). Although TTV control is driven by T cells, other major immune compartments might contribute to the hosts' response. A standardized in-house polymerase chain reaction and a conformité européenne-certified commercially available polymerase chain reaction are available for TTV quantification. TTV load is associated with rejection and infection in solid organ transplant recipients, and cutoff values for risk stratification of such events have been proposed for lung and kidney transplantation. Test performance of TTV load does not allow for the diagnosis of rejection and infection but is able to define at-risk patients. Hitherto TTV load has not been used in interventional settings, but two interventional randomized controlled trials are currently testing the safety and efficacy of TTV-guided immunosuppression.
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Ahlenstiel-Grunow T, Pape L. Novel ways to monitor immunosuppression in pediatric kidney transplant recipients-underlying concepts and emerging data. Mol Cell Pediatr 2021; 8:8. [PMID: 34309698 PMCID: PMC8313639 DOI: 10.1186/s40348-021-00118-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
After pediatric kidney transplantation, immunosuppressive therapy is given to avoid acute and chronic rejections. However, the immunosuppression causes an increased risk of severe viral complications and bacterial infections and is associated with serious side effects. It is therefore crucial to achieve the optimal individual balance between over- and under-immunosuppression and thereby avoid unnecessary exposure to immunosuppressive drugs. In routine use, steering of immunosuppressants is performed primarily by monitoring of trough levels that mirror pharmacokinetics (although not, however, pharmacodynamics). Other diagnostic and prognostic markers to assess the individual intensity of immunosuppression are missing. Potential methods to determine immune function and grade of immunosuppression, such as analysis of the torque teno virus (TTV) load, QuantiFERON Monitor®, and ImmuKnow® as well as virus-specific T cells (Tvis), are currently being evaluated. In some studies TTV load, QuantiFERON Monitor® and ImmuKnow® were associated with the risk for post-transplant rejections and infections, but randomized controlled trials after pediatric kidney transplantation are not available. Post-transplant monitoring of Tvis levels seem to be promising because Tvis control virus replication and have been shown to correlate with virus-specific as well as general cellular immune defense, which represents the individual’s susceptibility to infections. Additional Tvis-monitoring provides an innovative opportunity to personalize the antiviral management and the dosing of the immunosuppressive therapy after pediatric kidney transplantation to avoid unnecessary therapeutic interventions and identify over-immunosuppression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thurid Ahlenstiel-Grunow
- Department of Pediatrics II, University Hospital of Essen, University of Essen-Duisburg, Hufelandstraße 55, 45147, Essen, Germany
| | - Lars Pape
- Department of Pediatrics II, University Hospital of Essen, University of Essen-Duisburg, Hufelandstraße 55, 45147, Essen, Germany.
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BK Polyomavirus Nephropathy in Kidney Transplantation: Balancing Rejection and Infection. Viruses 2021; 13:v13030487. [PMID: 33809472 PMCID: PMC7998398 DOI: 10.3390/v13030487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Revised: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 03/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BK polyomavirus nephropathy (BKVN) and allograft rejection are two closely-associated diseases on opposite ends of the immune scale in kidney transplant recipients. The principle of balancing the immune system remains the mainstay of therapeutic strategy. While patient outcomes can be improved through screening, risk factors identification, and rapid reduction of immunosuppressants, a lack of standard curative therapy is the primary concern during clinical practice. Additionally, difficulty in pathological differential diagnosis and clinicopathology’s dissociation pose problems for a definite diagnosis. This article discusses the delicate evaluation needed to optimize immunosuppression and reviews recent advances in molecular diagnosis and immunological therapy for BKVN patients. New biomarkers for BKVN diagnosis are under development. For example, measurement of virus-specific T cell level may play a role in steering immunosuppressants. The development of cellular therapy may provide prevention, even a cure, for BKVN, a complex post-transplant complication.
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