Chronic kidney disease stage progression in liver transplant recipients

Defining an approach for therapeutic strategies in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease after liver transplantation

Occurrence of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is common following liver transplantation (LT). MASLD can be classified as a recurrent disease when it occurs in patients receiving LT for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) or as de novo when it occurs in patients undergoing transplantation for non-metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis etiologies of liver disease. Fibrosis progression in patients with MASLD is accelerated, with progression to cirrhosis occurring more rapidly compared with the general (ie, non-LT) population. Moreover, the metabolic burden in LT recipients with MASLD is high and synergizes with liver disease to negatively affect the clinical course. Despite the oversized clinical burden of MASLD among LT recipients, there is currently a lack of regulatory approach and pathway for therapeutics development in this patient population. The present document, thus, provides guidance for therapeutics development that incorporates nuances of transplant care in patients with post-LT MASLD to facilitate drug development.

[Kidney failure after liver transplantation]

One third of cirrhotic patients present impaired kidney function. It has multifactorial causes and has a harmful effect on patients' morbi-mortality before and after liver transplant. Kidney function does not improve in all patients after liver transplantation and liver-transplant recipients are at high risk of developing chronic kidney disease. Causes for renal dysfunction can be divided in three groups: preoperative, peroperative and postoperative factors. To date, there is no consensus for the modality of evaluation the risk for chronic kidney disease after liver transplantation, and for its prevention. In the present review, we describe the outcome of kidney function after liver transplantation, and the prognostic factors of chronic kidney disease to determine a risk stratification for each patient. Furthermore, we discuss therapeutic options to prevent kidney dysfunction in this setting, and highlight the indications of combined liver-kidney transplantation.

An Essential Guide for Managing Post-Liver Transplant Patients: What Primary Care Physicians Should Know

With long-term survival after liver transplantation becoming the rule, care for medical problems arising over time in liver-transplanted patients gained increasing importance. The most common causes of death occurring more than 1 year after liver transplantation are unrelated to liver diseases and facilitated by immunosuppressive treatments; examples are malignancies, renal failure, and cardiovascular, metabolic, and infectious diseases. Recipients receive life-long follow-up care at transplant centers, however, the increasing number of liver-transplanted patients is saturating the health care supply that transplant centers have to offer. Primary care physicians are increasingly exposed to liver-transplanted patients, even in the early periods after transplant, and an understanding of the most common risks and complications faced by these patients would enhance their care. This article reviews the long-term care of liver transplant recipients, emphasizing the key internal medicine-related issues that should be known by primary care physicians. A specific section is devoted to implementing strategies to involve these physicians in the long-term follow-up of liver-transplanted patients in close collaboration with transplant hepatologists.

Chronic Kidney Disease Following Liver Transplant: Associated Outcomes and Predictors

OBJECTIVES

Liver transplant as a life-saving procedure in patients with end-stage liver disease may have some complications such as renal dysfunction. Improved postoperative management and immuno- suppressive therapy have increased long-term survival and thus increased late complications like chronic kidney disease. Our study aimed to investigate outcomes of chronic kidney disease in liver transplant recipients and the incidence, progression rates, and adjustable risk factors of chronic kidney disease after liver transplant.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Related studies published in English were elicited from various international sources like the ISI Web of Science, PubMed/Medline, Google Scholar, and Scopus.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

Chronic kidney disease as a long-term complication is common in liver transplant recipients whose survival is affected by renal function. Risk assessment of renal function before liver transplant and some nonrenal causes of chronic kidney disease after transplant could help reduce the risks associated with future renal outcomes.

Prediction of chronic kidney disease after orthotopic liver transplantation: development and validation of a nomogram model

BACKGROUND

We aimed to develop and validate a nomogram model for predicting CKD after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT).

METHODS

The retrospective data of 399 patients who underwent transplantation and were followed in our centre were collected. They were randomly assigned to the training set (n = 293) and validation set (n = 106). Multivariable Cox regression analysis was performed in the training set to identify predictors of CKD. According to the Cox regression analysis results, a nomogram model was developed and validated. The renal function of recipients was monitored, and the long-term survival prognosis was assessed.

RESULTS

The incidence of CKD at 5 years after OLT was 25.6%. Cox regression analysis identified several predictors of post-OLT CKD, including recipient age at surgery (HR 1.036, 95% CI 1.006-1.068; p = 0.018), female sex (HR 2.867, 95% CI 1.709-4.810; p < 0.001), preoperative hypertension (HR 1.670, 95% CI 0.962-2.898; p = 0.068), preoperative eGFR (HR 0.996, 95% CI 0.991-1.001; p = 0.143), uric acid at 3 months (HR 1.002, 95% CI 1.001-1.004; p = 0.028), haemoglobin at 3 months (HR 0.970, 95% CI 0.956-0.983; p < 0.001), and average concentration of cyclosporine A at 3 months (HR 1.002, 95% CI 1.001-1.003; p < 0.001). According to these parameters, a nomogram model for predicting CKD after OLT was constructed and validated. The C-indices were 0.75 and 0.80 in the training and validation sets. The calibration curve of the nomogram showed that the CKD probabilities predicted by the nomogram agreed with the observed probabilities at 1, 3, and 5 years after OLT (p > 0.05). Renal function declined slowly year by year, and there were significant differences between patients divided by these predictors. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that the survival prognosis of recipients decreased significantly with the progression of renal function.

CONCLUSIONS

With excellent predictive abilities, the nomogram may be a simple and reliable tool to identify patients at high risk for CKD and poor long-term prognosis after OLT.

CKD in Recipients of Nonkidney Solid Organ Transplants: A Review

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) after solid organ transplant is a common clinical presentation, affecting 10% to 20% of liver, heart and lung transplant recipients and accounting for approximately 5% of the kidney transplant waiting list. The causes of CKD are different for different types of transplants and are not all, or even predominantly, due to calcineurin inhibitor toxicity, with significant heterogeneity particularly in liver transplant recipients. Many solid organ transplant recipients with advanced CKD benefit from kidney transplantation, but have a higher rate of death while waitlisted and higher mortality following transplant than the general kidney failure population. Recent organ allocation policies and proposals have attempted to address the appropriate identification and prioritization of candidates in need of a kidney transplant, either simultaneous with or following non-kidney transplant. Future research should focus on predictive factors for individuals identified at high risk for progression to kidney failure and death, and strategies to preserve kidney function and minimize the CKD burden in this unique patient population.

Kidney Failure after Liver Transplantation

One-third of patients with cirrhosis present kidney failure (AKI and CKD). It has multifactorial causes and a harmful effect on morbidity and mortality before and after liver transplantation. Kidney function does not improve in all patients after liver transplantation, and liver transplant recipients are at a high risk of developing chronic kidney disease. The causes of renal dysfunction can be divided into three groups: pre-operative, perioperative and post-operative factors. To date, there is no consensus on the modality to evaluate the risk of chronic kidney disease after liver transplantation, or for its prevention. In this narrative review, we describe the outcome of kidney function after liver transplantation, and the prognostic factors of chronic kidney disease in order to establish a risk categorization for each patient. Furthermore, we discuss therapeutic options to prevent kidney dysfunction in this context, and highlight the indications of combined liver–kidney transplantation.

Lysyl oxidase inhibitors attenuate cyclosporin A-induced nephropathy in mouse

Calcineurin inhibitors, such as Cyclosporin (CsA), are the mainstay of anti-rejection therapy in solid organ transplants but can paradoxically induce progressive nephropathy characterised by renal dysfunction and interstitial fibrosis. Lysyl oxidases (LOXs), a group of enzymes that catalyse extracellular matrix (ECM) crosslinking, were shown to implicate in tissue scarring. It is hypothesized that inhibition of these enzymes may render therapeutic effects against CsA-induced nephropathy. In this study, 6-to-8 weeks old C57BL/6 J mice were administered saline or CsA (30 mg/kg/day s.c) for 16 weeks. At 8 weeks, CsA-treated animals were divided into 5 groups respectively treated with: (1) vehicle, (2) PXS-5505 (Pan-LOX inhibitor), (3) PXS-5382 (LOX-like 2 inhibitor), (4) PXS-5505 for 4 weeks then PXS-5382 for 4 weeks (sequential therapy), and (5) Telmisartan (standard therapy). Our results indicate that CsA administration significantly increased the levels of blood urea nitrogen, glomerular and tubular injury, tubulointerstitial fibrosis, inflammation and oxidative stress in mouse kidney. These changes were associated with upregulated mRNA expression of LOX and LOXL2. Administration of Pan-LOX or LOXL2 inhibitors or the sequential therapy suppressed the expression of ECM proteins (α-SMA, FN and COL1A), matrix metalloproteases (MMP)2 and 9, inflammatory markers (TNFα and MCP-1) and TGF-β1-Smad3 signalling. Among all regimens including telmisartan, only Pan-LOX inhibitor PXS-5505 was able to attenuate uraemia. Collectively, our study suggests that Pan-LOX and LOXL2 inhibition can attenuate progressive nephropathy due to CsA administration.

LEVERSON G, FOLEY D, D. MEZRICH J, KANMAZ T, M. ANDAÇOĞLU O, M. D’ALESSANDRO A, S. ACARLI K, KALAYOĞLU M, A. FERNANDEZ L. A comparison of rates and severity of chronic kidney disease in deceased-donor and living-donor liver transplant recipients: times matter

Background/aim

The progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in recipients of living-donor liver transplant (LDLT) compared to deceased-donor liver transplant (DDLT) has not been studied in the literature. We hypothesize that CKD stage progression in LDLT recipients is reduced compared to that of their DDLT counterparts.

Materials and methods

A retrospective study was undertaken including 999 adult, single-organ, primary liver transplant recipients (218 LDLT and 781 DDLT) at 2 centers between January 2003 and December 2012, in which CKD progression and regression were evaluated within the first 3 years after transplantation.

Results

Waiting time from evaluation to transplantation was significantly lower in LDLT patients compared to recipients of DDLT. CKD stage progression from preoperative transplant evaluation to transplantation was significantly greater in DDLT. Deceased-donor liver transplant recipients continued to have higher rates of clinically significant renal disease progression (from stage I–II to stage III–V) across multiple time points over the first 3 years posttransplant. Furthermore, a greater degree of CKD regression was observed in recipients of LDLT.

Conclusion

It can be concluded that LDLT provides excellent graft and patient survival, significantly reducing the overall incidence of clinically significant CKD stage progression when compared to DDLT. Moreover, there is a significantly higher incidence of CKD stage regression in LDLT compared to DDLT. These observations were maintained in both high and low model for end-stage liver disease(MELD)populations. This observation likely reflects earlier access to transplantation in LDLT as one of the contributing factors to preventing CKD progression.

Association Between Trough Level of Tacrolimus and Change in Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate 1 Year After Living Donor Liver Transplantation

Background

Although the risk factors for chronic kidney disease progression after deceased donor liver transplantation have been widely reported, there are few reports describing the factors associated with kidney function changes in patients after living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). This study aims to further investigate these kidney function change factors.

Material/Methods

This retrospective study was performed using the data of patients who underwent LDLT at the Nagasaki University Hospital, Japan from August 2000 to November 2017. Factors contributing to post-transplantation estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) changes were analyzed.

Results

A total of 191 cases were reviewed. The average age was 53.8 years, and 108 (56.5%) patients were male. Compared to pre-transplantation eGFR levels, eGFR 1 year after LDLT improved in 65 patients (34%) and deteriorated in 126 patients (66%). Multivariate regression analysis revealed that pre-transplant diuretics (P=0.04) and tacrolimus trough value 1 year after transplantation (P=0.04) were significantly associated with elevated eGFR changes. eGFR elevation 1 year after LDLT was more pronounced in patients with a low tacrolimus trough level 1 year after LDLT (P=0.01). Therefore, mycophenolate mofetil was added to tacrolimus in patients with poor renal function before LDLT.

Conclusions

Tacrolimus trough level was associated with eGFR changes 1 year after LDLT. The adjusted dose of tacrolimus and combined use of other immunosuppressants may be important to maintain renal function after LDLT.

Effect of cyclosporin and tacrolimus on kidney function in liver recipients

Introduction. Chronic renal failure is a significant issue regarding treatment of patients after liver transplantation. One of the factors determining the impaired renal function after liver transplantation is a long-term immunosuppressive therapy based on calcineurin inhibitors. The objective of the study was to evaluate the dynamics of renal function, depending on the use of various calcineurin inhibitors in the long-term postoperative period in liver recipients in real clinical practice.

Materials and methods. A retrospective analysis of the renal function in patients operated in the State Public Health Budget Institution “Scientific Research Institute – S.V. Ochapovsky Regional Clinic Hospital № 1”, Krasnodar Region, was carried out. This article describes dynamics of creatinine level and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in patients before liver transplant, as well as 6 months, 1, 2 and 3 years after surgery. GFR was calculated using the CKD-EPI formula (Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration). Statistical processing of the results was carried out using the Statistica 10 software package.

Results and discussion. Before transplantation, the level of creatinine in the blood plasma was 82.9±19.8 mmol/l, 6 months later a20.4% increase in creatinine was registered (p=0.004), 12, 24 and 36 months later – it increased by 24.8% (p=0.00001), 24.4% (p=0.0004), and 26.0% (p=0.0005), respectively. Both cyclosporine and tacrolimus caused an increase in the level of creatinine. Baseline GFR was 83.4±25.9, the reduction in GFR occurred in comparison with the baseline by 14.2% (p=0.0005), 18.8% (p=0.00001), 20.2% (p=0.00003), 22.6% % (p=0.00006) 6, 12, 24 and 36 months later, respectively. The degree of the decrease in GFR against the background of tacrolimus therapy did not differ significantly from that in case of cyclosporine. Verification of chronic kidney disease and the administration of statins were recorded in isolated cases.

Conclusions. In liver recipients, the level of creatinine rises and GFR decreases. Reduction of kidney function occurs against the background of both inhibitors of calcineurin, in connection with which it is necessary to increase the doctors’ alertness for early detection of a decrease in glomerular filtration rate with further verification of chronic kidney disease.

Urinary epidermal growth factor as a prognostic marker for the progression of Alport syndrome in children

BACKGROUND

Alport syndrome is a rare hereditary kidney disease manifested with progressive renal failure. Considerable variation exists in terms of disease progression among patients with Alport syndrome. Identification of patients at high risk of rapid progression remains an unmet need. Urinary epidermal growth factor (uEGF) has been shown to be independently associated with risk of progression to adverse kidney outcome in multiple independent adult chronic kidney disease (CKD) cohorts. In this study, we aim to assess if uEGF is associated with kidney impairment and its prognostic value for children with Alport syndrome.

METHODS

One hundred and seventeen pediatric patients with Alport syndrome and 146 healthy children (3-18 years old) were included in this study. uEGF was measured in duplicates in baseline urine samples using ELISA (R&D) and concentration was normalized by urine creatinine (uEGF/Cr). In patients with longitudinal follow-up data (n = 38), progression was defined as deteriorated kidney function (CKD stage increase) during follow-up period (follow-up length is about 31 months in average). The association of baseline uEGF/Cr level with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) slope and Alport syndrome patients' progression to a more advanced CKD stage during the follow-up period was used to evaluate the prognostic value of the marker.

RESULTS

We found that uEGF/creatinine (uEGF/Cr) decreases with age in pediatric patients with Alport syndrome with a significantly faster rate than in healthy children of the same age group. uEGF/Cr is significantly correlated with eGFR (r = 0.75, p < 0.001), after adjustment for age. In 38 patients with longitudinal follow-up, we observed a significant correlation between uEGF/Cr and eGFR slope (r = 0.58, p < 0.001). Patients with lower uEGF/Cr level were at increased risk of progression to a higher CKD stage. uEGF/Cr was able to distinguish progressors from non-progressors with an AUC of 0.88, versus 0.77 by eGFR and 0.81 by 24-h urinary protein (24-h UP).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study suggests that uEGF/Cr is a promising biomarker for accelerated kidney function decline in pediatric patients with Alport syndrome. It may help to identify patients at high risk of progression for targeted clinical care and improve the patients' stratification in interventional trials.

Peritoneal Dialysis in Orthotopic Liver Transplantation Recipients

BACKGROUND

In many dialysis programs, there is resistance to initiating peritoneal dialysis (PD) in liver transplant patients needing renal replacement therapy. This retrospective study reviews the outcome of PD in liver transplant patients at a major transplantation and dialysis center.

METHOD

We performed a retrospective cohort study in patients who underwent liver transplants and received PD between 1991 and 2016. Patient demographics, laboratory parameters, and adverse events were collected from our electronic database.

RESULTS

Between 1991 and 2016, 14 patients underwent liver transplants and subsequently received PD. The mean age was 59.0 ± 7.1 years; 42.8% women; the mean time from transplant to PD initiation was 9.7 ± 2.8 years; average follow-up on PD was 31.3 months (range: 9 - 87 months). Hepatitis C was the main cause of liver failure necessitating the transplant (8 patients). Calcineurin inhibitor toxicity was the lead cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) (12 patients). The overall peritonitis rate was 39.8 patient-months (0.3 episodes per year at risk). There was 1 patient with relapsing peritonitis, and 1 patient had severe peritonitis and died. Mean survival was 58.9 ± 11.3 months, 4 patients died, 4 received a kidney transplant, 1 patient was transitioned to hemodialysis due to poor ultrafiltration, 1 patient was transferred to another program, 2 remained on PD and 2 patients recovered renal function. Eight patients underwent liver biopsies during their time on PD without complication.

CONCLUSION

There appears to be no specific concern related to liver transplant patients undergoing PD. Peritonitis and mortality rates were no different from other solid organ recipients or even from the general PD population. The hepatic graft was never threatened, even during peritonitis. Therefore, these patients should not be denied the option of PD.

Safety of Peritoneal Dialysis after Nonrenal Solid-Organ Transplantation

BACKGROUND

End-stage renal disease is a well-known complication after solid-organ transplantation, mostly as a result of calcineurin-inhibitor therapy. Among recipients of solid-organ transplants other than kidneys, peritoneal dialysis (PD) has been considered an accessory technique as an increased risk of infectious complications has been reported. The aim of our study was to evaluate the outcome of patients with a liver, heart, or lung transplant who underwent PD for replacement therapy.

METHODS

This was a retrospective, monocentric study. Every adult patient starting PD between January 1, 2001, and December 31, 2016, at our center was included. The history of previous solid-organ transplantation was determined. For the statistical analysis, we considered 2 groups of patients: 1 group having a history of transplantation of an organ other than the kidney (lung, heart, liver), and 1 group that was starting dialysis without any prior history of organ transplantation. Patients who had previously undergone kidney transplantation were excluded. The events of interest were the first peritonitis episode, death, and PD failure, defined as transfer to hemodialysis.

RESULTS

A total of 383 patients started PD during this period, 13 of whom had a history of organ transplantation. We found no significant difference between the solid-organ transplantation patients and those without a history of transplantation in terms of the occurrence of peritonitis (HR [hazard ratio] 0.91 [0.37 - 2.22]), death (HR 0.83 [0.26 - 2.63]), and PD failure (HR 1.01 [0.32 - 3.22]).

CONCLUSION

Peritoneal dialysis appears to be an effective replacement therapy for patients with a previous history of solid-organ transplantation.

Kidney transplantation after liver transplantation

Kidney transplantation after liver transplantation (KALT) offers longer survival and a better quality of life to liver transplantation recipients who develop chronic renal failure. This article aimed to discuss the efficacy and safety of KALT compared with other treatments. The medical records of 5 patients who had undergone KALT were retrospectively studied, together with a literature review of studies. Three of them developed chronic renal failure after liver transplantation because of calcineurin inhibitor (CNI)-induced nephrotoxicity, while the others had lupus nephritis or non-CNI drug-induced nephrotoxicity. No mortality was observed in the 5 patients. Three KALT cases showed good prognoses, maintaining a normal serum creatinine level during entire follow-up period. Chronic rejection occurred in the other two patients, and a kidney graft was removed from one of them. Our data suggested that KALT is a good alternative to dialysis for liver transplantation recipients. The cases also indicate that KALT can be performed with good long-term survival.

Pretransplant renal function according to CKD-EPI cystatin C equation is a prognostic factor of death after liver transplantation

BACKGROUND & AIMS

In patients with cirrhosis, cystatin C (CystC) based equations may be more accurate indicators of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) than creatinine (Pcr) based equations. Renal function before liver transplantation (LT) is thought to impact survival after LT. We aimed at assessing pretransplant creatinine and CystC based equations with respect to their predictive value on long-term survival after LT.

METHODS

From 2001 to 2011, CystC was determined at pre-LT evaluation in 682 patients together with GFR assessed using MDRD-4, MDRD-6, CKD-EPI-cystatin C, CKD-EPI-creatinine and CKD-EPI-creatinine-cystatin C equations. Patients were classified according to the Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative classification (KDOQI).

RESULTS

Median age at LT was 55 [49-60] years with a median MELD score of 13.5 [8.3-19.2] and a median post-transplant follow-up of 60 [26-89] months. Using CKD-EPI Cystatin C and the KDOQI classification, 21.1% of patients were stage 1, 43.1% stage 2, 29.1% stage 3 and 6.5% stage 4. Kaplan-Meier survival estimates were significantly different between KDOQI stages when determined using the CKD-EPI-CystatinC equation. This was not the case when using the other equations. At multivariate analysis, GFR and KDOQI estimated using the CKD-EPI-CystatinC equation were significantly associated with death (HR: 0.992; CI95%: 0.986-0.999 and 1.24; CI95%: 1.02-1.50 respectively). When assessed using the MDRD-4, MDRD-6, CKD-EPI-Creatinine-CystatinC and CKD-EPI-Creatinine equations GFR was not significantly associated with death.

CONCLUSIONS

Estimated pre-LT renal function is predictive of post-LT survival only when assessed using the CKD-EPI cystatin C equation. This supports the use of Cystatine C and of its related equation for the assessment of renal function before liver transplantation.

Patterns of Kidney Function Before and After Orthotopic Liver Transplant: Associations With Length of Hospital Stay, Progression to End-Stage Renal Disease, and Mortality

BACKGROUND

In the context of orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT), renal dysfunction is used as a criterion for simultaneous liver-kidney transplantation. Changes in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) the year before and after OLT have not been well defined.

METHODS

In a cohort of 416 OLT patients from 1996 to 2009, estimated GFR (eGFR) was assessed during the 12 months before OLT (period A), at time of OLT (period B), and the 12 months after OLT (period C). Outcomes included progression to end stage renal disease (ESRD), length of stay, and mortality.

RESULTS

The overall rate of progression to ESRD over 15 years of follow-up was 0.155/person-year and was strongly associated with eGFR <60 (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.7; P < 0.001), diabetes (HR = 2.6; P < 0.001), and with a combination of the 2 (HR = 5.5; P < 0.0001). Mean eGFR decreased from period A (86 mL/min per 1.73 m) to period B (77; P < 0.001) to period C (71; P < 0.001), with similar decreases in eGFR across subgroups of clinical variables. Patients with eGFR less than 60 mL/min per 1.73 m at OLT had acute and large decreases in eGFR from periods A to B, then increases to period C. Length of stay was associated with eGFR at OLT, hepatorenal syndrome, dialysis requirement, model for end-stage liver disease score, and alcoholic liver disease. Twelve-month mortality was strongly associated with time-dependent change in eGFR, hepatorenal syndrome, dialysis requirement, hepatitis C, and model for end-stage liver disease era transplantation but was not associated with eGFR at OLT.

CONCLUSIONS

Among OLT patients, renal function worsened in all subgroups from before to after OLT, but the association of progression to ESRD was particularly high among patients with both diabetes and eGFR less than 60 at the time of OLT. This suggests that diabetes could be considered as a criterion when making decisions regarding simultaneous liver-kidney transplantation.

Does the development of chronic kidney disease and acute kidney injury affect the prognosis after living donor liver transplantation?

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and acute kidney injury (AKI) have been discussed as complications following living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). The aim of this study was to clarify the relationships among CKD, AKI, and the prognosis after LDLT.

METHODS

This study included 118 patients who underwent LDLT in our department. A low eGFR (<60 mL/min/1.73 m(2) ) was regarded to indicate CKD. AKI 1 and AKI 2 were characterized by an increase in the serum creatinine level of 0.5 and 1.0 mg/dL, respectively, within one wk after LDLT. We investigated the risk factors for and the relevance of CKD and AKI on the prognosis.

RESULTS

AKI 1 was associated with sepsis and intra-operative bleeding (p = 0.0032, p = 0.001). AKI 2 was associated with sepsis and hepatitis C infection (p < 0.001, p = 0.027). A pre-operative eGFR of 60-89 and diabetes were the risk factors for the development of CKD in POY 2 (p = 0.018, p = 0.002). AKI 2, sepsis, and diabetes were the risk factors for the patient death within one yr after LDLT (p = 0.010, p = 0.002, p = 0.022). AKI 2 and sepsis were the risk factors for death within two yr after LDLT (p = 0.005, p = 0.018).

CONCLUSIONS

Recognizing the risk factors and careful management for preventing both AKI and CKD may improve the prognosis of patients following LDLT.

Do patient characteristics influence efficacy and renal outcomes in liver transplant patients receiving everolimus?

Data from the 24-month randomized, multicenter, open-label H2304 study in 719 de novo liver transplant recipients were analyzed to evaluate the influence of variables potentially affecting immunological or renal response: recipient age, gender, end-stage disease, hepatitis C virus (HCV) status, and Model for End-stage Liver Disease score and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at randomization (day 30). Treated BPAR was similar between everolimus with reduced tacrolimus (EVR + Reduced TAC) vs. conventional tacrolimus-based therapy (TAC Control) in all subpopulations, with a trend to lower risk under everolimus with reduced tacrolimus (EVR + Reduced TAC) in patients < 60 yrs and HCV-negative recipients. Risk of graft loss or death was similar in both treatment groups for all subpopulations. The change in eGFR to month 24 showed a benefit for EVR + Reduced TAC vs. TAC Control in all subpopulations other than those with the lowest baseline eGFR (30 to < 55 mL/min/1.73 m(2)), with a significant difference in favor of EVR + Reduced TAC for younger recipients (< 60 yr), female patients, HCV-negative patients and those with baseline eGFR of 55 to < 70 mL/min/1.73 m(2). Everolimus with reduced tacrolimus maintains efficacy to at least two yr after liver transplantation even in patients with risk factors for rejection, with particular renal benefits in specific patient subpopulations.

Renal Function and Transplantation in Liver Disease

Kidney injury is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in liver transplant recipients. Since the introduction of the model for end-stage liver disease for the allocation of organs for liver transplantation in 2002, the heavy weighting of serum creatinine in the model for end-stage liver disease score has significantly increased the incidence of renal dysfunction seen among patients undergoing liver transplantation. As a result, the frequency of simultaneous liver-kidney (SLK) transplantation compared to liver transplantation alone (LTA) has also increased. The decision to perform SLK rather than LTA is an important one because the benefits to the liver transplant recipient receiving a kidney transplant must be balanced with the benefits of using that organ for a patient with end-stage renal disease. However, predicting whether or not a patient with liver failure has reversible kidney disease, and therefore does not also need a kidney transplant, is difficult. The severity and duration of pretransplant renal dysfunction, hepatitis c, diabetes, and other risk factors for kidney disease are associated with an increased risk of posttransplant end-stage renal disease. However, there are currently no clinical findings that accurately predict renal recovery post liver transplant. As a result, the rate of SLK versus LTA differs significantly between transplant centers. To increase consistency across centers, multiple guidelines have been proposed to guide the decision between SLK and LTA, but their poor predictive value has limited their uniform adoption. Nevertheless, adoption of uniform rules for the allocation of kidneys would reduce the variability between centers in rates of SLK transplant.

Pretransplant urinary proteome analysis does not predict development of chronic kidney disease after liver transplantation

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a common complication after liver transplantation. Kidney biopsies cannot be easily performed before liver transplantation to predict patients at high risk for CKD. The aim of our study was to determine whether pre-, peri- and post-transplant factors, as well as peptides present in preliver transplant urine samples were associated with loss in kidney function at 6 months post-transplantation using proteome analysis.

METHODS

Eighty patients who underwent a liver transplantation and that had pretransplant glomerular filtration rate (GFR) value of ≥60 mL/min/1.73 m² (MDRD) were included in the study.

RESULTS

GFR decreased significantly after transplantation. At month 6 post-transplantation, 40 patients displayed a CKD, i.e. eGFR of <60 mL/min/1.73 m², while the other 40 patients did not. Although thousands of peptides were identified, none was significantly associated with the development of CKD at 6 months after liver transplantation. Moreover, using a urinary peptidome classifier to detect preexisting CKD, no difference was found in CKD scores between the 2 groups. After analysis of a large number of pre-, peri- and post-transplant parameters, viral hepatitis as a cause for liver transplantation was the sole independent predictive factor for CKD. No difference in peptides with differential urinary abundance between patients who received a graft for virus related liver disease vs. all other causes of liver disease was observed.

CONCLUSION

Urinary peptidome analysis before liver transplantation failed to identify a peptide pattern associated with the development of CKD at 6 months after liver transplantation.

Lessons Learned From Review of a Single Center Experience With 500 Consecutive Liver Transplants in a Region With Insufficient Deceased-Donor Support

OBJECTIVES

We present here the outcomes of our first 500 liver transplants and discuss the lessons learned during this time.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed the first 500 consecutive transplants within the listing criteria of the United Network for Organ Sharing, with recipients and donors with minimum 1-year follow-up. Patient survival and donor complications were analyzed for 31 liver transplant recipients with hepatocellular carcinoma beyond the Milan criteria who had transplant performed during the same time.

RESULTS

Between August 2006 and March 2013, there were 519 liver transplants performed in 500 patients (365 adult, 135 pediatric). There were 394 living-donor and 125 deceased-donor liver transplants. In addition, 31 adult liver transplants were performed in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma beyond Milan criteria (22 living-donor and 9 deceased-donor transplants). The main cause of chronic liver failure was biliary atresia in pediatric patients (30.4%) and chronic hepatitis B infection in adults (35.6%). The complication rate for primary nonfunction was 3.8%, overall biliary complications 24.0% (significantly higher after adult living-donor liver transplant, 30.3%), hepatic artery thrombosis 1.6%, portal vein thrombosis 3.0%, retransplant 3.8%, acute cellular rejection 29.6%, and bacterial infection 39.4%. Overall 1-, 3-, and 5-year patient survival rates in the first 500 consecutive transplants performed on recipients within United Network for Organ Sharing listing criteria were 87.8%, 85.0%, and 78.6%; for hepatocellular carcinoma patients beyond the Milan criteria, survival rates were 71.9%, 52.5%, and 38.2%.

CONCLUSIONS

In regions without a sufficient number of deceased donors, living-donor liver transplant, with its associated problems, is the only alternative to deceased-donor liver transplant. Liver transplant requires teamwork, with all players working well together for a successful outcome. The important keys to success in liver transplant include decision-making, timing, surgical skills, experience, and close follow-up.

Should we use standard survival models or the illness-death model for interval-censored data to investigate risk factors of chronic kidney disease progression?

Background

In studies investigating risk factors of chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression, one may be interested in estimating factors effects on both a fall of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) below a specific level (i.e., a CKD stage) and death. Such studies have to account for the fact that GFR is measured at intermittent visit only, which implies that progression to the stage of interest is unknown for patients who die before being observed at that stage. Our objective was to compare the results of an illness-death model that handles this uncertainty, with frequently used survival models.

Methods

This study included 1,519 patients from the NephroTest cohort with CKD stages 1–4 at baseline (69% males, 59±15 years, median protein/creatinine ratio [PCR] 27.4 mg/mmol) and subsequent annual measures of GFR (follow-up time 4.3±2.7 years). Each model was used to estimate the effects of sex, age, PCR, and GFR at baseline on the hazards of progression to CKD stage 5 (GFR<15 mL/min/1.73 m², n = 282 observed) and death (n = 168).

Results

For progression to stage 5, there were only minor differences between results from the different models. The differences between results were higher for the hazard of death before or after progression. Our results also suggest that previous findings on the effect of age on end-stage renal disease are more likely due to a strong impact of age on death than to an effect on progression. The probabilities of progression were systematically under-estimated with the survival model as compared with the illness-death model.

Conclusions

This study illustrates the advantages of the illness-death model for accurately estimating the effects of risk factors on the hazard of progression and death, and probabilities of progression. It avoids the need to choose arbitrary time-to-event and time-to-censoring, while accounting for both interval censoring and competition by death, using a single analytical model.

Predicting end-stage renal disease after liver transplant

Few equations have been developed to predict end-stage renal disease (ESRD) after deceased donor liver transplant. This retrospective observational cohort study analyzed all adult deceased donor liver transplant recipients in the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR) database, 1995-2010. The prediction equation for ESRD was developed using candidate predictor variables available in SRTR after implementation of the allocation policy based on the model for end-stage liver disease. ESRD was defined as initiation of maintenance dialysis therapy, kidney transplant or registration on the kidney transplant waiting list. We used Cox proportional hazard models to develop separate equations for assessing risk of ESRD by 6 months posttransplant and between 6 months and 5 years posttransplant. Variables in the 6-month equation included recipient age, history of diabetes, history of dialysis before liver transplant, history of malignancy, body mass index, serum creatinine and liver donor risk index. Variables in the 6-month to 5-year equation included recipient race, history of diabetes, hepatitis C status, serum albumin, serum bilirubin and serum creatinine. The prediction equations have good calibration and discrimination (C statistics 0.74-0.78). We have produced risk prediction equations that can be used to aid in understanding the risk of ESRD after liver transplant.

Proteinuria following sirolimus conversion is associated with deterioration of kidney function in liver transplant recipients

BACKGROUND

The role of sirolimus (SRL) conversion in the preservation of kidney function in liver transplant (LT) recipients with calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) nephrotoxicity is unclear.

METHODS

Data on 102 LT recipients with deteriorating kidney function after CNI exposure who were later converted to SRL were retrospectively reviewed. Kidney function was assessed using serum creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at time of conversion and serially thereafter. The primary endpoint was stabilization or improvement of kidney function as assessed by eGFR at last recorded follow-up compared with eGFR at the time of conversion.

RESULT

After a median (interquartile range) of 3.1 (1.6-4.5) years of follow-up, serum creatinine decreased from 1.9 ± 0.8 to 1.8 ± 0.7 mg/dL (P=0.25) and eGFR increased from 40.8 ± 16.7 to 44.3 ± 20.0 mL/min (P=0.03). During the same time period, 24-hr urinary protein excretion increased from median (interquartile range) of 72 (0-155) to 382 (169-999) mg/day (P=0.0001). Sixty-five (64%) patients achieved the primary endpoint and 37 (36%) experienced deterioration in kidney function. Independent predictors of deterioration of kidney function after SRL conversion were development of proteinuria ≥ 1000 mg/day (odds ratio [OR]: 3.3, confidence interval [CI]: 1.1-9.5 P=0.03), post-LT diabetes (OR: 4.2, CI: 1.6-11.1, P=0.004), and higher eGFR at time of conversion (OR: 1.6, CI: 1.2-2.2, P=0.003).

CONCLUSION

Improvement or stabilization of kidney function occurred in the majority of LT recipients converted to SRL for CNI nephrotoxicity. Proteinuria ≥ 1000 mg/day, post-LT diabetes, and higher baseline eGFR were independent predictors of kidney function loss after SRL conversion.

Do kidney histology lesions predict long-term kidney function after liver transplantation?

Histological renal lesions observed after liver transplantation are complex, multifactorial, and interrelated. The aims of this study were to determine whether kidney lesions observed at five yr after liver transplantation can predict long-term kidney function. Ninety-nine liver transplant patients receiving calcineurin inhibitor (CNI)-based immunosuppression, who had undergone a kidney biopsy at 60±48 months post-transplant, were included in this follow-up study. Kidney biopsies were scored according to the Banff classification. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was assessed at last follow-up, that is, 109±48 months after liver transplantation. eGFR decreased from 92±33 mL/min at transplantation to 63±19 mL/min after six months, to 57±17 mL/min at the kidney biopsy, to 54±24 mL/min at last follow-up (p<0.0001). At last follow-up, only three patients required renal replacement therapy. After the kidney biopsy, 13 patients were converted from CNIs to mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors, but no significant improvement in eGFR was observed after conversion. Elevated eGFR at six months post-transplant and a lower fibrous intimal thickening score (cv) observed at five yr post-transplant were the two independent predictive factors for eGFR≥60 mL/min at nine yr post-transplant. Long-term kidney function seems to be predicted by the kidney vascular lesions.

The assessment of GFR after orthotopic liver transplantation using cystatin C and creatinine-based equations

The measurement of kidney function after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is still a clinical challenge. Cystatin C (CysC) has been proposed as a more accurate marker of renal function than serum creatinine (sCr). The aim of this study was to evaluate sCr- and CysC-based equations including the Chronic kidney disease (CKD)-EPI to determine renal function in liver transplant recipients. CysC and sCr were measured in 49 patients 24 months after OLT. The glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was calculated using the MDRD 4, the Cockroft-Gault, Hoek, Larsson, and the CKD-EPI equations based on sCr and/or CysC. As reference method, inulin clearance (IC) was estimated. Bias, precision, and accuracy of each equation were assessed and compared with respect to IC. Forty-five percent had a GFR < 60 ml/min/1.73 m(2) according to the IC. The Larsson, the Hoek and the CKD-EPI-CysC formula identified the highest percentage of patients with CKD correctly (88%, 88%, and 84%, respectively). The sCr-based equations showed less bias than CysC-based formulas with a similar precision. All CysC-based equations were superior as compared with sCr-based equations in the assessment of renal function in patients with an IC < 60 ml/min/1.73 m(2).