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Mezochow AK, Schaubel DE, Peyster EG, Lewis JD, Goldberg DS, Bittermann T. Hospitalizations for opportunistic infections following transplantation and associated risk factors: A national cohort study of Medicare beneficiaries. Transpl Infect Dis 2024; 26:e14317. [PMID: 38852064 PMCID: PMC11315637 DOI: 10.1111/tid.14317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Opportunistic infections (OIs) are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality after organ transplantation, though data in the liver transplant (LT) population are limited. METHODS We performed a retrospective cohort study of LT recipients between January 1, 2007 and Deceber 31, 2016 using Medicare claims data linked to the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network database. Multivariable Cox regression models evaluated factors independently associated with hospitalizations for early (≤1 year post transplant) and late (>1 year) OIs, with a particular focus on immunosuppression. RESULTS There were 11 320 LT recipients included in the study, of which 13.2% had at least one OI hospitalization during follow-up. Of the 2638 OI hospitalizations, 61.9% were early post-LT. Cytomegalovirus was the most common OI (45.4% overall), although relative frequency decreased after the first year (25.3%). Neither induction or maintenance immunosuppression were associated with early OI hospitalization (all p > .05). The highest risk of early OI was seen with primary sclerosing cholangitis (aHR 1.74; p = .003 overall). Steroid-based and mechanistic target of rapamycin inhibitor-based immunosuppression at 1 year post LT were independently associated with increased late OI (p < .001 overall). CONCLUSION This study found OI hospitalizations to be relatively common among LT recipients and frequently occur later than previously reported. Immunosuppression regimen may be an important modifiable risk factor for late OIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa K Mezochow
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Douglas E Schaubel
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Eliot G Peyster
- Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - James D Lewis
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - David S Goldberg
- Division of Digestive Health & Liver Diseases, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Therese Bittermann
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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Brás AC, Querido S, Mascarenhas A, Mendes R, Verissimo R, Chagas C, Weigert A. Epstein-Barr virus associated colitis in kidney transplant patients: a case series. Infect Dis (Lond) 2024; 56:410-415. [PMID: 38459811 DOI: 10.1080/23744235.2024.2326594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gastrointestinal complications are common in kidney transplant (KT) patients and can be a consequence of the chronic use of immunosuppression. The differential diagnosis of colitis in KT patients includes intolerance to immunosuppressive agents, namely mycophenolate mofetil, de novo inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and opportunistic infections. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection may cause post-transplant colitis or trigger de novo IBD, although is seldom thought as the causative pathogen. OBJECTIVES To describe clinical characteristics, endoscopic and histological findings, treatment and outcome of three patients that developed EBV associated colitis following kidney transplantation. METHODS We retrospectively analyzed three patients with EBV associated colitis; clinical data including transplantation, gastrointestinal symptoms, endoscopy findings, and follow-up data was obtained. RESULTS We present a case series of three patients with EBV colitis following KT, with an average age at clinical presentation of 59 years and elapsed time since the KT ranging from five to 22 years. Clinical manifestations included bloody diarrhoea, abdominal pain, weight loss and/or fever. Cytomegalovirus colitis, mycophenolate mofetil-related colitis, lymphoproliferative disease and graft versus host disease were excluded. One patient had a prior diagnosis of IBD. Two of the three patients had an unfavourable outcome with death despite reduction and/or switching of immunosuppressants, optimal medical treatment (including antiviral and intravenous immunoglobulin therapies) and salvage surgical therapy. CONCLUSION A multidisciplinary approach is necessary to allow an expeditious diagnosis of a rare entity such as EBV associated colitis in KT. Long-term surveillance of these patients and the development of effective and safe therapies is essential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Catarina Brás
- Nephrology Department, Hospital Prof. Dr. Fernando Fonseca, Amadora, Portugal
| | - Sara Querido
- Kidney Transplant Unit, Nephrology Department, Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Ocidental, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - André Mascarenhas
- Gastroenterology Department, Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Ocidental, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Raquel Mendes
- Gastroenterology Department, Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Ocidental, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Rita Verissimo
- Kidney Transplant Unit, Nephrology Department, Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Ocidental, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Cristina Chagas
- Gastroenterology Department, Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Ocidental, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - André Weigert
- Kidney Transplant Unit, Nephrology Department, Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Ocidental, Lisbon, Portugal
- Pharmacology and Neurosciences Department, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
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Jallah BP, Kuypers DRJ. Impact of Immunosenescence in Older Kidney Transplant Recipients: Associated Clinical Outcomes and Possible Risk Stratification for Immunosuppression Reduction. Drugs Aging 2024; 41:219-238. [PMID: 38386164 DOI: 10.1007/s40266-024-01100-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
The number of older individuals receiving a kidney transplant as replacement therapy has significantly increased in the past decades and this increase is expected to continue. Older patients have a lower rate of acute rejection but an increased incidence of death with a functioning graft. Several factors, including an increased incidence of infections, post-transplant malignancy and cardiovascular comorbidity and mortality, contribute to this increased risk. Notwithstanding, kidney transplantation is still the best form of kidney replacement therapy in all patients with chronic kidney disease, including in older individuals. The best form of immunosuppression and the optimal dose of these medications in older recipients remains a topic of discussion. Pharmacological studies have usually excluded older patients and when included, patients were highly selected and their numbers insignificant to draw a reasonable conclusion. The reduced incidence of acute rejection in older recipients has largely been attributed to immunosenescence. Immunosenescence refers to the aging of the innate and adaptive immunity, accumulating in phenotypic and functional changes. These changes influences the response of the immune system to new challenges. In older individuals, immunosenescence is associated with increased susceptibility to infectious pathogens, a decreased response after vaccinations, increased risk of malignancies and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Chronic kidney disease is associated with premature immunosenescent changes, and these are independent of aging. The immunosenescent state is associated with low-grade sterile inflammation termed inflammaging. This chronic low-grade inflammation triggers a compensatory immunosuppressive state to avoid further tissue damage, leaving older individuals with chronic kidney disease in an immune-impaired state before kidney transplantation. Immunosuppression after transplantation may further enhance progression of this immunosenescent state. This review covers the role of immunosenescence in older kidney transplant recipients and it details present knowledge of the changes in chronic kidney disease and after transplantation. The impact of immunosuppression on the progression and complications of an immunosenescent state are discussed, and the future direction of a possible clinical implementation of immunosenescence to individualize/reduce immunosuppression in older recipients is laid out.
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Affiliation(s)
- Borefore P Jallah
- Department of Nephrology and Renal Transplantation, University Hospital Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Dirk R J Kuypers
- Department of Nephrology and Renal Transplantation, University Hospital Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
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Bertazza Partigiani N, Negrisolo S, Carraro A, Marzenta D, Manaresi E, Gallinella G, Barzon L, Benetti E. Pre-Existing Intrarenal Parvovirus B19 Infection May Relate to Antibody-Mediated Rejection in Pediatric Kidney Transplant Patients. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24119147. [PMID: 37298109 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24119147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Viral infections can lead to transplant dysfunction, and their possible role in rejection is described. In total, 218 protocol biopsies performed in 106 children at 6, 12 and 24 months after transplantation were analyzed according to Banff '15. RT-PCR for cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, BK virus and Parvovirus B19 was performed on blood and bioptic samples at the time of transplant and each protocol biopsy. The prevalence of intrarenal viral infection increases between 6 and 12 months after transplantation (24% vs. 44%, p = 0.007). Intrarenal Parvovirus B19 infection is also associated with antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR) (50% ABMR vs. 19% T-cell-mediated rejection, p = 0.04). Moreover, Parvovirus infection is higher at 12 months of follow-up and it decreases at 48 months (40.4% vs. 14%, p = 0.02), while in 24% of grafts, Parvovirus is already detectable at the moment of transplantation. Intrarenal Parvovirus B19 infection seems to be related to ABMR in pediatric kidney recipients. The graft itself may be the way of transmission for Parvovirus, so performance of a PCR test for Parvovirus B19 should be considered to identify high-risk patients. Intrarenal Parvovirus infection presents mainly during the first-year post-transplantation; thus, we recommend an active surveillance of donor-specific antibodies (DSA) in patients with intrarenal Parvovirus B19 infection during this period. Indeed, it should be considered a treatment with intravenous immunoglobulins in patients with intrarenal Parvovirus B19 infection and DSA positivity, even in the absence of ABMR criteria for kidney biopsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Bertazza Partigiani
- Pediatric Nephrology, Department of Women's and Children's Health, University Hospital of Padua, 35128 Padua, Italy
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, University of Padua, 35128 Padua, Italy
| | - Susanna Negrisolo
- Laboratory of Immunopathology and Molecular Biology of the Kidney, Department of Women's and Children's Health, University of Padova, 35127 Padua, Italy
- Pediatric Research Institute "IRP Città della Speranza", 35127 Padua, Italy
| | - Andrea Carraro
- Laboratory of Immunopathology and Molecular Biology of the Kidney, Department of Women's and Children's Health, University of Padova, 35127 Padua, Italy
| | - Diana Marzenta
- Pediatric Nephrology, Department of Women's and Children's Health, University Hospital of Padua, 35128 Padua, Italy
- Laboratory of Immunopathology and Molecular Biology of the Kidney, Department of Women's and Children's Health, University of Padova, 35127 Padua, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Manaresi
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
| | - Giorgio Gallinella
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
| | - Luisa Barzon
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, 35121 Padua, Italy
| | - Elisa Benetti
- Pediatric Nephrology, Department of Women's and Children's Health, University Hospital of Padua, 35128 Padua, Italy
- Laboratory of Immunopathology and Molecular Biology of the Kidney, Department of Women's and Children's Health, University of Padova, 35127 Padua, Italy
- Pediatric Research Institute "IRP Città della Speranza", 35127 Padua, Italy
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