Audit on data accuracy of the Malaysian Dialysis and Transplant Registry (MDTR)

Diabetes mellitus is the main aetiology of end stage kidney disease (ESKD) in Malaysia. However, there may be concerns of over-reporting of diabetes mellitus as the cause of ESKD in the Malaysian Dialysis and Transplant Registry (MDTR). The objective of this audit is to assess the accuracy of data collected in the MDTR. There were 151 centres/source data providers (SDP) with a total of 1977 patients included in this audit. The audit showed that 80.2% of doctors' records matched the MDTR data. The results were comparable with published validation studies in other countries.

ABO-Incompatible Living-Donor Kidney Transplantation in a Developing Country: A Multicenter Experience in Malaysia

Malaysia has a low deceased-donor donation rate and has not embarked on a paired kidney exchange program; therefore, ABO-incompatible and HLA-incompatible transplantation remain the main contributor to the sustainability of the national kidney transplantation (KT) program. There were 26 cases of ABO-incompatible KTs performed from 2011 to 2018 in 3 major transplant centers, namely, Hospital Kuala Lumpur, University Malaya Medical Centre, and Prince Court Medical Centre. We collected perioperative and follow-up data through June 2019. The desensitization protocol varies and is center specific: the localized Japanese protocol and Swedish protocol with a target anti-A/B isoagglutinin titer of 16 or 32 on the day of transplant. The induction and tacrolimus-based maintenance protocol was nearly identical. The median follow-up time was 62.3 months (interquartile range, 37.0-79.7). Fifteen subjects had the highest predesensitization anti-A/B titer of ≥32 (57.7%). The acute cellular rejection and antibody-mediated rejection incidence were 12.5% (3 cases) and 8.3% (2 cases), respectively. Patient, graft, and death-censored graft survival rates were 96.2%, 92.3%, and 96.0%, respectively, 1 year post-living-donor KT (LDKT) and 96.2%, 87.2%, and 90.7%, respectively, 5 years post-LDKT. Our experience shows that ABO-incompatible LDKT using a suitable desensitization technique could be a safe and feasible choice for LDKT even with varied desensitization regimens for recipients with relatively high baseline isoagglutinin titers.

Development of de novo HLA donor specific antibodies (HLA-DSA), HLA antibodies (HLA-Ab) and allograft rejection post blood transfusion in kidney transplant recipients

BACKGROUND

Blood transfusion during the post-operative period of kidney transplantation is common as part of a life-saving procedure, especially in the event of acute blood loss. However, there have been conflicting opinions since the pre-cyclosporine era. The risk of sensitization post-transfusion remains the main limiting factor following transfusion in kidney transplant recipients. Thus, the objective of this study is to assess the development of de novo HLA-DSA, HLA-Ab and allograft rejection post blood transfusion.

METHODOLOGY

This is a retrospective cohort study recruiting all kidney transplant recipients in South Australia from January 2010 till December 2018. Following that, the incidence of blood transfusion within one week post-operatively were traced (transfusion group). The outcomes were compared with all other transplant recipients (non-transfusion group). Recipient's demographic, donor characteristics and immunological risk profiles were obtained from the transplant unit database, while the biopsy report, history of blood transfusion, latest serum creatinine and follow-up status was gathered from the electronic medical system (OASIS). The HLA-DSA and HLA-Ab results were collected from the NOMS database. Finally, the survival data were merged with the Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant (ANZDATA) Registry for South Australia recipients graft survival.

RESULTS

A total of 699 patients were eligible for analysis. The mean age was 50.64 ± 13.23 years old. There were more elderly (>65 years old) and females who needed transfusion. The majority had glomerulonephritis as the primary disease. There was no statistical difference in donor characteristics, cold ischemic time and immunological risk between the transfusion and non-transfusion group. There was no difference in the development of de novo HLA-DSA, HLA-Ab and rejection episodes between the group and the results were consistent in a model adjusted for all potential confounders. Median graft survival in days between the transfusion vs non-transfusion group was 1845 IQR (961,2430) and 1250 IQR (672,2013).

CONCLUSION

Blood transfusion under strong immunosuppressive cover within a one-week post-operative period is safe with no significant association with the development of de novo HLA-DSA, HLA-Ab or clinical rejection.