Transplantation

Article Surgery

A third dose of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine increases neutralizing antibodies against variants of concern in solid organ transplant recipients

Andrew H. Karaba, Xianming Zhu, Tao Liang, Kristy H. Wang, Alex G. Rittenhouse, Olivia Akinde, Yolanda Eby, Jessica E. Ruff, Joel N. Blankson, Aura T. Abedon, Jennifer L. Alejo, Andrea L. Cox, Justin R. Bailey, Elizabeth A. Thompson, Sabra L. Klein, Daniel S. Warren, Jacqueline M. Garonzik-Wang, Brian J. Boyarsky, Ioannis Sitaras, Andrew Pekosz, Dorry L. Segev, Aaron A. R. Tobian, William A. Werbel

Summary: Vaccine-induced antibody responses are weaker in solid organ transplant recipients (SOTRs), and breakthrough infections are more common. Additional vaccine doses increase antibody levels in some SOTRs, but the neutralization capacity is still significantly lower than in healthy individuals.

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION (2022)

Article Surgery

Abdominal normothermic regional perfusion in controlled donation after circulatory determination of death liver transplantation: Outcomes and risk factors for graft loss

Amelia J. Hessheimer, Gloria Rosa, Mikel Gastaca, Patricia Ruiz, Alejandra Otero, Manuel Gomez, Felipe Alconchel, Pablo Ramirez, Andrea Bosca, Rafael Lopez-Andujar, Lander Atutxa, Mario Royo-Villanova, Belinda Sanchez, Julio Santoyo, Luis M. Marin, Miguel A. Gomez-Bravo, Fernando Mosteiro, Maria T. Villegas Herrera, Jesus Villar del Moral, Carolina Gonzalez-Abos, Barbara Vidal, Josefina Lopez-Dominguez, Laura Llado, Jose Roldan, Iago Justo, Carlos Jimenez, Javier Lopez-Monclus, Victor Sanchez-Turrion, Gonzalo Rodriguez-Laiz, Enrique Velasco Sanchez, Jose A. Lopez-Baena, Mireia Caralt, Ramon Charco, Santiago Tome, Evaristo Varo, Pablo Marti-Cruchaga, Fernando Rotellar, Maria A. Varona, Manuel Barrera, Juan C. Rodriguez-Sanjuan, Javier Briceno, Diego Lopez, Gerardo Blanco, Javier Nuno, David Pacheco, Elisabeth Coll, Beatriz Dominguez-Gil, Constantino Fondevila

Summary: The study shows the benefits of using A-NRP over SRR in cDCD liver transplants in Spain, with reduced risks of overall biliary complications, ischemic type biliary lesions, graft loss, and patient death. Cold ischemia time and re-transplantation indication are significant independent predictors for graft loss in cDCD livers with A-NRP. Further improvements are needed for cases with prolonged cold ischemia and technically complex recipients, suggesting a potential role for complementary ex situ perfusion preservation techniques.

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION (2022)

Article Immunology

Guidelines for Perioperative Care for Liver Transplantation: Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Recommendations

Raffaele Brustia, Antoine Monsel, Stefano Skurzak, Eduardo Schiffer, Francois Martin Carrier, Damiano Patrono, Abdourahamane Kaba, Olivier Detry, Luiz Malbouisson, Wellington Andraus, Franck Vandenbroucke-Menu, Gianni Biancofiore, Toshimi Kaido, Philippe Compagnon, Shinji Uemoto, Gonzalo Rodriguez Laiz, Marieke De Boer, Susan Orloff, Paola Melgar, Carlijn Buis, Miriam Zeillemaker-Hoekstra, Helen Usher, Koen Reyntjens, Emily Baird, Nicolas Demartines, Stephen Wigmore, Olivier Scatton

Summary: This study presents the specific ERAS Society recommendations for liver transplantation (LT) based on the best available evidence and expert consensus. Screening and treatment for malnutrition in patients are recommended. Prophylactic nasogastric intubation and abdominal drainage may be omitted, and early extubation should be considered. Early oral intake, mobilization, and multimodal-balanced analgesia are also recommended.

TRANSPLANTATION (2022)

Article Surgery

Real-world experience with available, outpatient COVID-19 therapies in solid organ transplant recipients during the omicron surge

Christopher Radcliffe, Carlo Foppiano Palacios, Marwan M. Azar, Elizabeth Cohen, Maricar Malinis

Summary: Monoclonal antibodies and oral antiviral agents have shown to be effective in reducing hospitalizations and deaths in solid organ transplant recipients with COVID-19, according to a retrospective study.

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION (2022)

Article Surgery

Sequential hypothermic and normothermic machine perfusion enables safe transplantation of high-risk donor livers

Otto B. van Leeuwen, Silke B. Bodewes, Veerle A. Lantinga, Martijn P. D. Haring, Adam M. Thorne, Isabel M. A. Bruggenwirth, Aad P. van den Berg, Marieke T. de Boer, Iris E. M. de Jong, Ruben H. J. de Kleine, Bianca Lascaris, Maarten W. N. Nijsten, Koen M. E. M. Reyntjens, Vincent E. de Meijer, Robert J. Porte

Summary: Ex situ machine perfusion using sequential DHOPE-NMP for resuscitation and viability assessment of high-risk donor livers results in excellent transplant outcomes, irrespective of the oxygen carrier used.

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION (2022)

Review Immunology

T helper type (Th1/Th2) responses to SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A (H1N1) virus: From cytokines produced to immune responses

Elahe Aleebrahim-Dehkordi, Bahareh Molavi, Melika Mokhtari, Niloofar Deravi, Mobina Fathi, Tara Fazel, Mehdi Mohebalizadeh, Pooneh Koochaki, Parnian Shobeiri, Ali Hasanpour-Dehkordi

Summary: Cytokines produced by T helper cells play crucial roles in host defense against viruses, with Th1 cells essential for defense against intracellular pathogens and Th2 cells critical for parasite elimination. Diseases caused by SARS-CoV-2 and H1N1 influenza have led to global epidemics, with pulmonary immunopathology being a leading cause of mortality. Inadequate or excessive levels of specific cytokines can have adverse effects on the body during these viral infections.

TRANSPLANT IMMUNOLOGY (2022)

Article Immunology

A Fourth Dose of COVID-19 Vaccine Does Not Induce Neutralization of the Omicron Variant Among Solid Organ Transplant Recipients With Suboptimal Vaccine Response

Andrew H. Karaba, Trevor S. Johnston, Tihitina Y. Aytenfisu, Olivia Akinde, Yolanda Eby, Jessica E. Ruff, Aura T. Abedon, Jennifer L. Alejo, Joel N. Blankson, Andrea L. Cox, Justin R. Bailey, Sabra L. Klein, Andrew Pekosz, Dorry L. Segev, Aaron A. R. Tobian, William A. Werbel

Summary: Humoral responses to COVID-19 vaccines are attenuated in solid organ transplant recipients. Additional vaccine doses can increase neutralizing capacity against multiple variants of concern, but the neutralization effect against the Omicron variant is poor.

TRANSPLANTATION (2022)

Article Surgery

White paper on antimicrobial stewardship in solid organ transplant recipients

Miranda So, Jonathan Hand, Graeme Forrest, Stephanie M. Pouch, Helen Te, Monica Ardura, Rachel M. Bartash, Darshana M. Dadhania, Jeffrey Edelman, Dilek Ince, Margaret R. Jorgenson, Sarah Kabbani, Erika D. Lease, Deborah Levine, Linda Ohler, Gopi Patel, Jennifer Pisano, Michael L. Spinner, Lilian Abbo, Elizabeth C. Verna, Shahid Husain

Summary: Antimicrobial stewardship programs have significantly improved antibiotic, antifungal, and antiviral use in clinical settings, but there is currently a lack of specific requirements for solid organ transplant recipients. The wide variability in susceptibility to infection among transplant patients make it challenging to implement a one-size-fits-all stewardship approach in this population.

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION (2022)

Article Surgery

Negative immune responses to two-dose mRNA COVID-19 vaccines in renal allograft recipients assessed with simple antibody and interferon gamma release assay cellular monitoring

Marta Crespo, Antoni Barrilado-Jackson, Eduardo Padilla, Jorge Eguia, Daniel Echeverria-Esnal, Higini Cao, Anna Faura, Montserrat Folgueiras, Eulalia Sola-Porta, Sergi Pascual, Francesc Barbosa, Sara Hurtado, Laura Ribera, Laura Rio-No, Maria Jose Perez-Saez, Dolores Redondo-Pachon, Julio Pascual

Summary: Studies have shown that kidney transplant recipients have lower immune responses to mRNA coronavirus vaccines, especially in those recently transplanted. Simple humoral and cellular monitoring is recommended to determine the need for repeated doses. Overall, a significant portion of healthy controls, dialysis patients, and kidney transplant recipients developed some form of immune response to SARS-CoV-2.

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION (2022)

Article Transplantation

Safety and immediate humoral response of COVID-19 vaccines in chronic kidney disease patients: the SENCOVAC study

Borja Quiroga, Maria Jose Soler, Alberto Ortiz, Shaira Martinez Vaquera, Carlos Jesus Jarava Mantecon, Gustavo Useche, Maria Gabriela Sanchez Marquez, Manuel Carnerero, Maria Teresa Jaldo Rodriguez, Patricia Munoz Ramos, Juan Carlos Ruiz San Millan, Nestor Toapanta, Carolina Gracia-Iguacel, Maria Cinta Aguilar Cervera, Noelia Balibrea Lara, Alba Leyva, Jose Rojas, Ron T. Gansevoort, Patricia de Sequera

Summary: This study aims to describe the humoral response and safety of COVID-19 vaccines in CKD patients. The results show that most CKD patients develop antibodies after vaccination, but kidney transplant patients have a lower antibody response rate, suggesting the need for additional isolation measures and booster doses of the vaccine.

NEPHROLOGY DIALYSIS TRANSPLANTATION (2022)

Article Transplantation

Genetic testing in the diagnosis of chronic kidney disease: recommendations for clinical practice

Nine Knoers, Corinne Antignac, Carsten Bergmann, Karin Dahan, Sabrina Giglio, Laurence Heidet, Beata S. Lipska-Zietkiewicz, Marina Noris, Giuseppe Remuzzi, Rosa Vargas-Poussou, Franz Schaefer

Summary: Massively parallel sequencing-based genetic testing shows high diagnostic yield in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), but faces barriers in routine clinical practice. This article aims to support nephrologists in overcoming these barriers and provides important factors in genetic testing for nephrology.

NEPHROLOGY DIALYSIS TRANSPLANTATION (2022)

Article Hematology

Real-World Evidence of Axicabtagene Ciloleucel for the Treatment of Large B Cell Lymphoma in the United States

Caron A. Jacobson, Frederick L. Locke, Long Ma, Julius Asubonteng, Zhen-Huan Hu, Tanya Siddiqi, Sairah Ahmed, Armin Ghobadi, David Bernard Miklos, Yi Lin, Miguel-Angel Perales, Matthew Alexander Lunning, Megan M. Herr, Brian T. Hill, Siddhartha Ganguly, Hua Dong, Sarah Nikiforow, Michele Hooper, Jun Kawashima, Hairong Xu, Marcelo C. Pasquini

Summary: This study evaluated the outcomes of axi-cel therapy in real-world settings. The results showed that patients ineligible for the ZUMA-1 trial had durable responses with axi-cel treatment. Despite higher rates of side effects, elderly patients had favorable efficacy outcomes.

TRANSPLANTATION AND CELLULAR THERAPY (2022)

Article Transplantation

Investigating new treatment opportunities for patients with chronic kidney disease in type 2 diabetes: the role of finerenone

Rajiv Agarwal, Stefan D. Anker, George Bakris, Gerasimos Filippatos, Bertram Pitt, Peter Rossing, Luis Ruilope, Martin Gebel, Peter Kolkhof, Christina Nowack, Amer Joseph

Summary: Research has found that finerenone, a nonsteroidal, selective mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist, can protect the kidneys and hearts of patients with chronic kidney disease and type 2 diabetes. The FIDELIO-DKD and FIGARO-DKD trials are investigating the efficacy and safety of finerenone on kidney failure and cardiovascular outcomes in T2D patients with different stages of kidney disease.

NEPHROLOGY DIALYSIS TRANSPLANTATION (2022)

Article Biophysics

Impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on hematopoietic cell transplantation and cellular therapies in Europe 2020: a report from the EBMT activity survey

Jakob R. Passweg, Helen Baldomero, Christian Chabannon, Selim Corbacioglu, Rafael de la Camara, Harry Dolstra, Bertram Glass, Raffaella Greco, Mohamad Mohty, Benedicte Neven, Regis Peffault de Latour, Zinaida Peric, John A. Snowden, Ibrahim Yakoub-Agha, Anna Sureda, Nicolaus Kroeger

Summary: According to the annual report from the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT), there was a decrease in the number of hematopoietic stem cell transplants (HCT) in 2020 compared to the previous year. The decrease was more pronounced in allogeneic HCT for non-malignant disorders and autologous HCT for autoimmune diseases. However, the use of CAR-T cell therapies and non-myeloablative conditioning showed significant growth.

BONE MARROW TRANSPLANTATION (2022)

Article Transplantation

An update on the use of tolvaptan for autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease: consensus statement on behalf of the ERA Working Group on Inherited Kidney Disorders, the European Rare Kidney Disease Reference Network and Polycystic Kidney Disease International

Roman-Ulrich Mueller, A. Lianne Messchendorp, Henrik Birn, Giovambattista Capasso, Emilie Cornec-Le Gall, Olivier Devuyst, Albertien van Eerde, Patrick Guirchoun, Tess Harris, Ewout J. Hoorn, Nine V. A. M. Knoers, Uwe Korst, Djalila Mekahli, Yannick Le Meur, Tom Nijenhuis, Albert C. M. Ong, John A. Sayer, Franz Schaefer, Aude Servais, Vladimir Tesar, Roser Torra, Stephen B. Walsh, Ron T. Gansevoort

Summary: Approval of tolvaptan for ADPKD has transformed patient care and shifted focus from general measures to targeting disease-specific mechanisms. Evidence-based approaches are crucial due to long-term nature of treatment and potential side effects.

NEPHROLOGY DIALYSIS TRANSPLANTATION (2022)

Article Transplantation

Safety and efficacy of dapagliflozin in patients with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis: a prespecified analysis of the dapagliflozin and prevention of adverse outcomes in chronic kidney disease (DAPA-CKD) trial

David C. Wheeler, Niels Jongs, Bergur Stefansson, Glenn M. Chertow, Tom Greene, Fan Fan Hou, Anna Maria Langkilde, John J. McMurray, Peter Rossing, Michal Nowicki, Istvan Wittmann, Ricardo Correa-Rotter, C. David Sjostrom, Robert D. Toto, Hiddo J. L. Heerspink

Summary: In a study involving FSGS patients, dapagliflozin was found to reduce the rate of chronic eGFR decline compared to placebo, although this difference was not statistically significant.

NEPHROLOGY DIALYSIS TRANSPLANTATION (2022)

Article Immunology

Monoclonal antibody treatment for COVID-19 in solid organ transplant recipients

Bonnie Ann Sarrell, Karen Bloch, Alissar El Chediak, Kayla Kumm, Kaitlyn Tracy, Rachel C. Forbes, Anthony Langone, Lora Thomas, Kelly Schlendorf, Anil J. Trindade, Roman Perri, Patty Wright, Beatrice P. Concepcion

Summary: Studies suggest that early intervention with monoclonal antibody treatment directed against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein may reduce the risk of emergency department visits or hospitalization for COVID-19 in solid organ transplant recipients. Our experience indicates that monoclonal antibody treatment may provide favorable outcomes for mild to moderate COVID-19 in SOT recipients during the study period with available formulations and viral variants.

TRANSPLANT INFECTIOUS DISEASE (2022)

Article Transplantation

Acute kidney injury as a risk factor for mortality in oncological patients receiving checkpoint inhibitors

Clara Garcia-Carro, Monica Bolufer, Roxana Bury, Zaira Cataneda, Eva Munoz, Enriqueta Felip, David Lorente, Maria Josep Carreras, Alejandra Gabaldon, Irene Agraz, Daniel Seron, Maria Jose Soler

Summary: According to the study, 15.5% of patients undergoing immunotherapy developed AKI. Age and baseline renal function were identified as independent risk factors for CPI-related AKI. A single AKI episode was recognized as an independent risk factor for mortality in these patients.

NEPHROLOGY DIALYSIS TRANSPLANTATION (2022)

Article Transplantation

Acute kidney injury in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 from the ISARIC WHO CCP-UK Study: a prospective, multicentre cohort study

Michael K. Sullivan, Jennifer S. Lees, Thomas M. Drake, Annemarie B. Docherty, Georgia Oates, Hayley E. Hardwick, Clark D. Russell, Laura Merson, Jake Dunning, Jonathan S. Nguyen-Van-Tam, Peter Openshaw, Ewen M. Harrison, J. Kenneth Baillie, Malcolm G. Semple, Antonia Ho, Patrick B. Mark

Summary: This study investigated the occurrence of acute kidney injury (AKI) in hospitalized COVID-19 patients and found that AKI was common and associated with an increased risk of mortality. Chronic kidney disease, male sex, and Black race were identified as main risk factors for AKI and acute kidney replacement therapy.

NEPHROLOGY DIALYSIS TRANSPLANTATION (2022)

Article Surgery

Breakthrough COVID-19 cases despite prophylaxis with 150 mg of tixagevimab and 150 mg of cilgavimab in kidney transplant recipients

Ilies Benotmane, Aurelie Velay, Gabriela Gautier-Vargas, Jerome Olagne, Augustin Obrecht, Noelle Cognard, Francoise Heibel, Laura Braun-Parvez, Nicolas Keller, Jonas Martzloff, Peggy Perrin, Romain Pszczolinski, Bruno Moulin, Samira Fafi-Kremer, Olivier Thaunat, Sophie Caillard

Summary: Preexposure prophylaxis with cilgavimab-tixagevimab does not adequately protect kidney transplant recipients against the omicron variant.

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION (2022)