Outcomes of ABO-incompatible kidney transplants with very high isoagglutinin titers: a single-center experience and literature review.

Background: ABO-incompatible kidney transplantation (ABOi-KTx) represents a possible solution to address the shortage of kidney donors. However, these transplants present immunological challenges, particularly when isoagglutinin titers are elevated pretransplant.

Methods: Single-center retrospective study describing clinical and biological outcomes of 8 patients who underwent ABOi-KTx with initial isoagglutinin titers ≥ 1/512.

Effects of SLC34A3 or SLC34A1 variants on calcium and phosphorus homeostasis.

Background: Variants in SLC34A1 and SLC34A2 genes, which encode co-transporters NaPi2a and NaPi2c, respectively, can lead to hypophosphatemia due to renal phosphate loss. This condition results in hypercalcitriolemia and hypercalciuria, leading to formation of kidney stones and nephrocalcinosis. Phenotype is highly variable.

Calcium-Free Dialysate Hemodialysis: A Simplified Approach.

Intermittent hemodialysis (HD) in high-bleeding-risk patients presents a challenge as circuit anticoagulation using heparin is contraindicated in such cases. Recently, the use of calcium-free citrate-containing dialysate with calcium supplementation emerged as a viable alternative to heparin-circuit anticoagulation. This is a retrospective, monocentric study to evaluate dialysis efficacy using calcium-free citrate-containing dialysate with calcium reinjection into the venous line in hemodialysis patients at risk of bleeding.

Is There a Place for Apheresis in the Management of Idiopathic Membranous Nephropathy? A Report of Three Cases and Literature Review.

Membranous nephropathy constitutes approximately 20% of adult nephrotic syndrome cases. In approximately 80% of cases, membranous nephropathy is primary, mediated by IgG autoantibodies primarily targeting podocyte antigens (PLA2R, THSD7A, etc.).

Cryoglobulinemia and double-filtration plasmapheresis: Personal experience and literature review.

Background: Cryoglobulinemia is defined as the presence of an abnormal immunoglobulin that may be responsible for vasculitis of small-caliber vessels. Apheresis can be used in order to temporarily eliminate circulating cryoglobulins. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of apheresis (double-filtration plasmapheresis-DFPP-) in symptomatic and/or severe cryoglobulinemias.

Early Blood Transfusion After Kidney Transplantation Does Not Lead to dnDSA Development: The BloodIm Study.

Outcomes after kidney transplantation are largely driven by the development of donor-specific antibodies (dnDSA), which may be triggered by blood transfusion. In this single-center study, we investigated the link between early blood transfusion and dnDSA development in a mainly anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG)-induced kidney-transplant cohort. We retrospectively included all recipients of a kidney transplant performed between 2004 and 2015, provided they had >3 months graft survival.

Very Early Severe Posttransplant Recurrent Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Glomerulonephritis after Kidney Transplantation: Two Case Reports.

Successful kidney transplantation (KTx) in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV) has been reported with excellent patient and graft survival rates. The recurrence of AAV in transplant recipients is rare, and its mechanisms of action are not clearly known. The optimum time for KTx and the relevance of ANCA titer at the time of transplantation remain controversial.

Efficacy of Plasmapheresis in Nivolumab-Associated ANCA Glomerulonephritis: A Case Report and Pathophysiology Discussion.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized solid organ and hematologic cancer treatments by improving overall prognoses. However, they can lead to overactivation of the immune system and several immune-related adverse events and sometimes affecting the renal system. Although acute interstitial nephritis is well described, we know little about ICI-associated glomerular injury.

Kidney Transplantation for Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis: Can We Prevent Its Recurrence? Personal Experience and Literature Review.

Background: Primary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is associated with a high risk of recurrence after kidney transplantation with a major risk of graft loss despite preventive or curative treatments.

Aim: to assess graft survival in FSGS kidney-transplant recipients and to compare those that had a relapse with those that had no relapse.

Patients/methods: we included 17 FSGS kidney-transplant recipients between January 2000 and January 2020, separated retrospectively into two groups (recurrences: = 8 patients; no recurrences: = 9 patients).

Belatacept Use after Kidney Transplantation and Its Effects on Risk of Infection and COVID-19 Vaccine Response.

Belatacept is a common immunosuppressive therapy used after kidney transplantation (KT) to avoid calcineurin-inhibitor (CNI) use and its related toxicities. It is unclear whether its use exposes KT recipients (KTx) to a greater risk of infection or a poorer response to vaccines. Areas covered: We reviewed PubMed and the Cochrane database.

Immortal Time-Bias-Corrected Survival of Highly Sensitized Patients and HLA-desensitized Kidney Transplant Recipients.

Introduction: In the setting of kidney transplantation (KT), we assessed the efficacy of desensitization and compared the survival of desensitized patients (HLA-incompatible KT) with similarly sensitized patients receiving HLA-compatible KT or sensitized patients still on a waiting list after adjusting for the usually unaccounted immortal time bias.

Methods: All patients in a French KT center on the waiting list between August 1994 and December 2019 with a high level of sensitization (panel-reactive antibodies [PRAs] ≥80%) were included. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality.

Early Steroid Withdrawal After Kidney Transplantation in Patients at Risk for New-Onset Diabetes After Transplantation.

Background: New-onset diabetes after transplantation (NODAT) is a serious complication after kidney transplantation because of worse graft survival and increased risk of cardiovascular events. It is partly induced by immunosuppressive therapies such as corticosteroids. This study aimed to assess whether early corticosteroid withdrawal on day 4 (early steroid withdrawal [ESW] group) could prevent the development of NODAT within 2 years posttransplantation while maintaining good graft and patient survival rates.

Protocol Biopsies on de novo Renal-Transplants at 3 Months after Surgery: Impact on 5-Year Transplant Survival.

Background: In many centers, a protocol kidney biopsy (PKB) is performed at 3 months post-transplantation (M3), without a demonstrated benefit on death-censored graft survival (DCGS). In this study, we compared DCGS between kidney transplant recipients undergoing a PKB or without such biopsy while accounting for the obvious indication bias.

Methods: In this retrospective, single-center study conducted between 2007 and 2013, we compared DCGS with respect to the availability and features of a PKB.

How to improve clotting factors depletion in double-filtration plasmapheresis.

Background: Double-filtration plasmapheresis (DFPP), a selective therapeutic apheresis, can deplete pathogenic antibodies/substances, but also important coagulation factors.

Aim: To determine if the use of a separator filter with different characteristics (CascadefloEC-50 W) as compared to the reference filter (PlasmafloOP-08 W) is as efficient in terms of immunoglobulin loss, but can reduce coagulation factor losses and have similar tolerability.

Patients/methods: This is a single-center prospective study including 14 patients divided into two groups (7 each): that is, group1 = CascadefloEC-50 W and group2 = PlasmafloOP-08 W.

Immune responses following tocilizumab therapy to desensitize HLA-sensitized kidney transplant candidates.

Kidney transplant candidates (KTCs) who are HLA highly sensitized (calculated panel-reactive alloantibodies >95%) have poor access to deceased kidney transplantation. In this single-center prospective study, 13 highly sensitized desensitization-naïve KTCs received IV tocilizumab (8 mg/kg) every 4 weeks. We evaluated tolerability as well as immune responses, that is, T cell, B cell, T follicular helper (Tfh) subsets, blood cytokines (IL-6, soluble IL-6 receptor-sIL-6R-, IL-21), blood chemokines (CXCL10, CXCL13), and anti-HLA alloantibodies.

Marginal Impact of Tocilizumab Monotherapy on Anti-HLA Alloantibodies in Highly Sensitized Kidney Transplant Candidates.

Background: Highly HLA-sensitized kidney transplant candidates are difficult to desensitize, which reduces their chances of receiving a transplant.

Methods: We administered tocilizumab as a monotherapy (8 mg/kg once a mo) to 14 highly sensitized kidney transplant candidates. Highest mean fluorescence intensities of anti-HLA antibodies obtained before and after tocilizumab administration were compared from raw and diluted sera.

Apheresis Efficacy and Tolerance in the Setting of HLA-Incompatible Kidney Transplantation.

Nearly 18% of patients on a waiting list for kidney transplantation (KT) are highly sensitized, which make access to KT more difficult. We assessed the efficacy and tolerance of different techniques (plasma exchanges [PE], double-filtration plasmapheresis [DFPP], and immunoadsorption [IA]) to remove donor specific antibodies (DSA) in the setting of HLA-incompatible (HLAi) KT. All patients that underwent apheresis for HLAi KT within a single center were included.

Treatment of antibody-mediated rejection with double-filtration plasmapheresis, low dose IVIg plus rituximab after kidney transplantation.

Antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR) at early or late post-transplantation remains challenging. We performed a single-center single-arm study where four cases of acute ABMR and nine cases of chronic active ABMR (defined by Banff classification) were treated with double-filtration plasmapheresis (two cycles of three consecutive daily sessions with a 4-day gap between). At the end of the third and sixth DFPP sessions, the patients received rituximab 375 mg/m .

Fibrinogen reconstitution after therapeutic apheresis: Comparison of double-filtration plasmapheresis, plasma exchange, and immunoadsorption.

Background: Fibrinogen reconstitution after therapeutic apheresis has been poorly studied. Apheresis modalities, for example, plasma exchange (PE), double-filtration plasmapheresis (DFPP), or selective immunoadsorption (IA), may have different impacts.

Methods: We retrospectively investigated therapeutic apheresis sessions performed at our center across four modalities (PE, DFPP, and IA with or without plasma filtration).

Isoagglutinin removal by plasma centrifugation or filtration (single or double): A prospective study in a single center.

Introduction: ABO-incompatible (ABOi) kidney transplantation, a well-established procedure, has good long-term results provided pretransplant desensitization that includes immunosuppression and apheresis.

Objective: To compare, within the first pretransplant apheresis session given to 29 ABOi kidney-transplant candidates, the effect on isoagglutinin titers (both IgG and IgM isotypes) of three modalities: centrifugation therapeutic plasmapheresis (cTP; n = 10), filtration TP (fTP; n = 9), and double-filtration plasmapheresis (DFPP; n = 10).

Results: The three groups were comparable according to baseline demographics.

Impact of Immunosuppressive Strategies on Post-Kidney Transplantation Thrombocytopenia.

Background: Thrombocytopenia after kidney transplantation is a common complication, partly induced by immunosuppressive therapies. Peritransplant thrombocytopenia may cause serious hemorrhages. We assessed the incidence of early posttransplantation thrombocytopenia (defined as a platelet count of <150,000 mm or <150 G/L) in de novo kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) across 4 immunosuppressive regimens.

Effect of immunoadsorption alone or combined with membrane filtration on hemostasis parameters.

Introduction: ABO- or HLA-incompatible kidney transplantation is possible thanks to pretransplant antibody-depletion achieved by extracorporeal-treatment modalities. These methods induce depletion of some plasma proteins and may also impact on proteins involved in hemostasis.

Methods: To determine the impact of one session of immunoadsorption (IA) alone or combined with membrane filtration (MF) on clotting factors and natural anticoagulants, we performed a prospective, observational study on 13 patients waiting for HLA-/ABO-incompatible kidney transplants.

Predonation Single Kidney Glomerular Filtration Rate in Living Kidney Transplantation to Predict Graft Function and Donor Functional Gain.

Background: The 2 main objectives regarding living kidney transplant are to provide optimal graft function and to ensure the safety of donation. Our study hypothesized that the glomerular filtration rate of a single kidney (skGFR), when transplanted, might predict graft function and that the skGFR of the remaining kidney could predict donor functional gain.

Methods: A prospective monocentric study was conducted at Grenoble-Alpes University Hospital.