Assessment of respiratory function in children after kidney transplantation.

Background: Severe respiratory complications following kidney transplantation have been reported, yet remain poorly understood in the pediatric population. This study aimed to document respiratory disease in this population.

Methods: At annual follow-ups, patients completed a respiratory symptoms questionnaire and underwent pulmonary function tests (PFTs).

Rituximab as induction therapy in pediatric kidney transplantation: A single-center experience in four patients.

Background: The anti-CD20 rituximab is often used in the treatment of children with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome or EBV-induced post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder. This single-center series reports the use of rituximab as induction therapy in pediatric kidney transplantation.

Methods: Four children who received rituximab as induction therapy for kidney transplantation since 2016 were retrospectively analyzed.

Efficient Expansion of Human Granzyme B-Expressing B Cells with Potent Regulatory Properties.

Granzyme B-expressing B cells have been shown to be an important regulatory B cell subset in humans. However, it is unclear which subpopulations of B cells express GZMB under normal conditions and which protocols effectively induce ex vivo expansion of GZMB B cells. We found that in the peripheral blood of normal individuals, plasmablasts were the major B cell subpopulation that expressed GZMB.

Ofatumumab treatment for nephrotic syndrome recurrence after pediatric renal transplantation.

Background: Relapsing nephrotic syndrome (NS) after transplantation can be a challenge to treat. The result of the consequent long-lasting proteinuria is the loss of the graft. Disease recurrence after renal transplantation occurs in around half of cases, and the efficacy of therapeutic strategies is often limited.

Ofatumumab in post-transplantation recurrence of a pediatric steroid-resistant idiopathic nephrotic syndrome.

Treatment of SRNS is a challenge. Antiproliferative agents and depleting antibodies have been reported to be effective. However, these agents are not always successful, and use of ofatumumab could provide a different treatment option.