To explore the effect of lupus nephritis (LN) on graft survival in renal transplant patients. Literature search was conducted in PubMed, EMBASE and Scopus database for randomized controlled trials (RCTs), cohort, and case-control studies. The target population of interest was adult patients (aged >18 years) with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and no history of previous renal transplants. Primary outcomes of interest were graft survival and patient survival. Pooled effect estimates were calculated using random-effects models and reported as hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). A total of 15 studies were included. Compared to patients with ESRD due to other causes, patients with LN undergoing kidney transplant had lower patient survival rate (HR 1.15, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.31; N = 15, I2=34.3%) and worse graft survival (HR 1.06, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.11; N = 16, I2=0.0%), especially when studies with deceased donor were pooled together. Studies with a larger sample size (>200) showed that LN was strongly associated with lower graft and patient survival rates. Elevated risk of mortality in LN patients was detected in case-control studies, but not RCTs. On the other hand, RCTs, but not case-control studies, showed an increased risk of poor graft survival in LN patients. The findings suggest that the presence of LN might have a negative impact on both the graft survival and the overall patient survival of post-transplant ESRD patients. Further studies that account for factors such as study methodology, donor characteristics, and sample size are needed to reach definitive conclusions. Renal transplant patients with LN should undergo regular follow-up examinations.

OBJECTIVE:

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a new health communication intervention focusing on knowledge management skills on health literacy and medication adherence during the first year following kidney transplantation.

METHODS:

We randomized 195 patients during 2020-2021, to either intervention- or control group. Questionnaires were completed at baseline and at 12 months post-transplantation with a 12-month response rate of 84%. Health literacy was measured by the multidimensional Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ) instrument. Medication adherence was measured by the self-reported questionnaire (BAASIS©).

RESULTS:

Results showed that the intervention group had a significant increase in 2 HLQ domains compared to the control group capturing the "ability to appraise health information" Domain 5, (p-value = 0.002) and the "ability to navigate the healthcare system" Domain 7, (p-value <0.04). The effect sizes of SRM were 0.49 (Domain 5) and 0.33 (Domain 7). Medication adherence was comparable in the groups at any measure points.

CONCLUSIONS:

This study contributes to important knowledge about how a health communication intervention focusing on knowledge translation using motivational interviewing techniques positively strengthens health literacy in kidney transplant recipients.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS:

Current patient education practice may benefit from focusing on knowledge translation in combination with motivational interview technique.

The International Anal Neoplasia Society (IANS) developed consensus guidelines to inform anal cancer screening use among various high-risk groups. Anal cancer incidence estimates by age among risk groups provided the basis to identify risk thresholds to recommend screening. Guided by risk thresholds, screening initiation at age 35 years was recommended for men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TW) with HIV. For other people with HIV and MSM and TW not with HIV, screening initiation at age 45 years was recommended. For solid organ transplant recipients, screening initiation beginning from 10 years post-transplant was recommended. For persons with a history of vulvar precancer or cancer, screening initiation was recommended starting within 1 year of diagnosis of vulvar precancer or cancer. Persons aged ≥45 years with a history of cervical/vaginal HSIL or cancer, perianal warts, persistent (>1 year) cervical HPV16, or autoimmune conditions could be considered for screening with shared decision-making, provided there is adequate capacity to perform diagnostic procedures (high-resolution anoscopy [HRA]). Anal cytology, high-risk (hr) human papillomavirus (HPV) testing (including genotyping for HPV16), and hrHPV-cytology co-testing are different strategies currently used for anal cancer screening that show acceptable performance. Thresholds for referral for HRA or follow-up screening tests are delineated. These recommendations from IANS provide the basis to inform management of abnormal screening results, considering currently available screening tools. These guidelines provide a pivotal foundation to help generate consensus among providers and inform the introduction and implementation of risk-targeted screening for anal cancer prevention.

OBJECTIVE:

Hypertension affects 50-90% of kidney transplant recipients and is associated with cardiovascular disease and graft loss. We aimed to evaluate the comparative benefits and harms of blood pressure lowering agents in people with a functioning kidney transplant.

METHODS:

We conducted a systematic review with network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). We searched MEDLINE, Embase, and CENTRAL through to October 2023. RCTs evaluating blood pressure lowering agents administered for at least 2 weeks in people with a functioning kidney transplant with and without preexisting hypertension were eligible. Two reviewers independently extracted data. The primary outcome was graft loss. Treatment effects were estimated using random effects network meta-analysis, with treatment effects expressed as an odds ratio (OR) for binary outcomes and mean difference (MD) for continuous outcomes together with their 95% confidence interval (CI). Confidence in the evidence was assessed using GRADE for network meta-analysis.

RESULTS:

Ninety-four studies (7547 adults) were included. Two studies were conducted in children. No blood pressure-lowering agent reduced the risk of graft loss, withdrawal because of adverse events, death, cardiovascular or kidney outcomes compared with placebo/other drug class. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blocker therapy may incur greater odds of hyperkalemia compared with calcium channel blockers [odds ratio (OR) 5.48, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.47-12.16; and OR 8.67, 95% CI 2.65-28.36; low certainty evidence, respectively).

CONCLUSION:

The evidentiary basis for the comparative benefits and safety of blood pressure lowering agents in people with a functioning kidney transplant is limited to guide treatment decision-making.

BACKGROUND:

Pediatric transplantation can be a stressful process for patients and caregivers. Some individuals may experience post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and post-traumatic growth (PTG) as a result. Although post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been well-studied in this population, the purpose of the present scoping review is to provide a first synthesis of the existing literature on PTG in pediatric transplant populations.

METHODS:

We conducted a literature search of PsycINFO and Scopus in May 2023. Eligible articles must have included a sample of solid organ transplant (SOT) or stem cell transplant (SCT) recipients under age 18, siblings of recipients, or caregivers; and must have examined PTG.

RESULTS:

Twenty-three studies were identified, and nine studies met inclusion criteria and were included in the review (n = 5 cross sectional; n = 4 qualitative). Cross-sectional studies examined demographic, mental health, and medical correlates of PTG in children and caregivers. PTG was correlated with PTSS among caregivers. Qualitative studies identified themes along each of the five factors of PTG.

CONCLUSION:

Findings overwhelmingly focused on caregiver PTG. Qualitative study findings align with the theoretical model of PTG. Additional research is needed to investigate PTG in siblings of children with a transplant and associations between PTG and medication adherence. This scoping review provides insight into positive change processes following a transplant among children and their caregivers.

BACKGROUND:

Patients undergoing organ transplantation are often on immunosuppressing medications to prevent rejection of the transplant. The data on use of concomitant immunosuppression for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and organ transplant management are limited. This study sought to evaluate the safety of biologic and small molecule therapy for the treatment of IBD among solid organ transplant recipients.

METHODS:

Medline, Embase, and Web of Science databases were systematically searched for studies reporting on safety outcomes associated with the use of biologic and small molecule therapy (infliximab, adalimumab, certolizumab, golimumab, vedolizumab, ustekinumab, and tofacitinib) in patients with IBD postsolid organ transplant (eg, liver, kidney, heart, lung, pancreas). The primary outcome was infectious complications. Secondary outcomes included serious infections, colectomy, and discontinuation of biologic therapy.

RESULTS:

Seven hundred ninety-seven articles were identified for screening, yielding 16 articles for the meta-analyses with information on 163 patients. Antitumor necrosis factor α (Anti-TNFs; infliximab and adalimumab) were used in 8 studies, vedolizumab in 6 studies, and a combination of ustekinumab or vedolizumab and anti-TNFs in 2 studies. Two studies reported outcomes after kidney and cardiac transplant respectively, whereas the rest of the studies included patients with liver transplants. The rates of all infections and serious infections were 20.09 per 100 person-years (100-PY; 95% CI, 12.23-32.99 per 100-PY, I2 = 54%) and 17.39 per 100-PY (95% CI, 11.73-25.78 per 100-PY, I2 = 21%), respectively. The rates of colectomy and biologic medication discontinuation were 12.62 per 100-PY (95% CI, 6.34-25.11 per 100-PY, I2 = 34%) and 19.68 per 100-PY (95% CI, 9.97-38.84 per 100-PY, I2 = 74%), respectively. No cases of venous thromboembolism or death attributable to biologic use were reported.

CONCLUSION:

Biologic therapy is overall well tolerated in patients with solid organ transplant. Long-term studies are needed to better define the role of specific agents in this patient population.

BACKGROUND:

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections among hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) and solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients impose a significant health care resource utilization (HCRU)-related economic burden. Maribavir (MBV), a novel anti-viral therapy (AVT), approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for post-transplant CMV infections refractory (with/without resistance) to conventional AVTs has demonstrated lower hospital length of stay (LOS) versus investigator-assigned therapy (IAT; valgancilovir, ganciclovir, foscarnet, or cidofovir) in a phase 3 trial (SOLSTICE). This study estimated the HCRU costs of MBV versus IAT.

METHODS:

An economic model was developed to estimate HCRU costs for patients treated with MBV or IAT. Mean per-patient-per-year (PPPY) HCRU costs were calculated using (i) annualized mean hospital LOS in SOLSTICE, and (ii) CMV-related direct costs from published literature. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis with Monte-Carlo simulations assessed model robustness.

RESULTS:

Of 352 randomized patients receiving MBV (n = 235) or IAT (n = 117) for 8 weeks in SOLSTICE, 40% had HSCT and 60% had SOT. Mean overall PPPY HCRU costs of overall hospital-LOS were $67,205 (95% confidence interval [CI]: $33,767, $231,275) versus $145,501 (95% CI: $62,064, $589,505) for MBV and IAT groups, respectively. Mean PPPY ICU and non-ICU stay costs were: $32,231 (95% CI: $5,248, $184,524) versus $45,307 (95% CI: $3,957, $481,740) for MBV and IAT groups, and $82,237 (95% CI: $40,397, $156,945) MBV versus $228,329 (95% CI: $94,442, $517,476) for MBV and IAT groups, respectively. MBV demonstrated cost savings in over 99.99% of simulations.

CONCLUSIONS:

This analysis suggests that Mean PPPY HCRU costs were 29%-64% lower with MBV versus other-AVTs.

PURPOSE:

Incisional hernia (IH) post renal transplant (RT) is relatively uncommon and can be challenging to manage clinically due to the presence of the kidney graft and patient immunosuppression. This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesises the current literature in relation to IH rates, risk factors and outcomes post RT.

METHODS:

PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central Registry of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) were searched up to July 2023. The most up to date Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta Analyses guidelines were followed. Pertinent clinical information was synthesised. A meta-analysis of the pooled proportions of IH rates, the rates of patients requiring surgical repair and the rates of recurrence post RT are reported.

RESULTS:

Twenty studies comprising 16,018 patients were included in this analysis. The pooled rate of IH occurrence post RT was 4% (CI 3-5%). The pooled rate of IH repair post RT was 61% (CI 14-100%). The pooled rate of IH recurrence after repair was 16% (CI 9-23%). Risk factors identified for IH development post RT are BMI, immunosuppression, age, smoking, incision type, reoperation, concurrent abdominal wall hernia, lymphocele formation and pulmonary disease.

CONCLUSIONS:

IH post RT is uncommon and the majority of IH post RT are repaired surgically on an elective basis.

BACKGROUND:

Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is a common cause of end-stage kidney disease and frequently recurs after kidney transplantation. Recurrent FSGS (rFSGS) is associated with poor allograft and patient outcomes. Bleselumab, a fully human immunoglobulin G4 anti-CD40 antagonistic monoclonal antibody, disrupts CD40-related processes in FSGS, potentially preventing rFSGS.

METHODS:

A phase 2a, randomized, multicenter, open-label study of adult recipients (aged ≥18 y) of a living or deceased donor kidney transplant with a history of biopsy-proven primary FSGS. The study assessed the efficacy of bleselumab combined with tacrolimus and corticosteroids as maintenance immunosuppression in the prevention of rFSGS >12 mo posttransplantation, versus standard of care (SOC) comprising tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, and corticosteroids. All patients received basiliximab induction. The primary endpoint was rFSGS, defined as proteinuria (protein-creatinine ratio ≥3.0 g/g) with death, graft loss, or loss to follow-up imputed as rFSGS, through 3 mo posttransplant.

RESULTS:

Sixty-three patients were followed for 12 mo posttransplantation. Relative decrease in rFSGS occurrence through 3 mo with bleselumab versus SOC was 40.7% (95% confidence interval, -89.8 to 26.8; P = 0.37; absolute decrease 12.7% [95% confidence interval, -34.5 to 9.0]). Central-blinded biopsy review found relative (absolute) decreases in rFSGS of 10.9% (3.9%), 17.0% (6.2%), and 20.5% (7.5%) at 3, 6, and 12 mo posttransplant, respectively; these differences were not statistically significant. Adverse events were similar for both treatments. No deaths occurred during the study.

CONCLUSIONS:

In at-risk kidney transplant recipients, bleselumab numerically reduced proteinuria occurrence versus SOC, but no notable difference in occurrence of biopsy-proven rFSGS was observed.