Pretransplant Diabetes Research Articles

POS-778 OUTCOMES OF SODIUM–GLUCOSE COTRANSPORTER 2 INHIBITORS AND GLUCAGON-LIKE PEPTIDE-1 RECEPTOR AGONISTS IN KIDNEY TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS WITH DIABETES

The impact of the new glucose lowering therapies like sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) and Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA) in managing patients with type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is very impressive for reducing the burden of cardiovascular and renal complications and improving the outcomes. Kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) with pre transplant or post-transplant diabetes mellites have higher risks for cardiovascular and renal morbidities and mortalities.

Effect of Hepatitis C Viremia on Posttransplant Diabetes Mellitus in Liver Transplant Recipients.

Posttransplant diabetes mellitus (PTDM) can increase morbidity and mortality in liver transplant recipients. Although hepatitis C seropositivity is a known risk factor for PTDM, the impact of viremia versus no viremia at time of transplant is unknown. This program evaluation sought to compare PTDM in hepatitis C seropositive patients with and without viremia at the time of liver transplant. This single-center retrospective review included adult hepatitis C seropositive liver transplant recipients transplanted between January 1, 2010 to September 5, 2017 without pretransplant diabetes. Primary outcome was PTDM within 1 year. Secondary outcomes included evaluating 1-year posttransplant death-censored graft loss, mortality, and metabolic outcomes. Fifty-seven liver transplant recipients with hepatitis C were included, of which 53% (n = 30) were viremic at transplant. Baseline characteristics were similar between groups. Significantly more patients with pretransplant viremia developed PTDM by 1-year posttransplant compared to the patients without viremia (43% vs 11%, P = 0.01). There were no differences between groups outside of more patients with viremia requiring antihypertensives by 1-year posttransplant compared to patients without viremia (57% vs 22%, P = 0.01). Liver transplant patients with hepatitis C viremia at transplant were more likely to develop PTDM at 1 year compared to those without pretransplant viremia. This is an added consideration when deciding the timing of direct-acting antiviral (DAA) utilization in the context of liver transplant for hepatitis C seropositive patients.

Outcomes of Deceased Donor Kidney Transplantation in the Eurotransplant Senior Program with A Focus on Recipients ≥75 Years.

To evaluate the outcomes of kidney transplantations (KTs) in the Eurotransplant Senior Program (ESP) with a focus on the very old, defined as recipients ≥75 years. This retrospective clinical study included 85 patients, who under the ESP protocol underwent deceased donor kidney transplantation from January 2010 to July 2018 at the Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin in Germany. Recipients were divided in three age groups, i.e., Group 65–69, Group 70–74, Group ≥75, and compared. Prognostic risk factors for short and long-term outcomes of kidney transplantations were investigated. Graft survival at 1 and 5 years were respectively 90.7% and 68.0% for group 65–69, 88.9% and 76.2% for Group 70–74, and 100% and 71.4% for Group ≥75. Patient survival at 1 and 5 years were respectively 92.9% and 68.0% for Group 65–69, 85.7% and 61.5% for Group 70–74 and 100% and 62.5% for Group ≥75. Serum creatinine did not significantly differ between the three groups, with the exception of serum creatinine at 1 year. Increased recipient age and prolonged time on dialysis correlated with increased occurrence of postoperative complication. An increase in BMI, pretransplant diabetes mellitus and prolonged time on dialysis correlated with the occurrence of delayed graft function (DGF). History of smoking was identified as an independent risk factor for events of rejection. Increased human leukocyte antigen mismatches (HLA-MM) and prolonged cold ischemia time (CIT) correlated with higher rates of intensive care unit (ICU) treatment. This study supports kidney transplantations for the very old. End-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients ≥75 years of age who underwent kidney transplantation experienced comparable results to their younger counterparts. A comprehensive evaluation of ESRD patients with consideration of prognostic risk factor is the most suitable mean of identifying adequate kidney transplant candidates.

The Tsunami of COVID-19 Infection Among Kidney Transplant Recipients: A Single-Center Study from Iran

BackgroundAlthough most evidence supports the fact that kidney transplant (KT) recipients are at significant risk of morbidity and mortality, risk factors of accruing COVID-19 in this population have remained poorly defined.MethodsAll KT recipients who had been transplanted in Sina Hospital and were actively followed between March 1996 and January 2021 were enrolled in a retrospective manner. The demographic characteristics, immunosuppressive treatment before KT, and death were gathered by calling patients with a designed questionnaire.Results108 (about 21%) of 523 KT recipients were diagnosed with COVID-19. The mean age of COVID-19 patients was 46.9 ± 13.6, of whom 43% were women. In the multivariate model, body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 independently increased the risk of COVID-19 incidence with OR 2.00 (95% CI 1.23, 3.26) (P = 0.00), and besides, having diabetes had a marginal association with COVID-19 incidence (OR 1.62 [95% CI 0.98, 2.66]; P = 0.057). The mortality rate of COVID-19 was 15%. In the multivariate model, only pre-transplantation diabetes significantly increased the risk of death by COVID-19 with OR of 3.90 (95% CI 1.00–15.16) (P = 0.04).ConclusionGiven the higher incidence rate in KT recipients with obesity and diabetes and higher mortality rate in KT recipients with diabetes as the cause of ESRD, more attention should be paid to KT recipients with these risk factors.

Impact of Pretransplant and New-Onset Diabetes After Transplantation on the Risk of Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events in Kidney Transplant Recipients: A Population-based Cohort Study.

Pretransplant diabetes and new-onset diabetes after transplant (NODAT) are known risk factors for vascular events after kidney transplantation, but the incidence and magnitude of the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and cardiac deaths remain uncertain in recent era. A population cohort study of kidney transplant recipients identified using data from linked administrative healthcare databases from Ontario, Canada. The incidence rates of MACE (expressed as events with 95% confidence interval [95% CI] per 1000 person-years were reported according to diabetes status of pretransplant diabetes, NODAT, or no diabetes. Extended Cox regression model was used to examine the association between diabetes status, MACE, and cardiac death. Of 5248 recipients, 1973 (38%) had pretransplant diabetes, and 799 (15%) developed NODAT with a median follow-up of 5.5 y. The incidence rates (95% CI) of MACE for recipients with pretransplant diabetes, NODAT, and no diabetes between 1 and 3 y posttransplant were 38.1 (32.1-45.3), 12.6 (6.3-25.2), and 11.8 (9.2-15.0) per 1000 person-years, respectively. Compared with recipients with pretransplant diabetes, recipients with NODAT experienced a lower risk of MACE (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.47-0.74) but not cardiac death (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.61-1.55). The rate of MACE and cardiac death was lowest in patients without diabetes. Patients with pretransplant diabetes incur the greatest rate of MACE and cardiac deaths after transplantation. Having NODAT also bears high burden of vascular events compared with those without diabetes, but the magnitude of the increased rate remains lower than recipients with pretransplant diabetes.

Impact of Diabetes Mellitus on Renal transplant outcome

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a potent risk factor for post-transplant cardiovascular complications and infections. Management of diabetes and its complications in renal transplant recipients is a challenging task. This is a frequently encountered predicament in transplant setups. An erratic glycemic control during dialysis is a predictor of poor graft and patient outcomes after kidney transplantation. Literature review reveals majority studies explaining post-transplant diabetes and its role in graft and patient survival. However, a wide range of opinion exists about the impact of pre-transplant DM on transplant outcomes. Measurement of HbA1c levels is a significant tool for assessment of glycemic control. A target HbA1c level of <7% is recommended for diabetic patients irrespective of presence or absence of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). However, diabetic patients with CKD are at risk of hypoglycemia owing to decreased insulin metabolism so it is safe to keep HbA1c levels between 7-8% in this population. Immunosuppressive medications have a strong contributory role in deterioration of glycemic control. So, it is imperative to achieve strict pre-transplant diabetes control in order to avoid post-transplant complications. Post-transplant diabetes mellitus (PTDM) has been a subject of a large number of trials and is not only considered a serious metabolic complication but also a predisposing factor of diabetic nephropathy in transplanted kidney.

Immunologic Abnormalities Associated With Health Status of Heart Recipients Long Term After Transplantation

With improvements in survival rates, health-related quality of life is an important outcome parameter to evaluate the effectiveness of transplantation. We aimed to identify potential immunologic abnormalities as factors associated with poorer health-related quality of life at distinct scales of the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey in heart transplant recipients long term after transplantation. One hundred heart transplant recipients were evaluated in a single center. Short-form 36 questionnaires were sent by mail to participants. All patients were clinically and immunologically evaluated after the first year of heart transplantation. A high prevalence of several immunologic abnormalities persisted even after the first year of transplantation, including IgG hypogammaglobulinemia, low IgG-specific antipneumococcal antibodies, C4 hypocomplementemia, CD8 T-cell lymphocytopenia, and CD19 B-cell lymphocytopenia. Older recipients (>55 years), posttransplant diabetes, digestive complications, and posttransplant infections were associated with lower physical functioning scores (scale < 60). Older recipients (>55 years), pretransplant diabetes, pretransplant arterial hypertension, posttransplant digestive complications, and lower CD8 counts were associated with lower physical role scores (scale <25). In a single center study, lower CD8 cell counts were found to be associated with poorer health status in heart recipients after the first year of transplantation.

Cardiometabolic and Kidney Protection in Kidney Transplant Recipients With Diabetes: Mechanisms, Clinical Applications, and Summary of Clinical Trials.

Kidney transplantation is the therapy of choice for patients with end-stage renal disease. Preexisting diabetes is highly prevalent in kidney transplant recipients (KTR), and the development of posttransplant diabetes is common because of a number of transplant-specific risk factors such as the use of diabetogenic immunosuppressive medications and posttransplant weight gain. The presence of pretransplant and posttransplant diabetes in KTR significantly and variably affect the risk of graft failure, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and death. Among the many available therapies for diabetes, there are little data to determine the glucose-lowering agent(s) of choice in KTR. Furthermore, despite the high burden of graft loss and CVD among KTR with diabetes, evidence for strategies offering cardiovascular and kidney protection is lacking. Recent accumulating evidence convincingly shows glucose-independent cardiorenal protective effects in non-KTR with glucose-lowering agents, such as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists. Therefore, our aim was to review cardiorenal protective strategies, including the evidence, mechanisms, and rationale for the use of these glucose-lowering agents in KTR with diabetes.

Is There a Place for Induction Therapy With Polyclonal Antibodies to Improve Renal Function After Liver Transplantation?

Is There a Place for Induction Therapy With Polyclonal Antibodies to Improve Renal Function After Liver Transplantation?

Post-transplant allograft outcomes according to mismatch between donor kidney volume and body size of recipients with pre-transplant diabetes mellitus

AimsThe aim of this study was to investigate allograft outcomes when relatively small kidneys were donated to patients with pre-transplant diabetes mellitus (DM). MethodsFrom January 2010 to December 2018, 788 cases of non-sensitized living donor kidney transplant recipient and donor pairs were enrolled. The subjects were divided into four groups according to the relative size of kidney and pre-transplant DM status: non-DM large kidney, non-DM small kidney, DM large kidney, and DM small kidney. We compared allograft outcomes between these four groups. ResultsThe four groups did not show differences in the development of de novo donor-specific antibody and acute rejection. However, a significantly greater decline of allograft function and increased proteinuria were observed in the DM small kidney group. The highest death-censored graft loss rate (P = 0.008) was also observed in this group and the combination of relatively small kidney size and pre-transplant DM was an independent risk factor for death-censored graft loss. In addition, the relatively small kidney and pre-transplant DM showed significant interaction with each other. ConclusionsThe size mismatch between donated kidney volume and recipient body size should be considered in donor selection of patients with pre-transplant DM.

MO994POST-TRANSPLANT DIABETES MELLITUS PREDICTORS AFTER PANCREAS-KIDNEY TRANSPLANT

Abstract Background and Aims Pancreas-kidney transplantation (PKT) is an established treatment for selected patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) with either advanced or end-stage chronic kidney disease. We aimed to evaluate predictors for post-transplant diabetes mellitus (PTDM) at 24 months of follow-up after PKT. Method We analysed a longitudinal cohort of patients with chronic kidney disease and T1DM who underwent PKT at a tertiary referral centre from January 2011 to December 31, 2017. PTDM (post-transplant diabetes mellitus) was defined as the persistent need for pharmacologic treatment of diabetes mellitus after transplant. Continuous variables were recorded as means (±SD) or as medians (25-75% interquartile range), accordingly to data distribution. Categorical variables were recorded as proportions. Comparisons were made using t-tests, Wilcoxon rank-sum tests, or X2 test as appropriate. Unadjusted and adjusted multivariate logistic regression models were fitted to identify risk factors for PTDM at 24 months of follow-up. STATA 14.2 statistical package was used and p &amp;lt;0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results From a total of 72 patients who underwent PKT during the study period, 47 patients completed at least 24 months of follow-up. The mean age at transplantation was 37±8 years, 30 (64%) were male, 43 (91%) were white and 4 (9%) were black. At 24-months of follow-up, the prevalence of diabetes mellitus was 28% (13/47). Number of mismatches, accumulated prednisolone dose, tacrolimus levels, previous rejection episodes, body mass index, cytomegalovirus status, serum creatinine, lipase, amilase at discharge were not associated with PTDM. Patients with persistent diabetes at 24-months of follow-up had a significantly longer pretransplant diabetes duration (29±10 versus 23±6 years; p-value = 0.026), had higher pretransplant LDL-cholesterol (137±46 versus 100±27 years; p-value = 0.003), and lower C-peptide at post-transplant hospital discharge (3.0 [2.0-3.3] versus 5.8 [4.5-6.5]; p-value = 0.004). Likewise, in univariate logistic regression models, longer diabetes duration and higher pretransplant LDL-cholesterol were found to be risk factors for PTDM at 24-months (OR 1.11, CI95% 1.00-1.22, p-value = 0.041; OR 1.03, CI95% 1.01-1.06, p-value = 0.014; respectively), while higher C-peptide at post-transplant hospital discharge was found to be protector (OR 1.03, CI95% 1.01-1.06, p-value = 0.014). In a multivariate model including age, pretransplant diabetes duration, pretransplant LDL-cholesterol, and C-peptide at post-transplant hospital discharge, only C-peptide at post-transplant hospital discharge remained significant (OR: 0.41, CI95% 0.18-0.95, p-value = 0.04). Conclusion Despite previous results in other studies, and new data researched, in our multivariate model, only lower C-peptide at post-transplant hospital discharge revealed being a predictor of PTDM after PKT.

MO964DEATH WITH GRAFT FUNCTION AMONG EGYPTIAN KIDNEY TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS: A SINGLE CENTER EXPERIENCE

Abstract Background and Aims Kidney transplantation is the optimal treatment of end stage renal disease (ESRD). Despite improvements in patient selection and management, every transplant carries risk of graft loss. Death with graft function (DWGF) is an important cause of long-term loss of grafts and patients. In this study, we investigated clinical characteristics and causes of DWGF among a cohort of 2953 Egyptian kidney transplant recipients. Method A total of 291 recipients who died with graft function (DWGF) were evaluated regarding causes and timing of death. Causes of death were investigated in different eras of immunosuppression; era 1 (1976-1995): steroid and azathioprine, era 2 (1996-2005): cyclosporine-based and era 3 (2006-2018): tacrolimus-based. Demographic data, original kidney disease, pre- and post-transplant co-morbidities, immunosuppression regimens, biopsy proven acute rejection episodes and graft function at last follow up were analyzed. Results Proportion of DWGF in total graft loss had changed over time. In our retrospective study, it decreases from 29.5% in era 1 to 13.7% in the most recent era of kidney transplantation. Most patients in DWGF group had diabetes mellitus, hypertension, frequently experienced more infections and more rejection episodes. cyclosporine-based immunosuppression was more prevalent. A total of 291 patients (9.9%) died with graft function. DWGF was responsible for 58.3% of a total of 499 deaths (figure 1). For this group of patients, median serum creatinine at last follow up was 1.7 mg/dl (range: 0.2 - 7 mg/dl). Out of 291 recipients who died with functioning graft, 53 patients (18.2%) died within the first year, 55 (18.9%) died within 1-5 years, 75 (25.8%) died within 5-10 years while 108 patients (37.1%) died after 10 years post transplantation. The majority of DWGF was secondary to cardio-vascular diseases (CVD) (30.9%) and serious infections (29.2%) (figure 2). Death due to malignancy was lowest within the first year (1.9%), increased thereafter but unexpectedly malignancy (22.2%) was the third main cause of death in the late period after transplantation (figure 3). Conclusion DWGF accounts for 24.5% of total graft loss. The most common cause is cardiovascular disease followed by serious infections. Pre-transplant diabetes mellitus, steroid dose and infections had most significant association with DWGF. Understanding different causes of death according to the time after transplantation is mandatory in order to improve the long-term outcomes.

Clinical characteristics, risk factors and outcome of severe Norovirus infection in kidney transplant patients: a case-control study

BackgroundHuman Norovirus (HuNoV) has recently been identified as a major cause of diarrhea among kidney transplant recipients (KTR). Data regarding risk factors associated with the occurrence of HuNoV infection, and its long-term impact on kidney function are lacking.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective case-control study including all KTR with a diagnosis of HuNoV diarrhea. Each case was matched to a single control according to age and date of transplantation, randomly selected among our KTR cohort and who did not develop HuNoV infection. Risk factors associated with HuNoV infection were identified using conditional logistic regression, and survival was estimated using Kaplan-Meier estimator.ResultsFrom January 2012 to April 2018, 72 cases of NoV diarrhea were identified among 985 new KT, leading to a prevalence of HuNoV infection of 7.3%. Median time between kidney transplantation and diagnosis was 46.5 months (Inter Quartile Range [IQR]:17.8–81.5), and the median duration of symptoms 40 days (IQR: 15–66.2). Following diagnosis, 93% of the cases had a reduction of immunosuppression. During follow-up, de novo Donor Specific Antibody (DSA) were observed in 8 (9%) cases but none of the controls (p = 0.01). Acute rejection episodes were significantly more frequent among cases (13.8% versus 4.2% in controls; p = 0,03), but there was no difference in serum creatinine level at last follow-up between the two groups (p = 0.08). Pre-transplant diabetes and lymphopenia below 1000/mm3 were identified as risks factors for HuNoV infection in multivariate analysis.ConclusionHuNoV infection is a late-onset and prolonged infection among KTR. The current management, based on the reduction of immunosuppressive treatment, is responsible for the appearance of de novo DSA and an increase in acute rejection episodes.

POS-746 PRE-KIDNEY TRANSPLANT MEDIAL ARTERIAL CALCIFICATION AND POST-TRANSPLANT HYPERTENSION BY A PROPENSITY SCORE WEIGHTING

Medial arterial calcification (MAC) is associated cardiovascular (CV) mortality in ESRD and kidney transplant patients partly from arterial stiffness. Its relationship with hypertension (HTN) is unclear can be confounded with factors. Female kidney transplant recipients were divided into 2 groups as per presence or absence MAC. The 2 groups were balanced based on age, race, cause of ESRD, type of donor (decreased or living donors), and pretransplant BMI and diabetes by using propensity score weighting. Association between MAC and post-transplant systolic and diastolic HTN (SHTN >130 or DHTN >80 mmHg, respectively) was examined by multiple logistic regression. Of 51 patients, mean age±SD was 57.08±10.47 years old. The majority were white (54.9%) followed by African American (35.3%) and others (9.8%) and 20 patients (39%) had pre-transplant MAC. Mean pretransplant SBP and DBP were 143.57±25.77 and 76.61±13.75 mmHg, respectively. Baseline characteristics including potential confounders were balanced by using propensity score weights estimated by a generalized boosted modeling (Figure 1 and 2). Among 20 patients in MAC group, 12 and 4 patients had SHTN and DHTN, respectively at 48 weeks posttransplantation (mean SBP 135.05±18.82 and DBP 71.53±8.65 mmHg); whereas, only 16 and 13 out of 31 patients in non-MAC had no SHTN and DHTN, respectively (mean SBP 129.87±17.18 and DBP 75.73±12.76 mmHg). After adjusted by age, race, cause of ESRD, dialysis modality, type of donor, induction immunosuppression, pretransplant BMI, SBP, DBP, diabetes, corrected calcium, and phosphorus, MAC group had 98 times lower the odds of having DHTN at 48-week posttransplantation compared to non-MAC group (odd ratio (OR) 0.02; 95%CI 0.0006 to 0.5031). However, MAC is associated with lower the odds of having SHTN but the association was not significant (OR 0.44; 95%CI 0.07 to 2.63). Pre-transplant MAC is associated with a long-term post-transplant DHTN, but not SHTN. This may be explained by arterial stiffness leading to decreased DBP. Since pretransplant MAC is a known associated risk for mortality in ESRD, it may not be reversible and causes carryover effect on the pathophysiology of posttransplant CV mortality.

The Clinical Impact of ACEI/ARBs in Heart Transplantation: Perhaps Not All Good

<h3>Purpose</h3> Hypertension after heart transplantation (HTx) is noted in a majority of HTx patients due to the side effects of calcineurin inhibitors (CNI). The use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) are effective anti-hypertensive agents and may have longer term clinical benefits. We assessed our patients on ACEI/ARBs versus others in the first year post-HTx and followed them for 5-year outcomes. <h3>Methods</h3> Between 2010 and 2015, we assessed 101 HTx patients who were on ACEI/ARBs only in the first year for more than 6 months. Those patients were then followed for 5 years. Likewise, a group of patients who were placed on non-ACEI/ARBs blood pressure medications, such as calcium channel-blockers, beta blockers, and diuretics, in the first year for more than 6 months were the control group. Outcomes included 5-year survival, 5-year freedom from non-fatal major adverse cardiac event (NF-MACE: MI, new CHF, PCI, ICD implant, stroke), freedom from cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV: angiographic stenosis >30%), freedom from left ventricular dysfunction (left ventricular ejection fraction ≤40%) and freedom from left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), defined as intraventricular septum or posterior wall ≥1.3cm. <h3>Results</h3> The patients treated with ACEI/ARBs in the first year post-HTx compared to those without had significantly lower 5-year survival but a trend for greater 5-year freedom from CAV. There was no significant difference between the two study groups in 5-year freedom from NF-MACE, left ventricular dysfunction and LVH (see table). Baseline demographics between groups were similar for recipient age, % female, pre-transplant diabetes and renal dysfunction (creatinine >1.5mg/dl) (data not shown). <h3>Conclusion</h3> The use of ACEI/ARBs in the first year post-HTx is associated with lower survival but other factors may be involved. A possible lower development of CAV from ACEI/ARBs may be a benefit to be explored.

Current Pharmacological Intervention and Medical Management for Diabetic Kidney Transplant Recipients.

Hyperglycemia after kidney transplantation is common in both diabetic and non-diabetic patients. Both pretransplant and post-transplant diabetes mellitus are associated with increased kidney allograft failure and mortality. Glucose management may be challenging for kidney transplant recipients. The pathophysiology and pattern of hyperglycemia in patients following kidney transplantation is different from those with type 2 diabetes mellitus. In patients with pre-existing and post-transplant diabetes mellitus, there is limited data on the management of hyperglycemia after kidney transplantation. The following article discusses the nomenclature and diagnosis of pre- and post-transplant diabetes mellitus, the impact of transplant-related hyperglycemia on patient and kidney allograft outcomes, risk factors and potential pathogenic mechanisms of hyperglycemia after kidney transplantation, glucose management before and after transplantation, and modalities for prevention of post-transplant diabetes mellitus.

Evidence to support a drain-free strategy in kidney transplantation using a retrospective comparison of 500 consecutively transplanted cases at a single center

IntroductionRoutine placement of surgical drains at the time of kidney transplant has been debated in terms of its prognostic value.ObjectivesTo determine whether the placement of a surgical drain affects the incidence rate of developing wound complications and other clinical outcomes, particularly after controlling for other prognostic factors.MethodsRetrospective analysis of 500 consecutive renal transplant cases who did not (Drain-free, DF) vs. did (Drain, D) receive a drain at the time of transplant was performed. The primary outcome was the development of any wound complication (superficial or deep) during the first 12 months post-transplant. Secondary outcomes included the development of superficial wound complications, deep wound complications, DGF, and graft loss during the first 12 months post-transplant.Results388 and 112 recipients had DF/D, respectively. DF-recipients were significantly more likely to be younger, not have pre-transplant diabetes, receive a living donor kidney, receive a kidney-alone transplant, have a shorter duration of dialysis, shorter mean cold-ischemia-time, and greater pre-transplant use of anticoagulants/antiplatelets. Wound complications were 4.6% (18/388) vs. 5.4% (6/112) in DF vs. D groups, respectively (P = 0.75). Superficial wound complications were observed in 0.8% (3/388) vs. 0.0% (0/112) in DF vs. D groups, respectively (P = 0.35). Deep wound complications were observed in 4.1% (16/388) vs. 5.4% ((6/112) in DF vs. D groups, respectively (P = 0.57). Higher recipient body mass index and ≥ 1 year of pre-transplant dialysis were associated in multivariable analysis with an increased incidence of wound complications. Once the prognostic influence of these 2 factors were controlled, there was still no notable effect of drain use (yes/no). The lack of prognostic effect of drain use was similarly observed for the other clinical outcomes.ConclusionsIn a relatively large cohort of renal transplant recipients, routine surgical drain use appears to offer no distinct prognostic advantage.

Comparison of the Prognostic Ability of the HCT-CI, the Modified EBMT, and the EBMT-ADT Pre-transplant Risk Scores for Acute Leukemia

BackgroundAllogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) outcomes may be predicted by published risk scores; however, the ideal system has not been identified for acute leukemias. Patients and MethodsWe retrospectively examined the Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation-Comorbidity Index (HCT-CI), modified European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (mEBMT), EBMT-Alternating Decision Tree (ADT), and others on 231 patients with acute leukemia. ResultsAcute myeloid leukemia was diagnosed in 200 patients, and acute lymphocytic leukemia was diagnosed in 31 patients. For HCT-CI, patients were grouped as 0 to 1, 2 to 3, and > 3. For mEBMT, patients were grouped as 0 to 2, 3, and > 3. For EBMT-ADT, the 100-day mortality was calculated and grouped as ≤ 4.1%, 4.1% to 11.5%, and > 11.5%. Higher HCI-CI demonstrated inferior overall survival (P = .04; c-statistic, 0.57), whereas mEBMT and EBMT-ADT did not stratify well. A new weighted score was developed that assigned 1 point for age ≥ 60 years, acute lymphocytic leukemia diagnosis, mismatch unrelated or haploidentical donor, cardiovascular comorbidity, and pre-transplant diabetes, whereas arrhythmia received 2 points. The new weighted score assigned 0 points to 88 (38%), 1 to 2 points to 121 (52%) and ≥ 3 points to 22 (10%) patients, and demonstrated improved prognostic capability compared with the other scores (P = .0001; c-statistic, 0.61). ConclusionsThe HCT-CI stratifies patients with leukemia for overall survival but is inferior to our single-center score, which is influenced by cardiac comorbidity and arrhythmia. Differences in pre-transplant risk scores may be related to different transplant practices.

Impact of kidney and recipient weight incompatibility on the allograft outcomes in kidney transplant recipients with pre-transplant diabetes mellitus: a single center retrospective cohort study

Background: The aim of this study was to analyze the impact on the adverse allograft outcome of transplanting relatively small kidneys in patients with pre-transplant diabetes mellitus (DM). Methods: From January 2010 to December 2018, 1,290 kidney transplants (KTs) were performed in Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital. Of these, 793 cases of non-sensitized living donor KT recipients were enrolled. They were divided into four groups (non-DM large kidney, non-DM small kidney, DM large kidney, and DM small kidney) according to the median kidney weight and recipient weight ratio (2.9 g/kg) and presence or absence of pre-transplant DM. The primary outcome of this study was death censored graft loss (DCGL) rate. Results: There was no significant difference in the biopsy-proven acute rejection rate among the four groups. DM small kidney group showed the highest DCGL rate (18/131 [13.7%], P=0.004) and was to be the independent risk factor for DCGL (adjusted haz ard ratio, 2.829; P=0.003). Moreover, renal function after 4 years of transplantation worsened faster in the DM small kidney group compared to other groups, and allograft survival decreased after 1 year of transplantation. Conclusions: Our results suggest that transplanting large kidneys rather than small kidneys is considered to have an advantage in terms of allograft outcome in pre-transplant DM patients, and this should be considered in donor selection.

Sudden cardiac death following liver transplantation: Incidence, trends and risk predictors

BackgroundCardiovascular events are a leading cause of mortality following liver transplantation (LT). Although a preponderance of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in this population has been reported, there is a paucity of data evaluating the incidence, timing and predictors of SCD following LT. MethodsUsing the prospectively collected Australian and New Zealand Liver Transplant Registry, a cohort study of all adult LTs from 1985 to 2017 was performed to ascertain the incidence and predictors of SCD. Recipient cause of death was adjudicated by an interdisciplinary panel. Results4265 LT patients were followed-up for 37,409 person-years. SCD was the leading mode of cardiovascular death with an incidence rate of 165 per 100,000 person-years. There was a significant increase in the hazard of SCD in the contemporary (1996–2017) vs early era (1985–1995) (hazard ratio [HR] 2.42, 95%CI 1.10–5.40; p = 0.02). On Cox regression after adjusting for significant univariate predictors including age, coronary artery disease and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, pre-transplant diabetes was the only independent predictor of SCD (HR 2.5 95%CI 1.1–6.0). ConclusionSCD is the leading mode of cardiovascular cause-specific mortality following LT and diabetes was associated with a two-fold higher risk for its occurrence. Given the escalating cardiovascular risk factor profile of LT candidates, targeted therapies especially in patients with diabetes are needed to mitigate risk of post-transplant SCD.