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The number of elderly patients with end-stage kidney disease has been increasing, but the outcomes of kidney transplants (KT) remain poorly understood in elderly patients. Therefore, we evaluated the clinical outcomes of elderly KT recipients and analyzed the impact of elderly donors. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included patients who underwent KT between 2000 and 2019. KT recipients were divided into four groups according to a combination of recipient and donor age (≥60 or <60 years); elderly recipients: old-to-old (n = 46) and young-to-old (n = 83); young recipients: old-to-young (n = 98) and young-to-young (n = 796). We compared the risks of mortality, graft failure, and acute rejection between groups using Cox regression analysis. Results: The incidence of delayed graft function, graft failure, and acute rejection was not different among groups. Annual mean tacrolimus trough level was not lower in elderly recipients than young recipients during 10-year follow-up. Mortality was significantly higher in elderly recipients (p = 0.001), particularly infection-related mortality (p < 0.001). In multivariable Cox regression analysis, old-toold and young-to-old groups had increased risk of mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 2.89; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.14– 7.32; p = 0.03; aHR, 3.06; 95% CI, 1.51–6.20; p = 0.002). However, graft failure and acute rejection risks were not increased in elderly recipients. Conclusion: In elderly recipients, graft survival and acute rejection-free survival were not inferior to those of young recipients. However, mortality, especially risk of infection-related death, was increased in elderly recipients. Thus, low immunosuppression intensity might help decrease mortality in elderly recipients.
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Background@#Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA)-associated glomerulonephritis (AAGN) is a common cause of rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis and requires prompt and proper immunosuppressive therapy to improve renal prognosis. This study aimed to evaluate the predictive value of two different classifications for renal outcomes in Korean AAGN patients. @*Methods@#Ninety-two patients who were diagnosed with AAGN at two tertiary hospitals between 2004 and 2018 were retrospectively analyzed retrospectively. The histopathologic classification according to glomerular pathology and the clinicopathologic classification according to normal glomeruli ratio, degree of interstitial fibrosis/tubular atrophy, and baseline renal function were evaluated using the Cox proportional hazards model. @*Results@#Forty-five patients (48.9%) progressed to end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) during the observation period. The mean age was 61.0 ± 15.3 years, and most patients had myeloperoxidase-ANCA (93.5%). In the histopathologic classification, the best renal survival occurred in the focal class, whereas the sclerotic class had the worst renal survival (sclerotic class vs. focal class; adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 5.05; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.32–19.31; p = 0.018). The mixed class had intermediate renal outcomes (mixed class vs. focal class; aHR, 4.23; 95% CI, 1.23–14.58; p = 0.022). In the clinicopathologic classification, the high-risk group had poor renal outcomes compared with the low-risk group (aHR, 6.56; 95% CI, 1.25–34.26; p = 0.026), but renal outcomes did not differ between the low- and medium-risk groups. @*Conclusion@#In Korean AAGN patients, histopathologic and clinicopathologic classifications had predictive value for renal outcomes, especially in the sclerotic class or the high-risk group with higher risk of progression to ESRD despite treatment.
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Background@#Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA)-associated glomerulonephritis (AAGN) is a common cause of rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis and requires prompt and proper immunosuppressive therapy to improve renal prognosis. This study aimed to evaluate the predictive value of two different classifications for renal outcomes in Korean AAGN patients. @*Methods@#Ninety-two patients who were diagnosed with AAGN at two tertiary hospitals between 2004 and 2018 were retrospectively analyzed retrospectively. The histopathologic classification according to glomerular pathology and the clinicopathologic classification according to normal glomeruli ratio, degree of interstitial fibrosis/tubular atrophy, and baseline renal function were evaluated using the Cox proportional hazards model. @*Results@#Forty-five patients (48.9%) progressed to end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) during the observation period. The mean age was 61.0 ± 15.3 years, and most patients had myeloperoxidase-ANCA (93.5%). In the histopathologic classification, the best renal survival occurred in the focal class, whereas the sclerotic class had the worst renal survival (sclerotic class vs. focal class; adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 5.05; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.32–19.31; p = 0.018). The mixed class had intermediate renal outcomes (mixed class vs. focal class; aHR, 4.23; 95% CI, 1.23–14.58; p = 0.022). In the clinicopathologic classification, the high-risk group had poor renal outcomes compared with the low-risk group (aHR, 6.56; 95% CI, 1.25–34.26; p = 0.026), but renal outcomes did not differ between the low- and medium-risk groups. @*Conclusion@#In Korean AAGN patients, histopathologic and clinicopathologic classifications had predictive value for renal outcomes, especially in the sclerotic class or the high-risk group with higher risk of progression to ESRD despite treatment.
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Background@#Little is known regarding the safe fixed dose of mycophenolic acid (MPA) for preventing biopsy-proven acute rejection (BPAR) in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). We investigated the correlation of MPA trough concentration (MPA C0) and dose with renal transplant outcomes and adverse events. @*Methods@#This study included 79 consecutive KTRs who received MPA with tacrolimus (TAC) and corticosteroids. The MPA C0 of all the enrolled KTRs was measured, which was determined monthly by using particle-enhanced turbidimetric inhibition immunoassay for 12 months, and clinical data were collected at each time point. The clinical endpoints included BPAR, any cytopenia, and BK or cytomegalovirus infections. @*Results@#No differences in MPA C0 and dose were observed between KTRs with or without BPAR or viral infections under statistically comparable TAC concentrations. MPA C0 was significantly higher in patients with leukopenia (P = 0.021) and anemia (P = 0.002) compared with those without cytopenia. The MPA dose was significantly higher in patients with thrombocytopenia (P = 0.002) compared with those without thrombocytopenia. MPA C0 ≥ 3.5 μg/mL was an independent risk factor for leukopenia (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 3.80; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.24–11.64; P = 0.019) and anemia (AOR, 5.90; 95% CI, 1.27–27.51; P = 0.024). An MPA dose greater than the mean value of 1,188.8 mg/day was an independent risk factor for thrombocytopenia (AOR, 3.83; 95% CI, 1.15–12.78; P = 0.029). However, an MPA dose less than the mean value of 1,137.3 mg/day did not increase the risk of BPAR. @*Conclusion@#Either a higher MPA C0 or dose is associated with an increased risk of cytopenia, but neither a lower MPA C0 nor dose is associated with BPAR within the first year of transplantation. Hence, a reduced MPA dose with TAC and corticosteroids might be safe in terms of reducing hematologic abnormalities without causing rejection.