COVID-19 infection and vaccination rarely impact HLA antibody profile in waitlisted renal transplant candidates- a multicenter cohort.

Although rare, infection and vaccination can result in antibodies to human leukocyte antigens (HLA). We analyzed the effect of SARS-CoV-2 infection or vaccination on HLA antibodies in waitlisted renal transplant candidates. Specificities were collected and adjudicated if the calculated panel reactive antibodies (cPRA) changed after exposure. Of 409 patients, 285 (69.7 %) had an initial cPRA of 0 %, and 56 (13.7 %) had an initial cPRA > 80 %. The cPRA changed in 26 patients (6.4 %), 16 (3.9 %) increased, and 10 (2.4 %) decreased. Based on cPRA adjudication, cPRA differences generally resulted from a small number of specificities with subtle fluctuations around the borderline of the participating centers' cutoff for unacceptable antigen listing. All five COVID recovered patients with an increased cPRA were female (p = 0.02). In summary, exposure to this virus or vaccine does not increase HLA antibody specificities and their MFI in approximately 99 % of cases and 97 % of sensitized patients. These results have implications for virtual crossmatching at the time of organ offer after SARS-CoV-2 infection or vaccination, and these events of unclear clinical significance should not influence vaccination programs.

Attitudes of patients with renal disease on xenotransplantation: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Recent years have seen major advancements in xenotransplantation: the first pig-to-human heart transplant, the development of a brain-dead recipient model for kidney xenotransplantation, and the registration of the first xenokidney clinical trial. The attitudes of patients with kidney disease or transplants on xenotransplantation and an assessment of their reservations and considerations regarding the technology are crucial to successful clinical translation and eventual widespread implementation. METHODS: This systematic review was registered through PROSPERO (CRD42022344581) prior to initiation of the study and reported using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. We included studies that evaluated attitudes towards and willingness to undergo xenotransplantation in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), including those who had already undergone transplantation. MEDLINE (via Ovid), Embase (via Elsevier), and Web of Science (via Clarivate) were searched from database inception to July 15, 2022 by an experienced medical librarian for studies on xenotransplantation and attitudes. Abstracts and full text were screened using Covidence software and data items regarding study methodology, patient demographics, and attitudes regarding xenotransplantation were extracted using Microsoft Excel. Risk of bias assessments were performed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programmed and National Institute of Health study quality assessment tools. RESULTS: Of 1992 studies identified, 14 studies met the inclusion criteria. These studies were conducted across eight countries, four in the United States, for a total of 3114 patients on the kidney waitlist or with a kidney transplant. All patients were over 17 years old and 58% were male. Acceptance of a xenotransplant was assessed using surveys in 12 studies. Sixty-three percent (n = 1354) of kidney patients reported that they would accept a xenotransplant with function comparable to that of an allotransplant. Acceptance of xenografts with inferior function to allografts (15%) or as bridge organs (35%) to allotransplantation was lower. Specific concerns expressed by patients included graft function, infection, social stigma, and animal rights. Subgroup analyses showed higher acceptance in already transplanted compared to waitlist patients and white compared to Black Americans. CONCLUSION: An understanding of patient attitudes and reservations is key to the successful execution of the first xenotransplantation clinical trials. This study compiles important factors to consider, such as patient concerns, attitudes regarding practical clinical scenarios for the use of xenotransplantation, and the impact of demographic factors on acceptance of this emerging technology.

Optimal dose of rituximab in ABO-incompatible kidney transplantation in patients with low anti-A/B antibody titers: A single-center retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The clinical outcomes of ABO-incompatible (ABOi) kidney transplantation have improved with the introduction of desensitization therapy with rituximab. However, rituximab prevents not only antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) but also increases the risk of adverse events, such as infection. For ABOi kidney transplantation in patients with low anti-A/B antibody titers, we previously used a rituximab-free desensitization protocol and then initiated a single dose of 100 mg rituximab in 2016. We retrospectively compared the outcomes of ABOi kidney transplantation in patients with low anti-A/B antibody titers before and after the introduction of rituximab. METHODS: ABOi kidney transplantations (n = 142) in patients with low anti-A/B antibody titers between 2007 and 2021 were included. Patients were divided into two groups (with and without rituximab) for desensitization. The primary outcomes were the incidence of acute AMR and infection. RESULTS: Sixty-six patients were desensitized without rituximab (rituximab-free group), and 76 were pretreated with 100 mg rituximab (rituximab group) before transplantation. The incidence of acute AMR was significantly lower in the rituximab group than in the rituximab-free group (.0% [0/76] vs. 7.6% [5/66], respectively; p = .047). Post-transplantation anti-A/B antibody titers were also lower in the rituximab group than in the rituximab-free group. There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse events, including infections, between the two groups. CONCLUSION: In ABOi kidney transplantation patients with low anti-A/B antibody titers, the desensitization protocol with a single dose of 100 mg rituximab was effective in preventing acute AMR without increasing the risk of other adverse events.

Simultaneous Robotic-Assisted Bilateral Native Nephrectomy and Kidney Transplantation for Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease in Recipients With High Body Mass Index: Report of 2 Cases.

Robotic kidney transplantation is a safe, reproducible, and less morbid technique in high body mass index and end-stage renal disease. Polycystic kidney disease is a relative contraindication to robotic-assisted kidney transplantation because of the mass effect of the native kidneys on the patient's pelvis that prevents ideal exposure. We report the first 2 cases of robotic-assisted simultaneous bilateral nephrectomy and kidney transplantation for patients with obesity and adult polycystic kidney disease. The recipients were 2 males, 50 and 53 years old, with a body mass index of 35.1 41.6 kg/m2 and 41.6 kg/m2, respectively. Both recipients had suitable living donors. The average operating time was 395 minutes and the estimated blood loss was on average 250 mL. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patients were discharged home on days 4 and 5. Performing robotic nephrectomies simultaneously with kidney transplantation can be done safely, allowing patients with obesity and polycystic kidney disease needing bilateral nephrectomy, to take full advantage of minimally invasive kidney transplantation.

Outcomes of Living Donor Kidney Transplant After SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Both the Donor and the Recipient: A Multicenter Study.

OBJECTIVES: Evidence on living donor kidney transplant procedures when both the donor and recipient have had a history of COVID-19 infection is scarce. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively explored the protocol, outcomes, and follow-up of 64 donors and recipients of living donor kidney transplant who had recovered from COVID-19. This was a multicenter (n = 12) study from India that included transplants between October 29, 2020, and December 1, 2021. Induction and immunosuppression regimens forthose with different severities of COVID-19 were similar to standard practice. RESULTS: COVID-19 clinical severity ranged from asymptomatic/mild (not requiring oxygen therapy) in 49 recipients (77%) and 63 donors (95.4%) and moderate/severe (requiring oxygen therapy) in 15 recipients (23%) and 1 donor (4.6%). Mean wait time±SEM (SD)from firstdocumentednegative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction testto surgery for recipients and donors was 90.9 ± 9.27 (74.1) and 47 ± 4.5 (29.2) days, respectively. Six episodes (9.3%) of biopsy-proven acute rejection were reported at follow-up of 214 ± 14.8 (119) days and median of 227 (interquartile range, 109-309) days. The locally weighted scatter plot smoothing curve for creatinine during follow-up in donor-recipients pairs showed no trends of increased creatinine in the context of wait time from COVID-19 to transplant surgery. No graft loss, death, reactivation/reinfection, and complications related to surgery or COVID-19 were reported. CONCLUSIONS: Our report showed excellent outcomes and follow-up data of living donor kidney transplant in recovered donor-recipient pairs with the standard immunosuppression protocol. To our knowledge, this is the first and the largest study of donor-recipient living donor kidney transplant pairs when both donors and recipients had prior COVID-19.

Kidney Transplantation From Deceased Donors With Vaccine-induced Immune Thrombocytopenia and Thrombosis: An Updated Analysis of the UK Experience.

BACKGROUND: The emergence and attendant mortality of vaccine-induced immune thrombocytopenia and thrombosis (VITT) as a consequence of vaccination against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 have resulted in some patients with VITT being considered as deceased organ donors. Outcomes after kidney transplantation in this context are poorly described. Because the disease seems to be mediated by antiplatelet factor 4 antibodies, there is a theoretical risk of transmission via passenger leukocytes within the allograft. METHODS: We analyzed the experience of kidney transplantation from donors with VITT in the United Kingdom between January and June 2021. We followed-up all recipients of kidney-only transplants from donors with VITT to detect major postoperative complications or features of disease transmission and assess graft survival and function. RESULTS: There were 16 kidney donors and 30 single kidney transplant recipients in our study period. Of 11 preimplantation biopsies, 4 showed widespread glomerular microthrombi. After a median of 5 mo, patient and graft survival were 97% and 90%, respectively. The median 3-mo estimated glomerular filtration rate was 51 mL/min/1.73 m 2 . Two recipients had detectable antiplatelet factor 4 antibodies but no evidence of clinical disease after transplantation. Major hemorrhagic complications occurred in 3 recipients, all of whom had independent risk factors for bleeding, resulting in the loss of 2 grafts. The involvement of VITT could not be completely excluded in one of these cases. CONCLUSIONS: The UK experience to date shows that favorable outcomes are possible after kidney transplantation from donors with VITT but highlights the need for ongoing vigilance for donor-related complications in these patients.

Risk Factors for Weak Antibody Response of SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine in Adult Solid Organ Transplant Recipients: A Systemic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objective: This is the first systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the factors that contribute to poor antibody response in organ transplant recipients after receiving the 2-dose severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccine. Method: Data was obtained from Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM). Studies reporting factors associated with antibody responses to the 2-dose SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in solid organ transplant recipients were included in our study based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Two researchers completed the literature search, screening, and data extraction. Randomized models were used to obtain results. Egger's test was performed to determine publication bias. Sensitivity analysis was performed to determine the stability of the result. The heterogeneity was determined using the Galbraith plot and subgroup analysis. Results: A total of 29 studies were included in the present study. The factors included living donor, BNT162b2, tacrolimus, cyclosporine, antimetabolite, mycophenolic acid (MPA) or mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), azathioprine, corticosteroids, high-dose corticosteroids, belatacept, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor, tritherapy, age, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), hemoglobin, and tacrolimus level were significantly different. Multivariate analysis showed significant differences in age, diabetes mellitus, MPA or MMF, high-dose corticosteroids, tritherapy, and eGFR. Conclusion: The possible independent risk factors for negative antibody response in patients with organ transplants who received the 2-dose SARS-CoV-2 vaccine include age, diabetes mellitus, low eGFR, MPA or MMF, high-dose corticosteroids, and triple immunosuppression therapy. mTOR inhibitor can be a protective factor against weak antibody response. Systematic Review Registration: PROSPERO, identifier CRD42021257965.

Early outcomes of kidney transplant recipients from donors with severe SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia: A report of 5 cases.

BACKGROUND: Transplanting kidneys from donors with a recent history of severe SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia is uncommon due to concerns about the risk of viral transmission and the quality of kidneys from these donors. To date, there are no conclusive data on viral transmission from extrapulmonary solid organ transplants. Given the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infections in potential donors, shortage of kidneys available for transplantation, and low risk of viral transmission, we developed a clinical protocol for accepting kidneys from donors with recent severe SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia who demonstrate preserved kidney function. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We collected data on early outcomes of 5 kidney transplant recipients from 4 deceased donors hospitalized for severe SARS-CoV-2 infection. RESULTS: Donor creatinine ranged from 0.51 to 0.60 mg/dL and kidney donor profile index (KDPI) from 14 to 52%. Three of the five kidneys were from donation after circulatory death. All recipients were fully vaccinated, and 4/5 received post-exposure prophylactic monoclonal antibody treatment. While 3 recipients had delayed graft function, all had excellent graft function at 3 or 4 weeks post-operatively. None of the recipients displayed signs or symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 infection post-transplant. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that kidney grafts from donors with a recent history of severe SARS-CoV-2 infection but with preserved kidney function can be safely used and have good early outcomes.

Transplantation Without Overimmunosuppression (TWO) study protocol: a phase 2b randomised controlled single-centre trial of regulatory T cell therapy to facilitate immunosuppression reduction in living donor kidney transplant recipients.

INTRODUCTION: Regulatory T cell (Treg) therapy has been demonstrated to facilitate long-term allograft survival in preclinical models of transplantation and may permit reduction of immunosuppression and its associated complications in the clinical setting. Phase 1 clinical trials have shown Treg therapy to be safe and feasible in clinical practice. Here we describe a protocol for the TWO study, a phase 2b randomised control trial of Treg therapy in living donor kidney transplant recipients that will confirm safety and explore efficacy of this novel treatment strategy. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: 60 patients will be randomised on a 1:1 basis to Treg therapy (TR001) or standard clinical care (control). Patients in the TR001 arm will receive an infusion of autologous polyclonal ex vivo expanded Tregs 5 days after transplantation instead of standard monoclonal antibody induction. Maintenance immunosuppression will be reduced over the course of the post-transplant period to low-dose tacrolimus monotherapy. Control participants will receive a standard basiliximab-based immunosuppression regimen with long-term tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil immunosuppression. The primary endpoint is biopsy proven acute rejection over 18 months; secondary endpoints include immunosuppression burden, chronic graft dysfunction and drug-related complications. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval has been provided by the National Health Service Health Research Authority South Central-Oxford A Research Ethics Committee (reference 18/SC/0054). The study also received authorisation from the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and is being run in accordance with the principles of Good Clinical Practice, in collaboration with the registered trials unit Oxford Clinical Trials Research Unit. Results from the TWO study will be published in peer-reviewed scientific/medical journals and presented at scientific/clinical symposia and congresses. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN: 11038572; Pre-results.

Risk Assessment and Management for Potential Living Kidney Donors: The Role of "Third-Party" Commission.

Living kidney donation is the most common type of living-donor transplant. Italian guidelines allow the living donations from emotionally related donors only after clear and voluntary consent expressed by both the donor and the recipient involved. Living donation raises ethical and legal issues because donors voluntarily undergo a surgical procedure to remove a healthy kidney in order to help another person. According to the Italian standards, the assessment of living donor-recipient pair has to be conducted by a medical "third party", completely independent from both the patients involved and the medical team treating the recipient. Starting from the Hospital "Città della Salute e della Scienza" of Turin (Italy) experience, including 116 living kidney donations, the Authors divided the evaluation process performed by the "Third-Party" Commission into four stages, with a particular attention to the potential donor. Living donation procedures should reflect fiduciary duties that healthcare providers have toward their patients, originating from the relationship of trust between physician and patient. In addition to that, the social implications are enormous if one considers the worldwide campaigns to promote public awareness about organ donation and transplantation, and to encourage people to register their organ donation decisions. The systematic process proposed here can be a tool that proactively reduces and controls the risks of coercion, organ trafficking, vitiated consent, insufficient weighting of donative choice, that could arise especially in donors involved in living kidney donation.

Impact of COVID 19 pandemic on patients requiring renal biopsy.

INTRODUCTION: The disruption of healthcare services in coronavirus disease (COVID)19 pandemic was widespread particularly due to lockdown curbs. This study was undertaken to see the effect of this pandemic on subjects requiring renal biopsy. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Renal biopsies performed during the COVID 19 pandemic between April 2020 and December 2020 (Group 1) were compared with those in pre-COVID period between June 2019 and February 2020 (Group 2). Indication of biopsies, syndromic diagnosis and all baseline laboratory characteristics were retrieved from the hospital records. RESULTS: 130 and 191 patients were biopsied in groups 1 and 2, respectively. Patients in group 1 were younger compared with group 2 (32.55 ± 15.60 and 36.37 ± 16.96 years, respectively, p value 0.038). The mean serum creatinine value in group 1 was significantly higher than in group 2 (3.21 ± 2.08 and 2.68 ± 2.02 mg/dl respectively, p value: 0.023). Group 1 comprises a significantly higher percentage of rapidly progressive renal failure patients (RPRF) (39.3 vs 28, p value 0.046). A higher percentage of nephrotics was biopsied in group 2 vs group 1 (46.9 vs 30.4 respectively, p value 0.008). The treatment protocol remained similar in both the groups. Evaluation of the transplant biopsies revealed a nonsignificant higher number of rejections in group 1 (11 out of 18) as compared to group 2 (5 out of 16), p value 0.100. Combined rejection saw a lesser use of rATG in group 1. CONCLUSION: COVID pandemic induced restrictive measures could have led to selective high risk patients with RPRF as presumptive diagnosis and higher creatinine values getting biopsied. Higher rejections were noticed in transplant recipients pointing towards the need of establishing a more efficient support system for managing such patients.

Allogeneic Kidney Transplantation After COVID-19: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND: Patients undergoing organ transplantation are immunosuppressed and already at risk of various diseases. We report about a patient who underwent ABO-incompatible kidney transplantation after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) without a recurrence of infection. CASE REPORT: A 68-year-old woman presented with end-stage renal failure owing to primary autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease; accordingly, hemodialysis was initiated in September 2020. Her medical history included bilateral osteoarthritis, lumbar spinal stenosis, hypertension, and hyperuricemia. In mid-January 2021, she contracted severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection from her husband. Both of them were hospitalized and received conservative treatment. Because their symptoms were mild, they were discharged after 10 days. The patient subsequently underwent ABO-incompatible kidney transplantation from her husband who recovered from COVID-19 in March 2021. Before kidney transplantation, her COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction test was negative, confirming the absence of pre-existing COVID-19 immediately before the procedure. Computed tomography revealed no pneumonia. Initial immunosuppression was induced by administering tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, methylprednisolone, basiliximab, rituximab, and 30 g of intravenous immunoglobulin. Double-filtration plasmapheresis and plasma exchange were performed once before ABO-incompatible kidney transplantation. The renal allograft functioned immediately, and the postoperative course was normal without rejection. COVID-19 did not recur. In addition, her serum creatinine levels and renal function had otherwise remained stable. CONCLUSION: Living kidney transplantation was safely performed in a patient with COVID-19 without postoperative complications or rejection. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the possibility of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection during transplantation surgery must be considered.

Consequences of the first and second COVID-19 wave on kidney transplant recipients at a large Indian transplant centre.

BACKGROUND: There is a scarcity of data comparing the consequences of first and second COVID-19 waves on kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) in India. METHODS: We conducted a single-centre retrospective study of 259 KTRs with COVID-19 to compare first wave (March 15-December 31 2020, n = 157) and second wave (April 1-May 31 2021, n = 102). RESULTS: KTRs during second wave were younger (43 vs. 40 years; p-value .04) and also included paediatric patients (0 vs. 5.9%; p-value .003). Symptoms were milder during the second wave (45 vs. 62.7%; p-value .007); COVID-19 positive patients had less frequent cough (32 vs. 13.8%; p-value .001), fever was less frequent (58 vs. 37%; p-value .001), and we observed fewer co-morbidities (11 vs. 20.6%; p-value .04). The percentages of neutrophils (77 vs. 83%; p-value .001) and serum ferritin (439 vs. 688; p-value .0006) were higher during second wave, while lymphocyte counts were reduced (20 vs. 14%; p-value .0001). Hydroxychloroquine (11 vs. 0%; p-value .0001) and tocilizumab (7 vs. 0%; p-value .004) were more frequently prescribed during first wave, while utilization of dexamethasone (6 vs. 27%; p-value .0001) and remdesivir (47 vs. 65%; p-value .03) increased during the second wave. Mucormycosis (1.3 vs. 10%; p-value .01) and ICU admissions (20 vs. 37.2%; p-value .002) were more frequent during second wave. The 28-day mortality rate (9.6 vs. 10%; p-value 1) was not different. CONCLUSIONS: There has been a different clinical spectrum of COVID-19 amongst KTR with similar mortality between the two waves at a large Indian transplant centre.

High mortality among kidney transplant recipients diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019: Results from the Brazilian multicenter cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Kidney transplant (KT) recipients are considered a high-risk group for unfavorable outcomes in the course of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). AIM: To describe the clinical aspects and outcomes of COVID-19 among KT recipients. METHODS: This multicenter cohort study enrolled 1,680 KT recipients diagnosed with COVID-19 between March and November 2020, from 35 Brazilian centers. The main outcome was the 90-day cumulative incidence of death, for the entire cohort and according to acute kidney injury (AKI) and renal replacement therapy (RRT) requirement. Fatality rates were analyzed according to hospitalization, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and mechanical ventilation (MV) requirement. Multivariable analysis was performed by logistic regression for the probability of hospitalization and death. RESULTS: The median age of the recipients was 51.3 years, 60.4% were men and 11.4% were Afro-Brazilian. Comorbidities were reported in 1,489 (88.6%), and the interval between transplantation and infection was 5.9 years. The most frequent symptoms were cough (54%), myalgia (40%), dyspnea (37%), and diarrhea (31%), whereas the clinical signs were fever (61%) and hypoxemia (13%). Hospitalization was required in 65.1%, and immunosuppressive drugs adjustments were made in 74.4% of in-hospital patients. ICU admission was required in 34.6% and MV in 24.9%. In the multivariable modeling, the variables related with the probability of hospitalization were age, hypertension, previous cardiovascular disease, recent use of high dose of steroid, and fever, dyspnea, diarrhea, and nausea or vomiting as COVID-19 symptoms. On the other hand, the variables that reduced the probability of hospitalization were time of COVID-19 symptoms, and nasal congestion, headache, arthralgia and anosmia as COVID-19 symptoms. The overall 90-day cumulative incidence of death was 21.0%. The fatality rates were 31.6%, 58.2%, and 75.5% in those who were hospitalized, admitted to the ICU, and required MV, respectively. At the time of infection, 23.2% had AKI and 23.4% required RRT in the follow-up. The cumulative incidence of death was significantly higher among recipients with AKI (36.0% vs. 19.1%, P < 0.0001) and in those who required RRT (70.8% vs. 10.1%, P < 0.0001). The variables related with the probability of death within 90 days after COVID-19 were age, time after transplantation, presence of hypertension, previous cardiovascular disease, use of tacrolimus and mycophenolate, recent use of high dose of steroids, and dyspnea as COVID-19 symptom. On the other hand, the variables that reduced the risk of death were time of symptoms, and headache and anosmia as COVID-19 symptoms. CONCLUSION: The patients diagnosed with COVID-19 were long-term KT recipients and most of them had some comorbidities. One in every five patients died, and the rate of death was significantly higher in those with AKI, mainly when RRT was required.

Is Kidney Transplantation From a COVID-19-Positive Deceased Donor Safe for the Recipient?

INTRODUCTION: In recent months, the number of kidney transplants from deceased donors has declined significantly. One of the reasons is the possibility of infection of the recipient with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Determining the risk of transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) with a donor organ is very important for developing a kidney transplantation policy during a pandemic. MATERIALS AND METHOD: We present cases of kidney transplantation from COVID-19-positive deceased donors to 2 dialysis patients 49 and 45 years old. One of them was on hemodialysis for 28 months; the other received continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Both patients received only basic immunosuppression, including tacrolimus, methylprednisolone, and mycophenolic acid. No antilymphocyte agents were used for induction therapy. RESULTS: Cold ischemia time was 22 and 21 hours, respectively. One recipient had delayed graft function with increasing of urine output on day 8; another had immediate function. Both patients had no febrile and no other symptoms of acute respiratory disease during their hospital stay. No abnormalities on the chest x-ray were seen. No serum anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG were detected before and during 6 weeks after surgery. Repeated nasopharyngeal swabs real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) were negative during the period. Both recipients were discharged 5 weeks after surgery with serum creatinine levels of 122 and 91 mcmol/L, respectively. CONCLUSION: Today we have no evidence of the possibility of transmission of COVID-19 from a SARS-CoV-2 positive donor to a kidney recipient. We also have no reason to suspect kidney damage by COVID-19 in a deceased donor at normal serum creatinine level.

The impact of COVID-19 on kidney transplantation and the kidney transplant recipient - One year into the pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly changed the landscape of kidney transplantation in the United States and worldwide. In addition to adversely impacting allograft and patient survival in postkidney transplant recipients, the current pandemic has affected all aspects of transplant care, including transplant referrals and listing, organ donation rates, organ procurement and shipping, and waitlist mortality. Critical decisions were made during this period by transplant centers and individual transplant physicians taking into consideration patient safety and resource utilization. As countries have begun administering the COVID vaccines, new and important considerations pertinent to our transplant population have arisen. This comprehensive review focuses on the impact of COVID-19 on kidney transplantation rates, mortality, policy decisions, and the clinical management of transplanted patients infected with COVID-19.

An early experience of COVID-19 disease in pediatric and young adult renal transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 is caused by a novel form of coronavirus known as SARS-CoV-2. Patients can present with a wide variety of symptoms from fever to severe respiratory distress. Immunocompromised patients, including solid organ transplant recipients, may present with atypical symptoms, making the diagnosis of COVID-19 more difficult to make. New reports have been emerging about the management of COVID-19 disease in adult renal transplant recipients. However, very little is known in pediatric renal transplant recipients. METHODS: Here, we describe a case report of four pediatric renal transplant recipients who presented with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 disease. RESULTS: All patients presented with upper respiratory infection symptoms, with one requiring hospitalization for hypoxia. Patients were treated mostly with supportive care. Two of the patients developed AKI which resolved four to eight weeks after illness. All four patients developed COVID IgG antibodies one to two months after becoming infected. CONCLUSION: This case series demonstrates that immunocompromised renal transplant recipients have comparable outcomes compared with immunocompetent children.

Practicing With Uncertainty: Kidney Transplantation During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic required transplant nephrologists, surgeons, and care teams to make decisions about the full spectrum of transplant program operations and clinical practices in the absence of experience or data. Initially, across the country, there was a reduction in kidney transplant procedures and a striking pause in the conduct of living donation and living-donor transplant surgeries. Aspects of candidate evaluation and follow-up rapidly converted to telehealth. Months into the pandemic, much has been learned from experiences worldwide, yet many questions remain. In this Perspective, we reflect on some of the practice decisions made by the transplant community in the initial response to the pandemic and consider lessons learned, including those related to the risks, benefits, and logistical considerations of proceeding with versus delaying deceased-donor transplantation, living donation, and living-donor transplantation during the pandemic. We review the evolution of therapeutic strategies for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and their use in transplant recipients, current consensus related to immunosuppression management in infected transplant recipients, and emerging information on vaccination against SARS-CoV-2. We share our thoughts on research priorities, discuss the areas in which we are still practicing with uncertainty, and look ahead to the next phase of the pandemic response.