Psychosocial Assessment of Candidates for Transplantation (PACT) Score Identifies High Risk Patients in Pediatric Renal Transplantation.

Background: Currently, there is no standardized approach for determining psychosocial readiness in pediatric transplantation. We examined the utility of the Psychosocial Assessment of Candidates for Transplantation (PACT) to identify pediatric kidney transplant recipients at risk for adverse clinical outcomes. Methods: Kidney transplant patients <21-years-old transplanted at Duke University Medical Center between 2005 and 2015 underwent psychosocial assessment by a social worker with either PACT or unstructured interview, which were used to determine transplant candidacy. PACT assessed candidates on a scale of 0 (poor candidate) to 4 (excellent candidate) in areas of social support, psychological health, lifestyle factors, and understanding. Demographics and clinical outcomes were analyzed by presence or absence of PACT and further characterized by high (≥3) and low (≤2) scores. Results: Of 54 pediatric patients, 25 (46.3%) patients underwent pre-transplant evaluation utilizing PACT, while 29 (53.7%) were not evaluated with PACT. Patients assessed with PACT had a significantly lower percentage of acute rejection (16.0 vs. 55.2%, p = 0.007). After adjusting for HLA mismatch, a pre-transplant PACT score was persistently associated with lower odds of acute rejection (Odds Ratio 0.119, 95% Confidence Interval 0.027-0.52, p = 0.005). In PACT subsection analysis, the lack of family availability (OR 0.08, 95% CI 0.01-0.97, p = 0.047) and risk for psychopathology (OR 0.34, 95% CI 0.13-0.87, p = 0.025) were associated with a low PACT score and post-transplant non-adherence. Conclusions: Our study highlights the importance of standardized psychosocial assessments and the potential use of PACT in risk stratifying pre-transplant candidates.

Correction to: Recurrence of nephrotic syndrome following kidney transplantation is associated with initial native kidney biopsy findings : A Midwest Pediatric Nephrology Consortium (MWPNC) study.

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake. The subtitle "A Midwest Pediatric Nephrology Consortium (MWPNC) study" was missing. The correct title including subtitle is given above.

Recurrence of nephrotic syndrome following kidney transplantation is associated with initial native kidney biopsy findings.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) due to focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) and minimal change disease (MCD) is a leading cause of end-stage kidney disease in children. Recurrence of primary disease following transplantation is a major cause of allograft loss. The clinical determinants of disease recurrence are not completely known. Our objectives were to determine risk factors for recurrence of FSGS/MCD following kidney transplantation and factors that predict response to immunosuppression following recurrence. METHODS: Multicenter study of pediatric patients with kidney transplants performed for ESKD due to SRNS between 1/2006 and 12/2015. Demographics, clinical course, and biopsy data were collected. Patients with primary-SRNS (PSRNS) were defined as those initially resistant to corticosteroid therapy at diagnosis, and patients with late-SRNS (LSRNS) as those initially responsive to steroids who subsequently developed steroid resistance. We performed logistic regression to determine risk factors associated with nephrotic syndrome (NS) recurrence. RESULTS: We analyzed 158 patients; 64 (41%) had recurrence of NS in their renal allograft. Disease recurrence occurred in 78% of patients with LSRNS compared to 39% of those with PSRNS. Patients with MCD on initial native kidney biopsy had a 76% recurrence rate compared with a 40% recurrence rate in those with FSGS. Multivariable analysis showed that MCD histology (OR; 95% CI 5.6; 1.3-23.7) compared to FSGS predicted disease recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric patients with MCD and LSRNS are at higher risk of disease recurrence following kidney transplantation. These findings may be useful for designing studies to test strategies for preventing recurrence.

Looking beyond the exome: a phenotype-first approach to molecular diagnostic resolution in rare and undiagnosed diseases.

PurposeTo describe examples of missed pathogenic variants on whole-exome sequencing (WES) and the importance of deep phenotyping for further diagnostic testing.MethodsGuided by phenotypic information, three children with negative WES underwent targeted single-gene testing.ResultsIndividual 1 had a clinical diagnosis consistent with infantile systemic hyalinosis, although WES and a next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based ANTXR2 test were negative. Sanger sequencing of ANTXR2 revealed a homozygous single base pair insertion, previously missed by the WES variant caller software. Individual 2 had neurodevelopmental regression and cerebellar atrophy, with no diagnosis on WES. New clinical findings prompted Sanger sequencing and copy number testing of PLA2G6. A novel homozygous deletion of the noncoding exon 1 (not included in the WES capture kit) was detected, with extension into the promoter, confirming the clinical suspicion of infantile neuroaxonal dystrophy. Individual 3 had progressive ataxia, spasticity, and magnetic resonance image changes of vanishing white matter leukoencephalopathy. An NGS leukodystrophy gene panel and WES showed a heterozygous pathogenic variant in EIF2B5; no deletions/duplications were detected. Sanger sequencing of EIF2B5 showed a frameshift indel, probably missed owing to failure of alignment.ConclusionThese cases illustrate potential pitfalls of WES/NGS testing and the importance of phenotype-guided molecular testing in yielding diagnoses.

Efficacy of antibiotic prophylaxis in children with vesicoureteral reflux: systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: Controversy exists regarding the use of continuous antibiotic prophylaxis vs observation in the management of children with vesicoureteral reflux. The reported effectiveness of continuous antibiotic prophylaxis in children with reflux varies widely. We determined whether the aggregated evidence supports use of continuous antibiotic prophylaxis in children with vesicoureteral reflux. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We searched the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, clinicaltrials.gov, MEDLINE(®), EMBASE(®), Google Scholar and recently presented meeting abstracts for reports in any language. Bibliographies of included studies were then hand searched for any missed articles. The study protocol was prospectively registered at PROSPERO (No. CRD42014009639). Reports were assessed and data abstracted in duplicate, with differences resolved by consensus. Risk of bias was assessed using standardized instruments. RESULTS: We identified 1,547 studies, of which 8 are included in the meta-analysis. Pooled results demonstrated that continuous antibiotic prophylaxis significantly reduced the risk of recurrent febrile or symptomatic urinary tract infection (pooled OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.42-0.96) but, if urinary tract infection occurred, increased the risk of antibiotic resistant organism (pooled OR 8.75, 95% CI 3.52-21.73). A decrease in new renal scarring was not associated with continuous antibiotic prophylaxis use. Adverse events were similar between the 2 groups. Significant heterogeneity existed between studies (I(2) 50%, p = 0.03), specifically between those trials with significant risk of bias (eg unclear protocol descriptions and/or lack of blinding). CONCLUSIONS: Compared to no treatment, continuous antibiotic prophylaxis significantly reduced the risk of febrile and symptomatic urinary tract infections in children with vesicoureteral reflux, although it increased the risk of infection due to antibiotic resistant bacteria. Continuous antibiotic prophylaxis did not significantly impact the occurrence of new renal scarring or reported adverse events.

Neurogenic bladder dysfunction presenting as urinary retention in neuronopathic Gaucher disease.

Neuronopathic Gaucher disease can present as a continuum of clinical findings, including somatic symptoms of anemia, thrombocytopenia, hepatosplenomegaly, and bone disease as well as neurologic sequelae. There is a spectrum of neurologic symptoms ranging from oculomotor apraxia to severe convulsions. The heterozygosity of phenotypes makes it difficult to predict the disease course. We describe an 8-year-old male with neuronopathic type III Gaucher disease who developed bladder dysfunction and was unable to completely void. He also presented with hypertension and acute renal insufficiency, most likely secondary to urinary retention. A complete evaluation was done for causes of urinary retention and bladder dysfunction. A renal bladder ultrasound demonstrated marked hydroureteronephrosis. There was no clinical evidence of infection and cystoscopy revealed no anatomic obstruction. In addition, MRI showed no spinal abnormalities. His bladder dysfunction was managed operatively by creating a catheterizable stoma, using his appendix, to empty his bladder, and surgical findings were consistent with neurogenic bladder. He continues to be managed for his Gaucher disease and neurogenic bladder by genetics, nephrology and urology. This is the first clinical report of neurogenic bladder dysfunction in neuronopathic Gaucher disease.

A de novo novel missense mutation in AVPR2 with severe nephrogenic diabetes insipidus.

We describe a paediatric case of nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (NDI) with a novel mutation in the arginine vasopressin receptor 2 gene (AVPR2) in the absence of a family history of congenital polyuria. The patient, a 5-month-old Caucasian boy, had failure to thrive and hypernatraemia. On admission to hospital, he had a plasma sodium of 171 mEq/L with a concomittant urine osmolality of 131 mOsm/kg. Molecular genetic analysis demonstrated that the patient had an AVPR2 mutation (c.861C > G) resulting in a substitution of tryptophan for serine at amino acid position 167 (p.Ser167Trp). His mother was heterozygous for the same Ser167Trp mutation which was found to be de novo from the DNA analysis of the maternal grandparents.

Renovascular disease in children and adolescents.

PURPOSE: This retrospective review describes the surgical management of renovascular disease in 25 consecutive children and adolescents with severe hypertension. METHODS: Patients 95 th percentile systolic or diastolic pressure adjusted for gender, age, and height). RA repair comprised 25 bypasses (73%) consisting of 28% saphenous vein, 60% hypogastric artery, and 12% polytetrafluoroethylene; 2 patch angioplasties (6%), and 7 reimplantations (21%). Branch RA exposure was required in 28 kidneys (88%), and branch reconstruction was required in 61%. Warm in situ repair was used in 53%, in situ cold perfusion in 24%, and ex vivo cold perfusion in 23%. Of six bilateral RA repairs, one was staged and two patients are awaiting a staged repair. Combined aortic reconstruction was required in three patients. No unplanned nephrectomy was performed. There were no perioperative deaths. Hypertension was cured in 36%, improved in 56%, and failed in 8% at mean follow-up of 46.4 +/- 7.8 months. The mean calculated glomerular filtration rate increased from 82.0 mL/min/1.73 m 2 preoperatively to 98.2 mL/min/1.73 m 2 postoperatively. The postoperative patency of 30 RA reconstructions was evaluated by angiography, RDS scanning, or both. At mean follow-up of 32.8 months (median, 21.2 months), primary RA patency was 91%. No failures were observed after 2 months follow-up. Estimated survival was 100% at 60 months, with one death 9 years after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Renovascular hypertension in children and adolescents was caused by a heterogeneous group of lesions. All patients had RA repair, with arterial autografts in most of the RA bypasses. Cold perfusion preservation was used in half of the complex branch RA repairs. These strategies provided 91% primary patency at mean follow-up of 32.8 months, with beneficial blood pressure response in 92%. Surgical repair of clinically significant renovascular disease in children and adolescents is supported by these results.

Kidney and pancreas transplantation at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center.

More than 1,100 transplants have been performed at WFUBMC, including 60 pediatric transplants and 40 pancreas transplants. The one-year living donor kidney graft survival rate exceeds 90% and the 2 year deceased donor kidney graft survival rate exceeds 80%. The current active waiting list includes more than 300 candidates. Despite more transplants being performed, we continue to under-serve our referral area, which has among the highest rates of hypertension, diabetes, and end stage renal disease in the country. The AOTP has experienced a period of rapid growth over the past 2 years based upon sharing of zero HLA antigen-mismatched kidneys, use of ECD kidneys, liberalization of donor and recipient selection criteria, and the continued development of the pancreas transplant and laparoscopic donor nephrectomy programs. The pancreas transplant program will continue to grow as the waiting list enlarges and matures, with a 200% increase in activity expected within the next few years. The LDKT program will expand as more emphasis is placed on our pretransplant practice, including the more liberal application of laparoscopic donor nephrectomy, which has now become a standard procedure at our WFUBMC is involved in a number of clinical research projects studying new immunosuppressive agents and regimens. In this chapter, we have presented our recent experience with KTX in the elderly, ECD kidneys, alternate day Thymoglobulin administration, valganciclovir prophylaxis, SRL conversion using daclizumab bridge therapy, and pancreas transplantation with portal-enteric drainage. We plan to initiate a number of new protocols in the immediate future, including desensitization of the highly sensitized patient, ABO incompatible transplantation, transplantation of the HIV-positive patient, steroid withdrawal and avoidance regimens, living kidney donation from the anonymous altruistic donor, paired kidney exchanges from living donors, and islet transplantation. WFUBMC remains the most active donor hospital in North Carolina, and a non-heart beating donor protocol has been successfully initiated at our facility. Although much has been accomplished, a number of challenges remain. We look forward to building on our accomplishments, confronting the challenges, and achieving a level of excellence that could only be attained by mutual commitment from a dedicated, multidisciplinary team.

Acute renal failure in cystic fibrosis: association with inhaled tobramycin therapy.

We describe a 20-year-old patient with cystic fibrosis who developed acute nonoliguric renal failure associated with inhaled tobramycin. Clinical evaluation and renal biopsy findings were consistent with aminoglycoside-induced changes. Renal failure due to inhaled aminoglycosides has not been previously reported. The incidence may rise, however, with the increased use of this treatment modality. Measurable tobramycin levels due to inhalational therapy with conventional dosing in the reported patient indicate that the drug can be systemically absorbed, and renal tubular toxicity may occur.