Donor-specific antibodies detected by single antigen beads alone can help risk stratify patients undergoing retransplantation across a repeat HLA mismatch.

Whether reexposure to mismatched HLA antigens (RMM) in the setting of a negative crossmatch is associated with increased immunological risk remains an area of uncertainty. This is due to evidence derived predominantly from registry data, which lacks comprehensive information on alloantibody and rejection. In this study, we analyze the impact of low-level preformed donor-specific antibodies (DSA) against an RMM on transplant outcomes. From 1988 consecutive renal transplant recipients, we analyzed 179 patients undergoing retransplantation, of whom 55 had a RMM. All patients were crossmatch negative and preformed DSA were detected by single antigen beads alone. Multivariate analysis revealed that patients with preformed DSA against an RMM were independently at risk of antibody-mediated rejection (HR 8.70 [3.42-22.10], P < .0001) and death-censored allograft loss (HR 3.08 [1.17-8.14], P = .023). In addition, prior transplant nephrectomy (HR 2.04 [1.00-4.17], P = .0495) was also associated with allograft failure, whereas receiving a retransplant that was matched at HLA class II was associated with a favorable outcome (HR 0.37 [0.14-0.99], P = .047). In the absence of preformed DSA, an RMM was not associated with de novo DSA development, rejection, or allograft loss. In conclusion, an RMM portends increased immunological risk only in the presence of a preformed DSA in patients undergoing retransplantation.

Pulmonary tuberculosis: An analysis of isolation practices and clinical risk factors in a tertiary hospital.

BACKGROUND: Inadequate isolation of patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis causes exposure whereas over-cautious isolation generates time and cost inefficiencies. This study aims to ascertain the delays involved in isolating subjects and the importance of risk factors. METHODS AND MATERIAL: Between December 2010 and January 2013, a retrospective analysis of 271 subjects was performed. Information was obtained from discharge letters, radiological and microbiological results. RESULTS: The median time taken to isolate subjects was 0 days, and 71.7% were isolated within 1 day. Most subjects (75.3%) had sputum samples obtained after isolation, of which 14.7% were positive. The median time from admission to first sputum sample was 1 day. Smear was negative in 174 subjects (85.3%). Country of birth (high or low risk) did not significantly affect sputum positivity (25.5% vs 19.4%, p=0.52). Suspicious radiological findings were noted in 38.6% subjects, and 32.8% had a suspicious clinical history. Subjects with both clinical and radiological probability had more sputum positivity (46.2%), compared to subjects who had neither (2.7%). CONCLUSION: There are delays with isolation and diagnosis of subjects with a high probability of tuberculosis. Clinical and radiological probability were more significant in predicting sputum positivity than country of birth.

Discussions during shared decision-making in older adults with advanced renal disease: a scoping review.

OBJECTIVES: This review summarises the information available for clinicians counselling older patients with kidney failure about treatment options, focusing on prognosis, quality of life, the lived experiences of treatment and the information needs of older adults. DESIGN: We followed the Joanna Briggs Institute Methodology for Scoping Reviews. The final report conforms to the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. DATA SOURCES: PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, TRIP and online repositories (for dissertations, guidelines and recommendations from national renal associations). ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR INCLUSION: Articles in English studying older adults with advanced kidney disease (estimated glomerular filtration rate <30 mL/min/1.73 m2); published between January 2000 and August 2018. Articles not addressing older patients separately or those comparing between dialysis modalities were excluded. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS: Two independent reviewers screened articles for inclusion and grouped them by topic as per the objectives above. Quantitative data were presented as tables and charts; qualitative themes were identified and described. RESULTS: 248 articles were included after screening 15 445 initial results. We summarised prognostic scores and compared dialysis and non-dialytic care. We highlighted potentially modifiable factors affecting quality of life. From reports of the lived experiences, we documented the effects of symptoms, of ageing, the feelings of disempowerment and the need for adaptation. Exploration of information needs suggested that patients want to participate in decision-making and need information, in simple terms, about survival and non-survival outcomes. CONCLUSION: When discussing treatment options, validated prognostic scores are useful. Older patients with multiple comorbidities do not do well with dialysis. The modifiable factors contributing to the low quality of life in this cohort deserve attention. Older patients suffer a high symptom burden and functional deterioration; they have to cope with significant life changes and feelings of disempowerment. They desire greater involvement and more information about illness, symptoms and what to expect with treatment.

Intensive monitoring for post-transplant diabetes mellitus and treatment with dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor therapy.

AIM: Current monitoring practices fail to diagnose patients with post-transplant hyperglycaemia and tend to delay initiation of treatment, which potentially results in adverse graft and morbidity outcomes. This real-world study set out to assess the impact on insulin resistance indices of a new clinical pathway for diagnosis and treatment of hyperglycaemia following renal transplantation. METHODS: A hundred and forty-seven adult renal transplant recipients, without pre-existing diabetes, from a single centre were included. Patients transplanted between January 2008 to September 2015 formed the historical cohort. Patients transplanted between October 2015 and February 2018 were subject to a new clinical pathway - if they had fasting blood sugar levels more than 7 mmol/L or random blood glucose levels more than 11.1 mmol/L, they had early introduction of oral therapy, using the DPP-4 inhibitor linagliptin. RESULTS: In the historical cohort, 19.8% were diagnosed with PTDM, compared to 46.3% in the protocol cohort. Amongst patients with PTDM, there was a significant difference in HOMA-IR (p = 0.02) between the historical cohort (median HOMA-IR 3.33) and the protocol cohort (median HOMA-IR 2.21). There was a significant difference at each time point (0,1,2-h measurements) of blood glucose levels form oral glucose tolerance testing between patients with and without PTDM in the historical cohort (p < 0.001), but no difference between patients in the protocol cohort. CONCLUSION: Detection of PTDM was higher with the new clinical pathway. Early treatment of hyperglycaemia resulted in better insulin resistance scores. Larger prospective controlled studies focussing on early detection and management of PTDM with linagliptin are warranted.