Outcomes of renal transplantation in patients with AL amyloidosis: an international collaboration through The International Kidney and Monoclonal Gammopathy Research Group

Effective systemic therapies suppress toxic light chain production leading to an increased proportion of patients with light chain (AL) amyloidosis who survive longer albeit with end-stage renal disease. There is a critical need to identify patients in this population who benefit from renal transplantation. This multicenter, observational study from five countries includes 237 patients with AL amyloidosis who underwent renal transplantation between 1987 and 2020. With a median follow-up of 8.5 years, the median overall survival from renal transplantation was 8.6 years and was significantly longer in patients with complete and very good partial hematologic responses (CR + VGPR) compared to less than VGPR (9 versus 6.8 years; HR: 1.5, P = 0.04 [95% CI: 1–2.1]) at renal transplantation. Median graft survival was 7.8 years and was better in the CR + VGPR group (8.3 vs 5.7 years, HR: 1.4, P = 0.05 [95% CI: 1–2]). The frequency and time to amyloid recurrence in the graft was also lower (16% vs 37%, p = 0.01) and longer (median time not achieved vs 10 years, p = 0.001) in the CR + VGPR group. Comparing CR vs. VGPR there was no difference in overall or graft survival. Although 69 patients (29%) experienced hematologic relapse, treatment effectively prevented graft loss in the majority (87%). Renal transplantation in selected AL amyloidosis patients is associated with extended overall and renal graft survival. Patients with hematologic CR or VGPR have the most favorable outcomes, and these patients should be considered for renal transplantation

Patients with CKD Secondary to Glomerular Disorders have Lower Arterial Stiffness, as Compared to Hypertensive and Diabetic CKD

Abstract Background Chronic kidney disease (CKD) manifested as reduced GFR and/or albuminuria, has been known to accelerate arterial stiffness and early vascular aging (EVA). Diabetes, hypertension, and glomerular disorders are the leading causes of CKD and renal failure. The question which etiology contributes more to this vascular phenomenon-hypertensive and diabetic CKD or CKD secondary to immune-mediated glomerulonephritis—remained unclear. Objective To compare pulse wave velocity (PWV), a marker of arterial stiffness, between CKD patients of different etiologies: hypertensive and diabetic nephrosclerosis. vs. CKD secondary to glomerular disorders. Methods Clinical data were collected on 56 patients followed at the Nephrology and Hypertension Institute in Samson Assuta Ashdod University Hospital. All patients had at least one visit at our Nephrology clinics prior to recruitment. All patients with a glomerular disorder had a clinical-pathological diagnosis based on a recent kidney biopsy. Pulse wave velocity (PWV) was measured using a validated Sphygmocor XCEL® device. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to compare PWV between hypertensive/diabetic CKD and CKD secondary to glomerular disorders. Results PWV was significantly higher in the hypertensive/diabetic CKD group, compared to the CKD-GN group, with an average of. 12.2 m/s vs 8.3 m/s, respectively (p < 0.001). In a multivariate linear regression model, having CKD secondary to glomerulonephritis was associated with a significantly lower PWV (B = − 3.262, p < 0.001), compared with CKD secondary to hypertension and diabetes, with adjustment of age, creatinine, and comorbidities. Conclusion CKD Patients secondary to glomerulonephritis, have lower PWV when compared to CKD patients with diabetes and/or hypertension, even after adjusting for age, renal function, and the presence of comorbidities. It is intriguing to further study the possible protective role of immunosuppression on the arterial properties of CKD patients