Diagnostic efficacy of C4d immunostaining in the detection of the humoral component of renal allograft rejection and therapeutic implications

Context: In the current scenario of renal transplantation, the role of immunological methods in the detection of C4d has emerged as a useful adjunct in the recognition of acute humoral rejection (AHR). Few reports of this nature are available from the Indian context although there are several from the Western literature. Aims: To study the humoral component of renal allograft rejection in patients presenting clinically with graft dysfunction by histopathological detection of polymorphs in the peritubular capillaries and the expression of C4d using immunological techniques, as well as the response of patients to appropriate antirejection therapy. Settings and Design: This study from a tertiary care center reemphasizes the importance of recognition of AHR as a cause of renal allograft dysfunction. Materials and Methods: Percutaneous renal biopsies were obtained from 40 postrenal transplant patients and evaluated for C4d using immunofluorescence and immunohistochemical methods. Statistical a0 nalysis used: SPSS software. Results: Positive expression of C4d was seen in a total of 19/40 cases (44.4%) indicating immunological evidence of AHR. Diffusely positive cases were treated with IV immunoglobulin therapy, plasmapheresis and Rituximab following which graft function was restored. Patients with minimal to focal positive expression of C4d responded well to pulse steroids and change in immunosuppressive therapy. Conclusions: C4d staining is a useful adjunct to routine histopathological methods in evaluating the humoral component of acute renal allograft dysfunction and helps in planning appropriate antirejection therapy with the goal of achieving long-term graft survival

Occult systemic lupus erythematosus with active lupus nephritis presenting as Libman-Sacks endocarditis

The diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) depends on clinical evidence of renal, rheumatologic, cutaneous, and neurologic involvement, supported by serological markers. A previously healthy 14-year-old girl presented with Libman-Sacks endocarditis involving the aortic valve as the first manifestation of SLE. Even though she did not satisfy the American College of Rheumatology criteria for diagnosing SLE, she had anemia, proteinuria, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, low complement 4 (C4) levels, and strongly positive antinuclear antibody titer. A renal biopsy showed stage IV lupus nephritis. Treatment was initiated with immunosuppressants and steroids. This type of presentation may be misdiagnosed as infective endocarditis missing the underlying collagen vascular disease

Coinfection of BK virus and cytomegalovirus in renal transplant recipients

Viral infections are common opportunistic infections in renal transplant recipients which can cause allograft dysfunction and are often a major cause of graft dysfunction in the South Asian region. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and BK viral infections are often seen in the early and late posttransplant periods, respectively. Coinfection of both these viruses is rare and hence early diagnosis is the key to prevent graft loss. We present the cases of two male renal transplant recipients with CMV and BKV coinfection with diverse outcomes

Management of bone and mineral disease in renal transplant patients

Mineral and bone disease in the posttransplantation patient is common and requires thorough evaluation for appropriate management. This includes secondary renal osteodystrophy, rickets, osteomalacia, osteoporosis, and osteonecrosis. Biochemical markers along with imaging and bone biopsy help to establish the diagnosis and treatment planning. Lack of appropriate management plan can lead to chronic pains, fractures, and osteonecrosis affecting long-term bone health. Tailoring immunosuppressants with appropriate medical therapy, nutritional supplements, and anti-resorptive agents is the mainstay of treatment. Here, we discuss the current management strategies with illustrative cases

Hand grip strength as a nutritional marker in pd and hemodialysis patients

This is a prospective study evaluating hand grip strength as a nutritional marker in maintenance dialysis patients. Thirty CAPD and 50 MHD patients were assessed for hand grip strength (in the non-fistula arm) and demographic variables. In the MHD, 60% diabetic and in PD 66.7% were diabetic. In the MHD patients, Mean Age - 53.62±12.45, 78% Males and 22% Females, Hb-9.7±1.1 g/dL and 3.86±2.83 years on dialysis and in PD patients, mean age - 58.6±11.52 , 63.3% males and 26.7% females, Hb – 10.5±1.4 g/dL and 3.33±2.6 mean years on dialysis. Hand Grip Strength was 11.58+3.7 kg pre-dialysis and 9.2+3.6 kg post dialysis in MHD and 10.8+2.9 kg in PD patients. We found that malnutrition was present in 90% of MHD (10% severe, 24% moderate, 56% mild) and 100% (6.7% severe, 40% moderate, 53.3% mild) of PD patients via hand grip comparison. In conclusion, hand grip strength is a simple tool to measure the muscle mass as a measure of malnutrition in dialysis patients

A challenging male patient with retroviral infection on highly active antiretroviral therapy issues with re-transplantation

A 44-year-old African male with chronic kidney disease Stage V due to hypertension underwent a live related renal transplant in 2005. He was on triple immunosuppression postoperatively. Subsequently, he developed metastatic Kaposi sarcoma requiring reduction in immunosuppression and switching over to rapamycin. He was found to be retrovirus positive on a follow-up visit. His graft function progressively deteriorated requiring dialysis while continuing on highly active antiretroviral therapy. He had multiple infective episodes including acute bacterial endocarditis. He received a second renal transplant from a live-related donor in 2017. Despite repeated dosage adjustments, tacrolimus levels were persistently elevated due to drug-drug interaction with diltiazem and anti-retroviral drugs, despite good allograft function

Prevalence of hypertension in postrenal transplant recipients: A retrospective tertiary care study

Aim: Posttransplant hypertension (HTN) is a strong predictor of patient and graft survival. As there is a paucity of data in India, this retrospective analysis was done to look at the blood pressure (BP) in 506 renal transplant recipients, with 240 males, 266 females, mean age 42.90 ± 13.31 years, looking at their BP, at the initial and after 1 year later. Methods: This is a retrospective tertiary care study looking at serial BP measurements in 506 renal transplant recipients, correlating with their body mass index (BMI), graft function, proteinuria, antihypertensive used, erythropoietin usage, echocardiography native kidney disease, and new-onset diabetes mellitus till 1 year after transplantation. Results: According to the Joint National Committee 7 classification, initial BP was normal in 24 (4.74%), pre-HTN in 145 (28.65%), HTN Stage I in 227 (44.86%), and Stage II in 110 (21.73%) patients. One year later, BP was normal in 43 (8.55%), pre-HTN in 153 (30.26%), HTN Stage I in 236 (46.71%), and Stage II in 74 (14.47%) patients. Diabetics had a higher initial systolic BP (SBP) (P = 0.005). Patients with left ventricular hypertrophy had a higher SBP 1 year later (P = 0.001). Patients with BMI > 35 kg/m2, had higher initial SBP (P = 0.01), initial diastolic BP (DBP) (P = 0.01) and also higher 1 year posttransplant SBP (P = 0.02) and DBP (P = 0.01). Conclusion: There was a high incidence of HTN in renal transplant recipients, 66.59% patients with HTN and 28.65% with pre-HTN in the initial posttransplant period, and 61.18% with HTN and 30.26% with pre-HTN in the 1-year posttransplant period

Urinary tract infections in the era of newer immunosuppressant agents : A tertiary care center study

We studied the incidence and the risk factors predisposing to post transplantation urinary tract infection (UTI) and the association with use of different immunosuppressive regimens. We performed a retrospective analysis of 152 recipients of renal transplantation over a period of two years. Seventy one (46.71%) patients had culture positive UTI, Escherichia coli (45.1%) being the commonest. Thirty four (22.39%) patients had acute rejection and 14.4% of those had suffered UTI in the early post transplant period. Immunosuppression included induction with various anti-bodies and maintenance on antirejection medications. Trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole was given as prophylaxis throughout the period. The UTI was treated according to microbiological sensitivity. 2.8% died due to urosepsis. In our retrospective analysis renal transplant recipients under the age of 45, female gender and diabetics suffered more UTI. Combination therapy with micro-emulsion form of cyclosporine A, prednisolone and azathioprine developed more UTI (P= 0.0418)

Early recurrence of IgA nephropathy in a young adult: Transplant recipient

A 20-year-old male with hypothyroidism, chronic kidney disease Stage V due to hypertension, and Henoch–Schonlein purpura (IgA vasculitis) underwent a live-related renal transplant in 2015 with mother as a donor. He was inducted with single dose thymoglobulin 75 mg following which he was initiated on triple immunosuppressive therapy – prednisolone 25 mg once a day, tacrolimus 2.5 mg in the morning and 3 mg in the night, and mycophenolate mofetil 750 mg BID. On the 5th day of transplantation, he noticed purpuric rashes in the forearm and thigh associated with hematuria. He had good graft function. Renal allograft biopsy on sixth post operative day showed recurrence of IgA nephropathy (IgAN)