Recurrence of nephrotic syndrome after renal transplantation: influence of increased immunosuppression

Recurrent disease after pediatric renal transplantation

BACKGROUND

Recurrent disease after kidney transplant remains an important cause of allograft failure, accounting for 7-8% of graft loss and ranking as the fifth most common cause of allograft loss in the pediatric population. Although the pathophysiology of many recurrent diseases is incompletely understood, recent advances in basic science and therapeutics are improving outcomes and changing the course of several of these conditions.

METHODS

Review of the literature.

RESULTS

We discuss the diagnosis and management of recurrent disease.

CONCLUSION

We highlight new insights into the pathophysiology and treatment of post-transplant primary hyperoxaluria, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, immune complex glomerulonephritis, C3 glomerulopathy, lupus nephritis, atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome, and IgA nephropathy.

Incidence, risk factors, and outcomes of recurrent focal segmental glomerulosclerosis in pediatric kidney transplant recipients: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis is the most prevalent acquired kidney disease leading to end-stage renal disease in children and has a propensity for recurring in the transplanted kidney. The recurrence of FSGS after kidney transplantation in children varies greatly. In addition, the risk factors and outcomes of recurrence of FSGS remain controversial. This study evaluated the recurrence rate, risk factors, and prognosis of FSGS after kidney transplantation in order to provide advice and assistance in clinical decision-making for pediatric kidney transplantation.

METHODS

PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, CNKI, and other databases were searched from the establishment of the repository to March 2022. We extracted data on incidence, risk factors, and outcomes.

RESULTS

The results showed that the recurrence rate of primary FSGS in children after renal transplantation was 48% (95% CI 36%-59%) and the recurrence rate of FSGS (all forms) was 35% (95% CI 17%-52%). The graft loss rate of primary FSGS in children after kidney transplantation was 29% (95% CI 17%-42%) and the graft loss rate of FSGS (all forms) was 29% (95% CI 4%-62%). 57% (95% CI 42%-73%) of pediatric patients with recurrent primary FSGS showed complete remission. Risk factor analyses showed that age of onset (SMD .69, 95% CI .20-1.19, p = .006) was related to the recurrence of primary FSGS, whereas the living related donor was not a risk factor for recurrent primary FSGS in pediatrics after kidney transplantation (OR 1.22, 95% CI .48-3.10, p = .674).

CONCLUSIONS

The recurrence rate and graft loss rate of FSGS in children after kidney transplantation were relatively high. Age at onset was associated with a risk for recurrent primary FSGS, whereas the living related donor was not a risk factor for recurrent FSGS in pediatric kidney recipients.

Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis: Risk for recurrence and interventions to optimize outcomes following recurrence

BACKGROUND

FSGS is a common indication for kidney transplant with a high-risk of posttransplant recurrence.

METHODS

In this review, we summarize current knowledge about FSGS recurrence after kidney transplantation, including epidemiology, pretransplant planning, posttransplant management, and investigational treatments.

RESULTS

FSGS recurs in 14%-60% of first transplants, likely associated with a circulating permeability factor. Pretransplant counseling regarding recurrence is critical, and patients with FSGS should undergo pretransplant genetic screening. Rapid progression to ESKD, initial steroid responsiveness, younger age at diagnosis, race/ethnicity, and mesangial hypercellularity or minimal change histology on native biopsy may be associated with recurrence. Living donation is not contraindicated but does not result in improved graft survival relative to deceased donation. Pretransplant nephrectomy may be performed for a variety of reasons, but does not decrease recurrence. Pretransplant therapy with rituximab and/or PE is understudied but not clearly effective at preventing recurrence. Patients with FSGS typically present early with rapid-onset severe proteinuria. Diagnosis can be confirmed by biopsy showing foot process effacement; typical FSGS lesions are not seen on light microscopy in the early stages. There is no established effective treatment for recurrent FSGS, but renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibition and extracorporeal therapies, including PE and IA, are most commonly used. Adjunct or alternative therapies may include rituximab, lipopheresis, and cyclosporine.

Treatment of post-transplant recurrent FSGS in children using plasmapheresis and augmentation of immunosuppression

Background

Up to 60% of pediatric renal transplant recipients with end-stage renal disease due to primary focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) may develop recurrent disease. Such recurrence is associated with poor prognosis if no remission is achieved. We report a single center experience with a protocol based on plasmapheresis and increased immunosuppression that resulted in a high long-lived remission rate.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study included consecutive pediatric renal transplant patients with recurrent FSGS treated with a standardized protocol using plasmapheresis and cyclophosphamide to supplement usual post-transplant immunosuppression with calcineurin inhibitors and steroids. Relapse was defined as urinary protein/creatinine ratio > 1.0 g/g and remission as < 0.5 g/g.

Results

Seventeen patients with FSGS recurrence post-transplant were treated. All had therapy resistant FSGS in native kidneys and had been on dialysis from 4 to 10 years. Of the 17, one died perioperatively from a pulmonary thromboembolism. Fifteen others achieved a complete remission within 3 months of treatment for FSGS recurrence. After a median follow-up period of 4 years, there were no recurrences of significant proteinuria. One patient achieved remission with rituximab.

Conclusion

The addition of plasmapheresis and cyclophosphamide to a calcineurin- and steroid-based immunosuppression regime was highly successful in inducing high remission rates with recurrent FSGS. Prospective trials are needed to evaluate further the efficacy of increased immunosuppression along with plasmapheresis in this setting.

Combination of High-Dose Intravenous Cyclosporine and Plasma Exchange Treatment Is Effective in Post-Transplant Recurrent Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis: Results of Case Series

BACKGROUND

Idiopathic focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) commonly recurs in the early post-transplant period. The treatment protocols and results are conflictive in recurrent FSGS. We aimed to present the results of our treatment protocol and basic approach to the disease recurrences.

METHODS

This prospective, single-center study was conducted between the years 2015 and 2018. Twelve patients who fit completely the diagnosis of idiopathic FSGS by clinical, laboratory, and biopsy findings were included. A specific treatment protocol which consists of plasma exchange and high dose intravenous cyclosporine was delivered to the patients independently of induction protocols. Twenty-four months of outcomes of graft functions were evaluated.

RESULTS

Nine patients completed the treatment protocol and were documented for evaluation. All patients achieved a complete or partial remission in an average 24 months of follow-up period.

CONCLUSION

Idiopathic FSGS is more commonly recurrent than thought to be. The early detection of proteinuria is crucial because the administration of a plasma exchange-based treatment protocol can reverse proteinuria. We think our treatment protocol is a well-established, efficient, and safe choice for post-transplant recurrent FSGS in adults.

Primary disease recurrence—effects on paediatric renal transplantation outcomes

Primary disease recurrence after renal transplantation is mainly diagnosed by examination of biopsy samples, but can also be associated with clinical symptoms. In some patients, recurrence can lead to graft loss (7-8% of all graft losses). Primary disease recurrence is generally associated with a high risk of graft loss in patients with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, membranous proliferative glomerulonephritis, primary hyperoxaluria or atypical haemolytic uraemic syndrome. By contrast, disease recurrence is associated with a limited risk of graft loss in patients with IgA nephropathy, renal involvement associated with Henoch-Schönlein purpura, antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated glomerulonephritis or lupus nephritis. The presence of systemic diseases that affect the kidneys, such as sickle cell anaemia and diabetes mellitus, also increases the risk of delayed graft loss. This Review provides an overview of the epidemiology, pathophysiology and management of primary disease recurrence in paediatric renal graft recipients, and describes the overall effect on graft survival of each of the primary diseases listed above. With appropriate management, few paediatric patients should be excluded from renal transplantation programmes because of an increased risk of recurrence.

Long-term outcome of idiopathic steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome: a multicenter study

Long-term outcome of idiopathic steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome was retrospectively studied in 78 children in eight centers for the past 20 years. Median age at onset was 4.4 years (1.1-15.0 years) and the gender ratio was 1.4. Median follow-up period was 7.7 years (1.0-19.7 years). The disease in 45 patients (58%) was initially not steroid-responsive and in 33 (42%) it was later non-responsive. The main therapeutic strategies included administration of ciclosporine (CsA) alone (n = 29; 37%) and CsA + mycophenolate mofetil (n = 18; 23%). Actuarial patient survival rate after 15 years was 97%. Renal survival rate after 5 years, 10 years and 15 years was 75%, 58% and 53%, respectively. An age at onset of nephrotic syndrome (NS) > 10 years was the only independent predictor of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in a multivariate analysis using a Cox regression model (P < 0.001). Twenty patients (26%) received transplants; ten showed recurrence of the NS: seven within 2 days, one within 2 weeks, and two within 3-5 months. Seven patients lost their grafts, four from recurrence. Owing to better management, kidney survival in idiopathic steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) has improved during the past 20 years. Further prospective controlled trials will delineate the potential benefit of new immunosuppressive treatment.

Intensive and prolonged treatment of focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis recurrence in adult kidney transplant recipients: a pilot study

No treatment has consistently induced long-term remission of proteinuria in adult patients with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) recurrence after kidney transplantation. We undertook an open-label, nonrandomized pilot trial of intensive and prolonged treatment of FSGS recurrence. Over an 18-month period, 10 adult kidney transplant recipients with FSGS recurrence received concomitantly high-dose steroids, intravenous cyclosporine for 14 days followed by oral cyclosporine therapy, and an intensive and prolonged course of plasma exchanges (PE). We compared this treatment with those of a control group of 19 patients with a FSGS recurrence transplanted between 1997 and 2005. Complete, rapid (mean 23 +/- 7 days) and sustained remission was obtained in 9/10 patients (90%) as opposed to 27% in the control group. At month 3 and month 12, proteinuria was 0.16 g/day (range 0.05-0.3 g/day) and 0.19 g/day (range 0.05-1 g/day) respectively. Only one patient remained in partial remission at month 12 but he had already lost two previous grafts due to FSGS recurrence. PEs were stopped at month 9 in all patients except for the patient with a partial remission who remains PE-dependent. This small pilot study provides very encouraging results demonstrating that this treatment rapidly achieves complete and sustained remission in a high proportion of patients.

Renal pathology in the pediatric transplant patient

Renal transplantation is a therapeutic goal for children with advanced chronic kidney disease. There are many causes of renal dysfunction in children with allografts--the transplanted kidney can develop a variety of morphologic alterations leading to dysfunction. Evaluation of the kidney biopsy is one of the best methods of determining the cause of graft dysfunction. Rejection is a major cause of renal allograft failure in children. The morphologic hallmarks of acute antibody-mediated and cell-mediated rejection and chronic allograft nephropathy have been codified in classification strategies that are useful in adults and children. Viral infection and Epstein-Barr virus-driven posttransplant lymphoproliferative disease also occur in the pediatric transplanted kidney. Drug toxicity from immunosuppressive agents also causes characteristic morphologic alterations in the renal allograft. As the survival of pediatric heart and liver transplant patients improves, the incidence of immunosuppression therapy-related disease in the native kidney in these patients will likely become more important clinically. In addition to renal lesions related to the allograft state, glomerular disease can recur or occur de novo in renal allografts. Here, we describe the pathology of the more common morphologic lesions in kidneys of children with a renal allograft.

Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis and Renal Transplantation

Primary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is a major cause of nephrotic syndrome and eventual end-stage renal disease. It is known to be due to an abnormality of the visceral epithelial cells (podocytes) of the glomerulus. The morphological hallmark of primary FSGS is diffuse effacement of podocyte foot processes. The etiology of the podocyte damage is not been clearly established. FSGS can also be a secondary process due to underlying conditions including obesity and heroin use. In the secondary processes, the mechanism appears to be a decreased ratio of podocytes to the glomerular filtration surface area. Familial forms of FSGS also exist due to alterations of several different podocyte proteins. Primary FSGS is an increasing cause of end-stage renal disease. Recurrence of severe FSGS in renal allograft recipients presents a major challenge to transplant physicians. The incidence of recurrence is generally accepted to be between 20% and 30%. Risk factors for and characteristics of recurrence include a rapid progression of the primary disease to end-stage renal failure, early onset of nephrotic range proteinuria after allografting, frequent loss of the allograft, a high frequency of recurrence in subsequent allografts, and children less than 15 years of age. Some investigators have identified a circulating factor called the FSGS factor that appears to be associated with recurrence after transplantation. This factor has been shown to be a protein between 30 and 50 kd molecular weight. Logically, the possibility of a circulating factor associated with recurrence of FSGS led investigators to treat patients with plasmapheresis. Several studies have been reported with varying success. The response of patients to plasmapheresis seems to be completely individual. Other studies have added cyclophosphamide and/or mycophenolate mofetil to the plasmapheresis protocol. Again success in these studies has been variable. However, because some patients show complete recovery with plasmapheresis, individuals who develop recurrent FSGS after transplantation usually are given a trial of plasmapheresis therapy.