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Mubarak M, Raza A, Rashid R, Sapna F, Shakeel S. Thrombotic microangiopathy after kidney transplantation: Expanding etiologic and pathogenetic spectra. World J Transplant 2024; 14:90277. [PMID: 38576763 PMCID: PMC10989473 DOI: 10.5500/wjt.v14.i1.90277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 01/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) is an uncommon but serious complication that not only affects native kidneys but also transplanted kidneys. This review is specifically focused on post-transplant TMA (PT-TMA) involving kidney transplant recipients. Its reported prevalence in the latter population varies from 0.8% to 14% with adverse impacts on both graft and patient survival. It has many causes and associations, and the list of etiologic agents and associations is growing constantly. The pathogenesis is equally varied and a variety of patho genetic pathways lead to the development of microvascular injury as the final common pathway. PT-TMA is categorized in many ways in order to facilitate its management. Ironically, more than one causes are contributory in PT-TMA and it is often difficult to pinpoint one particular cause in an individual case. Pathologically, the hallmark lesions are endothelial cell injury and intravascular thrombi affecting the microvasculature. Early diagnosis and classification of PT-TMA are imperative for optimal outcomes but are challenging for both clinicians and pathologists. The Banff classification has addressed this issue and has developed minimum diagnostic criteria for pathologic diagnosis of PT-TMA in the first phase. Management of the condition is also challenging and still largely empirical. It varies from simple maneuvers, such as plasmapheresis, drug withdrawal or modification, or dose reduction, to lifelong complement blockade, which is very expensive. A thorough understanding of the condition is imperative for an early diagnosis and quick treatment when the treatment is potentially effective. This review aims to increase the awareness of relevant stakeholders regarding this important, potentially treatable but under-recognized cause of kidney allograft dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammed Mubarak
- Department of Histopathology, Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation, Karachi 74200, Sindh, Pakistan
| | - Amber Raza
- Department of Nephrology, Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation, Karachi 74200, Sindh, Pakistan
| | - Rahma Rashid
- Department of Histopathology, Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation, Karachi 74200, Sindh, Pakistan
| | - Fnu Sapna
- Department of Pathology, Montefiore Medical Center, The University Hospital for Albert Einstein School of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, United States
| | - Shaheera Shakeel
- Department of Histopathology, Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation, Karachi 74200, Sindh, Pakistan
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Hsiung CY, Chen HY, Wang SH, Huang CY. Unveiling the Incidence and Graft Survival Rate in Kidney Transplant Recipients With De Novo Thrombotic Microangiopathy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Transpl Int 2024; 37:12168. [PMID: 38323071 PMCID: PMC10844394 DOI: 10.3389/ti.2024.12168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
De novo thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) is a rare and challenging condition in kidney transplant recipients, with limited research on its incidence and impact on graft survival. This study conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 28 cohorts/single-arm studies and 46 case series/reports from database inception to June 2022. In meta-analysis, among 14,410 kidney allograft recipients, de novo TMA occurred in 3.20% [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.93-4.77], with systemic and renal-limited TMA rates of 1.38% (95% CI: 06.5-2.39) and 2.80% (95% CI: 1.27-4.91), respectively. The overall graft loss rate of de novo TMA was 33.79% (95% CI: 26.14-41.88) in meta-analysis. This study provides valuable insights into the incidence and graft outcomes of de novo TMA in kidney transplant recipients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chien-Ya Hsiung
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Hsin-Yu Chen
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Han Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Ching-Ying Huang
- Department of Pharmacy, Kaohsiung Veteran General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
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Wu Q, Tian X, Gong N, Zheng J, Liang D, Li X, Lu X, Xue W, Tian P, Wen J. Early graft loss due to acute thrombotic microangiopathy accompanied by complement gene variants in living-related kidney transplantation: case series report. BMC Nephrol 2022; 23:249. [PMID: 35836191 PMCID: PMC9284761 DOI: 10.1186/s12882-022-02868-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Recently, early graft loss has become very rare in living-related kidney transplantation (LKT) as a result of decreased risk of hyperacute rejection and improvements in immunosuppressive regimens. Post-transplant acute thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) is a rare, multi-factorial disease that often occurs shortly after kidney transplantation and is usually resistant to treatment with dismal renal outcomes. The complement genetic variants may accelerate the development of TMA. However, the complement genetic test was seldom performed in unknown native kidney disease recipients scheduled for LKT. Case presentation We reported three cases of unknown native kidney diseases who had fulminant TMA in the allograft shortly after LKT. Both the donors and the recipients were noted to carry complement genetic variants, which were identified by genetic testing after transplantation. However, all recipients were refractory to treatment and had allograft loss within 3 months after LKT. Conclusion This case series highlights the suggestion to screen complement gene variants in both the donors and the recipients with unknown native kidney diseases scheduled for LKT. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12882-022-02868-7.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianqian Wu
- National Clinical Research Center of Kidney Diseases, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiaohui Tian
- Department of Kidney Transplantation, Nephropathy Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shanxi, China
| | - Nianqiao Gong
- Institute of Organ Transplantation, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Jin Zheng
- Department of Kidney Transplantation, Nephropathy Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shanxi, China
| | - Dandan Liang
- National Clinical Research Center of Kidney Diseases, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xue Li
- National Clinical Research Center of Kidney Diseases, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xia Lu
- Institute of Organ Transplantation, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Wujun Xue
- Department of Kidney Transplantation, Nephropathy Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shanxi, China
| | - Puxun Tian
- Department of Kidney Transplantation, Nephropathy Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shanxi, China.
| | - Jiqiu Wen
- National Clinical Research Center of Kidney Diseases, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
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Ávila A, Gavela E, Sancho A. Thrombotic Microangiopathy After Kidney Transplantation: An Underdiagnosed and Potentially Reversible Entity. Front Med (Lausanne) 2021; 8:642864. [PMID: 33898482 PMCID: PMC8063690 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2021.642864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Thrombotic microangiopathy is a rare but serious complication that affects kidney transplant recipients. It appears in 0.8–14% of transplanted patients and negatively affects graft and patient survival. It can appear in a systemic form, with hemolytic microangiopathic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and renal failure, or in a localized form, with progressive renal failure, proteinuria, or arterial hypertension. Post-transplant thrombotic microangiopathy is classified as recurrent atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome or de novo thrombotic microangiopathy. De novo thrombotic microangiopathy accounts for the majority of cases. Distinguishing between the 2 conditions can be difficult, given there is an overlap between them. Complement overactivation is the cornerstone of all post-transplant thrombotic microangiopathies, and has been demonstrated in the context of organ procurement, ischemia-reperfusion phenomena, immunosuppressive drugs, antibody-mediated rejection, viral infections, and post-transplant relapse of antiphospholipid antibody syndrome. Although treatment of the causative agents is usually the first line of treatment, this approach might not be sufficient. Plasma exchange typically resolves hematologic abnormalities but does not improve renal function. Complement blockade with eculizumab has been shown to be an effective therapy in post-transplant thrombotic microangiopathy, but it is necessary to define which patients can benefit from this therapy and when and how eculizumab should be used.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Ávila
- Nephrology Department, University Hospital Dr. Peset, Valencia, Spain
| | - Eva Gavela
- Nephrology Department, University Hospital Dr. Peset, Valencia, Spain
| | - Asunción Sancho
- Nephrology Department, University Hospital Dr. Peset, Valencia, Spain
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