Efficacy of Prolonged Antibiotic Therapy for Renal Cyst Infections in Polycystic Kidney Disease

OBJECTIVE

To determine the impact of antibiotic therapy (ATBT) on outcomes of renal cyst infection (CyI) in patients with polycystic kidney disease.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We undertook a single-center retrospective study of CyI in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (January 1, 2000, through December 31, 2018). Cyst infections were classified as definite (microbiologically proven), probable (radiologic signs), or possible (clinical or biologic signs only). We studied the determinants of ATBT failure (persistence of infection beyond 72 hours of microbiologically adequate initial ATBT, with requirement for ATBT change, cyst drainage, or nephrectomy) and recurrences (>14 days after the end of ATBT).

RESULTS

Among 90 patients, 139 CyIs (11 definite, 74 probable, 54 possible) were compiled. Cultures were positive in 106 of 139 (76%) episodes, with Escherichia coli found in 89 of 106 (84%). Treatment failures and recurrences within 1 year of follow-up were more frequent in definite/probable CyI (20/85 [34%] and 16/85 [19%]) than in possible CyI (2/54 [4%] and 4/54 [7%]; P<.01 and P=.08, respectively). Male sex (odds ratio [OR], 7.79; 95% CI, 1.72 to 46.68; P<.01), peak C-reactive protein level above 250 mg/L (OR, 7.29; 95% CI, 1.78 to 35.74; P<.01; to convert C-reactive protein values to nmol/L, multiply by 9.524), and cyst wall thickening (OR, 7.70; 95% CI, 1.77 to 43.47; P=.01) but not the modalities of initial ATBT were independently associated with higher risk of failure. In a Cox proportional hazards model, kidney transplant recipients exhibited higher risk of recurrence (hazard ratio, 3.76; 95% CI, 1.06 to 13.37; P=.04), whereas a total duration of ATBT of 28 days or longer was protective (hazard ratio, 0.02; 95% CI, 0.00 to 0.16; P<.001), with an inverse correlation between duration and recurrence (81% for treatment <21 days, 47% for 21 to 27 days, 2% for ≥28 days; P<.0001).

CONCLUSION

Initial first-line ATBT had no significant effect on renal CyI treatment failure. Treatment duration of 28 days and longer reduced recurrences.

Disseminated toxoplasmosis associated with hemophagocytic syndrome after kidney transplantation: A case report and review

Disseminated toxoplasmosis is infrequent after kidney transplant transmission but life-threatening because of a lack of diagnostic suspicion as well as specific chemoprophylaxis recommendations. Solid organ transplantation has resulted in few cases of disseminated toxoplasmosis presenting with associated hemophagocytic syndrome. Herein, we report, within the context of a donor/receiver mismatch, a case of a toxoplasmosis associated with hemophagocytic syndrome in a kidney transplant recipient. Molecular and serological investigations confirmed Toxoplasma gondii transmission through the kidney graft.

Complement-activating donor-specific anti-HLA antibodies and solid organ transplant survival: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Anti-human leukocyte antigen donor-specific antibodies (anti-HLA DSAs) are recognized as a major barrier to patients' access to organ transplantation and the major cause of graft failure. The capacity of circulating anti-HLA DSAs to activate complement has been suggested as a potential biomarker for optimizing graft allocation and improving the rate of successful transplantations.

METHODS AND FINDINGS

To address the clinical relevance of complement-activating anti-HLA DSAs across all solid organ transplant patients, we performed a meta-analysis of their association with transplant outcome through a systematic review, from inception to January 31, 2018. The primary outcome was allograft loss, and the secondary outcome was allograft rejection. A comprehensive search strategy was conducted through several databases (Medline, Embase, Cochrane, and Scopus). A total of 5,861 eligible citations were identified. A total of 37 studies were included in the meta-analysis. Studies reported on 7,936 patients, including kidney (n = 5,991), liver (n = 1,459), heart (n = 370), and lung recipients (n = 116). Solid organ transplant recipients with circulating complement-activating anti-HLA DSAs experienced an increased risk of allograft loss (pooled HR 3.09; 95% CI 2.55-3.74, P = 0.001; I2 = 29.3%), and allograft rejection (pooled HR 3.75; 95% CI: 2.05-6.87, P = 0.001; I2 = 69.8%) compared to patients without complement-activating anti-HLA DSAs. The association between circulating complement-activating anti-HLA DSAs and allograft failure was consistent across all subgroups and sensitivity analyses. Limitations of the study are the observational and retrospective design of almost all included studies, the higher proportion of kidney recipients compared to other solid organ transplant recipients, and the inclusion of fewer studies investigating allograft rejection.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, we found that circulating complement-activating anti-HLA DSAs had a significant deleterious impact on solid organ transplant survival and risk of rejection. The detection of complement-activating anti-HLA DSAs may add value at an individual patient level for noninvasive biomarker-guided risk stratification.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

National Clinical Trial protocol ID: NCT03438058.