Arterial Blood Pressure at Liver Transplant Evaluation Predicts Renal Histology in Candidates With Renal Dysfunction

Renal dysfunction is common in liver transplantation (LT) candidates, but differentiating between reversible and irreversible renal injury can be difficult. Kidney biopsy might be helpful in differentiating reversible from irreversible renal injury, but it is associated with significant complications. We aimed to identify pre-LT predictors of potentially reversible renal injury using histological information obtained on pre-LT renal biopsy. Data on 128 LT candidates who underwent pre-LT kidney biopsy were retrospectively collected and correlated with renal histological findings. Indications for kidney biopsy were iothalamate glomerular filtration rate (iGFR) ≤40 mL/minute, proteinuria >500 mg/day, and/or hematuria. According to the biopsy diagnosis, patients were grouped into the following categories: normal (n = 13); acute tubular necrosis (ATN; n = 25); membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (n = 19); minimal histological changes (n = 24); and advanced interstitial fibrosis (IF) and glomerulosclerosis (GS) (n = 47). Compared with patients having advanced IF/GS, patients with normal biopsies and those with ATN had lower systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and higher international normalized ratio and total bilirubin levels (<0.05 for all). Both SBP and DBP directly correlated with the degree of IF and GS (R = 0.3, P ≤ 0.02 for all). SBP ≤90 mm Hg was 100% sensitive and 98% specific in correlating with normal biopsies or ATN, whereas SBP ≥140 mm Hg was 22% sensitive and 90% specific in correlating with advanced IF/GS. Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score, serum creatinine, iGFR, urinary sodium excretion, and renal size did not correlate with biopsy diagnosis or degree of IF or GS. In conclusion, SBP at the time of LT evaluation correlates with renal histology, and it should be included along with other clinical and laboratory markers in the decision-making process to list patients with renal dysfunction for LT alone versus simultaneous liver-kidney transplantation.

The impact of postreperfusion syndrome during liver transplantation using livers with significant macrosteatosis

The impact of postreperfusion syndrome (PRS) during liver transplantation (LT) using donor livers with significant macrosteatosis is largely unknown. Clinical outcomes of all patients undergoing LT with donor livers with moderate macrosteatosis (30%-60%) (N = 96) between 2000 and 2017 were compared to propensity score matched cohorts of patients undergoing LT with donor livers with mild macrosteatosis (10%-29%) (N = 96) and no steatosis (N = 96). Cardiac arrest at the time of reperfusion was seen in eight (8.3%) of the patients in the moderate macrosteatosis group compared to one (1.0%) of the patients in the mild macrosteatosis group (P = .02) and zero (0%) of the patients in the no steatosis group (P = .004). Patients in the moderate macrosteatosis group had a higher rate of PRS (37.5% vs 18.8%; P = .004), early allograft dysfunction (EAD) (76.4% vs 25.8%; P < .001), renal dysfunction requiring continuous renal replacement therapy following transplant (18.8% vs 8.3%; P = .03) and return to the OR within 30 days (24.0% vs 7.3%; P = .002), than the no steatosis group. Both long-term patient (P = .30 and P = .08) and graft survival (P = .15 and P = .12) were not statistically when comparing the moderate macrosteatosis group to the mild macrosteatosis and no steatosis groups. Recipients of LT using livers with moderate macrosteatosis are at a significant increased risk of PRS. If patients are able to overcome the initial increased perioperative risk of using these donor livers, long-term graft survival does not appear to be different than matched recipients receiving grafts with no steatosis.

Acute Pancreatitis in Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease and Kidney Transplant Recipients: Results of a US Nationwide Analysis

Objective

To study the prevalence, etiology, and outcome of acute pancreatitis (AP) in kidney transplant and stage 5 chronic kidney disease (CKD) populations in comparison to a non-CKD cohort.

Patients and Methods

Using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database, we identified patients with acute pancreatitis as the primary discharge diagnosis, after which propensity scores were used to create 2 cohorts of patients: 1 with CKD (n=13,425) and 1 without CKD (n=13,425). The CKD group was subsequently subdivided into dialysis-independent stage 5 CKD (n=690), dialysis-dependent stage 5 CKD (n=11,415), and kidney transplant recipients (n=1320). Patients younger than 18 years old, those who received a kidney transplant during the incident admission, and pancreas transplant recipients were excluded.

Results

The adjusted odds ratios (ORs) of AP were comparable between the no CKD, stage 5 CKD, and kidney transplant populations. Adjusted inpatient mortality was highest in patients with dialysis-dependent stage 5 CKD (OR, 2.72; 95% CI, 2.2-3.3; P<.01), followed by kidney transplant recipients (OR, 2.29; 95% CI, 1.12-4.51; P=.02), compared to the non-CKD group. Patients with stage 5 CKD experienced higher rates of shock and intensive care unit admission and had more prolonged and costly hospitalizations than the non-CKD group (P<.01 for all). Hypercalcemia was the most common cause of AP in both dialysis-dependent and dialysis-independent patients with stage 5 CKD, while viral and drug-induced pancreatitis were more prevalent in the transplant recipients.

Conclusion

Despite comparable adjusted prevalence of AP among the stage 5 CKD, transplant, and non-CKD populations, mortality, morbidity, and resource utilization were higher in the patients with stage 5 CKD and transplant recipients. Hypercalcemia is the most common cause of AP in the stage 5 CKD population irrespective of dialysis requirement.