Natural Antibodies Are Associated With Rejection and Long-term Renal Allograft Loss in a Multicenter International Cohort

BACKGROUND

Potentially harmful nonhuman leukocyte antigen antibodies have been identified in renal transplantation, including natural immunoglobulin G antibodies (Nabs) reactive to varied antigenic structures, including apoptotic cells.

METHODS

In this retrospective, multicenter study, we assessed Nabs by reactivity to apoptotic cells in sera collected from 980 kidney transplant recipients across 4 centers to determine their association with graft outcomes.

RESULTS

Elevated pretransplant Nabs were associated with graft loss (hazard ratio [HR] 2.71; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.15-6.39; P   =  0.0232), the composite endpoint of graft loss or severe graft dysfunction (HR 2.40; 95% CI, 1.13-5.10; P  = 0.0232), and T cell-mediated rejection (odds ratio [OR] 1.77; 95% CI, 1.07-3.02; P  = 0.0310). High pretransplant Nabs together with donor-specific antibodies (DSAs) were associated with increased risk of composite outcomes (HR 6.31; 95% CI, 1.81-22.0; P  = 0.0039). In patients with high pretransplant Nabs, the subsequent development of posttransplant Nabs was associated with both T cell-mediated rejection (OR 3.64; 95% CI, 1.61-8.36; P  = 0.0021) and mixed rejection (OR 3.10; 95% CI, 1.02-9.75; P  = 0.0473). Finally, elevated pre- and posttransplant Nabs combined with DSAs were associated with increased risk of composite outcomes (HR 3.97; 95% CI, 1.51-10.43; P  = 0.0052) and T cell-mediated rejection (OR 7.28; 95% CI, 2.16-25.96; P  = 0.0016).

CONCLUSIONS

The presence of pre- and posttransplant Nabs, together with DSAs, was associated with increased risk of poor graft outcomes and rejection after renal transplantation.

Acute Kidney Injury, Microvascular Rarefaction, and Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate in Kidney Transplant Recipients

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Animal studies suggest that microvascular rarefaction is a key factor in the acute kidney disease to CKD transition. Hence, delayed graft function appears as a unique human model of AKI to further explore the role of microvascular rarefaction in kidney transplant recipients. Here, we assessed whether delayed graft function is associated with peritubular capillary loss and evaluated the association between this loss and long-term kidney graft function.

DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS

This observational, retrospective cohort study included 61 participants who experienced delayed graft function and 130 who had immediate graft function. We used linear regression models to evaluate associations between delayed graft function and peritubular capillary density expressed as the percentage of efficient cortical area occupied by peritubular capillaries in pre- and post-transplant graft biopsies. eGFRs 1 and 3 years post-transplant were secondary outcomes.

RESULTS

Post-transplant biopsies were performed at a median of 113 days (interquartile range, 101-128) after transplantation. Peritubular capillary density went from 15.4% to 11.5% in patients with delayed graft function (median change, -3.7%; interquartile range, -6.6% to -0.8%) and from 19.7% to 15.1% in those with immediate graft function (median change, -4.5%; interquartile range, -8.0% to -0.8%). Although the unadjusted change in peritubular capillary density was similar between patients with and without delayed graft function, delayed graft function was associated with more peritubular capillary loss in the multivariable analysis (adjusted difference in change, -2.9%; 95% confidence interval, -4.0 to -1.8). Pretransplant peritubular capillary density and change in peritubular capillary density were associated with eGFR 1 and 3 years post-transplantation.

CONCLUSIONS

Perioperative AKI is associated with lower density in peritubular capillaries before transplantation and with loss of peritubular capillaries following transplantation. Lower peritubular capillary density is linked to lower long-term eGFR.

Donor Age, Donor-Recipient Size Mismatch, and Kidney Graft Survival

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Small donor and/or kidney sizes relative to recipient size are associated with a higher risk of kidney allograft failure. Donor and recipient ages are associated with graft survival and may modulate the relationship between size mismatch and the latter. The aim of this study was to determine whether the association between donor-recipient size mismatch and graft survival differs by donor and recipient age.

DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENT

We performed a retrospective cohort study of first adult deceased donor kidney transplantations performed between 2000 and 2018 recorded in the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients. We used multivariable Cox proportional hazards models to assess the association between donor-recipient body surface area ratio and death-censored graft survival, defined as return to dialysis or retransplantation. We considered interactions between donor-recipient body surface area ratio and each of recipient and donor age.

RESULTS

Among the 136,321 kidney transplant recipients included in this study, 23,614 (17%) experienced death-censored graft loss over a median follow-up of 4.3 years (interquartile range, 1.9-7.8 years). The three-way donor-recipient body surface area ratio by donor age by recipient age interaction was statistically significant (P=0.04). The magnitude of the association between severe size mismatch (donor-recipient body surface area ratio <0.80 versus ≥1.00) and death-censored graft survival was stronger with older donor age and recipient age. In all recipient age categories except the youngest (18-30 years), 5- and 10-year graft survival rates were similar or better with a size-mismatched donor aged <40 years than a nonsize-mismatched donor aged 40 years or older.

CONCLUSIONS

The association of donor-recipient size mismatch on long-term graft survival is modulated by recipient and donor age. Size-mismatched kidneys yield excellent graft survival when the donor is young. Donor age was more strongly associated with graft survival than size mismatch.