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Organ transplant recipients exhibit lower rates of immune response to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination. Even when they do mount a demonstrable antibody response, it is unclear what degree of protection is conferred against the myriad potential complications of COVID-19 infection. We present here a case of a kidney transplant recipient who was homozygous for APOL1 risk alleles on low-dose immunosuppression who developed an antibody response to COVID-19 vaccination and subsequently acquired COVID-19 infection. Although she experienced relatively minor effects in other organ systems, she developed severe collapsing focal segmental glomerulosclerosis that left her dependent on hemodialysis on hospital discharge. This suggests that COVID-19 vaccination may not provide protection from infection-associated focal segmental glomerulosclerosis in patients with APOL1 risk alleles.

Pediatric kidney transplant recipients are distinguished from adult recipients by the need for many decades of graft function, the potential effect of CKD on neurodevelopment, and the changing immune environment of a developing human. The entire life of an individual who receives a transplant as a child is colored by their status as a transplant recipient. Not only must these young recipients negotiate all of the usual challenges of emerging adulthood (transition from school to work, romantic relationships, achieving independence from parents), but they must learn to manage a life-threatening medical condition independently. Regardless of the age at transplantation, graft failure rates are higher during adolescence and young adulthood than at any other age. All pediatric transplant recipients must pass through this high-risk period. Factors contributing to the high graft failure rates in this period include poor adherence to treatment, potentially exacerbated by the transfer of care from pediatric- to adult-oriented care providers, and perhaps an increased potency of the immune response. We describe the characteristics of pediatric kidney transplant recipients, particularly those factors that may influence their care throughout their lives. We also discuss the risks associated with the transition from pediatric- to adult-oriented care and provide some suggestions to optimize the transition to adult-oriented transplant care and long-term outcomes.

Opportunities continue to be lost with a high rate of kidneys recovered for transplant but not utilized, particularly those considered less than ideal quality. The Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) Organ Center is tasked with allocating arguably the most difficult-to-place kidneys, and we hypothesized an accelerated placement pathway would increase utilization of kidneys placed by the Organ Center. The Kidney Accelerated Placement (KAP) project, implemented by the Organ Center from July 18, 2019 to July 15, 2020, aimed to offer kidneys with a high kidney donor profile index to programs that had a history of accepting such organs. We compared OPTN kidney match run, donor, and transplant recipient data during the project period and 1 year prior. There was no statistically significant change in the percentage of KAP-eligible donors accepted during the project period (16.4%) compared to the prior year (17.5%). Conversion from acceptance to transplant was higher under KAP (72.7% vs. 71.2%), though not significant. Waiting to accelerate placement after kidneys have been declined by multiple transplant programs locally and regionally is an intervention that may come too late to effectively increase utilization. Transplant rates of nationally shared and marginal kidneys remain a challenge, and future iterations of this project should be investigated.

Purpose of review HHV-8-associated diseases are rare but potentially fatal in transplant recipients. Important differences exist in the distribution of HHV-8 seroprevalence, which might contribute to the lack of uniform approach to HHV-8. The aim of this review was to discuss recent updates in screening and management of HHV-8 after transplant. Recent findings Increasing attention has been given to the nonmalignant but potentially fatal inflammatory syndrome caused by HHV-8 in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients. At-risk groups include HHV-8-IgG D+/R- transplant and HHV-8-positive recipients. Severe cases of donor-derived HHV-8 disease, mainly Kaposi sarcoma, frequently without skin involvement and some diagnosed at autopsy, highlight the need to increase clinicians' awareness, to implement effective preemptive strategies and to perform rapid diagnosis. In HSCT setting, HHV-8-associated disorders are very rare. Summary Identification of SOT recipients at risk through reliable serology is warranted and the utility of preemptive management and HHV-8-DNA monitoring should be studied. Clinicians should be aware of severe nonmalignant disorders and of early post-SOT Kaposi sarcoma cases with lymph node or transplanted organ involvement in order to provide prompt diagnosis and treatment. No screening for HHV-8 is warranted after HSCT but rapid diagnosis and reduction of immunosuppression remain fundamental.

BACKGROUND There is limited information concerning whether social determinants of health affect postliver transplant (LT) outcomes. This study aims to understand to what extent the health of LT recipients' counties of residence influence long-term LT outcomes. METHODS We used the United Network for Organ Sharing data to identify adult LT recipients transplanted between January 2010 and June 2018. Patient-level data were matched to county-level County Health Ranking (CHR) data using transplant recipient zip code, and nationwide CHRs were created. Mixed-effects Cox proportional hazards models were used to examine associations between CHRs and graft and patient survival post-LT. RESULTS Health outcomes rank was significantly associated with posttransplant graft and patient survival, with worst tertile counties showing a 13% increased hazard of both graft failure and patient mortality compared to the best tertile counties. CONCLUSIONS Although county health is associated with LT outcomes, it also appears that LT recipient selection is effective at mitigating major disparities based on county of residence and helps yield equitable outcomes in this respect.

Background Rare diseases are chronic and life-threatening disorders affecting Results To the purpose of our analysis, we considered heart, lung, liver and kidney transplants included in the Transplant Registry (TR) of the Italian National Transplantation Center in the 2002–2019 timeframe. Overall, 49,404 recipients were enrolled in the cohort, 5.1% of whom in the pediatric age. For 40,909 (82.8%) transplant recipients, a disease diagnosis was available, of which 38,615 in the adult cohort, while 8,495 patients (17.2%) were undiagnosed. There were 128 disease categories, and of these, 117 were listed in the main rare disease databases. In the pediatric cohort, 2,294 (5.6%) patients had a disease diagnosis: of the 2,126 (92.7%) patients affected by a rare disease, 1,402 (61.1%) presented with a monogenic condition. As expected, the frequencies of pathologies leading to organ failure were different between the pediatric and the adult cohort. Moreover, the pediatric group was characterized, compared to the adult one, by an overall better survival of the graft at ten years after transplant, with the only exception of lung transplants. When comparing survival considering rare vs non-rare diseases or rare and monogenic vs rare non-monogenic conditions, no differences were highlighted for kidney and lung transplants, while rare diseases had a better survival in liver as opposed to heart transplants. Conclusions This work represents the first national survey analyzing the main genetic causes and frequencies of rare and/or monogenic diseases leading to organ failure and requiring transplantation both in adults and children.

The new lung allocation policy has led to an increase in distant donors and consequently enhanced logistical burden of procuring organs. Though early single-center studies noted similar outcomes between same-team transplantation (ST, procuring team from transplanting center) and different-team transplantation (DT, procuring team from different center), the efficacy of DT in the contemporary era remains unclear. In this study, we evaluated the trend of DT, rate of transplanting both donor lungs, 1-year graft survival, and risk of Grade 3 primary graft dysfunction (PGD) using the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipient (SRTR) database from 2006 to 2018. A total of 21619 patients (DT 2085, 9.7%) with 19837 donors were included. Utilization of DT decreased from 15.9% in 2006 to 8.5% in 2018. Proportion of two-lung donors was similar between the groups, and DT had similar 1-year graft survival as ST for both double (DT, HR 1.108, 95% CI 0.894 – 1.374) and single lung transplants (DT, HR 1.094, 95% CI 0.931 – 1.286). Risk of Grade 3 PGD was also similar between ST and DT. Given our results, expanding DT may be a feasible option for improving lung procurement efficiency in the current era, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mixed acute rejection is a clinicopathological entity that is difficult to accurately diagnose, and so may be under-reported. Allografts are lost more often than in either humoral or cellular rejection. The diagnosis requires both histological and immunological studies on renal biopsy and blood specimens from the transplant recipient to provide the required rescue therapy to abolish the allogeneic response against the graft. We present a clinical case report of an active mixed acute rejection driven by a de novo donor-specific complement-binding anti-DQB1*03:01 antibody and intraepithelial CD8 T-cells in a patient with a kidney transplant. The patient was diagnosed, treated, and followed up as per the local institution’s procedure with a full recovery of graft function. Our case emphasises the challenge of a mixed acute rejection and supports the need to improve the post-transplant outcome of recipients and their grafts., This work was partially funded by the Gerencia Regional de Salud (GRS) of Castilla y León [GRS 2080/A/19].

Varicella zoster reactivation is a known risk following stem-cell transplantation, but has become more infrequent since universal antiviral prophylaxis. We report an unusual case of late, disseminated reactivation in a 27-year-old man with positive pre-transplant serology, and discuss implications for post-transplant prophylaxis and immune monitoring.

People living with HIV should be considered candidates for solid-organ transplantation (SOT). However, managing HIV-infected patients undergoing SOT represents a major challenge due to the potential drug-drug interactions between antiretroviral drugs and immunosuppressive agents, particularly when resorting to antiretroviral drugs that require pharmacokinetic enhancers. We report three cases of cobicistat-tacrolimus co-administration, two of which also include the co-administration of mTOR inhibitors, in HIV-positive patients undergoing SOT (2 kidney and 1 liver recipient). We review previously reported cases and provide recommendations for initial management following transplantation.

Background: Solid organ donation and transplantation remains grossly underdeveloped in most African countries. The knowledge and attitude of tomorrow’s professionals may be key to the improvement of these services. Methods: A sample of undergraduate medical students from all the medical schools in Kenya offering Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degrees were surveyed using a self-administered, web-based questionnaire, between July and September 2018. Results: Of the 303 participants, 167 (55.1%) were female. Only 8.9% of the students had read the laws governing transplantation in Kenya. An even lower percentage (3.3%) felt that they had learned enough about solid organ donation and transplantation from their medical curriculum. More than half (53%) of the respondents would subscribe as solid organ donors, which reduced to 47% when it came to consenting to donating their relatives’ organs. Less than half of the students (40%) considered they would be comfortable introducing the topic or confident answering questions (23%) related to organ donation and transplantation. Only 9.9% of the sample had ever spoken to a patient about organ donation. There was no significant association between level of study (preclinical versus clinical) and comfort introducing the topic of organ donation (P = 0.206) or experience talking to a patient about the subject (P = 0.102). Conclusion: Undergraduate medical students have significant knowledge gaps regarding organ donation and transplantation and feel ill-prepared to approach a potential donor or transplant recipient.

Introduction Many people do not register as organ donors. We developed 5 different brief appeals for organ donation that were disseminated online. The content was informed by theories of behavior change and studies of the specific cognitive barriers to organ donor registration. Methods One message was a persuasive narrative about a transplant recipient. Another message promoted the idea that organ donor registration is a social norm. The knowledge-based message communicated that 1 donor could improve the lives of 50 people. The message on reciprocity offered a free organ donation wristband, whether or not the participant registered as a donor. The message on control simply encouraged organ donation. Using Google AdWords, the messages were deployed randomly as banners of different sizes on diverse online sites and carried a link to an organ donor registration site. We measured clicks, page visits, and organ donor registrations. Results There were 5,156,048 impressions and 25,001 total clicks, a click-through rate of 0.49%. The messages on control and reciprocity both had the highest click-through rates of 0.51%. A total of 152 unique individuals requested wristbands and there were 52 total organ donor registration events. The message on reciprocity had the highest number of organ donor registrations (n = 18). Conclusion Online organ donation messages rapidly generated substantial attention through clicks, but no message led to a meaningful number of organ donor registrations. Future research may focus on effectively capturing the attention of viewers through social networks or other convenient online venues with less competition for attention than Internet banners., Graphical abstract

Purpose Recent history of malignancy without 5-year disease-free interval is an absolute contraindication for lung transplantation (LTx). However, in rare cases, lung cancer may be incidentally diagnosed in the explanted lung of recipients. We evaluated the prevalence, 5-year survival, and prognosis of incidental lung cancer after LTx. Materials and methods Medical records of patients who underwent LTx at Severance Hospital between January 1, 2012 and June 30, 2019 were reviewed. Patients with incidental lung cancer were included, and those with histologically proven pre-transplant lung cancer were excluded. Results Of the 247 patients who underwent LTx, 6 (2.4%) were diagnosed with incidental lung cancer. Interstitial lung disease (ILD) was the underlying lung disease in all patients. The median interval from the last preoperative computed tomography (CT) screening to LTx was 26 days. The most common histological type of incidental lung cancer was adenocarcinoma (n=4, 66.7%). All Stage IV cases were misdiagnosed as fibrosis on preoperative chest CT. Patients with incidental lung cancer showed lower 5-year survival than those without malignancy (median survival: 8.5 months vs. not reached, p=0.047, respectively). Patients with Stage III or IV demonstrated lower 5-year survival than those with Stage I or II and those without malignancy (median survival: 5 months, 19 months, and not reached, respectively, p=0.011). Conclusion Multidisciplinary preoperative screening and serial imaging studies within short intervals are required to differentiate lung malignancy from fibrotic foci. Furthermore, active pathologic examination of suspicious lung lesions is required in patients at high risk for lung cancer.

Multivisceral transplantation is a life-saving treatment for many chronically ill patients with advanced abdominal pathologies. For such transplants, a complex arterial reconstruction is required, with numerous anastomoses on a composite donor graft and the native aorta. In these patients, anastomotic disruption or pseudoaneurysm formation, often in the setting of infection, are deadly complications. Open surgical repair is hazardous, because many of these patients have dense adhesions. Reported cases of disruption at the aortic anastomosis to date have resulted in patient demise. We report the case of a pediatric multivisceral transplant recipient with ruptured aortic pseudoaneurysm. He underwent an emergent endovascular parallel stent grafting technique, which successfully controlled bleeding and maintained graft perfusion.

This registry-based study evaluated the contribution of center characteristics to kidney transplant outcomes in adult first kidney transplant recipients in Australia and New Zealand between 2004 and 2014. Primary outcomes were mortality and graft failure, and secondary outcomes were transplant complications. Overall, 6970 transplants from 17 centers were included. For deceased donor transplants, 5-year patient and graft survival rates varied considerably (81.0-93.9% and 72.2-88.3%, respectively). Variations in mortality and graft failure were partially reduced after adjustment for patient characteristics (1% and 20% reductions) and more markedly reduced after adjustment for center characteristics (41% and 55% reductions). For living donor transplants, 5-year patient and graft survival rates varied (89.7-100% and 79.2-96.9%, respectively). Centers with high average total ischemic times (>14 h) were associated with higher mortality for both deceased (adjusted hazard ratio [(AHR] 2.24, 95% CI 1.21-4.13) and living donor transplants (AHR 1.76, 95% CI 1.02-3.04). Small center size (

Background Monitoring efforts to improve access to transplantation requires a definition of the population attributable to a transplant center. Previously, assessment of variation in transplant care has focused on differences between administrative units-such as states-rather than units derived from observed care patterns. We defined catchment areas (transplant referral regions [TRRs]) from transplant center care patterns for population-based assessment of transplant access. Methods We used US adult transplant listings (2006-2016) and Dartmouth Atlas catchment areas to assess the optimal method of defining TRRs. We used US Renal Data System and Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipient data to compare waitlist- and population-based kidney transplant rates. Results We identified 110 kidney, 67 liver, 85 pancreas, 68 heart, and 43 lung TRRs. Most patients were listed in their assigned TRR (kidney: 76%; liver: 75%; pancreas: 75%; heart: 74%; lung: 72%), although the proportion varied by organ (interquartile range for kidney, 65.7%-82.5%; liver, 58.2%-78.8%; pancreas, 58.4%-81.1%; heart, 63.1%-80.9%; lung, 61.6%-76.3%). Patterns of population- and waitlist-based kidney transplant rates differed, most notably in the Northeast and Midwest. Conclusions Patterns of TRR-based kidney transplant rates differ from waitlist-based rates, indicating that current metrics may not reflect transplant access in the broader population. TRRs define populations served by transplant centers and could enable future studies of how transplant centers can improve access for patients in their communities.

Background Heart transplant volume varies significantly among centers. We hypothesized that centers where the transplant team routinely accepts organs previously declined by other centers and where operating room availability is unrestricted have higher transplant volumes. Methods and Results We used the potential transplant recipient sequence number in the United Network for Organ Sharing database as a surrogate for graft acceptance threshold and the number of transplantations occurring on weekends and 8 major holidays as a marker of center resource availability. Centers were classified as low-, medium-, or high-volume if the average annual number of transplants were, respectively, 30 over a 10-year period. From July 12, 2006, to December 31, 2015, 19,054 transplants were performed by 142 centers. There were 59 low-volume centers, 69 medium-volume centers, and 14 high-volume centers with median potential transplant recipient sequence numbers for transplanted candidates of 7 (interquartile range 3–11), 7 (5–10), and 15 (7–40), respectively (P = .002). The median proportion of off-hours transplantations performed by medium-volume centers was 28% (25%–31%) compared with 32% (29%–33%) by high-volume centers (P = .009). Five-year survival was equivalent among all centers (P = .053). Conclusions Transplants for candidates with high sequence numbers and unrestricted operating room availability are associated with increased center volume without sacrificing post-transplantation survival.

Disparities in organ acceptance practices exacerbate donor heart non-use and lead to increased waiting times and mortality for heart transplant candidates. We studied disparities in donor heart acceptance among US transplant centers and their relations to post-transplant outcomes. Candidate, potential transplant recipient match run, and deceased donor data were obtained from the United Network for Organ Sharing. We analyzed donor, candidate, and transplant center characteristics with respect to organ acceptance, offer acceptance, number of offers before acceptance (organ sequence number), and association with post-transplant mortality. A total of 693,420 donor heart offers made between April 2007 and December 2015 were included. We identified great variability in donor heart acceptance practices among US heart transplant centers. We identified donor and recipient characteristics that were strongly associated with heart organ and offer acceptance, and organ sequence number, and identified inconsistencies among centers with respect to how these characteristics influenced acceptance decisions. Finally, we identified characteristics that were highly predictive of donor heart non-use and were not associated with increased recipient mortality, which may guide future efforts aimed at increasing use of available hearts for transplantation.

Allograft renal biopsy remains the gold standard for diagnosing many conditions in the transplant recipient including rejections, infections, recurrent, and de-novo renal disease. The Banff schema of reporting is followed worldwide in arriving at the right diagnosis. The guidelines, the categories, and the Banff scores in this schema are constantly evolving and this has made the interpretation of the biopsy seem complex and difficult especially for the novice. In this review, a detailed description of the various patterns of injury specific to the graft, the Banff categories of diagnoses, the lesions, and the Banff scores are simplified and explained. Lastly, a systematic approach to these allograft biopsies, which can be followed in regular practice, and by which a tentative diagnosis can be made in most cases is laid out.

Background: Right ventricular function is strongly associated with clinical outcomes in populations at high cardiovascular risk. Renal Transplant Recipients have multiple coexisting comorbidities potentially involved in the biventricular dysfunction including the right ventricular chamber. Speckle tracking echocardiography is recently used to investigate the normal function of this chamber. The study aims to verify whether global longitudinal strain carries clinical and prognosis implications in the renal transplant recipients during 1 year of regular unsupervised physical activity and compared to a control group. Methods: a group of 50 transplant recipients, aged 49.6±11.5 was submitted for 1 year to a moderate intensity of mixed exercise. All the subjects were followed by echocardiographic exam every 6 months, only 25 subjects with a high quality of image were investigated by 2D Speckle tracking strain analysis with the measurement calculated at T0, T6, and T12 months. Results: renal transplant recipients started with low values of right ventricle global longitudinal strain compared to health controls; it increased significantly (p

Patients undergoing complex surgery at safety net hospitals have been shown to suffer inferior short-term outcomes. Liver transplantation, one of the most complex surgical interventions, is offered at certain safety net hospitals. We sought to identify whether patients undergoing liver transplantation at safety net hospitals have inferior outcomes compared with lower burden centers.Using a link between the University HealthSystem Consortium and Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipient databases, we identified 11,047 patients undergoing liver transplantation at 63 centers between 2009 and 2012. Hospitals were grouped by safety net burden, defined as the proportion of Medicaid or uninsured patient encounters during that time. The highest quartile (safety net hospitals) was compared to medium- and low-burden hospitals regarding recipient and donor characteristics, perioperative outcomes, and long-term survival.Liver transplantation recipients at safety net hospitals were more often black and of lower socioeconomic status (P.01), but had similar model for end-stage liver disease scores (20 vs 20 vs 18) compared with median-burden hospitals and low burden hospitals. Length of stay and readmission rates were similar; however, safety net hospitals demonstrated higher in-hospital mortality (5.2% vs 4.5% vs 2.9%, P.01). Despite this, there was no significant difference in overall patient or graft survivals in patients who underwent liver transplantation at safety net hospitals and survived the perioperative setting at a median follow-up of 2 years (P.05).Despite differences in perioperative outcomes at safety net hospitals, these centers achieve noninferior long-term patient and graft survival for potentially vulnerable patients requiring liver transplantation. Strict care standardization, as achieved in liver transplantation, may be a mechanism by which outcomes can be improved at safety net hospitals after other complex surgical procedures.

OBJECTIVES Machine perfusionfor kidney preservation is a common practice. There is no consensus on the best formula for perfusion solutions. We aimed to discern the additives that organ procurement organizations in the United States include in their perfusate and the impact of these additives on transplant outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS A telephone survey of all 58 organ procurement organizations in the United States regarding additives to their perfusion solutions was conducted. The survey data were merged with transplant recipient outcome data from the United Network for Organ Sharing database.The final analysis included perfused kidneys between January 2014 and March 2019. Logistic regressions were performed to investigate whether a particular perfusion formula was associated with delayed graft function, primary nonfunction, or early graft failure. RESULTS Additives correlated with decreased rates of graft failure were mannitol in all kidneys and kidneys of lower quality (P < .01) and penicillin/ampicillin in all kidneys (P < .05). Additives associated with increased graft failure regardless of type included verapamil in all kidneys (P < .05) and kidneys of lower quality (P < .01) and arginine with glutathione in all kidneys and low-quality kidneys alone (P < .01). CONCLUSIONS Further outcomes research and standardized guidelines for additives in machine perfusion of kidneys across all organ procurement organizations are needed.

Post-transplant diabetes mellitus (PTDM) is a complication which reduces allograft and recipient life-span. Polygenic risk scores (PRS) robustly show association with greater type 2 diabetes (T2D) development risk. We examined T2D-PRS in transplant recipients and donors using genome-wide genotyping in 1581 liver recipients, and 1555 donors and 2062 kidney recipients and 533 donors from four centers. Liver and kidney recipient T2D-PRS was associated with pre-transplant T2D and PTDM development. Liver donor, but not kidney donor, T2D-PRS was an independent risk factor for PTDM development. Inclusion of a combined liver recipient and donor T2D-PRS significantly improved PTDM prediction vs clinical characteristics-only models: AUC (95%CI): 67.6% (64.1% − 71.1%) vs. 62.3% (58.8% − 65.8%), p = 0.0001. Liver recipients in the highest quintile of recipient-donor combined T2D-PRS had the greatest PTDM risk: OR (95%CI) = 3.22 (2.07–5.00), p = 1.92E-07, compared to the lowest quintile. T2D-PRS allows identification of transplant candidates with high PTDM risk, for whom early preemptive diabetes management is warranted. Pre-transplant knowledge of donor T2D-PRS in the setting of living liver donation should optimized selection of donors to reduce PTDM.

The question of whether transplant clinicians should mandate COVID‐19 vaccination as a condition of transplant candidacy is complex. A vaccine mandate may be defensible on the grounds that transplant clinicians are obligated to ensure transplantation is conducted safely, and in a manner that entails the best use of a scarce public good. However, mandate proponents will inexorably predicate their arguments on contingent clinical judgments that meliorate rather than resolve core value disagreements. Vaccine mandates are conceivably defensible on narrow grounds, but may prove to be purchased at the expense of an attenuation of shared decision‐making, proffering claims of risk reduction from a vaccine mandate beyond what the current evidence base supports, and unintentionally exacerbating durable inequities in access to transplantation.

Summary In response to the COVID‐19 pandemic, SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccines have been developed at an unparalleled speed, with 14 SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccines currently authorized. Solid‐organ transplant (SOT) recipients are at risk for developing a higher rate of COVID‐19‐related complications and therefore they are at priority for immunization against SARS‐CoV‐2. Preliminary data suggest that although SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccines are safe in SOT recipients (with similar rate of adverse events than in the general population), the antibody responses are decreased in this population. Risk factors for poor vaccine immunogenicity include older age, shorter time from transplantation, use of mycophenolate and belatacept, and worse allograft function. SOT recipients should continue to be advised to maintain hand hygiene, use of facemasks, and social distancing after SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccine. Vaccination of household contacts should be also prioritized. Although highly encouraged for research purposes, systematic assessment in clinical practice of humoral and cellular immune responses after SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccination is controversial, since correlation between immunological findings and clinical protection from severe COVID‐19, and cutoffs for protection are currently unknown in SOT recipients. Alternative immunization schemes, including a booster dose, higher doses, and modulation of immunosuppression during vaccination, need to be assessed in the context of well‐designed clinical trials., In this review, we summarize the existent literature of the low immunogenicity of SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccines in SOT recipients. We discuss the clinical relevance of this observation, the strategies that may potentially increase the immune response of the vaccine, and the information that we should convey to transplant physicians and patients.

Introduction: Kidney transplant recipients and patients on the waiting list for kidney transplant who acquire SARS-CoV-2 infection are at serious risk of developing severe COVID-19, with an increased risk of mortality for the their immunosuppressive state; other risk factors for mortality have been identified in some comorbidities such as obesity, diabetes, asthma and chronic lung disease. Materials and methods: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a sharp reduction in kidney transplants in most countries, mainly due to the concern of patients on the waiting list for their potential increased susceptibility to acquire SARS-CoV-2 infection in healthcare facilities and for the difficulties of transplant centers to ensure full activity as hospitals have had to focus most of their attention on COVID-19 patients. Indeed, while the infection curve continued its exponential rise, there was a vertical decline in kidney donation/transplant activity. Conclusion: This review article focuses on the damage induced by SARS-CoV-2 infection on kidney and on the adverse effect of this pandemic on the entire kidney transplant sector.

Education for pre-transplant, solid-organ recipient candidates aims to improve knowledge and understanding about the transplant process, outcomes and potential complications to support informed, shared decision-making to reduce fears and anxieties about transplant, inform expectations, and facilitate adjustment to post-transplant life. In this review, we summarize novel pre-transplant initiatives and approaches to educate solid-organ transplant recipient candidates. First, we review approaches that may be common to all solid-organ transplants, then we summarize interventions specific to kidney, liver, lung, and heart transplant. We describe evidence that emphasizes the need for multi-disciplinary approaches to transplant education. We also summarize initiatives that consider online (eHealth) and mobile (mHealth) solutions. Lastly, we highlight education initiatives that support racialized or otherwise marginalized communities to improve equitable access to solid-organ transplant. A considerable amount of work has been done in solid-organ transplant since the early 2000s with promising results. However, many studies on education for pre-transplant recipient candidates involve relatively small samples and non-randomized designs and focus on short-term surrogate outcomes. Overall, many of these studies have a high risk of bias. Frequently, interventions assessed are not well characterized or they are combined with administrative and data-driven initiatives into multifaceted interventions, which makes it difficult to assess the impact of the education component on outcomes. In the future, well-designed studies rigorously assessing well-defined surrogate and clinical outcomes will be needed to evaluate the impact of many promising initiatives.

Nontuberculous mycobacteria are pathogens with diverse manifestations in immunocompromised hosts. The lesser-known Mycobacterium haemophilum usually causes cutaneous infection. Diagnosis is challenging but is aided by molecular testing and multidisciplinary communication. We present an immunocompromised patient with disseminated cutaneous mycobacterial infection with digital tenosynovitis.

Purpose: Improved graft reinnervation and functional recovery would greatly enhance the utility of vascularized composite allotransplantation (VCA). Pre-implantation of nerve grafts in a limb transplant recipient prior to transplantation to increase the length of the severed nerves in the amputation stump offers a novel, readily translatable approach to this problem. At the time of transplantation a pre-implanted nerve graft (PING) would be elevated from its wound bed in the amputated stump and unfurled distally into the transplanted limb, allowing for a more distal nerve coaptation. Methods: We used a reversed sciatic-tibial nerve isograft coapted end-to-end to a median nerve in a rat to: (1) determine viability of distal axons after elevating PINGs; and (2) assess for ischemic injury to axons in the distal PING following elevation from the wound bed. For axonal viability, grafts of varying lengths (2cm,3cm,4cm, n≥5/group) were left to regenerate for 8 weeks. The distal ends were then biopsied prior to elevation, and again one week after elevation. For ischemia assessment, blood flow along 4cm long PINGs was measured with laser doppler at multiple timepoints: baseline (at time of grafting), 8 weeks after grafting (before elevation), immediately after elevation, and 3 and 7 days post-elevation (n=8/timepoint). Means were compared with t-tests and ANOVA. A pig forelimb model was used to assess the functional impact of PINGs. A 6cm long reversed ulnar-PING was coapted to the proximally transected ulnar nerve. After 12 weeks of regeneration, the distal PING was transferred end-to-end to the median nerve just proximal to the elbow. A control group underwent ulnar-to-median nerve transfer 6cm proximal to the elbow (n=4 limbs/group). Hoof flexion force was measured every three weeks. Results Axonal viability: after 8 weeks, axons had regenerated into the distal grafts in all lengths: mean myelinated axon counts (±SD): 7043 (±790), 6066 (±1838), 6491 (±983) in 2cm,3cm,4cm grafts, with no differences between graft lengths (p=0.48). One week after elevation and unfurling, the number of myelinated axons was significantly decreased in all groups (p

In this report, the case of a 24-year-old Caucasian female with type 2 membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis status-post living donor kidney transplant managed on triple regimen immunosuppressive therapy who developed shingles is discussed. With its onset, she promptly reached out to her nephrologist who deferred her to primary care. Prior to seeing her primary provider, she developed disseminated herpes zoster. She consulted emergency services where she was given inadequate care and again deferred to primary care. One day later, the dissemination included her entire torso, face, oral cavity, and all extremities. Fortunately, the patient had the insight to again reach out to her nephrologist who arranged for her to be admitted for appropriate care 6 days after her initial inquiry that carried 6 days of zoster progression. This case demonstrates how it is pertinent that specialists recognize potentially lethal complications associated with the conditions they follow. Although convenient to defer to primary care, if specialists were to take on the responsibility of providing a broader scope of care for their unique subsets of patients, it would likely result in a reduction in the 80% of serious medical errors that occur as a result of miscommunication, or lack thereof, between care providers.

The new kidney allocation system in the United States has introduced longevity matching, which gives priority to allocating the best quality organs to wait-listed candidates with the longest predicted survival for the efficient utilization of organs that are of limited availability. The estimated post-transplant survival (EPTS) score was developed in the United States to risk-stratify all wait-listed patients. However, prognostic indices used in Western countries were derived from data that may be different for Korea and do not necessarily reflect prognostic values for Korean deceased donor kidney transplantation. Prognostic indices for Korean wait-listed candidates therefore need to be developed from Korean data.We analyzed 6,731 adult solitary kidney transplant patients for candidate risk prediction using the national data from the Korean Network for Organ Sharing (KONOS) and National Health Insurance Data Sharing Service (NHISS). Cox regression analysis was used to model the risk of patient death.The Korean EPTS (K-EPTS) score was developed based on four recipient parameters (age, diabetes mellitus, hepatitis C virus, and duration of dialysis) that showed a significant association with post-transplant survival. K-EPTS scores showed good discrimination (C-statistics 0.690; 95% confidence interval, 0.666-0.715). Moreover, the ability of the K-EPTS score to discriminate patient survival was better than that of the EPTS according to the criteria of the United Network for Organ Sharing (US-EPTS) score (P0.001).The K-EPTS score, which was developed based on Korean national data, is expected to contribute to the assessment of recipient prognosis and efficient utilization of deceased donor kidneys.

BACKGROUND Allocation for pediatric deceased-donor kidney transplantation (pDDKT) in the United States now de-emphasizes HLA matching to improve equality in access to transplantation, but other national systems still consider HLA matching due to concerns about graft survival. We hypothesized that the impact of HLA mismatching has decreased over time due to advances including improved immunosuppression. METHODS Using Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipient data, we analyzed whether the association between the number of HLA mismatches and outcomes of first-time pDDKTs changed between 2 eras: 1995 to 2004 (N = 2854) and 2005 to 2014 (N = 4643). RESULTS Between eras, the median number of mismatches increased from 4 to 5 (P < 0.001). Overall graft failure risk was higher among HLA-mismatched versus HLA-matched transplants (adjusted hazard ratio 1.211.431.69 for 3-6 versus 0-2 mismatches; P < 0.001), and this association was similar pre-2005 and post-2005 (Pinteraction = 0.5). Median panel-reactive antibody change at relisting increased from 79 to 85 (P = 0.01), but the association between number of HLA mismatches and panel-reactive antibody change was similar between eras (Pinteraction = 0.6). CONCLUSIONS Our finding that increased HLA mismatching continues to impact graft survival, with 43% higher risk of graft failure, highlights the tradeoff between transplant access equity and outcomes and calls into question the deemphasis on HLA matching in pDDKT allocation in the United States.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) may no longer be the menace that plagues stem cell transplant outcomes, owing to marked improvements in transplantation techniques and methods of prophylaxis. However, it still remains a common and morbid problem for recipients of stem cell transplant and patients with certain hematologic malignancies. This article discusses the epidemiology and risk factors of CMV infection and disease, associated morbidity and mortality, diagnosis, and clinical features of clinical syndromes associated with CMV and the principles of management of CMV, with special attention to resistant CMV as it pertains to infectious disease specialists.

Introduction Trichosporon asahii is an emerging cause of systemic fungal infection in an immunocompromised host. Several life threatening disseminated T. asahii infection in single solid organ (liver or kidney) transplant recipients, in neutropenic and hematological malignancy patients have been reported. Case presentation (Methods and Results) A 49‐year old gentleman who underwent simultaneous living‐donor liver transplantation (donor sister) and kidney transplant (donor wife) developed fever and subsegmental patchy consolidation with right sided pleural effusion on fourth postoperative day. Central line blood stream infection was suspected. Blood culture grew creamy white colonies of T. asahii on blood agar with characteristic dirty‐green colonies on CHROMagar. Laboratory analysis of pleural fluid also revealed budding yeast cells identified as T. asahii. Microscopy of the isolates showed hyphae, arthroconidia, and blastospores. The isolates were identified as T. asahii by VITEK MS which uses matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight (MALDI‐TOF) technology. Initially liposomal amphotericin B and micafungin was initiated, but due to lack of clinical and microbiological response, patient was switched to voriconazole. Simultaneously, tacrolimus doses were reduced to one‐third in view of interaction with voriconazole. Subsequently, patient improved with resolution of fever and microbiological cure. Conclusion This is the first case report of disseminated T. asahii infection in a combined liver‐kidney transplant recipient successfully treated with voriconazole. Azole antifungal are the promising drug of choice for systemic T. asahii infection. Drug interactions should be considered while using these antifungal agents.

Lung donor utilization rates remain low, with many organs refused for donor quality. However, some centers have successfully transplanted these organs despite multiple refusals for donor quality (RDQs) by other centers. We hypothesized that the number of refusals due to donor quality does not impact post-transplant outcomes.Lung transplants (LTxs) from 2006 to 2015, identified using the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) database, were matched against the potential transplant recipient (PTR) data set by donor identification. Transplants were categorized into 2 groups: low RDQ (0 to 3 RDQs) and high RDQ (3 RDQs). Post-transplant survival and predictors for high RDQ were observed using Kaplan‒Meier and logistic regression analyses, respectively.Of 10,126 adult (18 years) LTxs, 77% had at least 1 RDQ, with a median of 4 RDQs. Post-transplant 1-year survival was similar for both the low and high RDQ groups (p = 0.49). Furthermore, groups of recipients who received donors with an increasing number of RDQs (3,6, or10) also had similar post-transplant 1-year survival (p = 0.77). Treatment for rejection within 1 year and intubation at 72 hours post-transplant were higher in the high RDQ group (p0.01). An inverse relationship was identified between the number of RDQs and likelihood of utilization. After 10 RDQs, the likelihood of utilization varied significantly by donor characteristics.Lung transplant survival is not associated with number of refusals due to donor quality. When determining whether an organ is suitable for transplant, the number of refusals due to donor quality should not influence one's decision, especially in this era of limited donor supply.

Intraoperative extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support, both venoarterial and venovenous (VV), have been used sparingly and with limited success in the setting of liver transplantation. Here, we report the successful use of VV-ECMO in the resuscitation and pulmonary bridging support after severe systemic inflammatory response in a combined liver and kidney transplant recipient who suffered primary nonfunction of both allografts. Where conventional ventilator maneuvers may prove ineffective, the implementation of VV-ECMO should be considered as a therapeutic option in limited, short-lived acute pulmonary injury.

BackgroundImmune-checkpoint inhibition has improved outcomes in metastatic melanoma. However, limited data describes the safety and efficacy of this treatment in the setting of cardiac allograft. Emerging translational and clinical evidence suggests that the majority of the benefit from these therapies is driven by the initial dose(s), and that attenuated dosing schedules may be as effective as continuous treatment.Case presentationWe present a case vignette of a cardiac transplant recipient with metastatic melanoma who experienced six months of clinical benefit after one dose of pembrolizumab and did not suffer allograft rejection.ConclusionThis case adds to the current available literature on the administration of checkpoint inhibitors in patients with cardiac allografts. Further, it explores potential markers of immunotherapy response and supports the potential of shorter or individualized immune-checkpoint blockade dosing strategies.

More than 109,000 people in the United States were awaiting organ transplants in November 2020, and approximately 17 die each day before receiving one (1). Seeking to expand the pool of organs available to these patients, clinicians are beginning to look to sources once considered off-limits: organs from deceased donors with infections such as HIV and hepatitis C. Making more organs viable for transplant requires not only an effective treatment and reliable tests to detect infections, but also building the confidence of patients and doctors. Image credit: Shutterstock/David Tadevosian. At first, the notion of knowingly giving an organ from an infected donor to an immunosuppressed transplant recipient seems unthinkable. But a better understanding of the diseases caused by certain pathogens, as well as the availability of new drugs to treat or even prevent infections, mean that donor organs once discarded can now be used successfully. In recent years, this principle has been demonstrated dramatically via a series of hepatitis clinical trials: Organ recipients treated prophylactically with new, highly effective hepatitis C (HCV) medications were protected from infection after receiving organs from HCV-infected donors. This proof of concept was made possible in 2013, with advances in a curative new class of HCV drugs known as direct-acting antivirals. And it comes at a time when the opioid epidemic has, for tragic reasons, increased the potential supply of deceased organ donors—many of them infected with HCV. But researchers are also exploring ways to safely use organs from donors infected with other viruses, including HIV, as well as other pathogens. In all cases, making more organs viable requires not only an effective treatment and reliable tests to detect infections but also building the confidence of patients and doctors. Organ recipients and their physicians have always had to carefully weigh the benefits and risks of …

Human papillomavirus (HPV), a DNA virus, infects basal keratinocytes and causes common warts and as well as malignancies of skin and mucous membranes. Although many treatment options are available, persistent HPV infections are common among transplant recipients. Herein, we present a patient with a 15‐year history of treatment‐resistant warts that regressed during COVID‐19 (Coronavirus disease 2019) treatment.

Kidney transplant patients are prone to a variety of complications, even for the most experienced surgical teams. Our busy transplant center recently performed its 5,000th solid organ transplant. We present the case of an 18-year-old male with end-stage renal disease who underwent a deceased donor kidney transplant. He developed a urine leak from the necrotic lower pole of his graft kidney and subsequently developed urosepsis and was admitted. Clinicians must have a high suspicion for complications in the immediate post-operative period in kidney transplant patients. In this report, we will highlight our diagnostic and treatment steps to preserve the patient's graft while addressing his rare complications.

We recently read with interest the article entitled "Clearance of longstanding treatment-resistant warts during COVID-19 in a transplant recipient" by Erkayman et al.1 The authors report on a 49-year-old man, known to have had renal transplantation and maintained on immunosuppressive therapy, who had a longstanding resistant warts regressing during the course of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. The authors speculated on possible mechanism leading to wart regression including the immunological response against SARS-CoV-2.

Objectives To investigate:(1) the risk of severe COVID-19 in those eligible for shielding, and (2) the relation of severe COVID-19 to transmission-related factors in those in shielding and the general population. Design Matched case-control study (REACT-SCOT). Setting Population of Scotland from 1 March 2020 to 28 January 2021. Participants All 160307 diagnosed cases of COVID-19 and 1564782 controls matched for age, sex and primary care practice, linked with all 204913 individuals identified as eligible for shielding by Public Health Scotland. Main outcome measure Severe COVID-19, defined as cases that entered critical care or were fatal. Results With those without risk conditions as reference category, the univariate rate ratio for severe COVID-19 was 5.3 (95% CI 5.0 to 5.7, p=4 × 10−527) in those with moderate risk conditions and 7.6 (95% CI 7.1 to 8.3, p=1 × 10−527) in those eligible for shielding. The highest rate was in solid organ transplant recipients: rate ratio 13.6 (95% CI 9.6 to 19.2, p=8 × 10−50). In both the shielded and the general population, the risk of severe COVID-19 increased with the number of adults but decreased with the number of school-age children in the household. Severe COVID-19 was strongly associated with recent exposure to hospital (defined as 5 to 14 days before presentation date): rate ratio 12.6 (95% CI 11.7 to 13.6, p=2 × 10−989) overall. In a case-crossover analysis with less recent exposure only (15 to 24 days before first testing positive) as reference category, the rate ratio associated with recent exposure only was 6.3 (95% CI 3.6 to 11.1, p=2 × 10−10). Among those eligible for shielding, the population attributable risk fraction (PARF) of severe cases for recent exposure to hospital was 36%. In the general population the PARF for recent exposure to hospital peaked at 46% in May 2020 and again at 64% in December 2020. Conclusions The effectiveness of shielding vulnerable individuals was limited by the inability to control transmission in hospital and from other adults in the household. For solid organ transplant recipients, in whom the efficacy of vaccines is uncertain, these results support a policy of offering vaccination to household contacts. Mitigating the impact of the epidemic requires control of nosocomial transmission. Summary What is already known on this topic? Individuals designated as “clinically extremely vulnerable” – about 3% of the population – have been advised to shield themselves during the COVID-19 epidemic The effectiveness of this shielding programme has not been evaluated. What this study adds Hospital-acquired infection has made a substantial contribution to the burden of COVID-19 in the population, accounting for more than half of severe cases in early December 2020. For vulnerable individuals to be shielded, the risk of hospital-acquired infection must be reduced and support must be provided for other adults in the household to co-isolate with the vulnerable individual. Solid organ transplant recipients are at the highest risk; vaccination of household contacts should be considered for this group.