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Purpose: Evaluate cytomegalovirus (CMV) post‐prophylaxis surveillance in high‐risk (D+/R‐) kidney and liver transplant recipients. Methods: Adult D+/R‐ patients were included if transplanted between 6/1/15 and 11/30/22 and divided into a pre‐CMV‐stewardship‐era (6/1/15–5/31/18), CMV‐stewardship‐era (6/1/18–6/30/20), and a surveillance‐era (7/1/2020–11/30/2022) then followed through 12 months. The primary objective was to evaluate CMV‐related outcomes. The secondary objective was to assess graft and patient survival by era. Results: There were 328 patients in the study period; 133 in the pre‐stewardship‐era, 103 in the stewardship‐era, and 92 in the surveillance‐era. Replication rates in the surveillance‐era were significantly higher, as anticipated due to increased sampling (pre 38.4%, stewardship 33.0%, surveillance 52.2%, p = 0.02). Time from transplant to first replication was similar (pre 214.0 ± 79.0 days, stewardship 231.1 ± 65.5, surveillance 234.9 ± 61.4, p = 0.29). CMV viral load (VL) at first detection, maximum‐VL, and incidence of VL > 100 000 IU/mL were numerically lower in the surveillance era, although not statistically significant. CMV end‐organ disease (p < 0.0001) and ganciclovir‐resistance (p = 0.002) were significantly lower in the surveillance era than in both previous eras. Rejection was not different between eras (p = 0.4). Graft (p = 0.0007) and patient survival (p = 0.008) were significantly improved in the surveillance era. Conclusions: Post‐prophylaxis surveillance significantly reduced CMV end‐organ disease and resistance. Despite observing increased replication rates in the surveillance era, rejection was not significantly different and there was no graft loss or patient mortality at 12 months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: While presumably less common with modern molecular diagnostic and imaging techniques, fever of unknown origin (FUO) remains a challenge in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). Additionally, the impact of FUO on patient and graft survival is poorly described. Methods: A cohort of adult KTRs between January 1, 1995 and December 31, 2018 was followed at the University of Wisconsin Hospital. Patients transplanted from January 1, 1995 to December 31, 2005 were included in the "early era"; patients transplanted from January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2018 were included in the "modern era". The primary objective was to describe the epidemiology and etiology of FUO diagnoses over time. Secondary outcomes included rejection, graft and patient survival. Results: There were 5590 kidney transplants at our center during the study window. FUO was identified in 323 patients with an overall incidence rate of.8/100 person‐years. Considering only the first 3 years after transplant, the incidence of FUO was significantly lower in the modern era than in the early era, with an Incidence Rate Ratio (IRR) per 100 person‐years of.48; 95% CI:.35–.63; p <.001. A total of 102 (31.9%) of 323 patients had an etiology determined within 90 days after FUO diagnosis: 100 were infectious, and two were malignancies. In the modern era, FUO remained significantly associated with rejection (HR = 44.1; 95% CI: 16.6–102; p <.001) but not graft failure (HR = 1.21; 95% CI:.68–2.18; p =.52) total graft loss (HR = 1.17; 95% CI:.85–1.62; p =.34), or death (HR = 1.17; 95% CI:.79–1.76; p =.43. Conclusions: FUO is less common in KTRs during the modern era. Our study suggests infection remains the most common etiology. FUO remains associated with significant increases in risk of rejection, warranting further inquiry into the management of immunosuppressive medications in SOT recipients in the setting of FUO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Invasive fungal infections (IFI), are estimated to occur in 2%–14% of kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) in the current era of immune suppression and are associated with high mortality rates. We hypothesized that hypoalbuminemia in KTRs is a risk factor for IFI and would be associated with poor outcomes. Methods: In this study, using data from a prospective cohort registry, we describe the frequency of IFI due to Blastomycosis, Coccidioidomycosis, Histoplasmosis, Aspergillosis, and Cryptococcus in KTRs with serum albumin levels measured 3–6 months before diagnosis. Controls were selected based on incidence density sampling. KTRs were divided into three groups based on the pre‐IFI serum albumin level: normal (≥4 g/dL), mild (3–4 g/dL), or severe (<3 g/dL) hypoalbuminemia. Outcomes of interest were uncensored graft failure after IFI and overall mortality. Results: A total of 113 KTRs with IFI were compared with 348 controls. The incidence rate of IFI among individuals with normal, mild, and severe hypoalbuminemia was 3.6, 8.7, and 29.3 per 100 person‐years, respectively. After adjustment for multiple variables, the trend for risk of uncensored graft failure following IFI was greater in KTRS with mild (HR = 2.1; 95% CI,.75–6.1) and severe (HR = 4.47; 95% CI, 1.56–12.8) hypoalbuminemia (P‐trend <.001) compared to those with normal serum albumin. Similarly, mortality was higher in severe hypoalbuminemia (HR = 1.9; 95% CI,.67–5.6) compared to normal serum albumin (P‐trend <.001). Conclusion: Hypoalbuminemia precedes the diagnosis of IFI in KTRs, and is associated with poor outcomes following IFI. Hypoalbuminemia may be a useful predictor of IFI in KTRs and could be incorporated into screening algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Serum albumin is an indicator of overall health status, but it remains unclear how pre‐transplant hypoalbuminemia is associated with early post‐transplant outcomes. Methods: This study included all adult kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) at our center from 01/01/2001–12/31/2017 with serum albumin measured within 30 days before transplantation. KTRs were grouped based on pretransplant albumin level normal (≥4.0 g/dL), mild (≥3.5 – < 4.0g/dL), moderate (≥3.0 – < 3.5g/dL), or severe hypoalbuminemia (<3.0g/dL). Outcomes of interest included: length of hospital stay (LOS), readmission within 30 days, delayed graft function(DGF), and re‐operation related to post‐transplant surgical complications. We also analyzed rejection, graft failure, and death within 6 months post‐transplant. Results: A total of 2807 KTRs were included 43.6% had normal serum albumin, 35.3% mild, 16.6% moderate, and 4.5% severe hypoalbuminemia. Mild and moderate hypoalbuminemia were associated with a shorter LOS by 1.22 (p < 0.001) and 0.80 days (p = 0.01), respectively, compared to normal albumin. Moderate (HR: 0.58; 95% CI: 0.37‐0.91; p = 0.02) and severe hypoalbuminemia (HR: 0.21; 95% CI: 0.07–0.68; p = 0.01) were associated with significantly lower rates of acute rejection within 6 months post‐transplant. Conclusion: Patients with pre‐transplant hypoalbuminemia have post‐transplant outcomes similar to those with normal serum albumin, but with a lower risk of acute rejection based on the degree of hypoalbuminemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Studies conducted in the northern United States found cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease after liver transplantation follows a seasonal pattern, with increased incidence in fall and winter. This has not been evaluated in kidney transplant recipients. Improved understanding of CMV seasonality may help guide use of preventative therapies. Methods: We evaluated adult patients receiving a kidney transplant at our center in Wisconsin from January 1, 1995 to December 31, 2018. CMV event was defined as quantifiable viral replication with clinical signs or symptoms suspicious for CMV per current consensus recommendations. Seasons were divided as follows: winter (December–February), spring (March–May), summer (June–August), and fall (September–November). The primary objective was to evaluate the annual distribution of CMV disease and determine whether this differed by season. Results: There were 6151 kidney transplants in the study period. A total of 913 patients had 1492 episodes of CMV. Median time from transplant to first detection was 5.51 months (interquartile range [IQR] 2.87–11.7). The observed overall incidence exceeded the expected incidence in winter (+.7%), spring (+5.5%), and fall (+3.4%) and was less than expected in summer (−9.5%) (p =.18). The incidence of CMV during summer, however, was 21% less than expected (p =.001) in recipients who were CMV positive (R+) at the time of transplantation. No such difference was observed in CMV negative recipients (R−; p =.58). Conclusion: CMV after kidney transplant appears to be less common during the summer season in patients who were R+ at transplant but does not follow seasonal variation in R−. Reasons for this are unclear but are likely related to CMV‐specific cell‐mediated immunity. These findings may have clinical implications, particularly the use of non‐pharmacologic strategies to improve response to antiviral therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]