Torquetenovirus viremia for early prediction of graft rejection after kidney transplantation

Summary Objectives New biomarkers reflecting the degree of immunosuppression in transplant recipients are needed to provide an optimal personalized balance between rejection and infection risks. Methods For this purpose, we investigated TTV viremia dynamics in 66 kidney transplant recipients followed up for two years after transplantation, in relation to BK virus infection and graft rejection. Results After transplantation, TTV viremia rose by ≥2 log10 copies/mL from baseline to month 3, then declined by ≥1 log10 copies/mL thereafter. Higher TTV viremia was associated with recipients of a deceased donor, a lower count of CD8+ T cells and a higher BKV viremia. Importantly, TTV loads were significantly lower in KTR who would later display graft rejection; indeed, patients with TTV viremia lower than 3.4 log10 copies/mL at transplantation or lower than 4.2 log10 copies/mL at month 1 had a higher risk of developing graft rejection in the two following years (hazard ratio (HR) at D0 = 7.30, p = 0.0007 and HR at M1 = 6.16, p = 0.001). Conclusions TTV viremia measurement at early times post transplantation predicts graft rejection and would represent a useful tool to improve kidney transplant monitoring.