Belatacept conversion in an HIV‐positive kidney transplant recipient following anti‐thymocyte globulin induction

Herein, we describe a case of early belatacept conversion in a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)‐positive kidney transplant recipient in an effort to improve suboptimal graft function and avoid drug interactions following anti‐thymocyte globulin (ATG) administration. We observed improvement in renal function without HIV disease progression or opportunistic infections. Donor‐specific antibodies appeared shortly after conversion but cleared without intervention. This case highlights belatacept as a means to improve renal function and avoid significant drug interactions even following ATG induction.     

Barriers to listing for HIV‐infected patients being evaluated for kidney transplantation

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)‐infected patients have excellent outcomes following kidney transplantation (KT) but still might face barriers in the evaluation and listing process. The aim of this study was to characterize the patient population, referral patterns, and outcomes of HIV‐infected patients who present for KT evaluation. We performed a single‐center retrospective cohort study of HIV‐infected patients who were evaluated for KT. The primary outcome was time to determination of eligibility for KT. Between 2011 and 2015, 105 HIV‐infected patients were evaluated for KT. Of the 105 patients, 73 were listed for transplantation by the end of the study period. For those who were deemed ineligible, the most common reasons cited were active substance abuse (n = 7, 22%) and failure to complete the full transplant evaluation (n = 7, 22%). Our cohort demonstrated a higher proportion of HIV‐infected patients eligible for KT than in previous studies, likely secondary to advances in HIV management. Among those who were denied access to transplantation, we identified that many were unable to complete the evaluation process, and that active substance abuse was common. Future prospective studies should examine reasons and potential interventions for the lack of follow‐through and drug use we observed in this population.     

Hepatitis B vaccination after living donor liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of hepatitis B vaccination after living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) in patients transplanted anti-HBc-positive grafts or in patients who underwent LDLT for fulminant hepatitis B remains unknown. METHOD: A total of 11 recipients who underwent LDLT between October 1996 and October 2002 prospectively received hepatitis B vaccination three times within 6 months, starting a few weeks after the cessation of hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) prophylaxis. Serial quantification of the hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAb) was performed. RESULTS: At the last follow-up, six out of 11 patients (54.5%) had seroconversion and were free from HBIG thereafter. Four out of those six responders had a peak HBsAb level of more than 1000 IU/L, while the other two patients had peak HbsAb levels below 1000 IU/L. Five patients never responded to the treatment and were back to HBIG prophylaxis. The average age of the six responders was 25.5 years, which was significantly younger than that of non-responders (44.4 years, P<0.05). None had side effects or hepatitis B infection during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the use of this treatment modality could be used to reduce the cost of HBIG.     

Correlates of high hepatitis C virus RNA load in a cohort of HIV‐negative and HIV‐positive individuals with haemophilia

Summary. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment failure and disease progression are more likely with high HCV‐RNA load. Correlates of high HCV‐RNA load in individuals with haemophilia are largely unknown. Among 1266 interferon naïve HCV‐infected individuals with haemophilia, we compared those with high (>2 × 10⁶ HCV‐RNA copies/mL) to lower viral load, overall and stratifying on HIV co‐infection status using logistic regression to calculate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Overall, high HCV load was independently associated with longer duration of HCV infection (P_trend = 0.0001), body mass index ≥25 kg/m² (OR = 1.4, 95% CI = 1.1–1.9), and HIV co‐infection (OR = 1.4, 95% CI = 1.0–1.8). Among 795 HIV‐negative participants, high HCV‐RNA load was associated with older age at HCV acquisition (OR = 1.9 for >15 years vs≤2 years, P_trend = 0.008), and lower AST/platelet ratio (P_trend = 0.01), in addition to longer duration of HCV infection (P_trend = 0.0008), and body mass index ≥25 kg/m² (OR = 1.6, P = 0.005). Among 471 HIV‐positive individuals, anti‐retroviral therapy (ART) was the only variable associated with high HCV‐RNA load (OR = 1.8, CI = 1.1–2.9 for combination ART; OR = 1.8, CI = 0.9–3.4, for other ART vs no treatment). High HCV‐RNA load with haemophilia is more likely with longer duration of infection, older age at infection, higher body mass index, and antiretroviral therapy. These findings may help identify individuals at increased risk of HCV treatment failure and progression to end‐stage liver disease.     

Successful living donor liver transplantation using a graft from a hepatitis B surface antigen-positive donor.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Liver transplantation using a graft from a donor with a positive hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) has been contraindicated owing to the extremely high risk for recurrent disease leading to graft loss. However, the severe shortage of donors often forces the transplant community to utilize suboptimal donors, especially in the setting of living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). METHOD: Here, we report a case of successful LDLT for a patient with hepatitis B-related cirrhosis utilizing a graft from an HBsAg-positive 'healthy carrier' donor using a combination prophylaxis of lamivudine and adefovir dipivoxil. RESULTS: To date, the patient has been doing well with normal liver function tests and liver histological findings at 4 years after the transplantation and the donor has also been doing well. CONCLUSIONS: Although virological recurrence appears to be universal despite prophylaxis, re-evaluation of the use of a graft from a healthy HBsAg-positive donor is warranted in this era of combination prophylaxis.     

Reduced-intensity bone marrow transplantation from an alternative unrelated donor for myelodysplastic syndrome of first-donor origin

A male patient had a relapse of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) 2 years after BMT from a female matched unrelated donor. Conventional cytogenetics, FISH, and short-tandem repeat chimerism analysis proved a relapse of donor origin. He underwent reduced-intensity BMT after a conditioning with fludarabine and busulfan, since he had impaired renal, liver, and pulmonary functions. Chimerism analysis on day 28 after the second BMT showed mixed chimerism of the first and the second donors, which later turned to full second-donor chimerism on day 60. He developed grade II acute GVHD of the skin and cytomegalovirus reactivation, but both were improved with methylprednisolone and ganciclovir, respectively. He remains in complete remission 6 months after the second BMT. Reduced-intensity second BMT from an alternative donor appeared to be a tolerable treatment option for donor-derived leukemia/MDS after the first conventional transplantation.     

Monitoring of kidney function in HIV‐positive patients

HIV‐positive patients are at increased risk of developing chronic kidney disease. Although guidelines recommend regular monitoring of renal function in individuals living with HIV, the optimal frequency remains to be defined. In this review, we discuss the renal syndromes that may be identified at an earlier stage via routine assessment of kidney function, and provide guidance in terms of the frequency of monitoring, the most useful tests to perform, and their clinical significance. Specifically, we address whether annual monitoring of kidney function is appropriate for the majority of HIV‐positive patients.     

Hepatitis B core antibody‐positive donors in cardiac transplantation: a single‐center experience

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) core antibody (HBcAb)‐positive donors are increasingly utilized in solid organ transplantation. We report a single center's experience in cardiac transplantation with 18 HBcAb‐positive donors. Available follow‐up on recipients of cardiac allografts from HBcAb‐positive donors, including 2 donors with low‐level serum HBV DNA at the time of transplantation, demonstrated no documented donor‐derived HBV transmission.