Covid-19 in liver transplant recipients: the French SOT COVID registry

BackgroundNotwithstanding the ongoing coronavirus disease-2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, information on its clinical presentation and prognosis in organ transplant recipients remains limited. The aim of this registry-based observational study was to report the characteristics and clinical outcomes of liver transplant (LT) recipients included in the French nationwide Registry of Solid Organ Transplant Recipients with Covid-19.MethodsCOVID-19 was diagnosed in patients who had a positive PCR assay for SARS-CoV-2 or in presence of typical lung lesions on imaging or specific SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Clinical and laboratory characteristics, management of immunosuppression, treatment for Covid-19, and clinical outcomes (hospitalization, admission to intensive care unit, mechanical ventilation, or death) were recorded.ResultsOf the 104 patients, 67 were admitted to hospital and 37 were managed at home (including all 13 children). Hospitalized patients had a median age of 65.2 years (IQR: 58.1 ? 73.2 years) and two thirds were men. Most common comorbidities included overweight (67.3%), hypertension (61.2%), diabetes (50.7%), cardiovascular disease (20.9%) and respiratory disease (16.4%). SARS-CoV-2 infection was identified after a median of 92.8 months (IQR: 40.1 ? 194.7 months) from LT. During hospitalization, antimetabolites, mTOR inhibitor, and CNIs were withdrawn in 41.9%, 30.0% and 12.5% of patients, respectively. The composite endpoint of severe Covid-19 within 30 days after diagnosis was reached by 33.0% of the adult patients. The 30-day mortality rate was 20.0%, and 28.1% for hospitalized patients. Multivariate analysis identified that age was independently associated with mortality.ConclusionIn our large nationwide study, Covid-19 in LT recipients was associated with a high mortality rate.     

Impact of single immunosuppressive drug withdrawal on lymphocyte immunoreactivity

Background

Chronic rejection is a major cause of graft loss in kidney transplant recipients. Nonadherence to drug therapy is a well-recognized cause of chronic rejection leading to long-term graft dysfunction and failure for transplant recipients. Immunosuppressive medications with short half-lives that require frequent dosing, such as tacrolimus, complicate transplant regimens and may increase noncompliance. Regimens could be simplified using drugs with long half-lives requiring once-daily administration, such as sirolimus. The impact of missing doses of single agents has not been studied extensively. Erratic compliance or temporary discontinuation of immunosuppressive drugs may have significant implications for chronic rejection.

Methods

Our study evaluated the impact of single drug withdrawal of commonly used immunosuppressive agents (sirolimus and tacrolimus) on lymphocyte responses. We analyzed lymphocyte proliferation, cytokine secretion, and adenosine triphosphate generation using a crossover study design with normal healthy patients. Lymphocyte proliferation was assessed using 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine incorporation, and T cell function was analyzed by examining adenosine triphosphate generation.

Results

Our results indicate that sirolimus exerts prolonged suppression of lymphocyte proliferation and decreased interleukin 17A that lasts up to 48 h after drug withdrawal. In comparison, tacrolimus did not have a similar effect on lymphocyte proliferation or interleukin 17A secretion.

Conclusion

Future analysis of sirolimus in diverse transplantation populations merits investigation.     

Impact of immunosuppressant therapy on early recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after liver transplantation

Background/Aims

The most commonly used immunosuppressant therapy after liver transplantation (LT) is a combination of tacrolimus and steroid. Basiliximab induction has recently been introduced; however, the most appropriate immunosuppression for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients after LT is still debated.

Methods

Ninety-three LT recipients with HCC who took tacrolimus and steroids as major immunosuppressants were included. Induction with basiliximab was implemented in 43 patients (46.2%). Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) was added to reduce the tacrolimus dosage (n=28, 30.1%). The 1-year tacrolimus exposure level was 7.2 ± 1.3 ng/mL (mean ± SD).

Results

The 1- and 3-year recurrence rates of HCC were 12.9% and 19.4%, respectively. Tacrolimus exposure, cumulative steroid dosages, and MMF dosages had no impact on HCC recurrence. Induction therapy with basiliximab, high alpha fetoprotein (AFP; >400 ng/mL) and protein induced by vitamin K absence/antagonist-II (PIVKA-II; >100 mAU/mL) levels, and microvascular invasion were significant risk factors for 1-year recurrence (P<0.05). High AFP and PIVKA-II levels, and positive ¹⁸fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose positron-emission tomography findings were significantly associated with 3-year recurrence (P<0.05).

Conclusions

Induction therapy with basiliximab, a strong immunosuppressant, may have a negative impact with respect to early HCC recurrence (i.e., within 1 year) in high-risk patients.     

Obstetrical and gynecologic challenges in the liver transplant patient

An increasing number of childbearing agewomen undergo liver transplantation (LT) in the United States. Transplantation in this patient subgroup poses a significant challenge regarding the plans for future fertility, particularly in terms of immunosuppression and optimal timing of conception. Intrapartum LT is only rarely performed as the outcome is commonly dismal for the mother or more commonly the fetus. On the other hand, the outcomes of pregnancy in LT recipients are favorable, and children born to LT recipients are relatively healthy. Counseling on pregnancy should start before LT and continue after LT up until pregnancy, while all pregnant LT recipients must be managed by amultidisciplinary team, including both an obstetrician and a transplant hepatologist. Additionally, an interval of at least 1-2 years after successful LT is recommended before considering pregnancy. Pregnancy-induced hypertension, pre-eclampsia, and gestational diabetes mellitus are reported more commonly during the pregnancies of LT recipients than in the pregnancies of non-transplant patients. As adverse fetal outcomes, such asmiscarriage, abortion, stillbirth, or ectopic pregnancy, may occur more often than in the non-transplant population, early planning or delivery either through a planned induction of labor or cesarean section is critical to minimize the risk of complications. No significant long-term physical or phycological abnormalities have been reported in children born to LT recipients.     

Imatinib-Induced Hypogammaglobulinemia in Children and Adolescents with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

Abstract

Imatinib-induced tyrosine kinase inhibition extends beyond the BCR-ABL mutation, resulting in adverse effects. We evaluated hypogammaglobulinemia as a potential ‘off-target’ action of imatinib in children with CML. A cross-sectional, observational study was performed. Patients with CML in chronic phase, age <18-years at diagnosis, receiving imatinib for a duration exceeding 6-months were enrolled. Serum immunoglobulin G, A, and M were measured by end-point nephelometry. Thirty patients were enrolled. The mean age at diagnosis was 10.4?±?3.1?years (range: 5-18). The mean age at enrollment was 16.4?±?4.1?years (range: 9-23). The median dose of imatinib was 287.5?mg/m² (IQR: 267.3, 345.0). The median duration of imatinib-therapy was 6-years (IQR: 3.0, 10.3). The median (IQR) normalized levels of IgG, IgA, and IgM were 33.0% (IQR: ?12.8, 58.7), 28.1% (IQR: ?17.0, 90.1) and 15.9% (IQR: ?9.3, 40.5), respectively. The IgG, IgA, and IgM levels were reduced in 9 (30%), 8 (27%), and 10 (33%) patients, respectively. Five (17%) patients had pan-hypogammaglobulinemia. We suggest checking immunoglobulin levels in patients with CML receiving imatinib with recurrent/unusual infections.     

抗γ-氨基丁酸B型受体脑炎五例分析

目的:探讨抗γ-氨基丁酸B型受体(GABA BR)脑炎患者的临床特点、治疗及预后。方法:回顾性总结2017年9月至2019年6月香港大学深圳医院神经内科诊治的5例抗GABA BR脑炎病例,分析其临床资料、辅助检查、治疗经过,随访3.5~23.0个月并评估预后。结果:5例抗GABA BR脑炎患者(19~81岁)均急性起病,以难治性癫痫为主要临床表现,其中4例颅脑磁共振成像显示颞叶及海马为主的T 2/液体衰减反转恢复序列高信号。脑电图均提示慢波或癫痫样放电。4例肺部发现占位,病理均确诊为小细胞肺癌。5例接受一线免疫抑制治疗(激素联合丙种球蛋白或血浆置换)效果均欠佳,3例接受了二线免疫治疗(利妥昔单抗、环磷酰胺),其中2例合并肿瘤者同时接受了肿瘤治疗,接受二线治疗及肿瘤治疗的患者疗效明显好于单纯一线治疗者。结论:抗GABA BR脑炎主要表现为以难治性癫痫为特征的边缘性脑炎综合征。一线治疗效果欠佳的抗GABA BR脑炎尽快启动二线治疗可明显改善预后。     

再生障碍性贫血免疫抑制治疗后阵发性睡眠性血红蛋白尿症克隆的演变及临床意义

目的 探索再生障碍性贫血(AA)免疫抑制治疗(IST)后阵发性睡眠性血红蛋白尿症(PNH)克隆变化情况及其临床意义.方法 将2008年1月至2012年2月收治的186例AA患者纳入本研究,其中55例重型AA(SAA)予抗胸腺细胞球蛋白(ATG)联合环孢素A(CsA)治疗,131例非重型AA(NSAA)予CsA治疗.治疗前所有患者进行PNH克隆筛查,治疗后进行随访.中位随访时间22(18 ～76)个月.结果 SAA组10例(18.9％)患者出现PNH克隆,NSAA组9例(7.4％)出现PNH克隆,前者出现PNH克隆比例高于后者(t=5.041,P=0.025),治疗后SAA组在6、12、18、＞24个月时PNH克隆规模大于NSAA组(13.38％比5.67％、14.88％比5.31％、20.00％比5.47％、18.85％比9.08％,P值均＜0.05).PNH克隆对2种IST方案疗效影响的差异无统计学意义.结论 AA患者予ATG联合CsA或CsA治疗后,均可出现PNH克隆,SAA患者ATG治疗后更明显.IST前后伴PNH克隆不影响IST疗效.