Comparison of donor scores in bilateral lung transplantation—A large single-center analysis

Objectifying donor lung quality is difficult and currently there is no consensus. Several donor scoring systems have been proposed in recent years. They all lack large-scale external validation and widespread acceptance. A retrospective evaluation of 2201 donor lungs offered to the lung transplant program at the Medical University of Vienna between January 2010 and June 2018 was performed. Five different lung donor scores were calculated for each offer (Oto, ET, MALT, UMN-DLQI, and ODSS). Prediction of organ utilization, 1-year graft survival, and long-term outcome were analyzed for each score. 1049 organs were rejected at the initial offer (group I), 209 lungs declined after procurement (group II), and 841 lungs accepted and transplanted (group III). The Oto score was superior in predicting acceptance of the initial offer (AUC: 0.795; CI: 0.776–0.815) and actual donor utilization (AUC: 0.660; CI: 0.618–0.701). Prediction of 1-year graft survival was best using the MALT score, Oto score, and UMN-DLQI. Stratification of early outcome by MALT was significant for length of mechanical ventilation (LMV), PGD3 rates, ICU stay and hospital stay, and in-hospital-mortality, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the largest validation analysis comparing currently available donor scores. The Oto score was superior in predicting organ utilization, and MALT score and UMN-DLQI for predicting outcome after lung transplantation.     

Outcomes of status 1 liver transplantation for Budd-Chiari Syndrome with fulminant hepatic failure

There is a paucity of data on the outcome of liver transplantation (LT) in Budd-Chiari Syndrome (BCS) patients who are listed as status 1. The objective of our study was to determine patient or graft survival following LT in status 1 BCS patients. We utilized United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) database to identify all adult patients (> 18 years of age) listed as status 1 with a primary diagnosis of BCS in the United States from 1998 to 2018, and analyzed their outcomes and compared it to non-status 1 BCS patients. Four hundred and forty-six patients with BCS underwent LT between 1998 and 2018, and of these 55 (12.3%) were listed as status 1. There was no difference in long-term post-liver transplant or “intention-to-treat” survival from the time of listing to death or the last day of follow-up between status 1 and non-status 1 groups. Graft and patient survival at 5 years for status 1 patients were 75% and 82%, respectively. Cox regression analysis showed that patients listed as status 1 (aHR: 0.45, p < .02) were associated with a better survival. BCS patients listed as status 1 have excellent survival following emergency LT.     

Management of lung transplantation in the COVID-19 era—An international survey

It is unknown if solid organ transplant recipients are at higher risk for severe COVID-19. The management of a lung transplantation (LTx) program and the therapeutic strategies to adapt the immunosuppressive regimen and antiviral measures is a major issue in the COVID-19 era, but little is known about worldwide practice. We sent out to 180 LTx centers worldwide in June 2020 a survey with 63 questions, both regarding the management of a LTx program in the COVID-19 era and the therapeutic strategies to treat COVID-19 LTx recipients. We received a total of 78 responses from 15 countries. Among participants, 81% declared a reduction of the activity and 47% restricted LTx for urgent cases only. Sixteen centers observed deaths on waiting listed patients and eight centers performed LTx for COVID-19 disease. In 62% of the centers, COVID-19 was diagnosed in LTx recipients, most of them not severe cases. The most common immunosuppressive management included a decreased dose or pausing of the cell cycle inhibitors. Remdesivir, hydroxychloroquine, and azithromycin were the most proposed antiviral strategies. Most of the centers have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and proposed an active therapeutic strategy to treat LTx recipients with COVID-19.     

Liver transplantation in a patient after COVID-19 – Rapid loss of antibodies and prolonged viral RNA shedding

To date, little is known about the duration and effectiveness of immunity as well as possible adverse late effects after an infection with SARS-CoV-2. Thus it is unclear, when and if liver transplantation can be safely offered to patients who suffered from COVID-19. Here, we report on a successful liver transplantation shortly after convalescence from COVID-19 with subsequent partial seroreversion as well as recurrence and prolonged shedding of viral RNA.     

The use of third-party packed red blood cells during ex situ normothermic machine perfusion of organs for transplantation: Underappreciated complexities?

Ex situ normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) is being used increasingly in the assessment of higher risk deceased donor organs and to facilitate prolonged organ storage. Third-party packed red blood cells (pRBCs) are often used as an oxygen carrier in the perfusate of ex situ NMP. Despite the increasing interest in NMP, comparatively little attention has been paid to the appropriate selection of pRBCs. This includes the choice of ABO blood group and Rhesus D status, the need for special requirements for selected recipients, and the necessity for traceability of blood components. Flushing organs with cold preservation solution after NMP removes the overwhelming majority of third-party allogeneic pRBCs, but residual pRBCs within the organ may have biologically relevant effects following implantation as they enter the recipient's circulation. This review considers these issues, and suggests that national transplant and blood transfusion agencies work together to develop a co-ordinated approach within each country. This is especially important given the possibility of organ re-allocation between centers after ex situ NMP, and the ongoing development of organ perfusion hubs.     

Long-term kidney transplant graft survival—Making progress when most needed

Current short-term kidney post–transplant survival rates are excellent, but longer-term outcomes have historically been unchanged. This study used data from the national Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR) and evaluated 1-year and 5-year graft survival and half-lives for kidney transplant recipients in the US. All adult (≥18 years) solitary kidney transplants (n = 331,216) from 1995 to 2017 were included in the analysis. Mean age was 49.4 years (SD +/-13.7), 60% male, and 25% Black. The overall (deceased and living donor) adjusted hazard of graft failure steadily decreased from 0.89 (95%CI: 0.88, 0.91) in era 2000–2004 to 0.46 (95%CI: 0.45, 0.47) for era 2014–2017 (1995–1999 as reference). Improvements in adjusted hazards of graft failure were more favorable for Blacks, diabetics and older recipients. Median survival for deceased donor transplants increased from 8.2 years in era 1995–1999 to an estimated 11.7 years in the most recent era. Living kidney donor transplant median survival increased from 12.1 years in 1995–1999 to an estimated 19.2 years for transplants in 2014–2017. In conclusion, these data show continuous improvement in long-term outcomes with more notable improvement among higher-risk subgroups, suggesting a narrowing in the gap for those disadvantaged after transplantation.     

A world-wide survey on kidney transplantation practices in breast cancer survivors: The need for new management guidelines

Kidney transplantation reduces mortality in patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD). Decisions about performing kidney transplantation in the setting of a prior cancer are challenging, as cancer recurrence in the setting of immunosuppression can result in poor outcomes. For cancer of the breast, rapid advances in molecular characterization have allowed improved prognostication, which is not reflected in current guidelines. We developed a 19-question survey to determine transplant surgeons’ knowledge, practice, and attitudes regarding guidelines for kidney transplantation in women with breast cancer. Of the 129 respondents from 32 states and 14 countries, 74.8% felt that current guidelines are inadequate. Surgeons outside the United States (US) were more likely to consider transplantation in a breast cancer patient without a waiting period (p = .017). Within the US, 29.2% of surgeons in the Western region would consider transplantation without a waiting period, versus 3.6% of surgeons in the East (p = .004). Encouragingly, 90.4% of providers surveyed would consider eliminating wait-times for women with a low risk of cancer recurrence based on the accurate prediction of molecular assays. These findings support the need for new guidelines incorporating individualized recurrence risk to improve care of ESRD patients with breast cancer.     

Complement inhibition for prevention of antibody-mediated rejection in immunologically high-risk heart allograft recipients

Allosensitization represents a major barrier to heart transplantation (HTx). We assessed the efficacy and safety of complement inhibition at transplant in highly sensitized heart transplant recipients. We performed a single-center, single-arm, open-label trial (NCT02013037). Patients with panel reactive antibodies (PRA) ≥70% and pre–formed donor-specific antibodies (DSA) were eligible. In addition to standard of care, patients received nine infusions of eculizumab during the first 2 months posttransplant. The primary composite endpoint was antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) ≥pAMR2 and/or left ventricular dysfunction during the first year. Secondary endpoints included hemodynamic compromise, allograft rejection, and patient survival. Twenty patients were included. Median cPRA and mean fluorescence intensity of immunodominant DSA were 95% (90%–97%) and 6250 (5000–10 000), respectively. Retrospective B cell and T cell flow crossmatches were positive in 14 and 11 patients, respectively. The primary endpoint occurred in four patients (20%). Survival at 1 year was 90% with no deaths resulting from AMR. In a prespecified analysis comparing treated patients to matched control patients, we observed a dramatic reduction in the risk of biopsy-proven AMR in patients treated with eculizumab (HR = 0.36, 95% CI = 0.14–0.95, p = .032). Our findings support the prophylactic use of complement inhibition for heart transplantation at high immunological risk. ClinincalTrials.gov, NCT02013037.