338.1 ð é«åžçç
338.1.1 Indications
- ESKD (eGFR < 20 + planning RRT)
- Preemptive (before dialysis) ideal
- Failed allograft (re-transplant)
338.1.2 Benefits vs Dialysis
- Better survival (50-70% reduction in mortality vs continued dialysis)
- Better quality of life
- Cost-effective long-term (after 2-3 years)
- Better metabolic control
- Better fertility, growth (pediatric)
338.1.4 Living Donor (LD) â Preferred
- Related (parent, sibling, child)
- Unrelated (spouse, friend)
- Paired exchange programs (incompatible donor-recipient pairs)
- Altruistic (anonymous donor)
Living Donor Evaluation: - Medical: extensive (BP, DM, kidney function, imaging, no significant comorbidity) - Psychosocial - Genetic counseling (if hereditary disease) - Long-term donor follow-up
Living Donor Outcomes: - Better graft survival than deceased - Long-term kidney function preserved in donor (mostly) - Minimal increase in ESKD risk (small)
338.1.5 Deceased Donor (DD)
Categories: - Donation after brain death (DBD) â standard - Donation after circulatory death (DCD) â expanding - Expanded criteria donors (ECD) â older, comorbid â for older / less ideal recipients - PHS Increased Risk (HBV, HCV history) â modern era, with treatment
Allocation: UNOS (US) / NHS (UK) / Eurotransplant systems - Wait time - HLA matching - Sensitization (PRA) - ABO, size, comorbidities - Highly sensitized + pediatric priority
338.1.6 Crossmatch + HLA Matching
ABO Compatibility: - Critical to match - O can give to all (universal donor) - AB can receive from all
HLA Matching: - Class I: A, B, C - Class II: DR, DQ, DP - Better match â better outcome - Importance: DR > B > A
Crossmatch: - Donor cells + recipient serum - Positive: pre-formed antibodies, contraindication - T-cell crossmatch: HLA Class I + II - B-cell crossmatch: HLA Class II - Flow vs CDC crossmatch
Panel Reactive Antibodies (PRA): - % of population with which recipient has antibodies - High PRA = sensitized (challenging match)
Donor-Specific Antibodies (DSA): - Pre-existing antibodies against donor HLA - Risk for hyperacute or AMR
338.1.8 Induction Therapy
Indications: at time of transplant
Basiliximab (IL-2 Receptor Antagonist): - 20 mg IV day 0 + day 4 - Low-risk patients - Less immunosuppressive
Antithymocyte Globulin (rATG, Thymoglobulin): - 1-1.5 mg/kg à 4-7 doses - Higher-risk patients (sensitized, AMR history, DCD) - Profound T-cell depletion - Side effects: cytopenia, CMV, infection
Alemtuzumab (Campath): - Anti-CD52 - B + T cell depletion - Used selectively - Pre-medication with steroids, antihistamine
338.1.9 Maintenance Triple Therapy
Calcineurin Inhibitor (CNI) â Anchor: - Tacrolimus (Prograf, Astagraf XL, Envarsus XR) â preferred - Trough 5-10 ng/mL (early), 4-7 (long-term) - Cyclosporine â alternative (older) - Less commonly used now
Antiproliferative: - Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) â preferred - 1-2 g daily divided - Side effects: GI, leukopenia - Mycophenolic acid (Myfortic) â enteric-coated - Azathioprine â older, alternative
Corticosteroids: - Prednisone, tapered - Some advocate steroid-free regimens (sensitized considerations)
338.1.10 Alternative Regimens
mTOR Inhibitors: - Sirolimus (rapamycin) - Everolimus - For specific indications (CNI nephrotoxicity, malignancy reduction, CAV) - Side effects: hyperlipidemia, edema, oral ulcers, wound healing
Belatacept (Nulojix): - Fusion protein (CTLA-4 + IgG Fc) - IV monthly - CNI-sparing (avoids nephrotoxicity) - Approved 2011 - BENEFIT trials - EBV-positive only (PTLD risk in EBV-naive)
338.1.11 Surgical / Early
Delayed Graft Function (DGF): - Need for dialysis within first week - Risks: cold ischemia time, donor age, DCD - Most recover
Perioperative: - Bleeding - Vascular complications (thrombosis, stenosis) - Urological (ureteral leak, stricture) - Wound issues
338.1.12 Acute Rejection
Acute Cellular Rejection (ACR): - T-cell mediated - Banff classification (1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 3) - â Cr + sometimes pain/fever - Treatment: pulse methylprednisolone 500-1000 mg à 3 days; rATG for refractory
Antibody-Mediated Rejection (AMR): - Donor-specific antibodies (DSAs) - Microvascular inflammation, C4d deposition on biopsy - Treatment: plasmapheresis + IVIG + rituximab + bortezomib + IS optimization - Refractory cases challenging
Hyperacute Rejection: - Pre-formed antibodies - Within minutes-hours - Now rare with crossmatch screening - Graft loss
338.1.13 Chronic Allograft Injury
Chronic Active T-Cell Rejection: - Inflammation in tubulitis - Treatment: pulse steroids + IS optimization
Chronic Active AMR: - Microvascular inflammation + glomerulopathy - Difficult to treat
Interstitial Fibrosis and Tubular Atrophy (IFTA): - Common late finding - Multifactorial (rejection, CNI toxicity, infection, recurrence) - Progressive function loss
338.1.14 Infections
CMV (most common viral): - D+/R- highest risk - Prophylaxis valganciclovir 6-12 months - Tissue invasive: pneumonia, colitis, hepatitis, retinitis - Treatment: ganciclovir IV â valganciclovir oral
BK Virus Nephropathy: - 1-10% of transplants - BK PCR (blood, urine) - Reduction of IS - Cidofovir, IVIG for severe (limited)
PCP: - Prophylaxis: TMP-SMX (also for toxoplasma)
Fungal: - Candida, Aspergillus - Antifungal prophylaxis in select
Bacterial: - UTIs common - Sepsis at any time
338.1.15 Malignancy
Skin Cancer: - SCC most common (vs BCC in general population) - UV protection - Annual dermatology - Voriconazole long-term â SCC risk
Post-Transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorder (PTLD): - EBV-driven (especially in D+/R- mismatch) - B-cell predominant - Treatment: reduce IS + rituximab (CD20+) + chemo
Kaposi Sarcoma: HHV-8
Solid Organ: lung, GI, others
Renal Cell Carcinoma: in native kidneys
338.1.16 CV Risk
- HTN, hyperlipidemia, DM (often new-onset, NODAT)
- â Cardiovascular events vs general population
- Top cause of death post-transplant
338.1.17 Recurrence of Original Disease
- FSGS (especially primary) â recurs 20-30%
- MN â anti-PLA2R antibodies risk
- MPGN / C3G â recurs
- IgA â recurs but often mild
- HUS / aHUS â eculizumab
- DKD â recurs but slow
338.1.18 CNI Toxicity
- Nephrotoxicity (acute + chronic)
- Hypertension
- Hyperkalemia
- Tremor
- Glucose intolerance (new-onset DM)
- Neurotoxicity (PRES)
338.1.22 Pediatric Transplant
- Smaller donor pool
- Living donor preferred
- Growth + development
- Long-term issues
338.1.23 Pregnancy After Transplant
- Possible
- Wait 1-2 years post-transplant
- Stable function
- IS adjustment (avoid MMF â teratogenic)
- Multidisciplinary
338.1.24 Recurrence Prevention
- Identify high-risk recurrence diseases
- Use specific regimens (e.g., complement inhibitors for aHUS)
338.1.24.1 𩺠åºé鿥
- Renal transplant: best for ESKD (vs dialysis)
- Donors: LD > DD (DBD or DCD)
- HLA matching: DR > B > A
- Crossmatch + DSA: critical pre-transplant
- Induction: basiliximab or rATG
- Maintenance: tacrolimus + MMF + prednisone
- Belatacept: CNI-sparing option
- PTLD: EBV-driven; reduce IS + rituximab
- Skin cancer: SCC most common; voriconazole â risk
- CMV: D+/R- highest; valganciclovir prophylaxis 6-12 mo