Antoine Jacquet

Outcomes of renal transplantation in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease: a nationwide longitudinal study

Renal transplantation in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is a medical and surgical challenge. Detailed longitudinal epidemiological studies on large populations are lacking and it is mandatory to care better for these patients. The success of such a project requires the development of a validated epidemiological database. Herein, we present the results of the largest longitudinal study to date on renal transplant in patients with ADPKD. The 15‐year outcomes following renal transplantation of 534 ADPKD patients were compared with 4779 non‐ADPKD patients. This comprehensive, longitudinal, multicenter French study was performed using the validated database, DIVAT (Données Informatisées et VAlidées en Transplantaion). We demonstrate that renal transplantation in ADPKD is associated with better graft survival, more thromboembolic complications, more metabolic complications, and increased incidence of hypertension, whereas the prevalence of infections is not increased. This study provides important new insights that could lead to a better care for renal transplant patients with ADPKD.

Co-signals in organ transplantation.

Purpose of reviewThe nonimmune effects of currently used immunosuppressive drugs result in a high incidence of late graft loss due to nephrotoxicity and death. As an immune-specific alternative to conventional immunosuppressants, new biotechnology tools can be used to block the costimulation signal of T-cell activation. Recent findingsMany experimental studies, particularly preclinical studies in nonhuman primates, have focused on blocking ‘classical’ B7/CD28 and CD40/CD40L pathways, which are critical in primary T-cell activation, but also on new B7/CD28 and TNF/TNF-R pathways families of costimulatory molecules that can deliver positive or negative costimulation signals to regulate the alloimmune response. SummaryBelatacept is a new fusion protein derived from CTLA4-Ig that can be used to prevent acute rejection in renal transplantation instead of calcineurin inhibitors. Belatacept can also prevent acute rejection efficiently in humans and, more interestingly, can improve renal function and cardiovascular risk factors in this population.

IgA nephropathy associated with ankylosing spondylitis is not controlled by infliximab therapy

The association between seronegative spondyloarthro- pathies and IgA nephropathy is well documented, mainly in cases of ankylosing spondylitis (AS). However, although these diseases have been associated, the physiopathological links between each other appear unclear. Anti-TNFalpha agents have transformed the outcome of axial forms of AS resistant to conventional anti-inflammatory therapies. Infliximab, a monoclonal anti-TNFalpha antibody, has greatly improved the evolution of AS although several adverse events have been described. On the other hand, infliximab has been demonstrated to reduce renal symptoms associated with chronic inflammatory rheumatological diseases, such as amyloid A (AA) amyloidosis, but few data are available on its efficacy in controlling IgA nephropathy associated with AS [1,2]. We report here a case of IgA nephropathy associated with AS that became symptomatic, whereas infliximab therapy efficiently controlled the rheumatological disease. This suggests that even though infliximab therapy effectively controls rheumatological manifestations, it may not be able to prevent IgA nephropathy associated with AS. Thus, this case report illustrates the complexity of the physiopathology of both diseases.

Emerging strategies to preserve renal function.

Although there has been tremendous improvement in managing chronic kidney disease (CKD) with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) in the last 15 years, CKD still progresses. Therefore, new emerging strategies are needed. The gold standard still lies with optimum renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system blockade, although many questions remain about how this is best achieved, such as regarding the efficacy of combinations of ACE inhibitor and ARBs, supramaximal doses of ARBs alone and combinations of either ACE inhibitor or ARBs with direct renin inhibitors, antialdosterone agents. Other promising molecules currently being tested are endothelin receptor antagonists and glitazones. Also, the role of other current therapies being used during CKD, including statins, vitamin D and erythropoiesis-stimulating agents, will be discussed, as these may also exert nephroprotective effects.

Maturity onset diabetes of the young: clinical characteristics and outcome after kidney and pancreas transplantation in MODY3 and RCAD patients: a single center experience

The diabetes and renal phenotype of patients with maturity‐onset diabetes of the young (MODY) on a transplantation waiting list is not known; neither is their outcome after pancreas (PT) and/or kidney transplantation (KT). Between 2002 and 2009, we screened 50 of 150 patients referred for kidney and pancreas transplantation to the Kremlin‐Bicêtre center for HNF1B and HNF1A mutations if one or more of the following criteria was present (i) an atypical history of diabetes (ii) diabetes with at least one affected parent or two affected relatives, (iii) an absence of auto‐antibodies at diagnosis (iv) a persistent secretion of fasting C peptide (v) a personal or a family history of renal cysts or dysplasia. Their phenotype and their outcome were analyzed. Four HNF1A (MODY3) and eight HNF1B mutations [renal cysts and diabetes (RCAD)] were identified. All MODY3 patients had diabetic nephropathy, but only 50% of RCAD patients. Four patients underwent a kidney and pancreas transplantation and two a kidney transplant alone. After 4.1 ± 1.1 years of follow‐up, 83% of patients still have a functioning kidney and 75% a functioning pancreas. PT can be proposed with good results for MODY3 and RCAD patients.

Efficacy and safety of the H1N1 monovalent vaccine in renal-transplant recipients and dialysis patients

Background: The (H1N)1v influenza virus infection emerged in 2009 as a serious disease in targeted populations. Herein, we report on the tolerability and efficacy of (anti-H1N1)v vaccination in dialysis and transplant patients. Methods: 18 renal-transplant recipients (RTR) and 19 dialysis patients (DP) [12 patients treated with peritoneal dialysis (PDP), 7 patients treated with haemodialysis (HDP)] were enrolled. DPs received one monovalent H1N1 adjuvanted-vaccine injection, and RTRs received two unadjuvanted vaccine injections within a 21-day period. Serologic response was defined as a haemagglutination inhibition titre of >40 (seroprotection) and/or at least a four-fold increase in antibody titre from baseline (seroconversion). Results: Seroprotection rate after vaccination was greater in DPs than RTRs (p = 0.007), as was seroconversion (p = 0.001). Serologic response was similar in PDPs and HDPs. Conclusions:. Serologic response was satisfactory in DPs, whichever dialysis mode (DPD or HDP). It was low in RTRs as compared to DPs. Abstract word count 149