Koller, F.

AbstractObjectiveCannabis is the most commonly used recreational drug in the United States, and transplant acceptability for cannabis using candidates varies among transplant centers. However, the prevalence and impact of cannabis use on outcomes of kidney transplant recipients remain unclear. This study aimed to summarize the prevalence and impact of cannabis use on outcomes after kidney transplantation.MethodsA literature search was performed using Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, and The Cochrane Library Databases from inception until September 2019 to identify studies assessing the prevalence of cannabis use among kidney transplant recipients, and reported adverse outcomes after kidney transplantation. Effect estimates from the individual studies were obtained and combined utilizing random‐effects, generic inverse variance method of DerSimonian‐Laird.ResultsA total of four cohort studies with a total of 55 897 kidney transplant recipients were enrolled. Overall, the pooled estimated prevalence of cannabis use was 3.2% (95% CI 0.4%‐20.5%). While the use of cannabis was not significantly associated with all‐cause allograft failure (OR = 1.31, 95% CI 0.70‐2.46) or mortality (OR = 1.52, 95% CI 0.59‐3.92), the use of cannabis among kidney transplant recipients was significantly associated with increased death‐censored graft failure with pooled OR of 1.72 (95% CI 1.13‐2.60).ConclusionsThe overall estimated prevalence of cannabis use among kidney transplant recipients is 3.2%. The use of cannabis is associated with increased death‐censored graft failure, but not mortality after kidney transplantation.

Background: This study aimed to assess the association between the percentage of glomerulosclerosis (GS) in procurement allograft biopsies from high-risk deceased donor and graft outcomes in kidney transplant recipients. Methods: The UNOS database was used to identify deceased-donor kidneys with a kidney donor profile index (KDPI) score > 85% from 2005 to 2014. Deceased donor kidneys were categorized based on the percentage of GS: 0–10%, 11–20%, >20% and no biopsy performed. The outcome included death-censored graft survival, patient survival, rate of delayed graft function, and 1-year acute rejection. Results: Of 22,006 kidneys, 91.2% were biopsied showing 0–10% GS (58.0%), 11–20% GS (13.5%), >20% GS (19.7%); 8.8% were not biopsied. The rate of kidney discard was 48.5%; 33.6% in 0–10% GS, 68.9% in 11–20% GS, and 77.4% in >20% GS. 49.8% of kidneys were discarded in those that were not biopsied. Death-censored graft survival at 5 years was 75.8% for 0–10% GS, 70.9% for >10% GS, and 74.8% for the no biopsy group. Among kidneys with >10% GS, there was no significant difference in death-censored graft survival between 11–20% GS and >20% GS. Recipients with >10% GS had an increased risk of graft failure (HR = 1.27, p < 0.001), compared with 0–10% GS. There was no significant difference in patient survival, acute rejection at 1-year, and delayed graft function between 0% and 10% GS and >10% GS. Conclusion: In >85% KDPI kidneys, our study suggested that discard rates increased with higher percentages of GS, and GS >10% is an independent prognostic factor for graft failure. Due to organ shortage, future studies are needed to identify strategies to use these marginal kidneys safely and improve outcomes.

This meta-analysis was conducted with the aims to summarize all available evidence on (1) prevalence of pre-existing atrial fibrillation (AF) and/or incidence of AF following kidney transplantation; (2) the outcomes of kidney transplant recipients with AF; and (3) the trends of estimated incidence of AF following kidney transplantation over time. A literature search was conducted utilizing MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Database from inception through March 2018. We included studies that reported (1) prevalence of pre-existing AF or incidence of AF following kidney transplantation or (2) outcomes of kidney transplant recipients with AF. Effect estimates from the individual study were extracted and combined utilizing random-effect, generic inverse variance method of DerSimonian and Laird. The protocol for this meta-analysis is registered with PROSPERO (International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews; no. CRD42018086192). Eight cohort studies with 137,709 kidney transplant recipients were enrolled. Overall, the pooled estimated prevalence of pre-existing AF in patients undergoing kidney transplantation was 7.0% (95% CI: 5.6–8.8%) and pooled estimated incidence of AF following kidney transplantation was 4.9% (95% CI: 1.7–13.0%). Meta-regression analyses were performed and showed no significant correlations between year of study and either prevalence of pre-existing AF (p = 0.93) or post-operative AF after kidney transplantation (p = 0.16). The pooled odds ratios (OR) of mortality among kidney transplant recipients with AF was 1.86 (3 studies; 95% CI: 1.03–3.35). In addition, AF is also associated with death-censored allograft loss (2 studies; OR: 1.55, 95% CI: 1.02–2.35) and stroke (3 studies; OR: 2.54, 95% CI: 1.11–5.78) among kidney transplant recipients. Despite advances in medicine, incidence of AF following kidney transplant does not seem to decrease over time. In addition, there is a significant association of AF with increased mortality, allograft loss, and stroke after kidney transplantation.