BACKGROUND: Polyomavirus (PV) infection in kidney transplant patients has been reported to cause interstitial nephritis and subsequent graft loss. The cornerstone of current therapy is a reduction in immunosuppression, which can subsequently lead to kidney allograft rejection. This dilemma becomes even more challenging in the setting of simultaneous kidney-pancreas transplantation, because a reduction in immunosuppression may result in rejection of the pancreas allograft. Antiviral therapy has not been shown to be clinically successful in decreasing the risk of graft loss secondary to PV infection. Furthermore, because of limited experience, the decision to perform retransplantation in patients who lost their primary kidney grafts to PV interstitial nephritis becomes a difficult one. METHODS: Retrospective review and case studies. RESULTS: We report two successful living donor kidney retransplants in simultaneous kidney-pancreas transplant patients who lost their first kidney grafts to PV infection. Both patients are receiving rimantadine therapy and performing well, with functioning kidney and pancreas grafts and no evidence of recurrent PV interstitial nephritis 22 and 37 months after retransplantation. CONCLUSIONS: Although follow-up is limited, our initial experience would indicate that graft loss secondary to PV interstitial nephritis is not an absolute contraindication for kidney retransplantation.
BACKGROUND:Polyomavirus (PV) infection in kidney transplant patients has been reported to cause interstitial nephritis and subsequent graft loss. The cornerstone of current therapy is a reduction in immunosuppression, which can subsequently lead to kidney allograft rejection. This dilemma becomes even more challenging in the setting of simultaneous kidney-pancreas transplantation, because a reduction in immunosuppression may result in rejection of the pancreas allograft. Antiviral therapy has not been shown to be clinically successful in decreasing the risk of graft loss secondary to PV infection. Furthermore, because of limited experience, the decision to perform retransplantation in patients who lost their primary kidney grafts to PVinterstitial nephritis becomes a difficult one. METHODS: Retrospective review and case studies. RESULTS: We report two successful living donor kidney retransplants in simultaneous kidney-pancreas transplantpatients who lost their first kidney grafts to PV infection. Both patients are receiving rimantadine therapy and performing well, with functioning kidney and pancreas grafts and no evidence of recurrent PVinterstitial nephritis 22 and 37 months after retransplantation. CONCLUSIONS: Although follow-up is limited, our initial experience would indicate that graft loss secondary to PVinterstitial nephritis is not an absolute contraindication for kidney retransplantation.
Authors: Greg Knoll; Sandra Cockfield; Tom Blydt-Hansen; Dana Baran; Bryce Kiberd; David Landsberg; David Rush; Edward Cole Journal: CMAJ Date: 2005-11-08 Impact factor: 8.262
Authors: John C LaMattina; Hans W Sollinger; Yolanda T Becker; Joshua D Mezrich; John D Pirsch; Jon S Odorico Journal: Clin Transplant Date: 2011-10-28 Impact factor: 2.863