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First COVID-19 Vaccine Dose Elicits Weak Antibody Response in Most KTRs

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“Most adult kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) exhibit a weak antibody response to the first injection of the Moderna mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, according to the findings of a prospective study published in Kidney International.1

“We already know that kidney transplant recipients tend to respond less well to vaccines because of the immunosuppression, but data concerning the anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody response after COVID-19 vaccine in this population were lacking,” said first author Ilies Benotmane, MD, of Strasbourg University Hospital and the Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle (FMTS) in Strasbourg, France.

COVID-19 vaccine distribution programs worldwide have given priority to immunocompromised patients, including KTRs. Vaccination was recommended, however, for this patient population even though KTRs were not included in the vaccine clinical trials. Dr Benotmane and colleagues conducted a preliminary study investigating the efficacy and safety of the Moderna mRNA-1273 vaccine in KTRs by looking at the anti SARS CoV-2 antibody response after the first injection.”

Read more, here.

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Removing Race from Estimates of Kidney Function: What Happens Next?

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“The American Society of Nephrology (ASN) and the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) announce the concurrent publication of “Special Article: Reassessing the Inclusion of Race in Diagnosing Kidney Diseases: An Interim Report from the NKF-ASN Task Force” in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology(JASN) and the American Journal of Kidney Diseases (AJKD).

The publication in JASN and AJKD provides an essential review of the many challenges relative to identifying and implementing alternative methods to diagnosing kidney diseases. Last month, ASN and NKF asserted that race modifiers should not be included in equations used to estimate kidney function. ASN and NKF also stated that current race-based equations should be replaced by a substitute that is accurate, representative, unbiased, and provides a standardized approach to diagnosing kidney diseases.”

Read the full article, here.

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PTC: Cancer Risks for Kidney Recipients

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WHY AM I AT GREATER RISK OF DEVELOPING CANCER AFTER KIDNEY TRANSPLANT?

“All organ transplant recipients are at heightened risk of developing cancer after transplant. This is because although life-sustaining, long-term use of immunosuppressant drugs lowers the body’s ability to fend off certain cancers. When you are taking immunosuppressant drugs, your immune response is lowered, and this is what helps to prevent your body from rejecting your new kidney. It also means that your body is less able to recognize and destroy cancer cells or infections that can cause cancer.”

Read more on TRIO’s new Post-transplant Cancer Project (PTC) website, here.

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How Common is Cancer in Organ Transplant Recipients?

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As an organ transplant recipient, you already “know” several things:

  • You know what the anxiety and stress of end-stage organ disease feels like
  • You know that your life has been improved after receiving your transplant
  • You know that by taking care of your transplant, you can reduce the risk of rejection of the organ

Did you also know that the important immunosuppressants (anti-rejection medications) you take to prevent your body from rejecting your transplanted kidney, heart, lung, or liver may increase your risk of developing certain types of
cancer?1

While the risk of dying from cancer is low, you need to be proactive and get screened for various types of cancer—most notably skin cancer.

Read the full article, here.

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New kidney and pancreas transplant allocation policies in effect

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“UNOS has implemented a new system for matching kidney and pancreas transplant candidates with organs from deceased donors.

The new approach is projected to increase equity in transplant access for candidates nationwide. It replaces distribution based on donation service area (DSA) and OPTN region with a more consistent measure of distance between the donor hospital and the transplant hospital for each candidate. This will further ensure the right organ gets to the right patient at the right time based on medical need rather than geography.

The policy was developed over nearly three years by organ donation and transplant experts, organ recipients and donor families from around the country, and input from thousands of people during three public comment cycles.

Kidney and pancreas offers will be offered first to candidates listed at transplant hospitals within 250 nautical miles of the donor hospital. Offers not accepted for any of these candidates will then be made for candidates beyond the 250 nautical mile distance.

Candidates also will receive proximity points based on the distance between their transplant program and the donor hospital. Proximity points are intended to improve the efficiency of organ placement by adding priority for candidates closer to the donor hospital. Candidates within the initial 250 nautical mile radius will receive a maximum of two proximity points, while those outside the initial circle will receive a maximum of four proximity points. The point assignment will be highest for those closest to the donor hospital and will decrease as the distance increases.”

Read all about the new policy, here.

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Outcomes among Transplant Recipients Hospitalized Due to COVID-19

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“Due to chronic immunosuppression as well as the presence of numerous comorbidities, the risk of developing severe COVID-19 may be high in kidney transplant recipients. Researchers in the United States, Italy, and Spain conducted a retrospective cohort study to examine the clinical outcomes among kidney transplant recipients to identify predictors of poor clinical outcomes. Results of the study were reported in the American Journal of Transplantation [2020;20(11):3140-3148].

The study was led by Paolo Cravedi, MD, PhD, division of nephrology, department of medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York. The cohort included 144 kidney transplant recipients who were hospitalized due to COVID-19 at 12 transplant centers in North America and Europe. The 12 centers were participating in the TANGO International Transplant Consortium. All kidney transplant recipients ≥18 years of age with a functioning allograft who were admitted to a hospital between March 2 and May 15, 2020, were included.”

Read the full study, here.

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Signs & Symptoms That Your Body is Rejecting Your Transplanted Kidney or Heart

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A person living with a transplanted organ can live a healthy and normal life.

However, to increase your chances of long-term success, experts say that immunosuppressants (anti-rejection medications) must be taken every day as directed.1

“A transplanted organ is seen as a foreign object—or an ‘unwelcome visitor’—by your body,” says Nikhil Agrawal, MD, a nephrologist with Beth Israel Deaconess in Boston. “That is why your body’s immune system works hard to react against—or ‘reject’—the transplanted organ. Immunosuppressants suppress your body’s immune system and prevent rejection.”

The signs and symptoms of rejection could differ based on your transplanted organ. Below are a few things to look out for if you are a kidney- or heart-transplant recipient.

Read the full article, here.

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American Kidney Fund Applauds White House Decision to Distribute COVID-19 Vaccines Directly to ESRD Patients at Dialysis Clinics

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“The American Kidney Fund (AKF) today issues the following statement in response to the Biden-Harris administration’s announcement that COVID-19 vaccines will be distributed directly to end-stage renal disease (ESRD, or kidney failure) patients at dialysis clinics:

“On behalf of the 555,000 Americans who rely on dialysis to survive, AKF is grateful to the Biden-Harris administration for announcing its plans to distribute COVID-19 vaccines directly to ESRD patients at the nation’s dialysis clinics. AKF recently met with Congressional and Biden-Harris administration officials to recommend this action. Vaccine distribution for ESRD patients at dialysis clinics will be a major step forward in protecting people with kidney failure from COVID-19 and in addressing disparities in our health care system that disproportionately impact the kidney patient community.”

Read the full article, here.

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After Two Kidney Transplants, Tiffany Archibald is On Top of Her Game More Than Ever

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If you play basketball for a prestigious program like the University of Southern California (USC) or professionally in China and Europe, it’s a pretty good bet you are an athlete at the top of your game.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is just not something that should rear its ugly head if your life is about proper nutrition, consistent exercise, and high-level competition.

Right?

Tiffany Archibald would beg to differ.

Read Tiffany’s full story, here.

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