Vaccination with inactivated SARS-CoV-2 virus produces suboptimal immune responses among kidney transplant (KT), peritoneal dialyzed (PD), and hemodialyzed (HD) patients. Participants were vaccinated with two-dose inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (V2) and a third dose of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine (V3) at 1–2 months after V2. We enrolled 106 participants: 31 KT, 28 PD, and 31 HD patients and 16 controls. Among KT, PD, and HD groups, median (IQR) of anti-receptor binding domain antibody levels were 1.0 (0.4–26.8), 1092.5 (606.9–1927.2), and 1740.9 (1106–3762.3) BAU/mL, and percent neutralization was 0.9 (0–9.9), 98.8 (95.9–99.5), and 99.4 (98.8–99.7), respectively, at two weeks after V3. Both parameters were significantly increased from V2 across all groups (p < 0.05). Seroconversion and neutralization positivity rates in PD, HD, and control groups were 100% but were impaired in KT patients (39% and 16%, respectively). S1-specific T-cell counts were increased in PD and HD groups (p < 0.05) but not in KT patients. The positive S1-specific T-cell responder rate was > 90% in PD, HD, and control groups, which was higher than that in KT recipients (74%, p < 0.05). The heterologous inactivated virus/ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccination strategy elicited greater immunogenicity among dialysis patients; however, inadequate responses remained among KT recipients (TCTR20210226002).
Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) have shown efficacy in clinical trials for slowing chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression, but real-world data in diverse populations are limited. This retrospective study evaluated the effectiveness and safety of SGLT2i versus renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) blockade in CKD patients. Data from Ramathibodi Hospital (2010–2022) were analyzed, including 6,946 adults with CKD stages 2–4, with and without diabetes, who received SGLT2i (n = 1,405) or RAAS blockade (n = 5,541) for at least three months. Patients were matched 1:4 by CKD stage and treatment initiation date. A weighted Cox proportional hazards model with inverse probability weighting assessed the effect on composite major adverse kidney events (MAKEs), including eGFR decline ≥ 40%, progression to CKD stage 5, dialysis initiation, and cardiovascular or kidney death. SGLT2i therapy was associated with a lower risk of composite MAKEs (HR: 0.59; 95% CI: 0.36–0.98; P = 0.041) and less frequent progression to CKD stage 5 (HR: 0.52; 95% CI: 0.34–0.80; P < 0.003). Adverse event rates were similar between groups, with lower urinary tract infection incidence in the SGLT2i group. These findings suggest SGLT2i therapy might reduce adverse kidney outcomes in CKD patients, regardless of diabetic status, with a favorable safety profile.
13 November 2019 in Open Forum Infectious Diseases
Adenovirus (ADV) infection after kidney transplantation (KT) causes significant morbidity. Patient characteristics and outcomes of ADV infection in KT recipients were investigated. All adult KT recipients with ADV infection between January 2015 and June 2019 were included. ADV infection/disease was defined as detection of ADV DNA in clinical specimens/plus symptoms. Clinical and laboratory findings, treatments, and outcomes were assessed. ADV infection was diagnosed in 24/751 KT recipients (3.2%). Twenty (83%) were male with a median age of 47 years (IQR 36–58). Fifteen (63%) underwent deceased donor KT, and 13 (54%) received induction therapy. Twenty-one (88%) and four (17%) patients developed hemorrhagic cystitis and disseminated disease, respectively. There were equal distributions of early-onset (EOI) (< 3 months) and late- onset (LOI) (> 3 months) infections. Patients who were diagnosed with EOI had lower median absolute lymphocyte counts compared to those with LOI (735/mm3 [IQR 543–1123] vs. 1122/mm3 [IQR 784–1344], p = 0.04). All achieved resolution after reduction of their immunosuppression regimen and 13 (54%) received cidofovir therapy. Eighteen (75%) developed allograft dysfunction, of which 67% were transient. One (4%) underwent nephrectomy for allograft failure and 1 (4%) died (non-ADV-related). Patients with EOI were more likely to receive cidofovir therapy (75% vs. 33%, p = 0.04) and develop other opportunistic infections (75% vs. 8%, p < 0.001). ADV infection after KT typically involves a genitourinary system and transiently impairs an allograft function. Those who developed early infection tend to have more lymphopenia, co-infection and receiving antiviral therapy.
30 December 2022 in American Journal of Transplantation
Immunogenicity following an additional dose of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine was investigated in an extended primary series among kidney transplant (KT) recipients. Eighty-five KT participants were randomized to receive either an mRNA (M group; n = 43) or viral vector (V group; n = 42) vaccine. Among them, 62% were male, with a median (IQR) age of 50 (43–59) years and post-transplantation duration of 46 (26–82) months. At 2 weeks post-additional dose, there was no difference in the seroconversion rate between the M and V groups (70% vs. 65%, p = .63). A median (IQR) of anti-RBD antibody level was not statistically different between the M group compared with the V group (51.8 [5.1–591] vs. 28.5 [2.9–119.3] BAU/ml, p = .18). Furthermore, the percentage of participants with positive SARS-CoV-2 surrogate virus neutralization test results was not statistically different between groups (20% vs. 15%, p = .40). S1-specific T cell and RBD-specific B cell responses were also comparable between the M and V groups (230 [41–420] vs. 268 [118–510], p = .65 and 2 [0–10] vs. 2 [0–13] spot-forming units/106 peripheral blood mononuclear cells, p = .60). In conclusion, compared with an additional dose of viral vector COVID-19 vaccine, a dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine did not elicit significantly different responses in KT recipients, regarding either humoral or cell-mediated immunity. (TCTR20211102003).
The durability of a three-dose extended primary series of COVID-19 vaccine in dialysis patients remains unknown. Here, we assessed dynamic changes in SARS-CoV-2-specific humoral and cell-mediated immunity at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months after the extended primary series in 29 hemodialyzed (HD), 28 peritoneal dialyzed (PD) patients, and 14 healthy controls. Participants received two doses of inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine followed by a dose of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine. At 6 months, median anti-RBD IgG titers (IQR) significantly declined from baseline in the HD (1741 (1136–3083) BAU/mL vs. 373 (188–607) BAU/mL) and PD (1093 (617–1911) BAU/mL vs. 180 (126–320) BAU/mL) groups, as did the mean percent inhibition of neutralizing antibodies (HD: 96% vs. 81%; PD: 95% vs. 73%) (all p < 0.01). Age and post-vaccination serological response intensity were predictors of early humoral seroprotection loss. In contrast, cell-mediated immunity remained unchanged. In conclusion, humoral immunity declined substantially in dialysis patients, while cell-mediated immunity remained stable 6 months after the extended heterologous primary series of two inactivated SARS-CoV-2/ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine. A booster dose could be considered in dialysis patients 3 months after this unique regimen, particularly in the elderly or those with a modest initial humoral response.
25 April 2026 in Peritoneal Dialysis International: Journal of the International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis
Thailand's peritoneal dialysis (PD) policy evolution illustrates how apparent policy success can mask underlying system vulnerabilities. Between 2008 and 2021, Thailand's PD-First policy under the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) became an international model, expanding PD utilization from 2760 to over 25,000 patients while maintaining outcomes comparable to global benchmarks. In February 2022, the 2022 Policy removed PD-First restrictions to enhance patient choice. Within 3 years, PD utilization among incident UCS patients declined from 50% to 14%, 90-day mortality risk rose from 9% to 13%, and dialysis expenditures increased to 12% of the total UCS budget. These outcomes prompted the 2025 Reform in April 2025, following a review commissioned by the National Health Security Office and conducted by the Health Intervention and Technology Assessment Program (HITAP), with expert input from the Nephrology Society of Thailand (NST) and other stakeholders. Using aggregated national registry data across three periods—the PD-First period (2008–2021), the 2022 Policy period (2022–2024), and the 2025 Reform period (2025)—we examined utilization patterns, clinical outcomes, and fiscal impacts associated with these transitions. The temporal patterns suggest that rapid policy liberalization may expose and amplify existing capacity imbalances. Following the 2022 transition, utilization shifted toward existing hemodialysis infrastructure despite inadequate vascular surgery capacity, coinciding with reduced rates of permanent access and increased early mortality. Preliminary post-reform data show encouraging recovery, with 90-day mortality risk falling to 7%. Thailand's experience may inform countries expanding home dialysis through policy reforms, highlighting that sustainable choice requires sequenced policy liberalization, infrastructure capacity alignment, and responsive governance to maintain dialysis quality, equity, and fiscal stability.