Glomerulonephritis After Renal Transplatation in South Asia - Single Center Experience Over 5 Decades

With significant advances in the understanding of transplant immunology and a reduction in rejection rates, significant improvements in kidney allograft survival have been seen. The problem of recurrent and denovo glomerular diseases after transplantation affecting graft outcomes remains and is poorly characterized. This study aimed to analyze the incidence, characteristics, and outcomes of glomerulonephritis (GN) after kidney transplant in the Indian subcontinent.

Data on patients who underwent kidney transplants in our hospital from 1971 to 2018 was analyzed. Patients who had biopsy proven glomerulonephritis after transplant were included in the study. Demographic factors, characteristics of glomerulonephritis after transplant, and patient and graft outcomes were studied.

Post-transplant glomerulonephritis was seen in 177 out of 3630 (4.8%) patients. IgA nephropathy (IgAN) was the most common type, followed by focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) and thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA). Patients with IgAN and FSGS were younger, and native kidney disease was unknown in the majority (70% in IgAN and 40% in FSGS). Glomerulonephritis was the most common cause of graft loss. A serum creatinine level of ≥2 mg/dL at 1 year post-transplant was significantly associated with the risk of death and graft loss. In addition, the occurrence of glomerulonephritis within a year of transplant and cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection were found to be significant risk factors for death and graft loss, respectively.

Post transplant glomerulonephritis can significantly impact patient and graft outcomes. Understanding its etiology and pathogenesis is crucial to enabling its prevention and management and improving the outcomes of kidney transplantation.