The highlights of kidney transplantation in 2024

The year 2024 of kidney transplantation was rich in communications in five main selected fields: immunomonitoring biomarkers, therapeutic innovation with anti-CD38 antibodies, tele-monitoring opportunities, patients’ quality of life and health equity considerations. Two biomarkers were consecrated in 2024: the TorqueTenoVirus (TTV) viral load and donor-derived cell-free DNA (dd-cfDNA). Antibodies directed against CD38 both in the field of desensitization and treatment of antibody-mediated rejection showed promising results and promise further upcoming clinical trials. Tele-monitoring of transplanted patients, with the use of dedicated smartphone applications, suggests new ways to improve the logistic of care together with the quality of care. This notion of patient-reported quality of life is gathering importance in the field. It is associated with the patient’s microbiome, opening new potential treatment opportunities. Finally, ethical considerations bring us to think of quality of care in female kidney transplant recipients: as of 2024, this quality remains insufficient when compared to male recipients.