posted on 2023-03-14, 10:12authored byJohn E.E., Roy S., Devasia A.J., Karuppusami R., Jose N., Mani S.S.R., Eapen J.J., Yusuf S., Thomas A., Valson A.T., David V.G., Mathews V., George B., Varughese S., Alexander S.
Introduction: Post hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT), kidney can be subjected to injury by various causes. Of these, Graft versus Host Disease (GvHD) affecting the kidney is an under-recognized entity with no clear guidelines on its diagnosis, clinicopathological manifestations and outcomes.
Material and Methods: Out of 2930 patients who underwent HSCT at our centre between 2005 and 2020, kidney biopsy was performed in 19 allogenic and 5 autologous recipients.
Results: The mean age of the cohort at transplant was 33.2 ± 7 years and 15 (62%) were males. Median time to kidney biopsy from HSCT was 14 (IQR, 9-30) months. Aplastic anemia was the most common underlying hematological disease (54.2%). All 19 allogenic recipients were classified based on clinicopathological manifestations into either thrombotic microangiopathy [TMA, 12/19 (63%)] or nephrotic syndrome [NS, 7/19 (37%)] pattern. Glomerular tuft ‘mesangiolysis’ was the dominant pattern of injury noted in 9/12 cases of TMA pattern. There was a predominance of acute microangiopathic changes restricted primarily to the glomerular compartment. Of the seven patients with NS pattern, membranous nephropathy (MN) was seen in 4 (57%) and minimal change disease (MCD) in 3 (43%) patients. Thirty nine percent (7/18) stained positive for C4d which was predominantly glomerular. Allogenic recipients who did not receive immunosuppression (IS) for renal disease had a lower eGFR at biopsy, a longer latency between withdrawal of GvHD prophylaxis and biopsy and were significantly at higher risk of kidney failure (IS: 2/11, 18.1% vs. No IS: 2/6, 33.3%, p=0.04). ‘Associated extra-renal GvHD’ occurred in 11/19 (57.9%) allogenic recipients. Patients with ‘associated extra-renal GvHD’ had significantly more death (6/11, 60% vs. 0, p=0.02) but comparable renal outcomes.
Conclusion: Renal GvHD can present with or without ‘associated extra-renal GvHD’ after a prolonged period of withdrawal of GvHD prophylaxis, requiring careful diagnostic vigilance and consideration of immunosuppression.