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Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics Feb 2024Pre-conceptual comorbidities, an inherent risk of graft loss, rejection during pregnancy, and the postpartum period in women with thoracic lung transplant may predispose... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
PURPOSE
Pre-conceptual comorbidities, an inherent risk of graft loss, rejection during pregnancy, and the postpartum period in women with thoracic lung transplant may predispose them to increased risk of adverse feto-maternal outcomes. The study aimed to systematically analyze and assess the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes in women with thoracic organ transplant.
METHODS
MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane library were searched for publication between January 1990 and June 2020. Risk of bias was assessed using Joanna Briggs critical appraisal tool for case series. The primary outcomes included maternal mortality and pregnancy loss. The secondary outcomes were maternal complications, neonatal complications, and adverse birth outcomes. The analysis was performed using the DerSimonian-Laird random effects model.
RESULTS
Eleven studies captured data from 275 parturient with thoracic organ transplant describing 400 pregnancies. The primary outcomes included maternal mortality {pooled incidence (95% confidence interval) 4.2 (2.5-7.1) at 1 year and 19.5 (15.3-24.5) during follow-up}. Pooled estimates yielded 10.1% (5.6-17.5) and 21.8% (10.9-38.8) risk of rejection and graft dysfunction during and after pregnancy, respectively. Although 67% (60.2-73.2) of pregnancies resulted in live birth, total pregnancy loss and neonatal death occurred in 33.5% (26.7-40.9) and 2.8% (1.4-5.6), respectively. Prematurity and low birth weight were reported in 45.1% (38.5-51.9) and 42.7% (32.8-53.2), respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
Despite pregnancies resulting in nearly 2/3rd of live births, high incidence of pregnancy loss, prematurity and low birth weight remain a cause of concern. Focused pre-conceptual counseling to avoid unplanned pregnancy, especially in women with transplant-related organ dysfunctions and complications, is vital to improve pregnancy outcomes.
PROSPERO NUMBER
CRD42020164020.
Topics: Female; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Pregnancy; Abortion, Spontaneous; Infant, Low Birth Weight; Infant, Premature; Organ Transplantation; Pregnancy Complications; Pregnancy Outcome
PubMed: 37147484
DOI: 10.1007/s00404-023-07065-x -
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology... Jun 2015We aimed to estimate pooled percentages of patients with adrenal insufficiency after treatment with corticosteroids for various conditions in a meta-analysis. Secondly,... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
OBJECTIVE
We aimed to estimate pooled percentages of patients with adrenal insufficiency after treatment with corticosteroids for various conditions in a meta-analysis. Secondly, we aimed to stratify the results by route of administration, disease, treatment dose, and duration.
METHODS
We searched seven electronic databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, COCHRANE, CENTRAL, Web of Science, and CINAHL/Academic Search Premier) in February 2014 to identify potentially relevant studies. Original articles testing adult corticosteroid users for adrenal insufficiency were eligible.
RESULTS
We included 74 articles with a total of 3753 participants. Stratified by administration form, percentages of patients with adrenal insufficiency ranged from 4.2% for nasal administration (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.5-28.9) to 52.2% for intra-articular administration (95% CI, 40.5-63.6). Stratified by disease, percentages ranged from 6.8% for asthma with inhalation corticosteroids only (95% CI, 3.8-12.0) to 60.0% for hematological malignancies (95% CI, 38.0-78.6). The risk also varied according to dose from 2.4% (95% CI, 0.6-9.3) (low dose) to 21.5% (95% CI, 12.0-35.5) (high dose), and according to treatment duration from 1.4% (95% CI, 0.3-7.4) (<28 d) to 27.4% (95% CI, 17.7-39.8) (>1 year) in asthma patients.
CONCLUSIONS
1) Adrenal insufficiency after discontinuation of glucocorticoid occurs frequently; 2) there is no administration form, dosing, treatment duration, or underlying disease for which adrenal insufficiency can be excluded with certainty, although higher dose and longer use give the highest risk; 3) the threshold to test corticosteroid users for adrenal insufficiency should be low in clinical practice, especially for those patients with nonspecific symptoms after cessation.
Topics: Adrenal Cortex Hormones; Adrenal Insufficiency; Adult; Dosage Forms; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Administration Routes; Drug Administration Schedule; Humans; Inflammation; Neoplasms; Organ Transplantation; Skin Diseases; Transplantation Conditioning
PubMed: 25844620
DOI: 10.1210/jc.2015-1218 -
Transplantation Reviews (Orlando, Fla.) Jul 2022The COVID-19 pandemic has a great impact on solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients due to their comorbidities and their maintenance immunosuppression. So far, studies... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
The COVID-19 pandemic has a great impact on solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients due to their comorbidities and their maintenance immunosuppression. So far, studies about the different aspects of the impact of the pandemic on SOT recipients are limited.
OBJECTIVES
This systematic review summarizes the risk factors that make SOT patients more vulnerable for severe COVID-19 disease or mortality and the impact of immunosuppressive therapy. Furthermore, their clinical outcomes, mortality risk, immunosuppression, immunity and COVID-19 vaccination efficacy are discussed.
METHODS
A systematic search on PubMed was performed to select original articles on SOT recipients concerning the following four topics: (1) mortality and clinical course; (2) risk factors for mortality and composite outcomes; (3) maintenance immunosuppression; (4) immunity to COVID-19 infection and (5) vaccine immunogenicity. Relevant data were extracted, analyzed and summarized in tables.
RESULTS
This systematic review includes 77 articles. Mortality was associated with advanced age. Post-transplantation time or comorbidities were variably identified as independent risk factors for mortality or severe disease. However, generally, no comorbidity was reported as a major risk factor. SOT recipients have a higher risk of acute kidney injury, but no higher rate of mortality compared to non-transplanted patients was found. Immunosuppression was individually adjusted, without leading to high rates of graft dysfunction. Generally, no association between type of immunosuppression and mortality was found. SOT patients established humoral and cellular immune responses after COVID-19 disease comparable to immunocompetent people. At last, SOT patients experience a diminished immune response after two-dose vaccination with SARS-COV-2-mRNA-vaccines.
CONCLUSION
More research is needed to address the direct effect of COVID-19 disease on the graft in lung transplant recipients, as well as the factors ameliorating the immune response in SOT recipients.
Topics: COVID-19; COVID-19 Vaccines; Humans; Organ Transplantation; Pandemics; SARS-CoV-2; Transplant Recipients
PubMed: 35809422
DOI: 10.1016/j.trre.2022.100710 -
Journal of Clinical Epidemiology May 2022To identify and critically appraise risk prediction models for living donor solid organ transplant counselling. (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
To identify and critically appraise risk prediction models for living donor solid organ transplant counselling.
STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING
We systematically reviewed articles describing the development or validation of prognostic risk prediction models about living donor solid organ (kidney and liver) transplantation indexed in Medline until April 4, 2021. Models were eligible if intended to predict, at transplant counselling, any outcome occurring after transplantation or donation in recipients or donors. Duplicate study selection, data extraction, assessment for risk of bias and quality of reporting was done using the CHARMS checklist, PRISMA recommendations, PROBAST tool, and TRIPOD Statement.
RESULTS
We screened 4691 titles and included 49 studies describing 68 models (35 kidney, 33 liver transplantation). We identified 49 new risk prediction models and 19 external validations of existing models. Most models predicted recipients outcomes (n = 38, 75%), e.g., kidney graft loss (29%), or mortality of liver transplant recipients (55%). Many new models (n = 46, 94%) and external validations (n = 17, 89%) had a high risk of bias because of methodological weaknesses. The quality of reporting was generally poor.
CONCLUSION
We advise against applying poorly developed, reported, or validated prediction models. Future studies could validate or update the few identified methodologically appropriate models.
Topics: Humans; Kidney Transplantation; Prognosis; Tissue Donors
PubMed: 35124188
DOI: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2022.01.025 -
Reviews in Medical Virology Jan 2023Balancing immunosuppression to prevent rejection in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients remains challenging. Torque teno virus (TTV), a commensal non-pathogenic... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Balancing immunosuppression to prevent rejection in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients remains challenging. Torque teno virus (TTV), a commensal non-pathogenic virus, has been proposed as marker of functional immunity: higher loads correspond to over-immunosuppression, and lower loads to under-immunosuppression. This review offers an overview of the current evidence of the association between TTV-load and infection and rejection after SOT. A systematic literature search strategy, deposited in the PROSPERO registry, resulted in 548 records. After screening, 23 original and peer-reviewed articles were assessed investigating the association between TTV-load, infection and/or rejection in SOT. The Quality in Prognostic Studies (QUIPS)-tool was used to assess the risk of bias. Meta-analysis with random-effects was performed on results with similar outcomes and exposure measures. Most of the included studies involved retrospective cohorts in which the TTV-load was measured longitudinally, within the first 2 years post-transplantation. Infection outcomes differed between studies and included viral, bacterial, parasitic and fungal infections. Rejection was defined by biopsy confirmation or initiation of rejection treatment. Twelve out of 16 studies reported an association between high TTV-load and infections, whereas 13 out of 15 reported an association between low TTV-load and rejection. Meta-analysis showed an increased risk of infection (OR: 1.16, 95% CI: 1.03-1.32; HR: 1.05, 95% CI: 0.97-1.14) and a decreased risk of rejection (OR: 0.90, 95% CI: 0.87-0.94; HR: 0.74, 95% CI: 0.71-0.76) per 1 log TTV-load increase. The qualitative assessment showed varying risks of bias in the included studies. This systematic review and meta-analysis indicates that blood TTV-load measured within the first 2 years after SOT is associated with the risk of infection or allograft rejection, although substantial risk of bias in the studies included warrant cautious interpretation. The results in this review provide a rationale for larger, prospective, studies into TTV as marker of infection and rejection after SOT.
Topics: Humans; Torque teno virus; Retrospective Studies; Prospective Studies; Organ Transplantation; Immunosuppression Therapy; Viral Load; DNA, Viral
PubMed: 36056751
DOI: 10.1002/rmv.2393 -
European Journal of Internal Medicine Mar 2023Sex disparities are related to biological differences, which may have significant impact on patient and allograft outcomes. The aim was to investigate the impact of sex... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Sex disparities are related to biological differences, which may have significant impact on patient and allograft outcomes. The aim was to investigate the impact of sex on clinical and safety outcomes after solid organ transplantation (SOT).
METHODS
A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed. Observational studies comparing females vs. males after SOT were considered for inclusion after a systematic search of the Pubmed, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases conducted from 2016 to 2021. Primary outcome was mortality. PROSPERO register number: CRD42021282615.
RESULTS
After retrieving 1103 studies, 22 observational studies (1,045,380 subjects) were finally deemed eligible for inclusion. Females accounted 36.3% of SOT recipients, but presented significantly lower mortality (odds ratio (OR): 0.87, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.83-0.92, I=78%). In subgroup analyses, mortality was significantly lower in females undergoing liver (OR: 0.89 95%CI: 0.86-0.92, I=0%) or kidney transplantation (OR: 0.82 95%CI: 0.76-0.89, I=72%). Male sex was consistently reported as a protective factor against hospital readmission. Among the outcomes, allograft dysfunction was influenced by a combination of donor-recipient sex and age. Data on overall infections were inconclusive. Several reports suggest a higher risk of malignancy among males.
CONCLUSIONS
Females represent one-third of SOT recipients but have higher survival rates than males after liver and kidney transplantation. The impact on graft dysfunction was heterogeneous. While further research is warranted, our findings should encourage clinicians and researchers to consider sex as a factor when taking decisions regarding SOT management.
Topics: Female; Humans; Male; Organ Transplantation; Kidney Transplantation; Transplantation, Homologous; Transplant Recipients; Liver
PubMed: 36585321
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejim.2022.12.009 -
Transplantation Proceedings Oct 2022This systematic literature review synthesizes evidence on Brazilian health care professionals' attitudes and knowledge regarding organ donation transplantation.
PURPOSE
This systematic literature review synthesizes evidence on Brazilian health care professionals' attitudes and knowledge regarding organ donation transplantation.
METHOD
This search included 5 databases-EBSCO, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Virtual Health Library. Search terms were conceptualized into 4 groups-organ transplantation/donation, health care professionals, attitude/knowledge, and Brazil. The eligibility criteria included academic articles that applied quantitative methods to examine the attitudes and/or knowledge of health care professionals toward organ donation-transplantation (ODT). After a critical appraisal of the citations initially retrieved, 13 studies were included in this review.
RESULTS
Although most studies pointed to an overall positive attitude of participants toward ODT, insufficient knowledge level among participants was also observed in most studies, especially knowledge gaps regarding aspects such as legal requirements and the functioning of the ODT processes in Brazil. In convergence with the broader ODT literature, education was highlighted as a central point in ODT processes.
CONCLUSION
The results reveal the scarcity of studies on the subject in Brazil and indicate an opportunity for educational efforts to improve the knowledge of health care professionals regarding the ODT process. This study enriches the academic literature and encourages new investigations on the issue, especially in the North and Northeast of Brazil.
Topics: Humans; Brazil; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Tissue and Organ Procurement; Organ Transplantation; Health Personnel; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 36116947
DOI: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2022.08.003 -
BMJ Open May 2023This systematic review aims to derive practical lessons from publications on patient involvement and engagement in the organisation of organ transplantation services.
OBJECTIVES
This systematic review aims to derive practical lessons from publications on patient involvement and engagement in the organisation of organ transplantation services.
DESIGN
This systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses. Inclusion criteria for the analysis of publications in English cited in the databases PubMed and Web of Science until 6 December 2022 required that patients participated as advisers in the organisation of organ transplantation services. Quality assessment was performed using the Guidance for Reporting Involvement of Patients and the Public (GRIPP) 2 small form and the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) tool for the assessment of the risks of bias.
RESULTS
Deployed search strings identified 2263 records resulting in a total of 11 articles. The aims and strategies, deployed methods, observed effects, observed barriers and proposed improvements for the future varied vastly. All reported that well-developed programmes involving and engaging patients at an organisational level provide additional benefits for patients and foster patient-centred care. Lessons learnt include: (1) to empower patients, the information provided to them should be individualised to prioritise their needs; (2) financial as well as organisational resources are important to successfully implement patient involvement and engagement; (3) systematic feedback from patients in organisational structures to health providers is required to improve clinical workflows and (4) the consideration of ethical issues and the relationship between investigators and participating patients should be clarified and reported.
CONCLUSIONS
Actionable management recommendations could be derived. The quantitative impact on clinical outcome and economic clinical process improvements remains to be investigated. Study quality can be improved using the GRIPP 2 guidance and the CASP tool.
PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER
CRD42022186467.
Topics: Humans; Patient Participation; Patients; Patient-Centered Care; Organ Transplantation
PubMed: 37164468
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-072091 -
Artificial Organs Sep 2022This review aims to systematically evaluate the currently available evidence investigating the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in the field... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
This review aims to systematically evaluate the currently available evidence investigating the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in the field of cardiac transplantation. Furthermore, based on the challenges identified we aim to provide a series of recommendations and a knowledge base for future research in the field of ML and heart transplantation.
METHODS
A systematic database search was conducted of original articles that explored the use of ML and/or AI in heart transplantation in EMBASE, MEDLINE, Cochrane database, and Google Scholar, from inception to November 2021.
RESULTS
Our search yielded 237 articles, of which 13 studies were included in this review, featuring 463 850 patients. Three main areas of application were identified: (1) ML for predictive modeling of heart transplantation mortality outcomes; (2) ML in graft failure outcomes; (3) ML to aid imaging in heart transplantation. The results of the included studies suggest that AI and ML are more accurate in predicting graft failure and mortality than traditional scoring systems and conventional regression analysis. Major predictors of graft failure and mortality identified in ML models were: length of hospital stay, immunosuppressive regimen, recipient's age, congenital heart disease, and organ ischemia time. Other potential benefits include analyzing initial lab investigations and imaging, assisting a patient with medication adherence, and creating positive behavioral changes to minimize further cardiovascular risk.
CONCLUSION
ML demonstrated promising applications for improving heart transplantation outcomes and patient-centered care, nevertheless, there remain important limitations relating to implementing AI into everyday surgical practices.
Topics: Artificial Intelligence; Databases, Factual; Heart Transplantation; Humans; Length of Stay; Machine Learning
PubMed: 35719121
DOI: 10.1111/aor.14334 -
Transplant International : Official... Apr 2017Barriers to access and long-term complications remain a challenge in transplantation. Further advancements may be achieved through research priority setting with patient... (Review)
Review
Barriers to access and long-term complications remain a challenge in transplantation. Further advancements may be achieved through research priority setting with patient engagement to strengthen its relevance. We evaluated research priority setting in solid organ transplantation and described stakeholder priorities. Databases were searched to October 2016. We synthesized the findings descriptively. The 28 studies (n = 2071 participants) addressed kidney [9 (32%)], heart [7 (25%)], liver [3 (11%)], lung [1 (4%)], pancreas [1 (4%)], and nonspecified organ transplantation [7 (25%)] using consensus conferences, expert panel meetings, workshops, surveys, focus groups, interviews, and the Delphi technique. Nine (32%) reported patient involvement. The 336 research priorities addressed the following: organ donation [43 priorities (14 studies)]; waitlisting and allocation [43 (10 studies)]; histocompatibility and immunology [31 (8 studies)]; immunosuppression [21 (10 studies)]; graft-related complications [38 (13 studies)]; recipient (non-graft-related) complications [86 (14 studies)]; reproduction [14 (1 study)], psychosocial and lifestyle [49 (7 studies)]; and disparities in access and outcomes [10 (4 studies)]. The priorities identified were broad but only one-third of initiatives engaged patients/caregivers, and details of the process were lacking. Setting research priorities in an explicit manner with patient involvement can guide investment toward the shared priorities of patients and health professionals.
Topics: Biomedical Research; Caregivers; Delphi Technique; Focus Groups; Graft Rejection; Graft Survival; Health Services Accessibility; Humans; Immunosuppression Therapy; Immunosuppressive Agents; Living Donors; Organ Transplantation
PubMed: 28120462
DOI: 10.1111/tri.12924