Latest news with #kidneytransplant
Medscape
3 hours ago
- Health
- Medscape
Iron Therapy Can Treat Anaemia in Kidney Transplant Kids
TOPLINE: In paediatric kidney transplant recipients with iron deficiency, with or without anaemia, intravenous ferric carboxymaltose therapy was safe and led to significant increases in haemoglobin levels at as early as 1 month after the first dose, with improvements being maintained for up to 12 months. METHODOLOGY: Researchers conducted a retrospective cohort study to assess the safety and effectiveness of intravenous ferric carboxymaltose for treating iron deficiency and anaemia in paediatric kidney transplant recipients. They included 15 patients with kidney transplants and iron deficiency, with or without anaemia (mean age, 15.4 years; 60% girls), who received intravenous ferric carboxymaltose after the failure of first-line oral iron therapy; 13 patients received two doses 30 days apart, and two received a single dose. The median post-transplant follow-up duration was 41.8 months. The primary outcome was changes from baseline in haemoglobin, transferrin saturation, and ferritin levels measured at multiple timepoints for up to 12 months post-treatment; secondary outcomes included changes in serum iron and phosphorus levels and assessment of adverse drug reactions. TAKEAWAY: Haemoglobin levels increased significantly from baseline after treatment with ferric carboxymaltose at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months (P < .05 for all timepoints). A significant increase in ferritin levels was observed at 1, 3, and 6 months (P < .05), but not at 12 months. Serum iron levels increased significantly at 1 and 3 months after treatment, and transferrin saturation improved after 30 days — even in patients whose saturation did not reach 20%. Phosphate levels remained stable throughout the follow-up period, with no cases of hypophosphataemia observed. No adverse drug reactions were reported. IN PRACTICE: "Our data support the past evidence on the use of FCM [ferric carboxymaltose] in pediatric patients with CKD [chronic kidney disease], adding new insight on patients with successful KT [kidney transplant] in follow-up," the authors wrote. SOURCE: This study was led by Diletta Domenica Torres, "Giovanni XXIII" Hospital, Bari, Italy. It was published online on July 26, 2025, in Pediatric Nephrology. LIMITATIONS: The study's retrospective design and the small sample size were notable limitations of this study. Additionally, selection bias may have occurred, and reporting of adverse events may have been incomplete or underestimated. DISCLOSURES: This study did not report any source of funding. The authors declared having no conflicts of interest. This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
iMDx to Host Virtual KOL Event to Discuss its In-House dd-cfDNA Testing for Kidney Transplant Patients on August 15, 2025
NASHVILLE, Tenn., July 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Insight Molecular Diagnostics, or iMDx, (Nasdaq: IMDX), today announced that it will host a virtual key opinion leader (KOL) event on Friday, August 15, 2025 at 4:00 PM ET featuring Anthony Langone, MD (Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Vanderbilt University). To register, click here. Dr. Langone, who serves as the national principal investigator (NPI) for iMDx's ongoing kidney transplant monitoring trial, will discuss the expanding role of donor-derived cell-free DNA (dd-cfDNA) in transplant care, patient management, and the benefits of enabling in-house testing. In addition, the Company's management team will provide an overview of their kitted strategy, and the uniqueness of their GraftAssure™-branded in-house testing option. The GraftAssure™ family of assays, already available in lab-developed test form and as research-use-only kits, leverages advanced digital PCR (dPCR) technology to deliver highly quantitative, reliable dd-cfDNA results for transplant monitoring. The Company is developing a diagnostics test kit for clinical use, to enable hospitals to run their own tests, in-house. A live question and answer session will follow the formal presentations. Those who are registered but unable to attend the virtual event live may send questions in advance of the event to questions@ Please send your questions at least 12 hours in advance of the event. About Anthony Langone, MD Anthony Langone, MD is an Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Nephrology and Hypertension within the Department of Medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. He received his undergraduate degree from Cornell University where he graduated with honors. He completed his medical degree at the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Medicine and completed his residency at Baylor College of Medicine where he graduated AOA and with the McIntosh award, top resident honors. He completed general and renal transplantation fellowships at Vanderbilt, and was elected chief fellow in 2001. Dr. Langone's clinical focus is on kidney and pancreas transplantation, amyloidosis and multiple myeloma. His research interests include ameliorating drug side effects and new drug and biomarker discovery. His professional activities include being an active member of the DCE Committee, the Nephrology Fellowship Clinical Competency Committee, a renal representative and founding member of the Vanderbilt Amyloidosis Multidisciplinary Program (VAMP), and the Medical Director of Medical Specialties Clinic. Dr. Langone is a Fellow of the American Society of Transplantation (FAST) and a member of the American Society of Nephrology (ASN). He is an active participant in multiple American Society of Transplantation Community of Practices (COPs). About iMDx Transplant Products and Product Candidates in Development The company's flagship transplant technology quantifies a molecular biomarker known as donor-derived cell-free DNA (dd-cfDNA). The company's scientists in Germany and the U.S. have played a critical role over the past decade in developing the science that helped establish dd-cfDNA as a trusted biomarker of transplant rejection, and iMDx is now commercializing that technology using a market disruptive approach. Its transplant diagnostics under the GraftAssure™ brand include the following: GraftAssureCore – The company's lab-developed test (LDT), currently reimbursed by CMS and performed at its CLIA-certified laboratory in Nashville. The company is in the process of rebranding its VitaGraft assay (also known as VitaGraft Kidney), which is a lab developed test, under the name GraftAssureCore. For purposes of this press release, references to 'GraftAssureCore' shall be deemed to include the test previously marketed as VitaGraft. GraftAssureIQ – A research-use-only (RUO) kit intended for non-clinical applications and clearly labeled as such. GraftAssureDx – The in vitro diagnostic (IVD) kit currently in development for use in clinical decision-making, which the company intends to submit for FDA authorization. About Insight Molecular Diagnostics Inc. Insight Molecular Diagnostics Inc., or iMDx, formerly Oncocyte Corp. (OCX), is a pioneering diagnostics technology company whose mission is to democratize access to novel molecular diagnostic testing to improve patient outcomes. iMDx™, GraftAssureCore™, GraftAssureIQ™, GraftAssureDx™, and VitaGraft™ are trademarks of Insight Molecular Diagnostics Inc. Insight Molecular Diagnostics (Nasdaq: IMDX) moved its headquarters from Irvine, Calif., to Nashville, Tenn., in June 2025. The company's new NASDAQ symbol became effective June 18. Investors may visit for more information. Forward-Looking Statements Any statements that are not historical fact (including, but not limited to, statements that contain words such as 'will,' 'believes,' 'plans,' 'anticipates,' 'expects,' 'estimates,' 'may,' and similar expressions) are forward-looking statements. These statements include those pertaining to, among other things, expected regulatory approval(s) and commercial launch, and other statements about the future expectations, beliefs, goals, plans, or prospects expressed by management. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, risks inherent in the development and/or commercialization of diagnostic tests or products, uncertainty in the results of clinical trials or regulatory approvals, the capacity of iMDx's third-party supplied blood sample analytic system to provide consistent and precise analytic results on a commercial scale, potential interruptions to supply chains, the need and ability to obtain future capital, maintenance of intellectual property rights in all applicable jurisdictions, obligations to third parties with respect to licensed or acquired technology and products, the need to obtain third party reimbursement for patients' use of any diagnostic iMDx or its subsidiaries commercialize in applicable jurisdictions, and risks inherent in strategic transactions such as the potential failure to realize anticipated benefits, legal, regulatory or political changes in the applicable jurisdictions, accounting and quality controls, potential greater than estimated allocations of resources to develop and commercialize technologies, or potential failure to maintain any laboratory accreditation or certification. Actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements and accordingly such statements should be evaluated together with the many uncertainties that affect the business of iMDx, particularly those mentioned in the 'Risk Factors' and other cautionary statements found in iMDx's Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings, which are available from the SEC's website. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they were made. iMDx undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made, except as required by law. Investor Contact: Doug Farrell LifeSci Advisors LLC dfarrell@ in to access your portfolio
CBS News
6 days ago
- Health
- CBS News
She shared her story of life on dialysis. Now she has a new kidney: "God found me the perfect match."
After 10 years on dialysis, and just days after the story of her long wait for a transplant was featured on "CBS Sunday Morning," LaQuayia "LQ" Goldring, 35, has a new kidney. Before receiving her transplant, Goldring spent up to four and a half hours a day hooked up to a home dialysis machine. "Every day I wake up, I'm thanking God that my feet even hit the ground and that my eyes open and I can still breathe on my own," she said in an interview in January. In her interview, Goldring described the challenges of life as one of roughly 500,000 Americans dependent on dialysis to stay alive, and detailed the uncomfortable shortcomings of care provided by for-profit clinics. She received the treatment at home and said dialysis clinics left her with no control over her care, treating her like a "check." A seven-month CBS News investigation looked at how two for-profit companies grew into what experts term a "duopoly," dominating the market nationwide. Critics have accused the firms of prioritizing profits over the care of patients on dialysis. The two largest for-profit companies in the dialysis industry, Fresenius and DaVita, dispute those criticisms. Fresenius told CBS News in a statement that the company maintains an "unwavering focus on improving quality of life, strengthening clinical outcomes, and extending the lifespan of those we have the privilege to serve." DaVita said in a statement that its "dedicated clinicians consistently deliver high-quality, individualized care in a complex clinical and regulatory environment." Less than a week after her interview aired in June, Goldring received a life-saving kidney transplant through a living donor. At the age of 3, cancer caused both of Goldring's kidneys to fail. She received her first transplant as a teenager from a deceased donor, but when it lost function in 2014, she had to go back on dialysis. In her campaign for a new kidney, Goldring stopped at nothing — posting billboards in her community and becoming an outspoken advocate for those suffering from advanced kidney disease. On Monday, June 20, she got the call that she was a match for a kidney transplant. By that Friday, she was on the operating table. "They asked me if I was scared or had any concerns, and I said none," Goldring told CBS News in a phone interview. "God found me the perfect match." Goldring said she plans to continue sharing her story, emphasizing the importance of living donations. Goldring's kidney was from an unidentified man from Georgia who chose to become a living donor. "Living and non-living donations saved my life," Goldring says. "I want to keep spreading that message. People don't have enough information." Dr. Malay Shah of the University of Kentucky's Transplant Center performed Goldring's surgery, describing it as "absolutely necessary." About one-third of all kidney transplants performed each year in the U.S. are living-donor kidney transplants. And Shah says living-donor kidney transplants have the best outcomes and don't require as long of a wait time for the patient. "When a living donor match came about, it was like winning the lottery for her," said Shah. While Goldring has been back to the hospital a few times since her transplant, her doctors say that's normal with recovery. A kidney transplant is the only option for patients to get off of dialysis. Of the half-million people in the U.S. on dialysis at any given time, nearly 90,000 have qualified for a spot on the waiting list for a kidney transplant, and 11 people die every day waiting for a kidney, according to the United Network for Organ Sharing. "My hope is that more people will hear about [my story] and more donors will come forth," says Goldring.
Medscape
24-07-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Drug Level Changes Predict Renal Transplant Success in Kids
TOPLINE: In paediatric kidney transplant recipients, high variability in tacrolimus trough blood levels was significantly associated with allograft rejection occurring beyond 12 months post-transplant; however, rapid tacrolimus metabolism was significantly associated with rejection episodes occurring between 6 and 12 months. METHODOLOGY: Tacrolimus remains essential in contemporary immunosuppressive regimens, yet its narrow therapeutic window and wide interpatient and intrapatient variability complicate dosing. Although high variability in tacrolimus blood levels and a low concentration-to-dose (C/D) ratio — an approximation of tacrolimus metabolism — predict kidney transplant rejection in adults, comparable paediatric data are scarce. Researchers in Germany conducted a retrospective study to assess the predictive value of tacrolimus intrapatient variability (TacIPV) and C/D ratio for transplant outcomes in children receiving kidney transplantation. They analysed 13,159 tacrolimus trough blood levels in 255 paediatric kidney transplant recipients (median age at transplantation, 11 years; 59% boys) who received a tacrolimus-based immunosuppressive regimen; the median follow-up duration was 60 months. TacIPV was quantified during months 6-12 post-transplant, and the C/D ratio was evaluated during both early (first 6 months) and late (6-12 months) periods. Measured outcomes encompassed the incidence of allograft rejection, the occurrence of opportunistic infections, and the degree of graft dysfunction. TAKEAWAY: Overall, allograft rejection occurred in 45% of patients — 9% within the first 6 months post-transplant, 6% between 6 and 12 months, and 30% after 12 months. High TacIPV during months 6-12 post-transplant was associated with an increased risk for allograft rejection beyond 12 months post-transplant (hazard ratio [HR], 1.04; P = .002); a TacIPV threshold of more than 23% could distinguish patients who did vs did not experience allograft rejection. A low C/D ratio during the first 6 months post-transplant was correlated with a higher risk for allograft rejection between months 6 and 12 (inverse HR, 3.13; 95% CI, 1.05-9.09; P = .04); a C/D ratio cutoff of less than 1.0 could distinguish patients who did vs did not experience allograft rejection. Opportunistic infections and graft dysfunction occurred in 42% and 10% of patients, respectively. IN PRACTICE: "TacIPV and C/D ratio may serve as cost-effective, non-invasive predictive markers for early identification of patients at risk for rejection," the authors wrote. SOURCE: This study was led by Maral Baghai Arassi, Department of Pediatrics I, Medical Faculty, University Children's Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany. It was published online on July 21, 2025, in Pediatric Nephrology. LIMITATIONS: This study could not establish direct causal relationships between tacrolimus exposure, the factors influencing it, and transplant outcomes. The cohort may not fully represent the broader population of kidney transplant recipients as patients with incomplete tacrolimus monitoring data were excluded. Additionally, as most patients were of Caucasian descent, the findings may not fully generalise to more diverse populations. DISCLOSURES: This study was supported by a Young Investigator Award from the European Society for Paediatric Nephrology; a grant from Chiesi, Germany; and other sources. One author reported receiving research grants and consulting fees from various pharmaceutical companies. This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.
Yahoo
20-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Living kidney donor 'will give our son a new life'
Amrit Paul was in the middle of his computer science exams when he was told by doctors he would need a kidney transplant. "It was a shock. I didn't really know how to handle it and, in all honesty, I went into a shell," he said. He was placed on the organ donation register almost five years ago, having been diagnosed with a chronic kidney disease aged four. Amrit undergoes nine hours of peritoneal dialysis each night, a method of blood purification used when kidneys fail. "People say I look fine, but under the hood there are a lot of problems," the 24-year-old said. Now he and his parents are appealing for a living kidney donor from the South Asian community to come forward. 'Debunk myths' "Feeling your body change as your organs start to decline is tough," added Amrit, who works remotely in software sales. "My family are my motivation, they've been so supportive." Amrit's mum Jatinder Paul is leading their campaign. Their poster reads: "Please, help us find an angel for Amrit." Their appeal comes as NHS Blood and Transplant reveals that a record number of people are waiting for a life-saving transplant in the UK. When Amrit's immediate family, who are Indian Punjabi, discovered they were unable to donate, they also became aware of the shortage of matching donors from global majority backgrounds. "As a parent, it's hard not being able to donate because of your own health issues," said Jatinder. "So you reach out to the wider community and ask if there's someone who can help give him his life back." Dr Rhys Evans, clinical lead for kidney transplantation at Royal Free London, where Amrit is receiving care, said ethnicity can play a significant role in how long a patient waits. "Unfortunately, for patients like Amrit who has blood group B, which is more common in South Asian and Black ethnic groups it often means a longer wait, because there are fewer donors from those communities," he said. As of 31 March 2025, more than 8,000 people were on the active transplant waiting list across the UK - the highest number ever recorded. Over 1,300 of those patients are based in London. In the capital, the number of deceased organ donors fell last year to 130, down from 154 the previous year. Fiona Loud, policy director at charity Kidney Care UK, said greater awareness and conversation within ethnic minority communities is vital. "Sadly, every day at least one person dies waiting for a transplant. This has to change," she said. "People from Black and South Asian communities are more likely to need a donor from the same background as them so that the organ is less likely to be rejected. "Talking about it and sharing your decision helps debunk myths and makes your wishes clear to loved ones." Funding for more black and Asian blood donors Lack of ethnic diversity among egg and sperm donors Couple donate stem cells in 'rare' double match Anthony Clarkson, director of organ and tissue donation and transplantation at NHS Blood and Transplant, is also urging people to register their wishes. "We are facing an incredibly concerning situation. More people than ever are waiting for transplants, but fewer donations are taking place," he said. "We need to act across all areas - modernising the Organ Donor Register, improving understanding of the law, and investing in technologies that preserve and treat organs." Despite the difficulties and uncertainty about whether a donor will come forward, the family say they remain hopeful. "We want to spread the word, bring awareness and find a match," said Jatinder. "He's focused on living a normal life, and that's what gives us the strength to keep going as a unit." Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to NHS: Become a living donor
