BK Virus Nephropathy After Kidney Transplantation
Conditions
Brief summary
BK virus nephropathy (BKVN), a consequence of the strong immunosuppressive therapy given after kidney transplantation, represents a growing problem in the kidney transplant (KT) setting. In recent cohorts, BKVN concerns up to 10% of kidney transplant recipients and early signs of BK virus (BKV) infection as development of asymptomatic viruria and viremia are even much more frequent (40% and 20% of patients, respectively). In this context, finding strategies to prevent BKV infection or treat patients before the occurrence of BKV nephropathy is challenging. For several years, detection of BKV replication by real-time PCR in urine and/or blood of kidney transplant recipients at early stages of infection allowed adaptation of their therapy. As BKV reactivates essentially in patients with over-immunosuppression, the first step of the treatment is the reduction of immunosuppression. However, reducing immunosuppression (IS) can lead to acute rejection and allograft loss. Other treatments have been proposed (cidofovir, quinolones) but their toxicity profile or their lack of clinical efficacy are now demonstrated. Hence, an efficient and safe strategy against uncontrolled BKV replication is urgently needed. MTor-inhibitors are well known immunosuppressive drugs used in organ transplantation to prevent graft-rejection. They have furthermore anti-viral effects that can be beneficial for prevention of viral infections after transplantation. Recent evidence that inhibition of mTor pathway had an impact on BK infected cells provides additional insight into the observed benefits associated with these drugs. The aim of our study is to evaluate the effect of the mTor inhibitor everolimus on the prevention of severe BKV infection (BKV nephropathy or loss of the allograft) after kidney transplantation compared to the reduction of immunosuppression alone in kidney recipients with BK viremia.
Interventions
DRUGeverolimus
Patients with viremia above 2.8 log of copies/ml will be randomized (ratio 1:1) into either of 2 groups Group 1 : control group : immunosuppression lowering or Group 2 : experimental group : immunosuppression lowering and replacement of mycophenolate acid by everolimus Evolution of BKV viremia and allograft function will be assessed during 2 years after randomization
Sponsors
University Hospital, Strasbourg, France
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Adult patients * Kidney transplant recipients * Patients treated by a calcineurin inhibitor and mycophenolic acid * Viremia \>= 2.8 log UI/ml * Patients who have given written informed consent * Negative pregnancy test (blood β-HCG dosage)
Exclusion criteria
* Known proved BKV nephropathy * Hypersensitivity to everolimus, sirolimus or excipient * Concomitant treatment by leflunomide, cidofovir, sirolimus, Millepertuis (Hypericum Perforatum) * Pregnant or lactating women * Women of child bearing potential unless they are using a birth control method
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| The main objective of our study is to evaluate the proportion of patients with BKV clearance 6 months after introduction of everolimus in kidney recipients who develop BKV viremia compared to patients managed with IS reduction alone | 6 months after randomization | The primary end point is the proportion of patients with clearance of BK viremia assessed by blood PCR and functional graft 6 months after modification of immunosuppressive therapy |
Countries
France
Outcome results
None listed