Publication
Title
Late onset of bladder urothelial carcinoma after kidney transplantation for end-stage aristolochic acid nephropathy : a case series with 15-year follow-up
Author
Abstract
Background: Aristolochic acids are nephrotoxins and predispose to upper-tract urothelial carcinoma. The risk of bladder urothelial carcinoma after kidney transplantation and its relationship to upper-tract urothelial carcinoma is not well defined. Study Design: Case series. Setting & Participants: Single-center cohort of 38 women given kidney transplants for end-stage aristolochic acid nephropathy. Outcomes & Measurements: The prevalence of upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma was determined by collecting pathological results of specimens obtained by means of bilateral ureteronephrectomy. We also established the cumulative incidence of bladder urothelial carcinoma in biopsies performed during prospective screening cystoscopies during a 15-year follow-up. Results: Upper-tract urothelial carcinoma was found in 17 patients with aristolochic acid nephropathy (44.7%). During follow-up, bladder urothelial carcinoma was diagnosed in 15 patients 68 to 169 months after cessation of aristolochic acid exposure (39.5%): 8 urothelial carcinoma in situ, 4 noninvasive low-grade papillary urothelial carcinoma, and 3 infiltrating urothelial carcinoma. 12 of 17 patients (71 %) with a history of upper-tract urothelial carcinoma developed bladder urothelial carcinoma during follow-up, whereas this occurred in only 3 of 21 patients (14%) without upper-tract urothelial carcinoma (P < 0,01). Despite local and/or systemic chemotherapy, 3 patients died and 2 radical cystectomies were performed. Limitations: Small sample size of this case series. Conclusions: Upper-tract and bladder urothelial carcinoma are dramatic complications in kidney transplant recipients with aristolochic acid nephropathy, confirming the carcinogenic properties of aristolochic acids. We identified upper-tract urothelial carcinoma as a potent risk factor for the subsequent development of bladder urothelial carcinoma after kidney transplantation for aristolochic acid nephropathy. Because this complication may occur years after aristolochic acid discontinuation, we suggest regular cystoscopies in addition to the bilateral ureteronephrectomy in kidney transplant recipients with aristolochic acid nephropathy.
Language
English
Source (journal)
American journal of kidney diseases. - Orlando, Fla
Source (book)
39th Annual Meeting of the American-Society-of-Nephrology, NOV 14-19, 2006, San Diego, CA
Publication
Philadelphia : W b saunders co-elsevier inc , 2008
ISSN
0272-6386
DOI
10.1053/J.AJKD.2007.11.015
Volume/pages
51 :3 (2008) , p. 471-477
ISI
000254799900018
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Project info
Publication type
Subject
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 06.01.2015
Last edited 03.02.2023
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