HINT: Herpes Virus Infections in Kidney Transplant Patients
Study Details
Study Description
Brief Summary
Kidney transplant recipients are at increased risk of infections, including Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infections. Vaccination against VZV is routinely offered to all kidney transplant recipients and candidates in Denmark. In this exploratory observational study, the VZV specific immune response in kidney transplant candidates and recipients will be characterized at different time points in relation to transplantation, vaccination and infections. More knowledge on the immune reaction to transplantation, VZV vaccination and VZV infections may provide improved strategies for prevention and treatment of VZV infections in kidney transplant candidates and recipients.
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Detailed Description
Kidney transplantation is a life-saving procedure for patients with kidney failure, and in 2021, 252 kidney transplantations were performed in Denmark. Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is a vaccine-preventable disease that causes varicella during primary infection and herpes zoster when reactivated later in life. VZV is one of the most common infections after organ transplantation, and kidney transplant recipients have high risk of herpes zoster (annual incidence: 3 per 100). Furthermore, kidney transplant recipients that acquire herpes zoster have high risk of disseminated and severe disease as well as increased risk of post-herpetic neuralgia.
Until 2021, the only available VZV/herpes zoster vaccines in Europe were live vaccines, and live vaccines are contraindicated in immunosuppressed individuals due to the risk of infection with the vaccine strain. However, a new, non-live, recombinant subunit herpes zoster vaccine (Shingrix®) that can be used in immunosuppressed individuals was recently approved and became available in Denmark in October 2021.
The efficacy of Shingrix® in healthy individuals is excellent (90%) both with regard to preventing herpes zoster and post-herpetic neuralgia. However, organ transplant recipients receive high doses of immunosuppressive medication, and information on efficacy and immunogenicity of Shingrix® in immunosuppressed individuals is sparse. One randomized study found the efficacy of the vaccine to be good (68%) in patients after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Furthermore, one phase III randomized, placebo-controlled study was conducted in 246 kidney transplant recipients, and the vaccine was found to be safe and to induce antibody responses, but the study was not powered to demonstrate efficacy.
At present, international guidelines recommend vaccination against herpes zoster prior to or after transplantation, but there is no information about the optimal timing of vaccination or duration of the immune response in transplant recipients.
Poor or no antibody response after vaccinations are documented among organ transplant recipients. Vaccination prior to transplantation or early post-transplantation may be of benefit because patients are at the highest risk of infections early post-transplantation due to high load of immunosuppressive therapy, however, this is also the period with the highest risk of non-response to vaccines. It is therefore of great importance, for both individual patients and for society, to determine the optimal timing of vaccination, response rates and duration of protection prior to use of vaccines in organ transplant recipients.
The investigators will conduct a prospective observational exploratory study including kidney transplant candidates and recipients who are offered Shingrix® vaccination. Shingrix® vaccination is routine care, and vaccination is not a part of the study, and acceptance of vaccination is not mandatory to participate in the study. The study is a national collaboration that includes all Danish kidney transplantation centers and kidney transplant recipients from all Danish regions. The study has potential to contribute with necessary information to design optimal programs for vaccine roll-out and thereby to reduce the incidence of herpes zoster and herpes zoster-related complications including hospital admissions in kidney transplant recipients as well as other solid organ transplant recipients. Furthermore, the investigators will explore differences in the immune systems of kidney transplant recipients who get VZV infections and those who don't.
The study aims to include 875 patients, of which 500 will be kidney transplant recipients (250 who are 6-12 months post-transplantation, 125 who are 12-18 months post-transplantation and 125 who are >24 months post-transplantation) and 375 kidney transplant candidates from the kidney transplant waitlist.
For participants on the transplant waitlist, blood will be collected at inclusion and 1, 2, 6 and 12 months post-inclusion, as well as 6 and 12 months post-transplantation and in the case of VZV infection. For participants who are already transplanted at inclusion, blood will be collected at inclusion, and 1, 2, 6 and 12 months post-inclusion and in the case of VZV infection. Plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) will be stored in a biobank.
All participants will be asked at inclusion to fill out a questionnaire regarding health, lifestyle, and vaccine history. At follow-ups, participants will be asked to fill out a questionnaire regarding changes in VZV infection history, vaccination history, transplant related factors and medication. Furthermore, health data will be collected from hospital records and national registries. Measurement of VZV glycoprotein E antibodies will be done using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Identification and phenotyping of VZV-specific T cells will be done through DNA-barcode labelling and flow cytometry. Cytokine profiling will be done using a Luminex MILLIPLEX assay. Analyses will be performed at the Technical University of Denmark.
Study Design
Arms and Interventions
| Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
|---|---|
| Kidney transplant patients
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Outcome Measures
Primary Outcome Measures
- Change in levels of antibodies against Varicella-Zoster virus [12 months]
Measurement of the change in levels of antibodies against Varicella-Zoster virus glycoprotein E using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). The change will be assessed at regular intervals up to 12 months after inclusion or transplantation as well as well as in the case of infection.
- Change in presence and function of Varicella-Zoster virus-specific T cells [12 months]
Identification, phenotyping and cytokine profiling of Varicella-Zoster virus-specific T cells using DNA-barcode marking, flow cytometry and plasma cytokine profiles at regular intervals up to 12 months after inclusion or transplantation as well as in the case of infection.
Eligibility Criteria
Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
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Kidney transplant recipient transplanted after 2019-01-01 OR on the kidney transplant waitlist
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Has been offered Shingrix® vaccination
Exclusion Criteria:
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Lack of informed consent
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Inability to understand the study information
Contacts and Locations
Locations
| Site | City | State | Country | Postal Code | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Department of Nephrology, Aarhus University Hospital | Aarhus | Denmark | ||
| 2 | Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet | Copenhagen | Denmark | 2100 | |
| 3 | Department of Nephrology, Copehagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet | Copenhagen | Denmark | 2100 | |
| 4 | Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark | Lyngby | Denmark | 2800 | |
| 5 | Department of Nephrology, Odense University Hospital | Odense | Denmark |
Sponsors and Collaborators
- Susanne Dam Nielsen, MD, DMSc
- Technical University of Denmark
- Aarhus University Hospital
- Odense University Hospital
Investigators
- Principal Investigator: Susanne D Nielsen, MD, DMSc, Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet
- Study Chair: Søren S Sørensen, MD, DMSc, Department of Nephrology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet
- Study Chair: Claus Bistrup, MD, PhD, Department of Nephrology, Odense University Hospital
- Study Chair: Henrik Birn, MD, PhD, DMSc, Department of Nephrology, Aarhus University Hospital
- Study Chair: Sine R Hadrup, MSc, PhD, Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark
- Study Director: Annemette Hald, RN, Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet
- Study Director: Sunil K Saini, MSc, PhD, Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark
- Study Director: Isik S Johansen, MD, DMSc, Department of Infectious Diseases, Odense University Hospital
- Study Director: Helle Bruunsgaard, MD, PhD, DMSc, Department of Clinical Immunology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet
- Study Director: Carsten S Larsen, MD, DMSc, Department of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital
- Study Director: Zitta B Harboe, MD, PhD, Department of Pulmonary and Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital - North Zealand
- Study Director: Moisés A Suarez Zdunek, MD, Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet
- Study Director: Sebastian R Hamm, BSc.med., Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet
Study Documents (Full-Text)
None provided.More Information
Publications
None provided.- H-22042603
- 0073947