Latest Transplantation research

Top 10 this week

Week of 20 September 2026

1. 1

   Evaluation of eculizumab for the prevention of delayed graft function after kidney transplantation in adults: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

   American journal of transplantation : official journal of the American Society of Transplantation and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons · Q1 journal · RCT · Evidence level 1 (High) · 19 September 2026

   In a double-blind trial of 288 adult deceased-donor kidney recipients, delayed graft function occurred in 35.9% of patients receiving eculizumab versus 41.7% with placebo-a modest 6% absolute drop that was not statistically significant. Post-hoc analysis hinted a larger benefit (about 18% fewer cases) in recipients of expanded-criteria, cold-stored kidneys, but this finding requires confirmation.

2. 2

   Intravenous ferric carboxymaltose and exercise capacity in iron-deficient kidney transplant recipients: a randomised, placebo-controlled trial in the Netherlands

   EClinicalMedicine · Q1 journal · RCT · Evidence level 1 (High) · 1 September 2026

   In a double-blind trial of 148 iron-deficient kidney-transplant patients, four doses of ferric carboxymaltose raised hemoglobin but improved 6-minute walk distance by only 9 m versus placebo, a change deemed clinically insignificant. The treatment did not enhance cardiac, muscle, cognitive function or quality of life, leaving routine iron supplementation for functional gain unsupported.

3. 3

   Efficacy and safety of fecal microbiota transplantation for chronic constipation: a systematic review and meta-analysis integrating pre-post and single-arm evidence

   Frontiers in microbiology · Q1 journal · SR/MA of RCTs · Evidence level 1 (High) · 3 September 2026

   FMT for chronic constipation, gastroenterology focus

4. 4

   Efficacy and safety of autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) versus alemtuzumab in multiple sclerosis: Systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis

   Multiple sclerosis and related disorders · Q1 journal · SR/MA of RCTs · Evidence level 1 (High) · 9 September 2026

   Multiple sclerosis therapy comparison, unrelated to transplantation

5. 5

   Efficacy and safety of daratumumab-based quadruplet therapy vs non-daratumumab-based triplet therapy in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients: A GRADE assessed systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

   Therapeutic advances in hematology · Q1 journal · SR/MA of RCTs · Evidence level 1 (High) · 11 September 2026

   In a meta-analysis of seven randomized trials involving 3,443 newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients, daratumumab-based quadruplet therapy cut the risk of progression or death by about 50% and achieved minimal residual disease negativity roughly twice as often as standard triplet regimens. Benefits appeared in both standard- and high-risk cytogenetic groups, but neutropenia, thrombocytopenia and infections were more frequent, requiring clinicians to balance stronger disease control against higher toxicity.

6. 6

   Systematic review and network meta-analysis for the 2026 update of the evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for the management with immunosuppressive therapies and biologic agents of membranous nephropathy

   Clinical and experimental nephrology · Q2 journal · SR/MA of RCTs · Evidence level 1 (High) · 19 September 2026

   In a network meta-analysis of 52 trials, oral cyclophosphamide was the only therapy shown to lower the chance of kidney failure, while ACTH, tacrolimus and cyclophosphamide (IV or oral) improved remission rates compared with placebo or standard care. However, most efficacy and safety findings were based on low-certainty evidence, underscoring the need for larger, well-designed trials.

7. 7

   COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness in people on immunosuppressive therapies: a systematic review and meta-analysis

   The Lancet. Microbe · Q1 journal · SR/MA of RCTs · Evidence level 1 (High) · 15 September 2026

   Recent Transplantation research from a high-quartile journal

8. 8

   Safety and Efficacy of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy in Aging Frailty: A Systematic Review

   International journal of molecular sciences · Q1 journal · SR/MA of RCTs · Evidence level 1 (High) · 25 August 2026

   Recent Transplantation research from a high-quartile journal

9. 9

   Efficacy of efruxifermin in improving liver fibrosis in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis/nonalcoholic steatohepatitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

   European journal of gastroenterology & hepatology · Q2 journal · SR/MA of RCTs · Evidence level 1 (High) · 5 August 2026

   Fibrosis drug meta‑analysis, no transplant endpoint

10. 10

    Lactulose with or without TeleTai-Chi for the prevention of falls: A sequential multiple assignment randomized controlled trial (LiveSMART)

    Hepatology (Baltimore, Md.) · Q1 journal · RCT · Evidence level 1 (High) · 16 September 2026

    High-quality evidence in a top journal

Paper of the day, last two weeks

• Spanish founder variant in MYBPC3: implications of diagnostic criteria, clinical phenotype, and prognosis

  Revista espanola de cardiologia (English ed.) · Q1 journal · Unclassified · Evidence level 5 (Expert Opinion) · 19 September 2026

  Spanish heart transplant registry annual report

• HLA-DPB1 TCE mismatch vector differentially affects HCT outcomes in 10/10 and ≤9/10 HLA matched patients in the UK

  Transplantation and cellular therapy · Q1 journal · Retrospective cohort · Evidence level 3 (Low) · 18 September 2026

  In a UK cohort of 1,743 unrelated donor hematopoietic cell transplants, patients with 10/10 HLA matching who received bi-directional HLA-DPB1 non-permissive mismatches had significantly lower overall survival and higher transplant-related mortality than those with matched or permissive mismatches. By contrast, host-versus-graft HLA-DPB1 mismatches improved survival in partially matched recipients, suggesting that mismatch direction should guide donor selection, but further validation is needed.

• Associations of Vasopressin and Corticosteroid Therapy with Organ Yield in Brain-Dead Donors: A Multicenter Cohort Study in Japan

  Neurocritical care · Q1 journal · Prospective cohort · Evidence level 2 (Moderate) · 17 September 2026

  In a Japanese multicenter cohort of brain-dead donors, receiving methylprednisolone under 15 mg/kg/day was linked to almost three-fold higher odds of procuring six or more organs, while vasopressin dose showed no effect. The result suggests modest steroid dosing may boost organ yield, but prospective trials are needed before changing donor management protocols.

• Differences in Early Tacrolimus Exposure in Kidney Transplant Recipients With and Without CYP3A5 Genotype-Guided Tacrolimus Dosing

  Clinical and translational science · Q1 journal · Retrospective cohort · Evidence level 3 (Low) · 1 September 2026

  In a single-center review of adult kidney transplants, patients whose tacrolimus dose was set by CYP3A5 genotype reached therapeutic steady-state in a median of six days versus sixteen days with standard weight-based dosing. The approach also lowered the proportion of sub-therapeutic troughs on postoperative day two for intermediate metabolizers. Further refinement is needed, especially for poor metabolizers.