About

Duha A. Jweehan, MD, is a transplant nephrologist and assistant professor at the University of Utah medical school. She received her medical degree at the University of Damascus in Syria and completed her family medicine fellowship in 1994. She further completed training in Internal Medicine and Nephrology in 2006. She was an academic physician in Jordan and Syria until 2018. In the USA, she completed clinical research training at Harvard Medical School in 2000, her Nephrology fellowship at the University of Connecticut in 2022, and her transplant nephrology fellowship at the University of Iowa in 2023. Her clinical and research interests include BK nephropathy, acute T cell-mediated rejection, antibody-mediated rejection, and non-invasive diagnostic tests in kidney transplant. She is board certified by the Syrian Ministry of Health in Family and Community Medicine, the Arab Board of Internal Medicine, and the National Board of Medical Examiners.

Research topics

• Medicine
• Internal medicine
• Family medicine
• Urology
• Gastroenterology
• Immunology
• Surgery
• Endocrinology
• Virology

Selected publications

• Associations of Pretransplant Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Physical Function Score With Kidney Transplant Outcomes

  Transplant International · 2025-01-29 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access

  Simple and validated physical function measures are needed for kidney transplant candidates because pretransplant low physical function is a common and potentially modifiable risk factor. This single-center retrospective study investigated the associations between pretransplant physical function assessed by the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System ® Physical Function (PROMIS-PF) computer adaptive testing and early posttransplant outcomes. We analyzed 154 adult kidney-alone transplant recipients. The median pretransplant PROMIS-PF score was 43 (interquartile range, 39–47). Patient characteristics were not significantly different across the score category (normal, score ≥45; mild, score of 40–45; and moderate/severe, score <40). The PROMIS-PF score was not associated with length of transplant hospital stay, delayed graft function, 6-month and 12-month graft function, or 12-month patient and graft survival. However, a lower PROMIS-PF score was significantly associated with a higher risk of emergency room visits [adjusted odds ratios compared to normal: mild, 1.68 (95% confidence interval, 0.76–3.83); moderate/severe, 3.23 (1.34–7.79)] and rehospitalization [adjusted odds ratios: mild, 2.61 (1.16–5.90); moderate/severe, 2.53 (1.07–6.00)] within 1 month posttransplant. Results suggest that PROMIS-PF is a practical tool for assessing physical function in kidney transplant candidates. Larger studies are needed to confirm the utility of PROMIS-PF to identify transplant candidates who would benefit from pretransplant prehabilitation.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Development of BK polyomavirus-associated nephropathy risk prediction in kidney transplant recipients

  Renal Failure · 2025-05-29 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access

  BACKGROUND: With the development of potential prevention therapies for BK polyomavirus (BKPyV)-associated nephropathy (BKPyVAN), risk prediction models are needed to identify kidney transplant recipients at high risk for BKPyVAN. METHODS: This single-center retrospective study aimed to develop a risk prediction model and an integer-based risk score for BKPyVAN development, defined as plasma BKPyV-DNA >10,000 copies/mL and/or biopsy-proven BKPyVAN, within 1-year post-transplant, using donor and recipient characteristics at the time of transplantation. We randomly split patients into development and validation cohorts and applied logistic regression with backward selection to identify significant variables. Model performance was evaluated using the area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUC) and calibration plots. RESULTS: This study included 560 patients, of whom 75 (13%) patients had BKPyVAN. Age >50 years, male sex, and prior kidney transplant were selected for the final model. The total integer score ranged from 0 to 4 points, with 1 point assigned for age >50 years and male sex, and 2 points for prior kidney transplant. The AUC was 0.65 in both development and validation cohorts. Calibration plots showed an incremental increase in risk with higher total scores. The integer score indicated that patients with a total score of 2 or higher (i.e. males aged >50 years or those with prior kidney transplants) have a predicted risk of 20% or greater. CONCLUSION: Although the AUC was suboptimal, the results suggest that our model may still be valuable for identifying high-risk patients.

  PublisherDOI

• Kidney Transplant Outcomes in Amyloidosis: US National Database Study

  Transplantation · 2024 · 4 citations

  • Medicine
  • Internal medicine
  • Gastroenterology

  BACKGROUND: We aimed to assess contemporary transplant outcomes among kidney recipients with amyloidosis, as the treatment and prognosis of amyloidosis have shown improvement over time. METHODS: Using the US Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network database, we initially evaluated the changes in patient and graft survival among kidney recipients with amyloidosis from 2002 to 2021. We then compared transplant outcomes between recipients with amyloidosis versus those with diabetic and nondiabetic causes of kidney failure, creating 1:4 matches with highly similar characteristics separately for deceased donor kidney transplant (DDKT) and living donor kidney transplant (LDKT) during the last decade (2012-2021). RESULTS: We identified 643 kidney recipients with amyloidosis during 2002-2021. Patient and death-censored graft survival improved over time. In the matching analysis for 207 DDKT and 166 LDKT recipients with amyloidosis during 2012-2021, patient survival was not significantly different between amyloidosis and diabetes groups in both DDKT (log-rank, P = 0.057) and LDKT ( P = 0.99). Compared with the nondiabetes group, patient survival in the amyloidosis group was not significantly different for DDKTs ( P = 0.56) but was significantly lower for LDKTs ( P = 0.04). Death-censored graft failure risk was not significantly different between amyloidosis and diabetes or nondiabetes groups for both DDKTs ( P = 0.78 and 0.75) and LDKTs ( P = 0.40 and 0.24). CONCLUSIONS: In this well-matched cohort study, we found no significant differences in patient and graft survival between kidney recipients with amyloidosis and those with diabetes. Similarly, these outcomes were not significantly different between those with amyloidosis versus nondiabetic causes, except for patient survival of LDKT recipients.

  PublisherDOI

• Deceased Organ Donor HTLV Screening Practices Postelimination of Universal Screening in the United States

  Transplantation Direct · 2024

  • Medicine
  • Virology
  • Family medicine

  Background: In the United States, universal screening for human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV) in deceased organ donors was discontinued in 2009. Since then, the transplant guideline suggests considering targeted screening. However, the outcomes of this change in HTLV screening have not been evaluated. Methods: Using the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network database between 2010 and 2022, we analyzed the HTLV antibody screening frequency and seroprevalence in potential deceased organ donors and their correlations with HTLV infection risks, including race and high-risk behaviors for blood-borne pathogen infection. Although targeted screening has not been established for HTLV, we hypothesized that screening rates should correlate with the proportions of donors with infection risk if screening is targeted. We also evaluated the organ utilization of HTLV-seropositive donors. Results: < 0.001). However, HTLV-1 infection was not attributed as the cause of nonrecovery except for only 1 HTLV-seropositive donor. Conclusions: HTLV screening practices varied across the United States. Our findings suggest that targeted screening was not performed after the elimination of universal screening.

  PublisherDOI

• Belatacept Versus Tacrolimus for Kidney Transplant Recipients of Deceased Donors With Acute Kidney Injury: US National Database Study

  Transplantation · 2024 · 6 citations

  • Medicine
  • Urology
  • Internal medicine

  BACKGROUND: It is unclear whether kidney grafts from deceased donors with acute kidney injury (AKI) are more vulnerable to calcineurin inhibitor nephrotoxicity, and whether de novo use of belatacept is more beneficial than tacrolimus for recipients of these types of kidney transplants. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study using the US Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network database, we created 1:4 matches with highly similar characteristics for recipients of AKI-donor kidneys receiving belatacept versus tacrolimus for initial maintenance immunosuppression and compared outcomes for graft function, patient and graft survival, and rejection. RESULTS: The matched cohort consisted of 567 and 2268 recipients administered belatacept and tacrolimus, respectively. Posttransplant estimated glomerular filtration rate was significantly higher in the belatacept group at 6 mo (58.2 ± 24.2 versus 54.6 ± 21.6 mL/min/1.73 m 2 , P < 0.001); however, the between-group difference did not reach statistical significance at 12 mo (57.2 ± 24.3 versus 55.7 ± 22.2 mL/min/1.73 m 2 , P = 0.057). Median follow-up periods were 3.2 and 3.1 y for patient and graft survival, respectively. There were no significant differences between belatacept versus tacrolimus for mortality (hazard ratio 1.18 [95% confidence interval, 0.95-1.47], P = 0.14) or death-censored graft failure (hazard ratio 1.17 [0.85-1.61], P = 0.33). Rejection rate within 12 mo was significantly higher in the belatacept group (13% versus 7%, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In this matched cohort study, initial use of belatacept for AKI-donor kidney recipients was associated with small benefits in early graft function when compared with tacrolimus. Although rejection risk was significantly higher in recipients administered belatacept, patient and graft survival were not significantly different between groups.

  PublisherDOI

• An Unusual Case of Transplant Kidney Emphysematous Pyelitis and Cystitis

  Journal of the American Society of Nephrology · 2024-10-01

  article

  Introduction: Emphysematous cystitis, pyelitis, and pyelonephritis are rare but serious complications of urinary tract infections (UTIs) with gas-producing bacteria. We present a case of emphysematous UTI in a kidney transplant recipient concomitant with rejection. Case Description: A 36-year-old woman with history of end-stage kidney disease of unclear etiology who underwent a living related kidney transplant in 2001 complicated by cellular and antibody-mediated rejection in 2017 and recurrent UTIs presented with worsening kidney function and allograft pain. She initially presented a month prior with allograft pain and dysuria and was treated for Escherichia coli (E. coli) UTI. Computed tomography (CT) and urinalysis 10 days prior to admission were unremarkable. Testing revealed a persistently positive class II donor specific antibody. Kidney biopsy showed chronic active antibody mediated rejection and she was started on high-dose intravenous steroids with plan for therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE). She continued to report significant allograft pain and repeat CT scan demonstrated emphysematous transplant pyelitis and emphysematous cystitis. Antibiotics were started and surgical intervention was not recommended. Repeat urine culture grew E. coli. Further rejection treatment was deferred and she was discharged home with clinical improvement. Her serum creatinine was down to 1.73 mg/dl on discharge from a peak of 2.35 mg/dl during hospitalization. Discussion: This case demonstrates the importance of thorough evaluation prior to initiating treatment for allograft rejection. If this patient had received potent immunosuppression as planned, her emphysematous pyelitis may have progressed to emphysematous pyelonephritis which is associated with increased risk of allograft loss and mortality.Emphysematous pyelitis (yellow arrows) and cystitis (red arrow) on CT.

  PublisherDOI

• Complement-Mediated Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome Presenting With Nephrotic Range Proteinuria

  Journal of the American Society of Nephrology · 2022-11-01

  article

  Journal of the American Society of Nephrology 33(11S):p 77, November 2022. | DOI: 10.1681/ASN.20223311S177c

  PublisherDOI

• The Great Clinical Masquerade of ANCA Vasculitis

  Journal of the American Society of Nephrology · 2022-11-01

  article

  Journal of the American Society of Nephrology 33(11S):p 492, November 2022. | DOI: 10.1681/ASN.20223311S1492d

  PublisherDOI

• A UNIQUE CASE OF ANTINEUTROPHIL CYTOPLASMIC ANTIBODY-ASSOCIATED VASCULITIS WITH ATYPICAL SERUM AUTOANTIBODIES

  CHEST Journal · 2022-10-01

  article
  PublisherDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Şuayp Oygen

  University of Utah

  4 shared

• Junji Yamauchi

  National Center for Global Health and Medicine

  4 shared

• Divya Raghavan

  University of Utah

  4 shared

• Isaac E. Hall

  University of Utah

  4 shared

• Miklos Z. Molnar

  4 shared

• Silviana Marineci

  University of Utah

  3 shared

• Stephen N. Simeone

  UConn Health

  2 shared

• Mamta B. Shah

  B.J. Medical College

  2 shared

Labs

• Transplant Nephrology LabPI

Awards & honors

• Syrian Ministry of Health (Family and Community Medicine)
• Arab Board of Internal Medicine
• Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates
• National Board of Medical Examiners
• Syrian Ministry of Health (Internal Medicine)