TY - JOUR
T1 - Long-term results of desensitization protocol with and without rituximab in sensitized kidney transplant recipients
AU - Green, Hefziba
AU - Nesher, Eviatar
AU - Aizner, Sigal
AU - Israeli, Moshe
AU - Klein, Tirza
AU - Zakai, Hana
AU - Rahamimov, Ruth
AU - Rozen-Zvi, Benaya
AU - Mor, Eytan
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd
PY - 2019/6
Y1 - 2019/6
N2 - Background: Desensitization protocols have been developed in order to overcome the immunological barrier of donor-specific anti-HLA antibodies (DSA). Methods: During 2006-2012, we implemented a program for desensitizing sensitized (positive DSA, negative NIH-CDC crossmatch) living-donor recipients. The long-term outcome of 36 sensitized recipients, treated with IVIG and plasmapheresis (PP), with or without rituximab (added when > 7500 MFI), was compared to 252 non-sensitized living-donor recipients. Results: Median peak DSA level before desensitization was 7223 (range 3567-16 000) MFI. During a mean follow-up of 121.9 months, graft loss occurred in 6/36 (17%) of the sensitized and 15/251 (6%) of the non-sensitized recipients (P = 0.021). Five-year and 10-year death-censored graft survival rates were 85% and 81% compared to 95% and 92%, respectively, for the non-sensitized recipients. There was no difference in recipients’ survival. Slightly more episodes of acute rejection occurred in the sensitized group but had not influence on graft survival. At the last follow-up, 28 recipients had functioning graft; seventeen (47%) did not have detectable DSA. Eleven recipients had excellent graft function despite having detectable DSA. Conclusion: The long-term outcomes of sensitized recipients who underwent desensitization are encouraging. Adding rituximab to PP + IVIG in candidates with very high titers may result in improved outcome.
AB - Background: Desensitization protocols have been developed in order to overcome the immunological barrier of donor-specific anti-HLA antibodies (DSA). Methods: During 2006-2012, we implemented a program for desensitizing sensitized (positive DSA, negative NIH-CDC crossmatch) living-donor recipients. The long-term outcome of 36 sensitized recipients, treated with IVIG and plasmapheresis (PP), with or without rituximab (added when > 7500 MFI), was compared to 252 non-sensitized living-donor recipients. Results: Median peak DSA level before desensitization was 7223 (range 3567-16 000) MFI. During a mean follow-up of 121.9 months, graft loss occurred in 6/36 (17%) of the sensitized and 15/251 (6%) of the non-sensitized recipients (P = 0.021). Five-year and 10-year death-censored graft survival rates were 85% and 81% compared to 95% and 92%, respectively, for the non-sensitized recipients. There was no difference in recipients’ survival. Slightly more episodes of acute rejection occurred in the sensitized group but had not influence on graft survival. At the last follow-up, 28 recipients had functioning graft; seventeen (47%) did not have detectable DSA. Eleven recipients had excellent graft function despite having detectable DSA. Conclusion: The long-term outcomes of sensitized recipients who underwent desensitization are encouraging. Adding rituximab to PP + IVIG in candidates with very high titers may result in improved outcome.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85064687668&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/ctr.13562
DO - 10.1111/ctr.13562
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C2 - 30941818
AN - SCOPUS:85064687668
SN - 0902-0063
VL - 33
JO - Clinical Transplantation
JF - Clinical Transplantation
IS - 6
M1 - e13562
ER -