Korean J Transplant.  2020 Dec;34(Supple 1):S72. 10.4285/ATW2020.OP-1222.

Successful desensitization and transplantation of kidney transplant recipients with donor-specific antibodies

• Tassaduq Khan M

• KMID: 2509220
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4285/ATW2020.OP-1222

Abstract

Background
Kidney transplantation has indisputably changed the dynamics of renal medicine and restored hope among patients coming across fatal end-stage renal disease (ESRD). However, sensitization of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) hampers kidney transplantation. Our transplant center used a modified desensitization protocol.
Methods
Desensitization protocol in our transplant center encompassed following mentioned strategy to achieve mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) values <1,000 and negative complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) crossmatch for both T and B lymphocytes before proceeding for kidney transplantation: two sessions of plasmapheresis on days 1 and 2→injection rituximab on day 2 after plasmapheresis→no plasmapheresis on day 3→eight sessions of plasmapheresis after day 3 and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) 100 mg/kg/dose after each session of plasmapheresis→repeat HLA antibody detection test to confirm if donor-specific antibodies (DSAs) are present against HLA with MFI values <1,000 and CDC crossmatch is negative for both T and B lymphocytes; if “No” then continue plasmapheresis sessions with IVIG 100 mg/kg/dose till MFI values are <1000 and CDC crossmatch is negative for both T and B lymphocytes or if “Yes” then proceed for transplantation→repeat dose of rituximab post-transplantation.
Results
All the six cases had moderate levels of DSAs against HLA except for one case with MFI value of 17,962. With implementation of our modified desensitization protocol, we achieved low levels of DSAs with MFI value <1,000. Patients were successfully transplanted with no adverse outcomes, such as kidney allograft rejection, on follow-up.
Conclusions
In our transplant center, we successfully desensitized and transplanted six HLA sensitized kidney transplant candidates with moderate to high DSAs and T and B lymphocyte positive CDC crossmatch. Our desensitization protocol comprised of multiple plasmapheresis sessions with simultaneous low dose IVIG and rituximab. Upon follow-up, we did not witness any significant transplant related event such as allograft dysfunction or rejection.