Evaluation of Desensitization Protocols in HLA-incompatible Kidney-transplant Candidates

Summary

Kidney transplantation is the best renal-replacement in the setting of end-stage renal disease. However, some transplant candidates have developed anti-HLA alloantibodies (human leukocyte antigen). When they are numerous and when their strength assessed by mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) is high it is very complicated to find-out a suitable kidney allograft against which the recipient has a negative cross-match. In such a case the only hope for the patient is desensitization therapy, whereby the treatment will decrease anti-HLA alloantibodies below a threshold, i.e. MFI \< 3,000, enabling kidney transplantation without risking antibody-mediated rejection. Desensitization relies on i) apheresis technics in order to withdraw circulating anti-HLA antibodies, and ii) immunosuppression, i.e. rituximab or tocilizumab, targeting B-lymphocytes, and tacrolimus/mycophenolic acid/steroids targeting T-cells. The type of apheresis is guided by the pre-desensitization MFI of anti-HLA alloantibodies, e.g. double filtration plasmapheresis or semispecific immunoadsorption. Likely the choice between rituximab and tocilizumab depends also on predesensitization anti-HLA antibody MFIs. At the end of the desensitization process, the patient will be able to get a kidney transplant either from a live-donor or from a deceased donor.

Timeline

Start

2018-07-01

Primary completion

2019-11-21

Completion

2019-11-21

Publications

• Results Orandi BJ, Montgomery RA, Segev DL. Kidney Transplants from HLA-Incompatible Live Donors and Survival. N Engl J Med. 2016 Jul 21;375(3):288-9. doi: 10.1056/NEJMc1604523. No abstract available.
• Results Montgomery RA, Lonze BE, King KE, Kraus ES, Kucirka LM, Locke JE, Warren DS, Simpkins CE, Dagher NN, Singer AL, Zachary AA, Segev DL. Desensitization in HLA-incompatible kidney recipients and survival. N Engl J Med. 2011 Jul 28;365(4):318-26. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1012376.
• Results Vo AA, Choi J, Cisneros K, Reinsmoen N, Haas M, Ge S, Toyoda M, Kahwaji J, Peng A, Villicana R, Jordan SC. Benefits of rituximab combined with intravenous immunoglobulin for desensitization in kidney transplant recipients. Transplantation. 2014 Aug 15;98(3):312-9. doi: 10.1097/TP.0000000000000064.
• Results Kahwaji J, Jordan SC, Najjar R, Wongsaroj P, Choi J, Peng A, Villicana R, Vo A. Six-year outcomes in broadly HLA-sensitized living donor transplant recipients desensitized with intravenous immunoglobulin and rituximab. Transpl Int. 2016 Dec;29(12):1276-1285. doi: 10.1111/tri.12832. Epub 2016 Oct 24.
• Results Klein K, Susal C, Schafer SM, Becker LE, Beimler J, Schwenger V, Zeier M, Schemmer P, Macher-Goeppinger S, Scherer S, Opelz G, Morath C. Living donor kidney transplantation in patients with donor-specific HLA antibodies enabled by anti-CD20 therapy and peritransplant apheresis. Atheroscler Suppl. 2013 Jan;14(1):199-202. doi: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosissup.2012.10.030.
• Results Rostaing L, Maggioni S, Hecht C, Hermelin M, Faudel E, Kamar N, Sallusto F, Doumerc N, Allal A. Efficacy and safety of tandem hemodialysis and immunoadsorption to desensitize kidney transplant candidates. Exp Clin Transplant. 2015 Apr;13 Suppl 1:165-9.
• Results Kauke T, Klimaschewski S, Schoenermarck U, Fischereder M, Dick A, Guba M, Stangl M, Werner J, Meiser B, Habicht A. Outcome after Desensitization in HLA or ABO-Incompatible Kidney Transplant Recipients: A Single Center Experience. PLoS One. 2016 Jan 5;11(1):e0146075. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0146075. eCollection 2016.

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