title: Intravenous immunoglobulin and plasmapheresis in acute humoral rejection: experience in renal allograft transplantation.
abstract: Acute humoral rejection (AHR) in kidney transplantation is associated with higher rates of allograft loss when compared with acute cellular rejection (ACR). Treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) combined with plasmapheresis (PP) has been used recently in many centers. We report the incidence, clinical characteristics, and outcome of patients with AHR treated with IVIG and PP. All patients (n=519) at our institution who underwent kidney transplantation between January 1999 and August 2003 were retrospectively analyzed and classified according to biopsy results into three groups: AHR, ACR, and no rejection. AHR was diagnosed in 23 patients (4.5%) and ACR in 75 patients (15%). Mean follow-up was 844+/-23 days. Female sex, black race, and high panel-reactive antibody were risk factors for AHR. Most AHR patients (22 of 23) were treated with IVIG and PP. Two-year graft survival was numerically worse in patients with AHR versus ACR (78% vs. 85%, p=0.5) but the difference was not statistically significant. Graft survival after AHR treated with IVIG and PP is much better than it has been historically. IVIG in combination with PP is an effective treatment for AHR. Graft survival in this setting is similar to graft survival in patients with ACR.
authors.affiliation: Duke University Medical Center, Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Durham, NC 27710, USA. Lehri001@mc.duke.edu
authors.forename: Ruediger W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Lehrich
authors.forename: Paulo N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Reinsmoen
authors.forename: Arthur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Greenberg
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Butterly
authors.forename: David N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Howell
authors.forename: Stephen R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015994:Incidence; D007518:Isoantibodies / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016035:Pancreas Transplantation / Q000276:immunology; D010956:Plasmapheresis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous / Q000276:immunology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D007518:Isoantibodies