title: Impact of low-dose rituximab on splenic B cells in ABO-incompatible renal transplant recipients.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of a low-dose rituximab (RIT) at < 375 mg/m(2) on B cells in the spleen and peripheral blood. Five renal transplant recipients received a single dose of RIT at 10, 15, 35, 150, or 300 mg/m(2) 3-13 days before transplantation. One patient who received the same immunosuppressive regimen except for RIT was also enrolled as a control. Splenectomy was performed at the time of transplantation in all patients. The B-cell count in the peripheral blood was analysed with a fluorescence-activated cell sorter using anti-CD19 antibodies, and the B cells in the spleen were analysed by immunohistochemistry using anti-CD20 and -CD79a antibodies. All but one dosage (10 mg/m(2)) of RIT completely eliminated B cells from the circulation within 30 days. Immunohistochemical examination of the spleen showed a marked reduction of B cells in the white pulps in all five recipients compared with that in the control patient. The observations in this study indicated that RIT has a potent effect of depleting B cells in the spleen and peripheral blood at low-doses of < 375 mg/m(2).
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan. tokidsk@gmail.com
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Toki
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ishida
authors.forename: Shigeru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Horita
authors.forename: Kiyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Setoguchi
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
authors.forename: Kazunari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tanabe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D001787:Blood Group Incompatibility; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000069283:Rituximab; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology*; D013156:Splenectomy
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D000069283:Rituximab