title: Successful deceased-donor kidney transplantation in crossmatch-positive patients with peritransplant plasma exchange and Rituximab.
abstract: Sensitized patients awaiting renal transplantation have a markedly reduced probability of receiving a crossmatch (XM)-negative renal allograft, and, even if transplanted with a negative complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC)-XM, they are at an increased risk of antibody-mediated humoral rejection with early graft loss. We report here for the first time on the effectiveness of a single pretransplant plasma exchange session in rendering a positive complement-dependent cytotoxicity-XM negative and, in combination with anti-CD20 therapy, allowing successful renal transplantation in two sensitized deceased-donor kidney allograft recipients. In a third patient with high donor-specific reactivity, the therapy was unsuccessful. Plasma exchange treatments were continued during the posttransplant period until stable allograft function was achieved. Both patients showed good graft outcome at 27 and 21 months after transplantation with serum creatinine values of 1.60 and 1.25 mg/dL, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Jörg H M
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Beimler
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Morath
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ovens
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Opelz
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rahmel
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zeier
authors.forename: Caner
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Süsal
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D002102:Cadaver; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006650:Histocompatibility Testing / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007518:Isoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010951:Plasma Exchange; D000069283:Rituximab; D014019:Tissue Donors
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D006680:HLA Antigens; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D007518:Isoantibodies; D000069283:Rituximab