Journal List > J Korean Soc Transplant > v.26(2) > 1034369

Kim, Oh, Sin, Kim, Park, Huh, and Kim: A Case of Acute Antibody-Mediated Rejection Developed after Pretreatment with Rituximab and Plasma Exchange in a Highly-Sensitized Recipient with a Deceased Donor Kidney

Abstract

Acute antibody-mediated rejection is the major cause of graft failure in the early stage of kidney transplantation. Preoperative treatment and early diagnosis of acute rejection is very important to prevent graft loss in sensitized patients. High panel reactive antibody (PRA) means a likelihood of acute rejection, and the recipient of high PRA needs adequate pretreatment for kidney transplantation. However, there is not sufficient time and chances for desensitization in deceased kidney transplants. We report a successful renal transplant outcome in a 47-year-old-woman with high PRA levels (Class I 97.5%, Class II 36.7%). The cross match was negative on the CDC (ELISA) and flowcytometric methods. Plasma exchange was performed on the recipient before transplantation (fresh frozen plasma replacement, 1.3 plasma volume) and immediately after plasma exchange she was given 200 mg of rituximab. She received basiliximab and methyl prednisolone induction therapy and was maintained on steroids, mycophenolate mofetil, and tacrolimus. Graft function was normal immediately after transplantation, but decreased urinary output and elevated serum creatinine was noted on POD 5. On POD 6, a graft biopsy revealed acute cellular rejection (Type IIa) and antibody-mediated rejection (Type II). On 9~13 days after transplantation, additional plasma exchange was performed every other day, and steroid pulse therapy was performed 3 times. After normalization of urinary output and serum creatinine, the patient was discharged and is being followed up on. In conclusion, immunologically careful preparation and pretransplant treatment may be needed on the negative cross match in cadaveric kidney recipients with high levels of PRA.

Figures and Tables

Fig. 1
Clinical course; MPDS pulse, methylprednisolone 250 mg iv bid for 3 days; plasmapheresis, 1.3 plasma volume, fresh frozen plasma replacement solution; Rituximab 200 mg single infusion. Abbreviations: PP/IVIG, plasmapheresis with low dose intravenous immune globulin; RTX, rituximab; Bx., biopsy; MPDS, methyl prednisolone; SCr, serum creatinine; VRE, vancomycin resistant enterococcus.
jkstn-26-125-g001
Fig. 2
Leukocytes infiltration is mainly in the peritubular capillaries. Tubulitis is rarely seen (PAS, ×200).
jkstn-26-125-g002
Fig. 3
Lymphocytes are underneath the endothelium in large artery (PAS, ×200).
jkstn-26-125-g003
Fig. 4
Lymphocytes infiltration in glomerular capillary lumina (PAS, ×200).
jkstn-26-125-g004
Fig. 5
Immunofluorescence examination reveals positive along the peritubulare capillary walls (C4d, ×200).
jkstn-26-125-g005

References

1. Port FK, Wolfe RA, Mauger EA, Berling DP, Jiang K. Comparison of survival probabilities for dialysis patients vs cadaveric renal transplant recipients. JAMA. 1993. 270:1339–1343.
crossref
2. Russell JD, Beecroft ML, Ludwin D, Churchill DN. The quality of life in renal transplantation - a prospective study. Transplantation. 1992. 54:656–660.
crossref
3. Korean Network for Organ Sharing (KONOS). Statistics of Organ Sharing [internet]. 2012. cited 2012 Feb 27. Seoul: KONOS;Available from: http://www.konos.go.kr.
4. Gebel HM, Bray RA, Nickerson P. Pre-transplant assessment of donor-reactive, HLA-specific antibodies in renal transplantation: contraindication vs. risk. Am J Transplant. 2003. 3:1488–1500.
crossref
5. Kerman R, Gebel H, Bray R, Garcia C, Sahai R, Gibson H, et al. HLA antibody and donor reactivity define patients at risk for rejection or graft loss. Am J Transplant. 2002. 2:Suppl 3. 258.
crossref
6. Cho YW, Cecka JM. Crossmatch tests--an analysis of UNOS data from 1991-2000. Clin Transpl. 2001. 237–246.
7. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN). Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR). OPTN/SRTR Annual Report [internet]. 2008. cited 2008 Jun 23. Bethesda, MD: U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Bureau of Health Resources Development, Division of Organ Transplantation;Available from: http://www.srtr.org.
8. Jordan SC, Vo AA, Peng A, Toyoda M, Tyan D. Intravenous gammaglobulin (IVIG): a novel approach to improve transplant rates and outcomes in highly HLA sensitized patients. Am J Transplant. 2006. 6:459–466.
crossref
9. Gloor JM, DeGoey SR, Pineda AA, Moore SB, Prieto M, Nyberg SL, et al. Overcoming a positive crossmatch in living-donor kidney transplantation. Am J Transplant. 2003. 3:1017–1023.
crossref
10. Montgomery RA, Cooper M, Kraus E, Rabb H, Samaniego M, Simpkins CE, et al. Renal transplantation at the Johns Hopkins Comprehensive Transplant Center. Clin Transpl. 2003. 199–213.
11. Vo AA, Lukovsky M, Toyoda M, Wang J, Reinsmoen NL, Lai CH, et al. Rituximab and intravenous immune globulin for desensitization during renal transplantation. N Engl J MED. 2008. 359:242–251.
crossref
12. Cai J, Terasaki PI. Humoral theory of transplantation: mechanism, prevention, and treatment. Hum Immunol. 2005. 66:334–342.
crossref
13. Kazatchkine MD, Kaveri SV. Immunomodulation of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases with intravenous immune globulin. N Engl J Med. 2001. 345:747–755.
crossref
14. Schweitzer EJ, Wilson JS, Fernandez-Vina M, Fox M, Gutierrez M, Wiland A, et al. A high panel-reactive antibody rescue protocol for cross-match-positive live donor kidney transplants. Transplantation. 2000. 70:1531–1536.
crossref
15. Glotz D, Antoine C, Julia P, Pegaz-Fiornet B, Duboust A, Boudjeltia S, et al. Intravenous immunoglobulins and transplantation for patients with anti-HLA antibodies. Transpl Int. 2004. 17:1–8.
crossref
16. Tyan DB, Li VA, Czer L, Trento A, Jordan SC. Intravenous immunoglobulin suppression of HLA alloantibody in highly sensitized transplant candidates and transplantation with a histoincompatible organ. Transplantation. 1994. 57:553–562.
crossref
17. Akalin E, Dinavahi R, Friedlander R, Ames S, de Boccardo G, Sehgal V, et al. Addition of plasmapheresis decreases the incidence of acute antibody-mediated rejection in sensitized patients with strong donor-specific antibodies. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2008. 3:1160–1167.
crossref
18. Becker YT, Samaniego-Picota M, Sollinger HW. The emerging role of rituximab in organ transplantation. Transpl Int. 2006. 19:621–628.
crossref
19. Pescovitz MD. Rituximab, an anti-cd20 monoclonal antibody: history and mechanism of action. Am J Transplant. 2006. 6(5 Pt 1):859–866.
crossref
20. Vo AA, Lukovsky M, Toyoda M, Wang J, Reinsmoen NL, Lai CH, et al. Rituximab and intravenous immune globulin for desensitization during renal transplantation. N Engl J Med. 2008. 359:242–251.
crossref
21. Stegall MD, Gloor J, Winters JL, Moore SB, Degoey S. A comparison of plasmapheresis versus high-dose IVIG desensitization in renal allograft recipients with high levels of donor specific alloantibody. Am J Transplant. 2006. 6:346–351.
crossref
22. Becker YT, Becker BN, Pirsch JD, Sollinger HW. Rituximab as treatment for refractory kidney transplant rejection. Am J Transplant. 2004. 4:996–1001.
crossref
23. Choi AS, Yu SM, Lee JH, Oh JS, Kim SM, Sin YH, et al. Case of ABO-incompatible living donor kidney transplantation without blood products in a Jehovah's Witness. J Korean Soc Transplant. 2011. 25:38–42.
crossref
24. O'Shaughnessy DF, Atterbury C, Bolton Maggs P, Murphy M, Thomas D, Yates S, et al. Guidelines for the use of fresh-frozen plasma, cryoprecipitate and cryosupernatant. Br J Haematol. 2004. 126:11–28.
TOOLS
Similar articles