Treatment with plasmapheresis, immunoglobulins and rituximab for chronic-active antibody-mediated rejection in kidney transplantation: Clinical, immunological and pathological results

摘要

AIM To evaluate the role of a therapeutic regimen with plasma exchange, intravenous immunoglobulins and rituximab in chronic-active antibody-mediated rejection(c AMR) settings.METHODS We compared 21 kidney transplant recipients(KTRs) with a diagnosis of c AMR in a retrospective casecontrol analysis: nine KTRs treated with plasmapheresis, intravenous immunoglobulins and rituximab(PE-IVIGRTX group) vs 12 patients(control group) not treated with antibody-targeted therapies. We examined kidney survival and functional outcomes 24 mo after diagnosis. Histological features and donor-specific antibody(DSA) characteristics(MFI and C1 q-fixing ability) were also investigated.RESULTS No difference in graft survival between the two groups was noted: three out of nine patients in the PE-IVIG-RTX group(33.3%) and 4/12 in the control group(33.3%) experienced loss of allograft function at a median time after diagnosis of 14 mo(min 12-max 18) and 15 mo(min 7-max 22), respectively. Kidney functional tests and proteinuria 24 mo after cA MR diagnosis were also similar in both groups. Only microvascular inflammation(glomerulitis + peritubular capillaritis score) was significantly reduced after PE-IVIG-RTX in seven out of eight patients(87.5%) in the PE-IVIG-RTX group(median score 3 in pre-treatment biopsy vs 1.5 in post-treatment biopsy; P = 0.047), without any impact on kidney survival and/or DSA characteristics. No functional or histological parameter at diagnosis was predictive of clinical outcome.CONCLUSION Our data showed no difference in the two year posttreatment outcome of kidney grafts treated with PE-IVIGRTX for c AMR diagnosis, however there were notable improvements in microvascular inflammation in posttherapy protocol biopsies. Further studies, especially involving innovative therapeutic approaches, are required to improve the management and long-term results of this severe condition.