ABO-Incompatible Living Donor Liver Transplantation with Reduced Rituximab Dose: A Retrospective Analysis of 65 Patients - Can We Fast-Track Liver Transplant Surgery and Improve Long-Term Survival?

Ann Transplant. 2020 Sep 18:25:e923502. doi: 10.12659/AOT.923502.

Abstract

BACKGROUND ABO-incompatible (ABO-i) living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) is a feasible alternative for donor liver allograft in emergency situations, especially in Asia, where deceased-donor organs remain scarce. The reported outcomes of ABO-i LDLT after optimal desensitization are comparable to those of ABO-compatible LDLT. In this retrospective study, we found improved outcomes after ABO-i LDLT with a low-dose rituximab in combination with double-filtration plasmapheresis (DFPP) and prophylactic antibiotic therapy. MATERIAL AND METHODS Between January 2006 and December 2018, a total of 65 recipients underwent ABO-i LDLT surgeries at our center. The study cohort consisted of 50 recipients (Era III) who underwent ABO-i LDLT using the recently updated desensitization protocol, which included rituximab 200 mg intravenous injection once a week prior to LDLT, 4 sessions of DFPP in all patients, and prophylactic antibiotics for 3 months. RESULTS The 3-year overall survival rate achieved in ABO-i LDLT patients was 72.7% (66.6% for Era I and 33.3% for Era II patients). In the study population, 11 patients developed complications due to infection. Five of these patients (10%) died due to overwhelming sepsis. Four patients (8%) were diagnosed with multiple strictures and diffusely scattered dilatation of intrahepatic bile ducts on computed tomography, without vascular complications. Three of them had evidence of antibody-mediated rejection (AMR). CONCLUSIONS Our experience shows that the ABO-i LDLT protocol of lowered rituximab combined with pre-transplant sessions of plasmapheresis and a quadruple immunosuppressive regimen can be effective in chronic liver failure patients with clinical urgency in the absence of an ABO-compatible donor. Fast-tracking the use of ABO-i LDLT is feasible in patients with an acute liver failure (ALF) and can safely increase the donor liver pool, with an acceptable outcome.

MeSH terms

  • ABO Blood-Group System*
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Blood Group Incompatibility
  • End Stage Liver Disease / mortality
  • End Stage Liver Disease / surgery
  • End Stage Liver Disease / therapy*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Factors / administration & dosage*
  • Immunologic Factors / therapeutic use
  • Liver Transplantation / methods*
  • Liver Transplantation / mortality
  • Living Donors
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Plasmapheresis
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Rituximab / administration & dosage*
  • Rituximab / therapeutic use
  • Survival Rate
  • Time Factors
  • Tissue Donors

Substances

  • ABO Blood-Group System
  • Immunologic Factors
  • Rituximab