Diagnosis and treatment of acute humoral kidney allograft rejection

Transplant Proc. 2009 Apr;41(3):855-8. doi: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2009.01.062.

Abstract

Acute humoral rejection (AHR) is a severe form of rejection associated with poor graft survival. Prompt diagnosis and rapid institution of therapy are crucial to improve the prognosis. A therapeutic approach based on plasmapheresis, intravenous imunoglobulin, and rituximab seems to be effective in refractory cases. Herein we have described our experience with 11 patients with biopsy-proven AHR who were treated between January 2005 and June 2008. Seven of these patients had panel reactive antibodies titers more than 50%. The diagnosis was based on Banff 2001 criteria; treatment consisted of a combination of plasmapheresis and intravenous immunoglobulin. Four refractory cases were also treated with a single dose of rituximab. One graft was lost due to thrombosis. All other patients recovered graft function with an average creatinine level of 1.6 mg/dL at 8.6 +/- 2.7 months of follow-up.

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Adult
  • Antibody Formation
  • Biopsy
  • Creatinine / blood
  • Female
  • Graft Rejection / diagnosis*
  • Graft Rejection / therapy
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / therapeutic use
  • Kidney Diseases / surgery
  • Kidney Transplantation / immunology*
  • Kidney Transplantation / pathology*
  • Kidney Transplantation / physiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Plasmapheresis
  • Renal Replacement Therapy
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Time Factors
  • Transplantation, Homologous / immunology
  • Transplantation, Homologous / pathology
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Immunoglobulins, Intravenous
  • Creatinine