Living donor liver transplantation using sensitized lymphocytotoxic crossmatch positive graft

J Gastroenterol. 2012 Apr;47(4):486-8. doi: 10.1007/s00535-012-0530-2. Epub 2012 Feb 11.

Abstract

We describe a successful living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) using a lymphocytotoxic crossmatch highly positive graft. A 41-year-old woman with alcoholic liver cirrhosis was referred as a potential candidate for LDLT, and her husband was willing to donate his partial liver. As the T-lymphocytotoxic crossmatch titer was over 10,000×, the patient was first infused with rituximab for preoperative desensitization, and then five rounds of plasmapheresis were performed. After the third plasmapheresis, the lymphocytotoxic crossmatch test was negative. A left liver graft including the caudate lobe was implanted, and anti-CD25 antibody (basiliximab) was administered on postoperative days 1 and 4. The postoperative course was uneventful except for an episode of mild acute cellular rejection on postoperative day 27. Although the impact of a lymphocytotoxic crossmatch-positive liver graft on acute cellular rejection and graft survival in LDLT remains controversial, perioperative desensitization may provide benefits when using a highly sensitized liver graft.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use*
  • Antilymphocyte Serum
  • Basiliximab
  • Desensitization, Immunologic
  • Female
  • Graft Rejection / immunology*
  • Histocompatibility Testing
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Liver Transplantation / immunology*
  • Living Donors*
  • Plasmapheresis
  • Postoperative Complications
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / therapeutic use*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / immunology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antilymphocyte Serum
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Basiliximab