Repeated cycles of high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin and plasmapheresis for treatment of late antibody-mediated rejection of renal transplants

Background/purpose: Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) plays a central role in the treatment of antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) of renal allografts, but the treatment outcomes for late AMR (> 6 months after transplantation) are poor. Methods: We performed a retrospective study to assess the response patterns of IVIG-based (2 g/kg) desensitization for late AMR. Patients who received desensitization after the pathological diagnosis of late AMR positive for complement component C4d were grouped as the Desensitized Group and compared to a historical Control Group with complement component C4d positivity in retrospective stainings. Results: The 10-year graft survival of the Desensitized Group (73.9%, n = 35) was significantly better than that of the historical Control Group (35.0%, n = 40) without desensitization. In the Desensitized Group, a subgroup of patients (D2 Subgroup, n = 11), who responded to desensitization initially but deteriorated later, was identified to benefit from repeated cycles of desensitization at 31.1 perpendicular to 20.9 months. Patients receiving only one cycle of desensitization were further grouped into D1-good (n = 10) and D1-poor (n = 14) based on their long-term renal function. The D2 Subgroup patients did not exhibit significant improvements in renal function compared to the D1-poor patients, until 30 months after IVIG-based desensitization, suggesting desensitization therapy has a working window of approximately 24 months. Conclusion: Repeated cycles of IVIG-based desensitization help stabilize long-term renal function in patients with persistent AMR. Copyright (C) 2016, Formosan Medical Association. Published by Elsevier Taiwan LLC.