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Desensitization and Heart Transplantation of a Patient With High Levels of Donor-Reactive Anti-Human Leukocyte Antigen Antibodies.

Bućin, Dragan ; Gustafsson, Ronny LU ; Ekmehag, Björn LU ; Kornhall, Björn LU ; Algotsson, Lars LU ; Lund, Ulla LU ; Otto, Gisela LU and Koul, Bansi LU (2010) In Transplantation 90. p.1220-1225
Abstract
BACKGROUND.: To prepare a highly immunized recipient for heart transplantation, reduction of high levels of cytotoxic antibodies against human leukocyte antigen (HLA) was deemed essential to prevent antibody-mediated graft failure. METHODS.: Antibodies were analyzed by lymphocytotoxic and solid-phase assays. The pretransplant desensitization treatment protocol included daily tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil, weekly protein-A immunoadsorption (IA), intravenous immunoglobulin, and daclizumab. Posttransplant treatment consisted of tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, prednisolone, IA, and daclizumab. RESULTS.: During pretransplant desensitization, each of the weekly immunoadsorption treatments reduced anti-HLA antibody levels by 50% to 70%,... (More)
BACKGROUND.: To prepare a highly immunized recipient for heart transplantation, reduction of high levels of cytotoxic antibodies against human leukocyte antigen (HLA) was deemed essential to prevent antibody-mediated graft failure. METHODS.: Antibodies were analyzed by lymphocytotoxic and solid-phase assays. The pretransplant desensitization treatment protocol included daily tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil, weekly protein-A immunoadsorption (IA), intravenous immunoglobulin, and daclizumab. Posttransplant treatment consisted of tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, prednisolone, IA, and daclizumab. RESULTS.: During pretransplant desensitization, each of the weekly immunoadsorption treatments reduced anti-HLA antibody levels by 50% to 70%, but they returned to the pretreatment level within 1 week as measured by flow cytometry. Cytotoxic antibodies remained reduced. After perioperative immunoadsorption, the donor-reactive antibodies (DRAs) were reduced to low levels. The patient underwent successful heart transplantation after 6 weeks on a waiting list. During the first week posttransplant, DRAs remained low. However, after the first week, anti-HLA DRAs reappeared and increased slightly over a 3-week period and then decreased slowly. Cytotoxic crossmatches were negative before and 3 week after transplantation. No clinical rejection was encountered. The patient was doing well 3 years after transplantation, and yearly clinical cardiac investigations were all normal. Three hyperimmunized patients have now undergone successful heart transplantation at our center using this desensitization protocol. CONCLUSIONS.: IA in combination with pretransplant immunosuppressive drug treatment temporarily reduces antibody levels. The therapeutic levels of drug treatment at the time of transplantation may be of crucial importance. The treatment protocol resulted in freedom from rejection and other clinical adverse events. (Less)
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author
; ; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Transplantation
volume
90
pages
1220 - 1225
publisher
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
external identifiers
  • wos:000284827500013
  • pmid:20885338
  • scopus:78650304329
  • pmid:20885338
ISSN
1534-6080
DOI
10.1097/TP.0b013e3181fa93c6
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015. The record was previously connected to the following departments: Thoracic Surgery (013230027), Cardiology (013230026), Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (013230022), Department of Nephrology (013230024), Division of Infection Medicine (SUS) (013008000)
id
0c651ee3-f8fb-4c0d-b7dd-2cdd2ec54f55 (old id 1711524)
alternative location
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20885338?dopt=Abstract
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 09:43:44
date last changed
2022-01-29 19:15:50
@article{0c651ee3-f8fb-4c0d-b7dd-2cdd2ec54f55,
  abstract     = {{BACKGROUND.: To prepare a highly immunized recipient for heart transplantation, reduction of high levels of cytotoxic antibodies against human leukocyte antigen (HLA) was deemed essential to prevent antibody-mediated graft failure. METHODS.: Antibodies were analyzed by lymphocytotoxic and solid-phase assays. The pretransplant desensitization treatment protocol included daily tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil, weekly protein-A immunoadsorption (IA), intravenous immunoglobulin, and daclizumab. Posttransplant treatment consisted of tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, prednisolone, IA, and daclizumab. RESULTS.: During pretransplant desensitization, each of the weekly immunoadsorption treatments reduced anti-HLA antibody levels by 50% to 70%, but they returned to the pretreatment level within 1 week as measured by flow cytometry. Cytotoxic antibodies remained reduced. After perioperative immunoadsorption, the donor-reactive antibodies (DRAs) were reduced to low levels. The patient underwent successful heart transplantation after 6 weeks on a waiting list. During the first week posttransplant, DRAs remained low. However, after the first week, anti-HLA DRAs reappeared and increased slightly over a 3-week period and then decreased slowly. Cytotoxic crossmatches were negative before and 3 week after transplantation. No clinical rejection was encountered. The patient was doing well 3 years after transplantation, and yearly clinical cardiac investigations were all normal. Three hyperimmunized patients have now undergone successful heart transplantation at our center using this desensitization protocol. CONCLUSIONS.: IA in combination with pretransplant immunosuppressive drug treatment temporarily reduces antibody levels. The therapeutic levels of drug treatment at the time of transplantation may be of crucial importance. The treatment protocol resulted in freedom from rejection and other clinical adverse events.}},
  author       = {{Bućin, Dragan and Gustafsson, Ronny and Ekmehag, Björn and Kornhall, Björn and Algotsson, Lars and Lund, Ulla and Otto, Gisela and Koul, Bansi}},
  issn         = {{1534-6080}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{1220--1225}},
  publisher    = {{Lippincott Williams & Wilkins}},
  series       = {{Transplantation}},
  title        = {{Desensitization and Heart Transplantation of a Patient With High Levels of Donor-Reactive Anti-Human Leukocyte Antigen Antibodies.}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/TP.0b013e3181fa93c6}},
  doi          = {{10.1097/TP.0b013e3181fa93c6}},
  volume       = {{90}},
  year         = {{2010}},
}