Clinical efficacy and safety of combined induction therapy with rituximab and ATG in highly sensitized kidney transplant recipients

Abstract

Objective: To summarize the efficacy and safety of the combination of rituximab and ATG as induction therapy in highly sensitized kidney transplant recipients. Methods: Clinical data of patients who received kidney transplantation from donation after cardiac death(DCD) in Organ Transplant Center of Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University from January 1st 2015 to December 31th 2016 was retrospectively analyzed. Highly sensitized patients with over 30% active panel reactive antibody (PRA>30%) received rituximab, while non-sensitized recipients as controlled group. All selected patients were observed in the renal function, urine protein, hemogram and the variation of PRA at each time point. Acute rejection, infection required hospitalization, delayed graft function(DGF), primary nonfunction (PNF), graft dysfunction, the mortality rate of patients with good allograft function and the graft survival rate were also observed. Results: 46 groups of patients were selected into highly-sensitized group and non-sensitized group. In both groups, there was no statistical difference in the renal function, urine protein and WBC (all P>0.05). Highly sensitized recipients at day 7 and day 14 following the surgery, had a significantly lower percentage of lymphocyte counts and lymphocyte proportion compared to other groups, with statistical differences(all P<0.05). Both groups had a similar incidence of DGF(2.2%) and no occurrence of PNF. 19.5% of highly sensitized recipients experienced acute rejection and 13% in control group. More specifically, no statistical difference was noted in the rate of infection required hospitalization(30.4% vs 22.2%), graft loss(2.2% vs 0) and the mortality rate of patients with good allograft function(4.3% vs 2.2%)(all P>0.05). The graft survival rate was 97.8% in the highly-sensitized group, while 100% in the control group. And the rate of patient survival in these two groups was 95.7% and 97.8%, with no statistical differences(all P>0.05). Conclusions: Immune-induction therapy that combines Rituximab with ATG can significantly inhibit lymphocyte proliferation. It is effective and safe in treating hypersensitive patients. The survival rate of human/kidney of hypersensitive patients in the short and medium term is comparable to those with low immune risk.