Total lymphoid irradiation in the treatment of early or recurrent heart transplant rejection

Abstract

Recurrent acute cardiac allograft rejection is an important cause of repeat hospitalization and a major mode of mortality, particularly during the 6 months immediately following transplant. Total lymphoid irradiation (TLI) has been shown experimentally to induce a state of partial tolerance when administered prior to transplantation. Anecdotal reports of clinical experience have also suggested efficacy of TLI in treatment of recurrent cardiac rejection. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of TLI for treatment of early or recurrent heart transplant rejection. Between January 1990 and June 1992, 49 patients postallograft cardiac transplant were given courses of TLI for treatment of early or recurrent rejection after conventional therapy with Methylprednisolone, antithymocyte globulin, OKT3, and methotrexate. Two patients failed to complete their therapy and were not evaluated. Two other patients received a second TLI course, making a total of 49 courses delivered. Indications for TLI were early rejection (n = 5), recurrent rejection (n = 38), and recurrent rejection with vasculitis (n = 6). The dose goal of the TLI protocol was 8 Gy in 10 fractions given twice weekly. Three separate fields were used to encompass all major lymph node-bearing areas. The actual mean dose was 7 Gy (range 2.4-8.4 Gy), and the duration of treatment was 8 to 106 days. These variations were secondary to leukopenia or thrombocytopenia. The mean posttransplant follow-up is 15 +/- 1.2 months (maximum 27 months). Among patients initiating TLI within 1 month posttransplant (n = 15), the rejection frequency decreased from 1.83 episodes/patient/month pre-TLI to 0.13 episodes/patient/month post-TLI (p < 0.001). For those who began TLI 1-3 months after transplant (n = 21), rejection decreased from 1.43 to 0.10 episodes/patient/month (p < 0.001). When TLI was started more than 3 months posttransplant (n = 11), the pre-TLI and post-TLI rejection frequencies were 0.67 and 0.07/patient/month (p < 0.001), respectively. The reduced post-TLI rejection frequencies were maintained to 24 months. There was no increase in the frequency of infection after TLI, nor were there any deaths during or immediately following TLI. Total lymphoid irradiation is a safe and effective adjunct for prolonged control of early or recurrent cardiac rejection. Bone marrow suppression is transient in nearly all patients and is not associated with an increased incidence of infection. The long-term benefits, possible late deleterious effects, and the potential role of TLI as induction therapy remain to be elucidated.