ABO-incompatible kidney transplantation using antigen-specific immunoadsorption and rituximab: a single center experience

: Background: For years ABO‐incompatible kidney transplantations were preferentially performed in Japanese centers. In order to overcome the increased risk of humoral rejections, patients were treated with multiple sessions of plasmapheresis, intensified immunosuppressive therapy and splenectomy before transplantation. Despite good long‐term results regarding patient and organ survival rates, increased morbidity during the early post‐transplant period prevented a broad application of this method. Recently, a new protocol including the anti‐CD20‐antibody (Ab) rituximab and blood group‐specific immunoadsorption instead of splenectomy and plasmapheresis was published with excellent short‐term results. Methods: From April 2004 to September 2005, 11 patients were prepared for ABO‐incompatible transplantation. All patients received 375 mg/m2 rituximab intravenous 3 to 4 weeks before transplantation. Immunosuppressive therapy consisted of tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil and prednisone and was started at least 7 days before transplantation. Intravenous immunoglobulins (0.5 g/kg) were administered the day before transplantation. Immunoglobulin G (IgG)‐anti‐A or ‐B Ab titers before starting immunoadsorption treatment ranged between 1 : 4 and 1 : 1024. Immunoadsorption treatment was started in parallel with immunosuppressive medication and was continued until the anti‐A or anti ‐B Ab titers (IgG and IgM) were lowered to the aimed pre‐transplant threshold of