Rituximab and Intravenous Immune Globulin for Desensitization during Renal Transplantation

This open-label, phase 1–2, single-center study examined the use of intravenous immune globulin and rituximab to reduce anti-HLA antibodies and improve transplantation rates in 20 highly sensitized patients. Sixteen patients (80%) subsequently received a transplant, and the 1-year survival rates for patients and allografts were 100% and 94%, respectively. Larger and longer trials are needed to assess the safety of this approach. This study examined the use of intravenous immune globulin and rituximab to reduce anti-HLA antibodies and improve transplantation rates in 20 highly sensitized patients. Sixteen patients (80%) subsequently received a transplant, and the 1-year survival rates for patients and allografts were 100% and 94%, respectively. Renal transplantation is considered the treatment of choice for patients with end-stage renal disease, since it offers improved survival and quality-of-life benefits as compared with dialysis and is considerably less costly to payers. 1 – 3 Currently, there are more than 74,275 patients with end-stage renal disease in the United States on the deceased-donor waiting list, and more than 30,000 new registrants are added each year. Despite this, there are fewer than 18,000 total kidney transplantations in the United States each year. 4 The waiting times for kidney transplants continue to increase, owing to the limited supply. This is especially true for patients . . .