Transplanting the Highly Sensitized Patient: The Emory Algorithm

Renal transplant patients sensitized to HLA antigens comprise nearly one-third of the UNOS wait-list and receive 14% of deceased donor (DD) transplants, a rate half that of unsensitized patients. Between 1999 and 2003, we performed 492 adult renal transplants from DD; 120 patients (approximately 25%) had a panel reactive antibody (PRA) of >30%, with nearly half (n = 58) having a PRA of >80%. Our approach is based upon high-resolution solid-phase HLA antibody analysis to identify class I/II antibodies and a 'virtual crossmatch' to predict compatible donor/recipient combinations. Recipients are excluded from the United Network for Organ Sharing match run if donors possess unacceptable antigens. Thus, when sensitized patients appear on the match run, they have a high probability of a negative final crossmatch. Here, we describe our 5-year experience with this approach. Five-year graft survival ranged from 66% to 70% among unsensitized (n = 272), moderately sensitized (PRA < 30%, n = 100) and highly sensitized (>30% PRA; n = 120) patients, equal to the average national graft survival (65.7%). The application of this approach (the Emory Algorithm) provides a logical and systematic approach to improve the access of sensitized patients to DD organs and promote more equitable allocation to a highly disadvantaged group of patients awaiting renal transplantation.     

免疫吸附治疗在肾移植致敏受者中的应用

目的：探讨蛋白A免疫吸附（immunoads Orption，IA）治疗对清除肾移植致敏受者体内特异性抗HLA抗体的疗效和安全性。方法：10例肾移植致敏（PRA〉50％）受者用彤新蛋白A免疫吸附柱行IA治疗，测定治疗前后血免疫球蛋白及PRA水平。结果：10例患者IA治疗次数为4～15次（中位数9）。所有患者IA治疗后血清总IgG水平都明显下降（P〈0．001），IgA和IgM也较治疗前显著降低（P〈0．01）。PRA8例转阴，1例〈30％，1例仍为100％。结论：对于肾移植致敏受者，IA是一种特异性高、安全有效的治疗措施。     

硬膜外腔注射脉络宁对脊神经根炎大鼠血清中PRA和AT-Ⅱ的影响

目的:通过大鼠脊神经根炎模型,观察硬膜外腔注射脉络宁对血浆肾素活性(PRA)和血管紧张素(AT-Ⅱ)的影响.方法:用0.5%福尔马林浸泡的直径为0.5 cm的定量滤纸片作为致炎物,复制大鼠脊神经根炎模型.将动模随机分为5组,A组(正常组);B组(假手术组);C组(模型组)、M组(脉络宁组)和L组(利多卡因组).每只大鼠从硬膜外注药0.6 mL/kg,每4 d给药1次,一共给药4次.术后第18 d取血2 mL,然后用放射免疫分析法(RIA)进行PRA和AT-Ⅱ的测定.结果:C组PRA和AT-Ⅱ含量显著高于A组、B组、M组和L组(P＜0.01);硬膜外注入脉络宁和利多卡因可使血清PRA和AT-Ⅱ含量下降,两组比较无显著性差异(P＞0.05).结论:硬膜外腔注射脉络宁使药物能够高效快速地发挥作用,促进了炎性神经根的修复.     

Does cyclosporine influence the results of cadaver retransplantation?

The results of cadaveric retransplantation in 55 recipients immunosuppressed with cyclosporine and prednisone were compared to 156 recipients of primary renal allografts. By 3 yr posttransplant, there is no significant difference in patient survival, but the yearly graft survival for primary (79%, 72%, 72%) as compared to retransplant (69%, 58%, 58%) recipients was significantly (p less than 0.05) better. There was no significant difference in rejection episodes or mean +/- SD serum creatinine (mg/dl) at 2 yr between primary (32%, 2.14 +/- 1.1) and retransplant (33%, 2.08 +/- 1.4) patients, respectively. Donor source, third kidneys, human leukocyte antigen AB and Dr matching, percent reactive antibody levels, and cause of first graft loss do not have significant impact on cyclosporine-treated retransplant outcome. However, retransplant patients who have lost a previous graft in less than 3 months continue to be at high risk for subsequent early graft loss. These results suggest that the combination of cyclosporine and prednisone is the preferred regimen for cadaveric retransplantation.     

高PRA介导肾移植后延迟性超急排斥反应

目的：了解HLA-A、B、DR、DQ表现型为纯合子的终末期肾脏疾病患者的PRA水平,并研究其与肾移植预后的关系。方法：对2006年8月至2007年8月间在我院登记等待首次肾移植的438例终末期肾脏疾病患者HLA、PRA情况以及其中1例PRA65的HLA纯合子患者肾移植效果进行分析。HLA基因分型采用PCR-SSP技术,PRA、抗体强度及抗体特异性分析采用ELISA技术,数据统计采用SPSS11.5统计软件。结果：438例患者中有HLA纯合子12例,杂合子426例;12例纯合子中PRA阳性者6例,阳性率50,平均HLA抗体强度为55,广泛致敏率达100;426例杂合子中PRA阳性者65例,阳性率15.26,平均HLA抗体强度为28,广泛致敏率为40;纯合子与杂合子之间的PRA阳性率、平均HLA抗体强度和广泛致敏率相比差异均有统计学意义（P〈0.05）,纯合子高PRA的风险大（OR=5.29,95CI：1.67～16.70）;1例PRA65的纯合子患者术前经血浆置换、蛋白免疫吸附、静滴丙种球蛋白治疗使PRA降低至阴性,在舒莱免疫诱导下行尸体肾移植术,供受者HLA抗原2个错配,术后移植肾功能逐渐恢复,第3天开始PRA呈阳性并逐渐升高,伴随临床逐渐出现尿少、血压升高、移植肾区疼痛等排斥反应征象,血清肌酐逐渐升高,移植肾B超见动脉阻力指数逐渐升高,提示急性排斥反应,采用术前有效清除HLA抗体的所有方法再次治疗无效,于术后第36天因移植物失功行移植肾切除。结论：HLA纯合子产生高PRA的风险大;文中1例PRA阳性的HLA纯合子早期移植肾功能恢复随后出现不可逆排斥反应致移植肾失功的情况,提示近年来随着各种有效清除HLA抗体的治疗方法不断用于临床导致了抗体介导的延迟性超急排斥反应（AMDR）的出现从而使移植肾失功;高PRA患者行肾移植术需高度慎重,应尽可能避开受者PRA峰值时的全部抗体谱来选择供体。     

Positive flow cytometry crossmatch with discrepant antibody testing results following COVID-19 vaccination

The impact of COVID-19 vaccination on the alloimmunity of transplant candidates is unknown. We report a case of positive B cell flow cytometry crossmatch in a patient waiting for second kidney transplantation, 37 days after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. The preliminary crossmatch, using sample collected before COVID-19 vaccination, was negative. The antibodies to mismatched donor HLA-DR7 were detected only with multi-antigen beads but not with single-antigen beads, excluding possible prozone effects in solid-phase antibody assays. The crossmatches were positive with HLA-DR7–positive surrogates (n = 2) while negative with HLA-DR7–negative surrogates (n = 3), which confirms the HLA-DR7 alloreactivity. The antigen configurations on B lymphocytes are similar to that on the multi-antigen beads while distinct from the single-antigen beads. HLA-DR7 was the repeating mismatched antigen with the failing first kidney allograft. The newly emerged antibody to HLA-DR7 probably is the consequence of bystander activation of memory response by the COVID-19 vaccination. This case highlights the importance of verifying allo-sensitization history and utilizing multiple assays, including cell-based crossmatch and solid-phase assays with multi-antigens. COVID-19 immunization may deserve special attention when assessing the immunological risk before and after organ transplantation.     

Development and Impact of De Novo Anti‐HLA Antibodies in Pediatric Heart Transplant Recipients

There is increasing evidence that de novo anti‐HLA antibodies, more specifically de novo donor‐specific antibodies (DSA) following solid organ transplantation may be associated with negative outcomes including rejection in the first year and graft loss. Limited data are available in pediatric heart transplant recipients. We sought to prospectively determine the incidence, class and early impact of de novo anti‐HLA antibodies in a cohort of pediatric heart transplant recipients. Serial panel reactive antibody testing posttransplant was performed in 25 patients (14 males) transplanted between January 2008 and June 2010. Five patients were sensitized pretransplant; all patients had negative direct crossmatch. Seventy‐two percent developed de novo anti‐HLA antibodies at a median of 2.6 weeks (IQR 1.2 weeks to 6.2 months) posttransplant; 67% of these were DSA. The majority of recipients in our cohort developed de novo anti‐HLA antibodies within the first year posttransplant, with two‐thirds being donor‐specific. Acute cellular rejection, though frequent, was not different in patients with antibody development regardless of class or specificity, and there was no antibody‐mediated rejection, graft loss or early cardiac allograft vasculopathy.     

cPRA Increases With DQA,DPA, and DPB Unacceptable Antigens in the Canadian cPRA Calculator

A calculated panel reactive antibody (cPRA) estimates the percentage of donors with unacceptable antigens (UA) for a recipient. cPRA may be underestimated in transplant candidates with UA to DQA, DPA, and DPB if these are not included in the calculation program. To serve the National Canadian Transplant Programs, a cPRA calculator was developed with complete molecular typing for all donors at HLA‐A, B, C, DRB1, DRB3/4/5, DQA1, DQB1, DPA1, and DPB1, all resolved to serologic equivalents. The prevalence of UA at DQA, DPA and DPB was evaluated in a sensitized regional population. The impact of adding these additional UA to cPRA was calculated alone and in combination, and compared to the baseline cPRA for UA at A, B, C, DR, DR51/52/53, and DQ. Of 740 sensitized transplant candidates, 18% of total and 32% with cPRA≥95% had DQA UA. Twenty‐seven percent of total and 54% with cPRA≥95% had DPB UA. Of 280/740 subjects with these UA, 36/280 (13%) had cPRA increase of >20% when they were included, 7% increased cPRA to ≥80% and 6% to ≥95%. Inclusion of DQA, DPA, and DPB UA in Canadian cPRA calculations improves the accuracy of cPRA where these are relevant in allocation.     

A prospective,iterative, adaptive trial of carfilzomib‐based desensitization

Proteasome inhibitor–based strategies hold promise in transplant but have yielded varying results. Carfilzomib, a second‐generation proteasome inhibitor, may possess advantages over bortezomib, the first‐generation proteasome inhibitors. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety, toxicity, and preliminary efficacy of carfilzomib in highly HLA‐sensitized kidney transplant candidates. Renal transplant candidates received escalating doses of carfilzomib followed by plasmapheresis (group A) or an identical regimen with additional plasmapheresis once weekly before carfilzomib dosing. Thirteen participants received carfilzomib, which was well tolerated with most adverse events classified as low grade. The safety profile was similar to bortezomib desensitization; however, neurotoxicity was not observed with carfilzomib. Toxicity resulted in permanent dose reduction in 1 participant but caused no withdrawals or deaths. HLA antibodies were substantially reduced with carfilzomib alone, and median maximal immunodominant antibody reduction was 72.8% (69.8% for group A, P = .031, 80.1% for group B, P = .938). After depletion, rebound occurred rapidly and antibody levels returned to baseline between days 81 and 141. Bone marrow studies revealed that approximately 69.2% of plasma cells were depleted after carfilzomib monotherapy. Carfilzomib monotherapy–based desensitization provides an acceptable safety and toxicity profile while leading to significant bone marrow plasma cell depletion and anti‐HLA antibody reduction.