High-Dose Intravenous Immunoglobulin Therapy for Donor Specific Antibodies in Kidney Transplant Recipients with Acute and Chronic Graft Dysfunction: Updates on Previously Reported Cohorts.

Abstract

Kidney allograft damage resulting from donor-specific anti-HLA antibody (DSA) activity has been identified as a key component of long-term graft attrition. DSA that persists following acute antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) episodes and/or DSA associated with chronic graft dysfunction have been shown to be particularly pathogenic. Despite the significantly negative effects of DSA on graft survival, there are currently no accepted treatment modalities. We have previously reported our experience using a regimen of high-dose (5 mg/kg) intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatment over 6 months for kidney recipients with detectable DSA either following an acute AMR episode or in association with chronic graft dysfunction. In this manuscript, we report further follow-up on this cohort of patients treated with a single regimen of high-dose IVIG. We show a continued significant lowering effect on DSA present following AMR, particularly class I DSA, while DSA associated with chronic graft dysfunction, particularly class II, remains resistant to the immunomodulatory effects of IVIG.