We studied 72 consecutive simultaneous pancreas kidney transplant (SPKT) recipients. There were 14 patients with positive pretransplant cross-matches (positive CDC- B cell and/or positive flow T or B cross-match). The control group included all 58 SPKT recipients with a negative crossmatch. The study group received induction with low dose intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg), rabbit antithymocyte globulin (rATG; total dose 6 mg/kg), or alemtuzumab (30 mg single dose) and maintenance with tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), and corticosteroids. The control group was treated similarly, but with steroid avoidance and no IVIg. Biopsy-proven acute rejection (BPAR) of the kidney allograft occurred in 7 study patients (50%) compared with 1.0% in the control group (P = .022). One patient experienced acute cellular rejection (ACR); the other 6 (43%), antibody-mediated rejection (AMR). None of the cross-match negative patients had AMR (P = .001). The mean follow-up period was 18.7 months in the study group, and 18.3 months in the control group. The 1-year actuarial patient survival was 91.7% in the study group and 97% in the control group. Kidney allograft survival was 91.7% in the study group and 95.2% in the control group. Pancreas allograft survival was 76.9% in study group and 89.6% in the control group (P = .088). We concluded that patients with a positive pretransplant CDC-B cross-match and/or positive flow cross-match have an increased risk of AMR; more intensive desensitization is needed with low-dose IVIg and induction with either rATG or alemtuzumab.

Moss, A; Heilman, R; Chakkera, H; Mazur, M; Petrides, S; Wosniak, E; Mekeel, K; Mulligan, D; Reddy, K Author Information

Immunosuppression with rapid discontinuation of corticosteroids, usually with induction therapy, is safe in kidney transplant recipients. In 89 patients, we induced immunosuppression with basiliximab or rabbit antithymocyte globulin (17 and 72 patients, respectively). Selection criteria for basiliximab were age (≥65 years), history (malignancy; chronic infection), and type 1 diabetes mellitus (eligible for pancreas transplant). Steroids were administered through posttransplantation day 4 (five doses); maintenance immunosuppression was with tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil. At last follow-up (average, 286 days), most patients were steroid-free (antithymocyte globulin, 90%; basiliximab, 88%). Protocol biopsies were performed at 1, 4, and 12 months posttransplantation. The overall risk of biopsy-proven acute rejection was 12%. At 6 months posttransplantation, acute rejection-free survival was 93% for antithymocyte globulin, 65% for basiliximab (P < .001). Median time to biopsy-proven acute rejection was 27 and 71 days, respectively. The low incidence of biopsy-proven acute rejection with steroid-avoidance immunosuppression may be further reduced with antithymocyte globulin.