Updated follow-up of a tolerance protocol in HLA-identical renal transplant pairs given donor hematopoietic stem cells.

Kidney transplant recipients given donor hematopoietic stem cells from their HLA-identical living related donors have now been followed between 5 and 9½ years post-operatively. Recipients who were designated as tolerant (Tol) have remained so since the last report when the 5 year (biopsy associated) milestone was reached. There has been 1 mortality of a Tol patient, unrelated to the study protocol, while 5 (of 15) have remained Tol between 7 and 8½ years post-operatively. There has been continuing elevated T-regulatory (CD4+CD25HighCD127-FOXP3+) cells in PBMC previously reported on. Ten year renal transplant biopsies are tentatively planned.