Improved graft survival in ABO-incompatible living donor kidney transplantation.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: We reviewed ABO-incompatible living donor kidney transplantations (LDKT) performed in our institute. PATIENTS Fourteen ABO-incompatible LDKT were carried out in the first era (September 1990-August 1996) and 13 were in the second era (October 2001-July 2004). All patients were treated with sessions of plasmapheresis before transplantation to reduce antibody titers <18. In the second era, those with rebound increase of antibody titers >164 after repeated plasmapheresis were not subjected to transplantation. Posttransplantation immunosuppression consisted of cyclosporin, predonisone, azathioprine, gusperimus hydrochloride (DSG), and antilymphocyte globulin (ALG) in the first era, and tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, predonisone, and DSG in the second era. Splenectomy was performed during the transplantation. Anticoagulant therapy was introduced in the second era. RESULTS: One-, 2-, and 5-year graft survival in the first era was 57%, 57%, and 50%, respectively, values that were significantly lower than those of ABO-compatible cases in the same period (n = 101), namely, 1-, 3-, and 5-year graft survival rates 93%, 83%, and 76%, respectively. The main reason for graft and patient losses was infectious complications. In the second era, no recipient suffered a severe infectious complication and 1- and 2-year graft survival rates were both 100%. Four patients in the first era and 1 in the second era experienced a graft rejection episode between 10 days and 14 months after transplantation, but they were successfully treated with steroid pulse therapy. CONCLUSION: Although patients with high blood group antibody titers remain problematic, ABO-incompatible LDKT is an increasingly viable option for patients whose only donor is blood group-incompatible.