Review Article

ABO Incompatible Kidney Transplantation—Current Status and Uncertainties

Table 1

Several examples of current desensitization protocols.

 Pretransplant desensitizationAcceptable final titerPosttransplant desensitization Posttrans-
plant monitoring
Splenectomy
Ab depletionIVIGRituximabIS drugAb depletionIVIGRituximabIS drug

Montgomery, 1st era (Johns Hopkins)PP or IALow dose* (0.1 g/kg): CMV-IVIG No: if high risk, single dose at POD# −1FK/MMF: start at the beginning of PP<1 : 16PP or IALow dose (0.1 g/kg): CMV-IVIGNo Daclizumab: initial 2 mg/kg, and then 1 mg/kr q 2 wks for 5-dose FK/MMF/MPDAnti-ABO IgG titer: weekly for POD# 1 mon at POD# 2, 3, 6, 12 monNo
(work as rescue therapy for ABMR)

Tyden (Stockholm)IA: at POD# −6, −5, −4, −1Standard dose (0.5 g/kg): single dose at POD# −1Yes (375 mg/m2): single dose at POD# −10FK/MMF/MPD (high dosage): start at POD# −10 <1 : 8IA: preemptive 3 times at each 3 daysNo   No   FK/MMF/MPD  Anti-ABO IgG titerNo

Genberg (Stockholm)IA Standard dose (0.5 g/kg): single dose at POD# −1Yes (375 mg/m2): single dose at POD# −30FK/MMF/MPD (high dosage): start at POD# −10noIA: preemptive 3 times Low dose (0.5 g/kg): 5 dosesNo: If high B cell count, add doseFK/MMF/MPD B-cell count measurement at posttransplant 6 month No

Wilpert (Germany)IAStandard dose (0.5 g/kg): single dose at POD# −5 ~ −1Yes (375 mg/m2): single dose at POD# −30FK/MMF/MPD: start at POD# −7≤1 : 4IANo  No  basiliximab FK/MMF/MPD Anti-ABO IgG titer: ≥1 :  8 in 1st week and ≥1 : 16 in 2nd weekNo

Flint (Australia)TPELow dose* (0.1 g/kg): but, 0.5 g/kg at POD# −1No   MMF: start at POD# −10 ≤1 : 8TPE   Low dose (0.1 g/kg)No   basiliximab FK/MMF/MPDAnti-ABO IgG titer: daily for the first 2 weeks and then, twice a week for the first 2 monthsNo
(work as rescue therapy for ABMR)

Gloor (Mayo)TPE Low dose* (0.1 g/kg)Yes (375 mg/m2): 2 doses at the starting of PPMMF  ≤1 : 8 NoNo No ATGAM FK/MMF/MPD  No

Oettl (Basel)IA (daily)Standard dose (0.5 g/kg): single doseat POD# −1Yes (375 mg/m2): single dose at POD# −30FK/MMF/MPD: start at POD# −14≤1 : 8
(IgM, IgG)   
IANo  No  basiliximab FK/MMF/MPDAnti-AB IgM or IgG titer ≥1 : 8No

Tanabe (Tokyo)DFPP: start at POD# −7No Yes (200 mg/m2): single doseFK/MMF/MPD: start at POD# −7≤1 : 32No No No basiliximab FK/MMF/MPDNo Yes (selectively)

Montgomery, 2nd era (Johns-Hpokins)PP  Low dose* (0.1 g/kg): CMV-IVIG No  FK/MMF: start at the beginning of PP≤1 : 16PP: preemptive 2 timesLow dose (0.1 g/kg): CMV-IVIGNo  daclizumab FK/MMF/MPDAnti-ABO IgG titer >1 : 32 (If so, protocol biopsy)No

Galliford (UK)PP: start at POD# −14 Low dose* (0.1 g/kg) Yes (1 g): 2 dose at the starting of PPFK/MMF: start at the beginning of PP≤1 : 4PP: at POD# 1, 3Low dose (0.1 g/kg): 2 times routinelyYes (1 g): at POD# 0 (posttra-
nsplant)
daclizumab FK/MMF/MPD (steroid-sparing protocol)Anti-ABO IgG titer   No

Uchida (Osaka)DFPP or TPE  No   Yes (150 mg/m2): 2 dose at POD# −14, −1FK: start at POD# −3 MMF/MPD: start at POD# −30≤1 : 16No   No   No   basiliximab FK/MMF/MPDNo   Yes

*IVIG after antibody depletion (a set of PP/IVIG as baseline titer) (PP: plasmapheresis, IA: immunoadsorption, TPE: therapeutic plasma exchange, DFPP: double-filtration plasmapheresis, IVIG: intravenous immunoglobulin, CMV-IVIG; CMV hyperimmune IVIG, ABMR: antibody mediated rejection, IS: immunosuppression, FK: tacrolimus, MMF: mycophenolate mofetil, MPD: methylprednisolone).