Clinical outcomes of bortezomib-based desensitization in highly sensitized living and deceased donor kidney transplantation.

BACKGROUND

Sensitization acts as an immunological barrier to successful kidney transplantation (KT). We aim to investigate the efficacy and safety of bortezomib-based desensitization (BOZ-DSZ) in both highly sensitized living donor KT (LDKT) and deceased donor KT (DDKT).

METHODS

We applied BOZ-DSZ to 20 highly sensitized patients-14 LDKT and six DDKT candidates-and analyzed the change in anti-human leukocyte antigen (HLA) antibody, the success rate of transplantation, and posttransplant outcomes including biopsy-proven allograft rejection (BPAR) rate, infectious complication, and allograft survival.

RESULTS

Among 14 LDKT candidates, the peak mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) level of donor-specific anti-HLA antibody (HLADSA) decreased in 10 patients (p < 0.05), and the success rate of KT was 92.9% (13 of 14). Incidence of BPAR within the first posttransplant year was 53.8% (7 of 13), and all such cases were rescued by antirejection treatment. One case resulted in mortality due to pneumonia, and there was one allograft failure during the follow-up of 34 months (range, 6-129 months). Among the six DDKT candidates, the peak MFI level of HLA-DSA showed a significant decrease after DSZ in five patients (p = 0.098), and the success rate of KT was 50.0% (3 of 6). One BPAR case (33.3%) occurred within the first posttransplant year and was successfully treated. There was one case of Cytomegalovirus viremia, and there was no allograft failure during the 36-month follow-up (range, 17-42 months).

CONCLUSION

BOZ-DSZ is effective and safe in terms of successful DSZ, infectious complications, and allograft outcomes for both highly sensitized LDKT and DDKT candidates.