1. Desensitization and Subsequent Kidney Transplantation of Patients Using Intravenous Immunoglobulins (IVIg)
- Author
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Glotz, D., Antoine, C., Julia, P., Suberbielle-Boissel, C., Boudjeltia, S., Fraoui, R., Hacen, C., Duboust, A., and Bariety, J.
- Abstract
Transplantation of patients possessing antibodies against allo-HLA antigens can be delayed for years. We have shown that administration of intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIg) can induce a profound and sustained decrease in the titers of anti-HLA antibodies. We report here the first series of patients desensitized, then transplanted using IVIg therapy. Fifteen patients have been included and treated with IVIg, given as 3 monthly courses of 2 g/kg body weight. Thirteen of those 15 patients (87%) were effectively desensitized and underwent immediate transplantation. Eleven were transplanted with a cadaveric donor, and two with a living donor against which the pretreatment cross-match was positive. One graft was lost from thrombosis and one from rejection. All other patients had uneventful courses, without any episodes of rejection, with a follow-up of more than 1 year. Thus, IVIg therapy allows safe and prompt kidney transplantation of immunized patients.
- Published
- 2002
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