Başkent Üniversitesi Makaleler

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/11727/13096

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    Treatment of Antibody-Mediated Rejection in Kidney Transplant Recipients: A Single-Center Experience With a Bortezomib-Based Regimen
    (Başkent Üniversitesi, 2012-12) Nigos, Janice G.; Sureshkumar, Kalathil K.; Ko, Tina Y.; Marcus, Richard J.; Hussain, Sabiha M.; Nath, Parineesha; Arora, Swati
    Objectives: Antibody-mediated rejection after kidney transplant is less responsive to conventional antirejection therapies. The proteasome inhibitor bortezomib has activity against mature plasma cells that produce damaging donor-specific antibodies. We present our experience of using a bortezomib-based regimen in patients with severe antibody-mediated rejection. Materials and Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed on patients with biopsy-proven antibody-mediated rejection after kidney transplant at our institution over 12 months. Diagnosis of antibody-mediated rejection was made on the basis of positive peritubular capillary C4d staining along with either histologic evidence of acute rejection or positive donor-specific antibody titers. Treatment for antibody-mediated rejection included plasmapheresis, intravenous immunoglobulin, steroids, single-dose rituximab (375 mg/m2) along with bortezomib (1.3 mg/m2) on days 1, 4, 8, and 11. Antibody-mediated rejection was diagnosed in 6 patients. Patients received induction with either alemtuzumab (n=4) or rabbit-antithymocyte globulin (n=2) and were maintained on a tacrolimus/mycophenolate mofetil/early steroid withdrawal protocol. Results: Four of 6 patients responded to treatment. Patients had stable kidney function during follow-up (median 14 months) after bortezomib therapy. Conclusions: In this series, we demonstrated the effectiveness of a bortezomib-based treatment regimen in achieving reduction of donor-specific antibody titers and stable renal function in patients experiencing severe antibody-mediated rejection.
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    Impact of the Addition of Maintenance Steroids to a Rapid Steroid Discontinuation Immunosuppressive Protocol Following Acute Renal Transplant Rejection
    (Başkent Üniversitesi, 2009-12) Arora, Swati; Sureshkumar, Kalathil K.; Dikkala, Sudharani; Marcus, Richard J.
    Objectives: Rapid steroid discontinuation immuno­suppressive protocols are increasingly used in renal transplant. The optimal immunosuppressive regimen in patients who develop acute rejection while on a rapid steroid discontinuation protocol is less clear. We examined our experience of adding maintenance steroid therapy in renal transplant recipients who developed 1 or more acute rejection episode while on a rapid steroid discontinuation protocol. Materials and Methods: The outcome of 145 patients who underwent renal transplant from 2002 to 2007 and initiated a rapid steroid discontinuation protocol was analyzed. Patients were divided into the following 5 groups: (i): acute rejection × 1 and no maintenance steroids, (ii): acute rejection × 1 and started on maintenance steroids, (iii): acute rejection × 2 and no maintenance steroids (iv): acute rejection × 2 and started on maintenance steroids, and (v): no acute rejection Results: Compared with patients with no acute rejection, graft survival was significantly inferior in patients who experienced 2 or more acute rejection episodes—whether they were started on maintenance steroids (P = .003) or not (P = .006)—but was similar in patients who experienced only 1 episode of acute rejection, and were started either on maintenance steroids (P = .87) or were continued on the rapid steroid discontinuation protocol (P = .69). In patients who sustained 2 episodes of acute rejection, addition of maintenance steroids had no impact on graft survival (P = .97). Conclusions: More than 1 episode of acute rejection in renal transplant recipients on rapid steroid discontinuation protocol is associated with poor, long-term, graft survival, which remains unchanged despite starting maintenance steroids. The use of maintenance steroids may not have a positive impact on graft survival after acute rejection.