Belatacept-based, ATG-Fresenius-induction regimen for kidney transplant recipients: A proof-of-concept study

CICORA, FEDERICO; MOS, FERNANDO; PETRONI, JORGELINA; CASANOVA, MATÍAS; RENIERO, LILIANA; ROBERTI, JAVIER

TRANSPLANT IMMUNOLOGY

ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

Año: 2015 vol. 32 p. 35 - 39

0966-3274

Belatacept provides effective immunosuppression while avoiding the nephrotoxicities associated with calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs). However, existing belatacept-based regimens still have high rates of acute rejection. We hypothesized that therapy with belatacept, mycophenolic acid (MMA), steroids and induction therapy with rabbit anti-thymocyte globulin Fresenius (ATGF), rejection rate could be reduced. Prospective, single center, proof-of-concept study including males and females aged ≥. 18. years, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-seropositive recipients of a first, HLA non-identical, live or deceased donor kidney allograft. Only patients with a calculated panel reactive antibody score of 0% were included. Three donors were positive for Chagas disease. Six of twelve patients had at least one infection and five were readmitted to the hospital for treatment. One patient had a Trypanosoma cruzi infection via the graft treated successfully. Median cold ischemia time for the transplant patients with a deceased donor was 21.5. h. Mean serum creatinine levels at 1, 3 and 6. months were 1.76. ±. 0.59, 1.55. ±. 0.60 and 1.49. ±. 0.60. mg/dl, respectively. Two of twelve patients experienced clinical, biopsy-proven rejection, successfully treated with methylprednisolone. No patient developed post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) or any other malignancy and no patient lost their graft or died during follow-up. The potential of this approach makes it worthy of further investigation.