Anti-HLA antibodies depletion on protein A-sepharose columns in hyperimmunized patients awaiting renal transplantation.

To reduce anti-HLA immunization, 15 patients waiting for a renal graft received the following treatment: 5 to 7 immunoadsorption sessions on protein A-Sepharose columns, immunosuppressive drugs (corticosteroids 1 mg/kg (bw/day+cyclophosphamide 2 mg/kg bw/day) and iv polyclonal immunoglobulins. Before this treatment, panel-reactive antibodies ranged from 65 to 100% and antibody titers varied from 1/8 to 1/128. In all patients, antibody, titers were decreased. However, antibody resynthesis was incompletely blocked by this protocol. Eight out of 12 grafted patients had a functional kidney transplant 3 months to 3 years post-grafting. There early kidney failures occurred in the subgroup of 5 patients who had had historical positive cross matches prior to treatment. This treatment did not seem to increase the frequency of infectious complications before or after grafting.