| Title | The use of antibody to complement protein C5 for salvage treatment of severe antibody-mediated rejection. |
| Publication Type | Journal Article |
| Year of Publication | 2009 |
| Authors | Locke JE, Magro CM, Singer AL, Segev DL, Haas M, Hillel AT, King KE, Kraus E, Lees LM, Melancon JK, Stewart ZA, Warren DS, Zachary AA, Montgomery RA |
| Journal | Am J Transplant |
| Volume | 9 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pagination | 231-5 |
| Date Published | 2009 Jan |
| ISSN | 1600-6143 |
| Keywords | Adult, Antibodies, Monoclonal, Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized, Complement C5, Female, Graft Rejection, Humans, Immunoglobulins, Intravenous, Kidney Transplantation, Living Donors, Male, Salvage Therapy |
| Abstract | Desensitized patients are at high risk of developing acute antibody-mediated rejection (AMR). In most cases, the rejection episodes are mild and respond to a short course of plasmapheresis (PP) / low-dose IVIg treatment. However, a subset of patients experience severe AMR associated with sudden onset oliguria. We previously described the utility of emergent splenectomy in rescuing allografts in patients with this type of severe AMR. However, not all patients are good candidates for splenectomy. Here we present a single case in which eculizumab, a complement protein C5 antibody that inhibits the formation of the membrane attack complex (MAC), was used combined with PP/IVIg to salvage a kidney undergoing severe AMR. We show a marked decrease in C5b-C9 (MAC) complex deposition in the kidney after the administration of eculizumab. |
| DOI | 10.1111/j.1600-6143.2008.02451.x |
| Alternate Journal | Am J Transplant |
| PubMed ID | 18976298 |
Related Faculty:
Cynthia M. Magro, M.D.