Back to Journals » Transplant Research and Risk Management » Volume 6

Transplantation in highly HLA-sensitized patients: challenges and solutions
Authors Kim I, Vo A, Jordan S
Received 17 June 2014
Accepted for publication 22 July 2014
Published 26 September 2014 Volume 2014:6 Pages 99—107
DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/TRRM.S50793
Checked for plagiarism Yes
Review by Single anonymous peer review
Peer reviewer comments 7
Irene K Kim, Ashley Vo, Stanley C Jordan
Transplant Immunotherapy Program, Comprehensive Transplant Center, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Abstract: Despite better understanding of the impact of development of the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) antibody and numerous advancements in immunosuppressive therapy, the ability to successfully transplant highly sensitized patients remains a significant challenge. As the percentage of the waiting list becomes increasingly populated with highly sensitized patients, there is a growing demand for effective strategies to manage these patients. Over the past 20 years, desensitization therapies have been modified and developed, and are mainly utilized at transplant centers that have developed expertise. In addition, recognition that the highly sensitized patient population is disadvantaged on the transplant waiting list has led to recent changes in national kidney allocation policy. Furthermore, creative strategies, such as enrollment of sensitized patients into paired kidney exchange programs, have been developed to find compatible matches for these patients. The goal of this article is to address some of the specific challenges related to transplanting the highly sensitized patient at a high-volume transplant center with experience in desensitization and to review established and emerging solutions to help this patient population.
Keywords: human leukocyte antigen, antibodies, desensitization, high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin, rituximab
This work is published and licensed by Dove Medical Press Limited. The full terms of this license are available at https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution - Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License.
By accessing the work you hereby accept the Terms. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. For permission for commercial use of this work, please see paragraphs 4.2 and 5 of our Terms.