Correlations Between Cyclosporine Concentrations at 2 Hours Post-Dose and Trough Levels With Functional Outcomes in De Novo Lung Transplant Recipients

Abstract Background:Immunosuppression including high dose calcineurin-inhibitors (CNI) is essential after lung transplantation. Dosing is usually guided by therapeutic drug monitoring adjusted to target trough levels of CNIs to keep the balance between over-dose causing severe toxicity and increased risk of infections or under-dose with risk of graft-injury.Adaptation of CNI-based immunosuppression by monitoring of Torque-Teno-Virus (TTV) – a latent nonpathogenic DNA virus, measured in whole blood in addition to conventional therapeutic drug monitoring may reduce toxicity of immunosuppression with similar efficacy.Methods/Design:An open-label, randomized, controlled, parallel-group, multicenter trial in lung transplant recipients will be conducted to investigate the safety and efficacy of immunosuppression guided by TTV monitoring as add-on to conventional therapeutic drug monitoring. Adult lung transplant recipients 21 - 42 days after transplantation are eligible to participate. Patients (N = 144) will be randomized 1:1 to the experimental intervention (Arm 1: Immunosuppression guided by TTV monitoring in addition to conventional therapeutic drug monitoring of tacrolimus trough levels) and control intervention (Arm 2: conventional therapeutic drug monitoring). Outcomes will be assessed 12 months after randomization with the change in glomerular filtration rate as the primary endpoint. Secondary endpoints will be additional measurements on renal function, allograft function, incidence of acute rejections, incidence of chronic lung allograft dysfunction, graft loss and infections.Discussion:The results of this randomized controlled trial may reduce toxicity of immunosuppression after lung transplantation while maintaining efficacy of immunosuppression. Study results are transferable to all other solid organ transplantations.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04198506. Registered 12 December 2019, https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT04198506

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Outcome of Extracorporeal Photopheresis as an Add-On Therapy for Antibody-Mediated Rejection in Lung Transplant Recipients

Transfusion Medicine and Hemotherapy ◽

10.1159/000508170 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 47 (3) ◽

pp. 205-213

Author(s):

Alberto Benazzo ◽

Nina Worel ◽

Stefan Schwarz ◽

Ulrike Just ◽

Anna Nechay ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lung Transplantation ◽

Lung Transplant ◽

De Novo ◽

Hla Class I ◽

Class Ii ◽

Class I ◽

Extracorporeal Photopheresis ◽

Transplant Recipients ◽

Antibody Mediated Rejection ◽

Lung Transplant Recipients

Introduction: The diagnosis and treatment of antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) after lung transplantation has recently gained recognition within the transplant community. Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP), currently used to treat chronic lung allograft dysfunction, modulates various pathways of the immune system known to be involved in AMR. We hypothesize that adding ECP to established AMR treatments could prevent the rebound of donor-specific antibodies (DSA). Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the role of ECP as an add-on therapy to prevent the rebound of DSA. Methods: Lung transplant recipients who received ECP as an add-on therapy for pulmonary AMR between January 2010 and January 2019 were included in this single-center retrospective analysis. Baseline demographics of the patients, as well as their immunological characteristics and long-term transplant outcomes, were analyzed. Results: A total of 41 patients developed clinical AMR during the study period. Sixteen patients received ECP as an add-on therapy after first-line AMR treatment. Among the 16 patients, 2 (13%) had pretransplant DSA, both against human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I (B38, B13, and C06). Fifteen patients (94%) developed de novo DSA (dnDSA), i.e., 10 (63%) against class I and 14 (88%) against class II. The median time to dnDSA after lung transplantation was 361 days (range 25–2,548). According to the most recent International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) consensus report, 2 (13%) patients had definite clinical AMR, 6 (38%) had probable AMR, and 7 (44%) had possible AMR. The median mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of dnDSA at the time of clinical diagnosis was 4,220 (range 1,319–10,552) for anti-HLA class I and 10,953 (range 1,969–27,501) for anti-HLA class II antibodies. ECP was performed for a median of 14 cycles (range 1–64). MFI values of dnDSA against HLA classes I and II were significantly reduced over the treatment period (for anti-class I: 752; range 70–2,066; for anti-class II: 5,612; range 1,689–21,858). The 1-year survival rate was 55%. No adverse events related to ECP were reported in any of the patients. Conclusions: ECP is associated with a reduction of dnDSA in lung transplant recipients affected by AMR. Prospective studies are warranted to confirm the beneficial effects of ECP in the setting of AMR.

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