Immunoadsorption: a novel treatment for sensitized kidney transplant candidates

Sensitized patients frequently have a positive crossmatch against kidneys available for transplant. A positive crossmatch precludes transplantation in most cases because it is usually predictive of rejection after transplant. Immunoadsorption is an extracorporeal treatment combined with immunosuppression to decrease sensitization in patients and thereby enable transplantation. This article discusses sensitization, its detection, and the benefits of immunoadsorption.