Long-term unexpected consequence of two kidney transplants with full-match grafts: a report of two cases

HLA typing is the cornerstone of kidney transplantation. Here, we present two full-match kidney transplants with early uneventful course but late c4d-mediated rejection and recurrent pauce-immune necrotizing crescentic glomerulonephritis, as each in one. Case 1: A 49 years old Caucasian female patient, received a six-matched cadaveric kidney and had nonspecific changes in 6th and 12th month protocol biopsies. The first and third year serum creatinin value was 1.8 and 2.0 mg/dl. Immunosuppressive drugs were gradually reduced due to recurrent infections at the 3rd year. She admitted with allograft dysfunction and serum creatinin 5.8 mg/dl. Kidney biopsy of graft dysfunction at the 4th year was diagnosed C4d-mediated rejection. Case 2: A 61 years old Caucasian female patient received a HLA-identical kidney 8.5 years ago from her sibling had a primary vasculitis mediated necrotizing crescentic glomerulonephritis. Her serum creatinin values in the 1st and 8th years were 1.3 and 1.7 mg/dl. In recent years, immunosuppressive dosage has been gradually reduced due to recurrent lower respiratory tract infections. She admitted with hematuria, purpuric rash, dyspnea. and serum creatinin 5.7 mg/dl. Renal biopsy revealed necrotizing crescentic glomerulonephritis. The patient was treated with pulse steroid, double filtration plasmapheresis and rituximab. She is being followed with a functioning graft and with serum creatinin 2.0 mg/dl. In case of recurrent infection, immunosuppressive drugs should be modified cautiously even in patients with full-match grafts to prevent late acute rejection or recurrence of the primary disease.