Therapeutic apheresis in kidney AB0 incompatible transplantation

Desensitization strategies to safely perform ABO incompatible living donor kidney transplantations are various and still evolving. Given the successful outcome of the majority of the approaches, the current trend is focused on a minimization of treatments. Based on this consideration, the evolution at a single Center of the desensitization protocol is herein described. Starting from 2010, 58 AB0 incompatible living donor kidney transplantations were performed at the University-Hospital of Padua. Over the years, the initial desensitization strategy with rituximab single-dose induction, pre-and post-transplant plasmapheresis and CMV-specific immunoglobulin administration has been shifted to a minimized approach, omitting post-transplant antibody removal in 25 cases. The results of such reduction in post-transplant antibody removal did not affect the outcome of AB0-incompatible kidney transplants, with a reduction in costs and hospitalization.