Belatacept-based immunosuppressive regimen in HIV-positive kidney transplant recipients

Kidney allograft survival in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients is lower than that in the general population. Belatacept increases long-term patient and allograft survival rates when compared with calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs). Its use in HIV-positive recipients remains poorly documented.

We retrospectively report a French cohort of HIV-positive kidney allograft recipients who were switched from CNI to belatacept, between June 2012 and December 2018. Patient and allograft survival rates, HIV immunovirological and clinical outcomes, acute rejection, opportunistic infections (OIs) and HLA donor-specific antibodies (DSAs) were analysed at 3 and 12 months, and at the end of follow-up (last clinical visit attended after transplantation). Results were compared with HIV-positive recipients group treated with CNI.

Twelve patients were switched to belatacept 10 (2-25) months after transplantation. One year after belatacept therapy, patient and allograft survival rates scored 92% for both, two (17%) HIV virological rebounds occurred due to antiretroviral therapy non-compliance, and CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T-cell counts remained stable over time. Serious adverse events included two (17%) acute steroid-resistant T-cell-mediated rejections and three (25%) OIs. Kidney allograft function significantly increased over the 12 post-switch months (P = 0.009), and DSAs remained stable at 12 months after treatment. The control group showed similar results in terms of patient and kidney allograft survival rates, DSA characteristics and proteinuria.

Switch from CNI to belatacept can be considered safe and may increase long-term kidney allograft survival in HIV-positive kidney allograft recipients. These results need to be confirmed in a larger cohort.