Recipient parenchymal lymphatic cells are crucial for direct and indirect pathways of allorecognition. We proposed that alemtuzumab, being infused several weeks pretransplant could eradicate peripheral lymphatic cells and promote donor-specific tolerance. We present here a single center, retrospective review of 101 consecutive living-donor kidney transplantations to pediatric patients aged from seven month to 18 yr, performed between September 2006 and April 2010. Immunosupression protocol included two 30 mg doses of alemtuzumab: first given 12–29 d prior to transplantation and second at the time of transplantation. Maintenance immunosupression was based on combination of low dose and wide range CNI and mycophenolate. Patients were followed for 3.8 ± 1.4 yr and protocol biopsies were taken one month, one, and three yr post transplant. The Kaplan–Meier graft and patient survival was 96% and 97% for one yr, 89% and 93% for three yr. Biopsy proven acute rejection developed in 26% patients at one yr and in 35% at two yr, no rejections occurred beyond two yr. We conclude that alemtuzumab pretreatment prior to living related donor kidney transplantation allows to reach satisfactory middle-term results in pediatric patients with wide range and low CNI concentrations.

Recipient lymphocytes are crucial for direct and indirect pathways of allorecognition. We proposed that the administration of alemtuzumab several weeks pretransplantation could eradicate peripheral lymphatic cells and promote donor-specific acceptance. This was a single-center, retrospective review of 101 consecutive living donor kidney transplantations in pediatric patients (age 7 months-18 years), performed between September 2006 and April 2010. IS protocol included two 30 mg doses of alemtuzumab: The first was given 12-29 days prior to transplantation, and the second at the time of transplantation. Maintenance IS was based on combination of low-dose CNI and mycophenolate, with steroids tapered over the first 5 days post-transplantation. Patients were followed for 7.8±1.3 years, and protocol biopsies were taken 1 month, 1, 3, and 5 years post-transplant. The Kaplan-Meier 8-year patient and graft survival rates in the cyclosporine-treated patients were 82.0±7.3% and 71.6±7.3, and in the tacrolimus-treated patients were 97.2±5.4 and 83.8±6.0%. Biopsy-proven acute rejection developed in 35% of cyclosporine-treated patients and in 8% of tacrolimus-treated patients. Alemtuzumab pretreatment prior to LRD kidney transplantation, followed by maintenance immunosuppression with tacrolimus and MMF, is associated with reasonable long-term results in pediatric patients.

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