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Alemtuzumab Induction Is Protective Against Acute Rejection in Kidney Recipients With Subtherapeutic Tacrolimus Concentrations

K. Szempruch, R.-A. Lee, R. Dupuis, J. Deyo, T. Kozlowski.

Transplant Surgery, University of North Carolina Hospitals, Chapel Hill, NC.

Meeting: 2015 American Transplant Congress

Abstract number: D167

Keywords: FK506, Induction therapy, Monitoring, Rejection

Session Information

Session Name: Poster Session D: Kidney: Acute Rejection

Session Type: Poster Session

Date: Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Session Time: 5:30pm-6:30pm

 Presentation Time: 5:30pm-6:30pm

Location: Exhibit Hall E

Purpose: To determine the effect of attaining early therapeutic tacrolimus (TAC) trough concentrations on biopsy-proven acute rejection (BPAR) within 12 months post-transplantation in adult kidney recipients receiving alemtuzumab induction, mycophenolate, and steroid-free regimen.

Methods: TAC levels were retrospectively collected from 327 recipients from 2009 to 2014. Exclusion criteria were second transplant, thymoglobulin or basiliximab induction, and cyclosporine or sirolimus use within 6 months post-transplantation. Time points included day of discharge, week 1-4, and month 3, 6, and 12. Recipients were divided into two groups: those with at least one episode of BPAR and those without BPAR. Target TAC levels were 8-10 ng/mL at 0-4 months and 6-8 ng/mL at 5-12 months.

Results: Recipients meeting criteria with at least one episode of BPAR (n=28) and without BPAR (n=190) had similar demographics, except for Caucasian ethnicity (25% BPAR vs 54.2% no BPAR; p=0.01) and focal glomerulosclerosis etiology (32.1% vs 14.8%; p=0.02). Time to discharge was 6 ± 3 days. BPAR episodes within 12 months (median 5.3; range 3.8-9.9 months) were 6.9% (n=15). Mean TAC level within 30 days prior to first BPAR episode for the first 12 months was 6.3 ± 2.7 ng/mL. Mean TAC levels were significantly different between BPAR and no BPAR recipients on day of discharge, week 1, and week 4 and reached target level by week 2 (Table 1). Mean TAC levels had no association with the incidence of opportunistic infections or urinary tract infections at any time points.

  BPAR Recipients No BPAR Recipients  
Time post-transplant Mean concentration, ng/mL (SD) Mean concentration, ng/mL (SD) p-value
Day of discharge 4.8 (2) 6.2 (3) <0.001
Week 1 4.6 (1.6) 5.4 (2.5) 0.042
Week 2 8.3 (4.7) 8.8 (3.5) 0.616
Week 3 8.7 (3.3) 9.4 (3) 0.328
Week 4 8.3 (1.8) 9.2 (2.6) 0.048
Table 1. TAC levels post-transplant

Conclusion: Early mean TAC levels in both groups were below the recommended target range. This suggests alemtuzumab has a protective effect on acute rejection within the first 12 months post-transplantation despite subtherapeutic TAC levels within the first 2 weeks. Discharging recipients post-transplant prior to reaching target TAC level does not appear to impact acute rejection.

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To cite this abstract in AMA style:

Szempruch K, Lee R-A, Dupuis R, Deyo J, Kozlowski T. Alemtuzumab Induction Is Protective Against Acute Rejection in Kidney Recipients With Subtherapeutic Tacrolimus Concentrations [abstract]. Am J Transplant. 2015; 15 (suppl 3). https://atcmeetingabstracts.com/abstract/alemtuzumab-induction-is-protective-against-acute-rejection-in-kidney-recipients-with-subtherapeutic-tacrolimus-concentrations/. Accessed May 9, 2025.

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