ATC Abstracts

American Transplant Congress abstracts

  • Home
  • Meetings Archive
    • 2022 American Transplant Congress
    • 2021 American Transplant Congress
    • 2020 American Transplant Congress
    • 2019 American Transplant Congress
    • 2018 American Transplant Congress
    • 2017 American Transplant Congress
    • 2016 American Transplant Congress
    • 2015 American Transplant Congress
    • 2013 American Transplant Congress
  • Keyword Index
  • Resources
    • 2021 Resources
    • 2016 Resources
      • 2016 Welcome Letter
      • ATC 2016 Program Planning Committees
      • ASTS Council 2015-2016
      • AST Board of Directors 2015-2016
    • 2015 Resources
      • 2015 Welcome Letter
      • ATC 2015 Program Planning Committees
      • ASTS Council 2014-2015
      • AST Board of Directors 2014-2015
      • 2015 Conference Schedule
  • Search

Extended Experience Using Tocilizumab (Anti-IL6R, TCZ) for the Treatment of Chronic Antibody Mediated Rejection (CABMR)

J. Choi,1 O. Aubert,2 S. Louie,1 N. Ammerman,1 A. Vo,1 A. Peng,1 E. Huang,1 R. Najjar,1 D. Puliyanda,1 S. Sethi,1 M. Haas,1 K. Lim,1 A. Loupy,2 S. Jordan.1

1Comprehensive Transplant Center, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
2Paris Translational Center for Organ Transplantation, Paris, France.

Meeting: 2018 American Transplant Congress

Abstract number: 206

Keywords: Alloantibodies, Highly-sensitized, Kidney transplantation, Rejection

Session Information

Session Name: Concurrent Session: Kidney Chronic Antibody Mediated Rejection

Session Type: Concurrent Session

Date: Monday, June 4, 2018

Session Time: 2:30pm-4:00pm

 Presentation Time: 2:54pm-3:06pm

Location: Room 4B

Introduction: Disruption of the IL-6/IL-6R pathways may have benefits in treating allograft rejection. We reported our experience with anti-IL-6R (TCZ) as a treatment for CABMR (AJT 2017; 17: 2381-2389). CABMR is a complication of pre-existing donor specific antibodies (preDSAs) (Type 1) or de novo (dnDSAs) (Type 2). There are limited options for prevention & treatment of CABMR+TG. Patients who develop CABMR+TG have a poor prognosis with graft failure & return to dialysis. Here we report on our extended experience with TCZ for CABMR+TG. Methods: Since 4/2011 we identified 65 patients including those with CABMR+TG, DSA+ and/or AT1R ab+. TCZ treatment was pursued after other treatments had failed. Briefly, after diagnosis of CABMR, patients received TCZ 4-8mg/kg monthly for 3-37 doses & were followed up to 6 years from TCZ initiation. Patients were monitored for DSAs using Luminex, AT1Rab (ELISA), renal function, patient/graft survival and repeat biopsies (#11) by Banff criteria. Results: The mean time from transplant to TCZ treatment was 5.39±4.3 years & mean time from CABMR diagnosis to treatment was 1.37+1.62 years. Immunodominant (iDSA) levels tended to decrease after therapy (t0: 12,967±20000, t12M: 9180±6682,t36M: 3829±6001MFI) (p=NS). Mean eGFRs were 53.18±34.61ml/min at 0M vs. 50.43±36.37ml/min at 24M. Graft survival was compared to a standard (SOC) group (39-non concurrent CABMR patients) treated with IVIg + rituximab +/- PLEX. At 6 years, 92.6% of TCZ patients have functioning grafts v. 53.3% in SOC (p=0.0005). Two deaths in the TCZ group. Pre- & post-TCZ biopsies at mean of 29.5±18.7M from pre-biopsy showed significant reductions in g+ptc scores compared to biopsy at diagnosis. Conclusions: With extended follow-up, CABMR & TG patients treated with TCZ continue to show long term stabilization of renal function and graft survival in a population where poorer outcomes would be expected.

CITATION INFORMATION: Choi J., Aubert O., Louie S., Ammerman N., Vo A., Peng A., Huang E., Najjar R., Puliyanda D., Sethi S., Haas M., Lim K., Loupy A., Jordan S. Extended Experience Using Tocilizumab (Anti-IL6R, TCZ) for the Treatment of Chronic Antibody Mediated Rejection (CABMR) Am J Transplant. 2017;17 (suppl 3).

  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print

To cite this abstract in AMA style:

Choi J, Aubert O, Louie S, Ammerman N, Vo A, Peng A, Huang E, Najjar R, Puliyanda D, Sethi S, Haas M, Lim K, Loupy A, Jordan S. Extended Experience Using Tocilizumab (Anti-IL6R, TCZ) for the Treatment of Chronic Antibody Mediated Rejection (CABMR) [abstract]. https://atcmeetingabstracts.com/abstract/extended-experience-using-tocilizumab-anti-il6r-tcz-for-the-treatment-of-chronic-antibody-mediated-rejection-cabmr/. Accessed May 13, 2025.

« Back to 2018 American Transplant Congress

Visit Our Partner Sites

American Transplant Congress (ATC)

Visit the official site for the American Transplant Congress »

American Journal of Transplantation

The official publication for the American Society of Transplantation (AST) and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS) »

American Society of Transplantation (AST)

An organization of more than 3000 professionals dedicated to advancing the field of transplantation. »

American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS)

The society represents approximately 1,800 professionals dedicated to excellence in transplantation surgery. »

Copyright © 2013-2025 by American Society of Transplantation and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons. All rights reserved.

Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Cookie Preferences