Basiliximab as therapy for acute rejection after liver transplantation for hepatitis C virus cirrhosis

Basiliximab for the therapy of acute T cell–mediated rejection in kidney transplant recipient with BK virus infection: A case report

A 66-year-old Chinese man underwent a deceased donor kidney transplantation. Induction-immunosuppressive protocol consisted of basiliximab (BAS) and methyl prednisolone (MP), followed by maintenance immunosuppression with cyclosporin (CsA), mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), and prednisone (PED). The patient’s post-transplantation course was almost uneventful, and the graft was functioning well [serum creatinine (Scr) 2.15 mg/dL]. The MMF and CsA doses were decreased 1-month post-operative as the BK virus activation was serologically positive. His Scr was elevated to 2.45 mg/dL 45 days after the transplant. A graft biopsy showed BKV nephropathy (BKVN) and acute T cell–mediated rejection (TCMR) Banff grade IIA (I2, t2, ptc2, v1, c4d1, g0, and SV40 positive). The conventional anti-rejection therapy could deteriorate his BKVN, therefore, we administered BAS to eliminate activated graft-infiltrating T cells and combined with low-dose steroid. He responded well to the therapy after two doses of BAS were given, and the kidney graft status has been stable (recent Scr 2.1 mg/dL).

The role of biologicals in intestinal transplantation

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This article reviews the role of biologicals in intestinal transplantation.

RECENT FINDINGS

Several biologicals have been used in intestinal and multivisceral transplantation for various indications, such as induction therapy, prevention and treatment of antibody-mediated rejection, desensitization, anti-inflammatory treatment, as well as treatment of Epstein-Barr virus-associated posttransplant lymphoproliferative disease. Particularly, the administration of biologicals in induction therapy such as T-cell depleting antibodies and interleukin-2 receptor antagonists have significantly contributed to the great improvement of patient and allograft outcome. Novel biologicals, such as B-cell, plasma-cell, and complement-directed agents have been successfully applied to treat antibody and complement-driven alloimmune processes to stabilize long-term outcome. Several other inflammatory allotransplant conditions have been addressed with anti-TNF-α antibodies, such as infliximab.

SUMMARY

Biologicals have contributed significantly to the recent success of intestinal transplantation. Novel developments in this field are supposed to aid in addressing various urgent needs in intestinal transplantation, such as preimmunization, antibody and complement-induced graft injury, as well as pathologies originating from innate immune responses.

Basiliximab treatment for steroid-resistant rejection in pediatric patients following liver transplantation for acute liver failure

An IL-2 receptor antagonist, basiliximab, decreases the frequency of ACR in liver transplant (LT) recipients as induction therapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of basiliximab against SRR as rescue therapy in pediatric LT patients with ALF. Forty pediatric ALF patients underwent LT between November 2005 and July 2013. Among them, seven patients suffering from SRR were enrolled in this study. The median age at LT was 10 months (6-12 months). SRR was defined as the occurrence of refractory rejection after more than two courses of steroid pulse therapy. Basiliximab was administered to all patients. The withdrawal of steroids without deterioration of the liver function was achieved in six patients treated with basiliximab therapy without patient mortality, although one patient developed graft loss and required retransplantation for veno-occlusive disease. The pathological examinations of liver biopsies in the patients suffering from SRR revealed severe centrilobular injuries, particularly fibrosis within one month after LT. We demonstrated the effectiveness and safety of rescue therapy consisting of basiliximab for SRR in pediatric LT recipients with ALF.

Role of steroid minimization in the tacrolimus-based immunosuppressive regimen for liver transplant recipients: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective randomized controlled trials

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of early steroid withdrawal or steroid avoidance in the tacrolimus (Tac)-based immunosuppressive regimen for liver transplant recipients. According to the requirements of the Cochrane systematic review, a thorough literature search was performed in the PubMed/MEDLINE and Cochrane electronic databases between 1995 and 2011 using the key words "liver transplantation," "Tac," and "steroid free" or "steroid withdrawal," restricting articles to the English language. Data were processed for a meta-analysis by Stata 12 software. Altogether 17 prospective randomized controlled trials containing 1,980 transplanted patients were included in this study. The overall pooled RR estimates of 1-, 2-, 3-, and 5-year patient and graft survival rates were 0.985, 0.998, 0.995, and 1.100 (95 % CI 0.925-1.048, 0.934-1.067, 0.894-1.107, and 0.968-1.250, respectively), as well as 0.998, 0.993, 0.945, and 1.053, respectively (95 % CI 0.928-1.072, 0.902-1.092, 0.833-1.072, and 0.849-1.307, respectively). The other pooled RR estimates of acute rejection and chronic rejection rates for all enrolled studies were 1.077 and 0.311 (95 % CI 0.864-1.343 and 0.003-37.207). As for secondary predictors, the pooled RR estimates such as HCV recurrence, HCC recurrence, diabetes, hypertension, kidney dysfunction, bacterial infection, and CMV were 1.101, 1.403, 1.836, 1.607, 0.842, 1.096, and 2.280, respectively (95 % CI 0.964-1.257, 0.422-4.688, 1.294-2.606, 0.926-1.228, 0.693-1.022, 0.783-1.533, and 1.500-3.465, respectively). There were no differences between the steroid group and steroid-free group for all clinical observational indices except for the incidence of diabetes (p = 0.001) and CMV infection (p < 0.001). In summary, our study indicate that rapid discontinuation of steroid in the Tac-based immunosuppressive regimen may not lead to an increased risk of morbidity and rejection rate.

Basiliximab: efficacy and safety evaluation in kidney transplantation

INTRODUCTION

Basiliximab is a chimeric monoclonal antibody directed against the alpha chain of interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R). When administered intravenously at a dosage of 20 mg at the time of transplantation and 4 days later, basiliximab saturates the alpha chain of IL-2R for 4 weeks.

AREAS COVERED

This review evaluates the efficacy and safety of basiliximab in kidney transplantation. Randomized controlled trials showed that basiliximab can significantly reduce the incidence of acute rejection without increasing the risk of adverse events. When compared with other antibodies used for induction, basiliximab showed efficacy and safety profiles similar to daclizumab, another monoclonal antibody directed against the alpha chain of IL-2R. In comparison with rabbit anti-thymocyte globulins (rATG), basiliximab showed a similar efficacy. However, in patients at higher risk of rejection, rATG proved to be more effective. No serious safety problems related to basiliximab have been reported.

EXPERT OPINION

There is a solid evidence that basiliximab can significantly decrease the risk of acute rejection in kidney transplant recipients without increasing adverse events. This can allow decreased dosage or avoidance of glucocorticoids and reduced dosage of calcineurin inhibitors. On the basis of efficacy, tolerability, ease of administration, and cost effectiveness, basiliximab may be considered the drug of choice for the prophylaxis of acute rejection in standard renal transplant recipients.