Abstract
We undertook a study to ascertain the relationship between the presence of CD20-positive B-lymphocytes in renal allografts undergoing acute cellular rejection and graft survival. We identified 27 patients transplanted between January 1, 1998 and December 31, 2001, with biopsy-proven Banff 1-A or Banff 1-B rejection in the first year after transplantation, and stained the specimens for CD20 and C4d. At least 4 years of follow-up data were available for each patient studied. Six patients had CD20-positive B-cell clusters in the interstitium, and 21 patients were negative for CD20 infiltrates. The CD20-positive group was significantly more likely to have steroid-resistant rejection and reduced graft survival compared to CD20-negative controls. This study supports prospective identification of CD20-positive B-cell clusters in biopsy-proven rejection and offers a therapeutic rationale for a trial of monoclonal anti-CD20 antibody in such patients.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 2248-2252 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | American Journal of Transplantation |
Volume | 5 |
Issue number | 9 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Sep 2005 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- B-cells
- Biopsy
- Graft survival
- Kidney transplantation
- Rejection
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Immunology and Allergy
- Transplantation
- Pharmacology (medical)