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Evaluation of Desensitization Protocols in HLA-incompatible Kidney-transplant Candidates

Not Applicable
Terminated
Conditions
End-stage Renal Disease
Kidney Transplantation
Hla-incompatible Kidney Transplant Candidates
Interventions
Drug: visits of tocilizumab injection (every 4 weeks, up to 5 visits)
Other: Transplant Day-0
Registration Number
NCT03507348
Lead Sponsor
University Hospital, Grenoble
Brief Summary

Kidney transplantation is the best renal-replacement in the setting of end-stage renal disease. However, some transplant candidates have developed anti-HLA alloantibodies (human leukocyte antigen). When they are numerous and when their strength assessed by mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) is high it is very complicated to find-out a suitable kidney allograft against which the recipient has a negative cross-match. In such a case the only hope for the patient is desensitization therapy, whereby the treatment will decrease anti-HLA alloantibodies below a threshold, i.e. MFI \< 3,000, enabling kidney transplantation without risking antibody-mediated rejection. Desensitization relies on i) apheresis technics in order to withdraw circulating anti-HLA antibodies, and ii) immunosuppression, i.e. rituximab or tocilizumab, targeting B-lymphocytes, and tacrolimus/mycophenolic acid/steroids targeting T-cells. The type of apheresis is guided by the pre-desensitization MFI of anti-HLA alloantibodies, e.g. double filtration plasmapheresis or semispecific immunoadsorption. Likely the choice between rituximab and tocilizumab depends also on predesensitization anti-HLA antibody MFIs. At the end of the desensitization process, the patient will be able to get a kidney transplant either from a live-donor or from a deceased donor.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
TERMINATED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
8
Inclusion Criteria
  • Patients on the kidney transplant list, waiting for a first or repeat transplant
  • Presence of anti HLA antibodies either class I and/or II
  • Sensitized against a potential living donor or have been on the waiting list for at least 3 years and having no potential live-donor
  • Patients eligible for desensitization will receive either rituximab alone, or rituximab plus apheresis, or tocilizumab before rituximab
  • Normal recent (<6 months) cardiac workup
  • Vaccinated against pneumococcus and meningococcus B and C
  • Willingness of the patient to undergo the desensitization process and Express consent of the patient
  • for women of childbearing age, effective contraception or abstinence
  • Affiliated to a social security scheme or of such a scheme
Exclusion Criteria
  • Active underlying infections or neoplasia
  • Pregnant women, parturient or breastfeeding
  • Subject in exclusion period of another study
  • Subject under administrative or judicial control
  • Subject who cannot be contacted in an emergency
  • Rituximab contra indication: hypersensitivity (to active substance or murine protein), active and severe infections, patients in a severely immunocompromised state, severe heart failure or severe, uncontrolled cardiac disease.
  • Tocilizumab contra indication: hypersensitivity, active and severe infections. Apheresis contra indication: active and severe infection, untreated or instable coagulation disorders, unstable coronary disease, recent stroke, hemodynamic instability.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Desensitization with Tocilizumab and rituximab (MFI >15000)visits of tocilizumab injection (every 4 weeks, up to 5 visits)-
Desensitization with Tocilizumab and rituximab (MFI >15000)Rituximab 375 mg/m2 at Day-30-
Desensitization with Tocilizumab and rituximab (MFI >15000)Transplant Day-0-
Desensitization with Rituximab only (MFI<15000)Rituximab 375 mg/m2 at Day-30-
Desensitization with Rituximab only (MFI<15000)Rituximab 375 mg/m2 at Day-15 (only for donors living)-
Desensitization with Rituximab only (MFI<15000)Transplant Day-0-
Desensitization with Tocilizumab and rituximab (MFI >15000)Rituximab 375 mg/m2 at Day-15 (only for donors living)-
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Description of the results of the strategy of desensitization in patients who will access to kidney transplantation from deceased or living donors.at day 1 start of desensitization, at day 0 of Graft

Decrease of MFI for highest donor-specific alloantibody (DSA) between start and end of desensitization for every patient in each category

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Desensitization efficacy with regards to DSA decrease and kidney transplantationDay-198, at day-30 Graft, at day-15, at day0 of Graft,

MFI for highest DSAs for each group

impairment of DSA synthesisDay-198, at day-30 Graft, at day-15, at day0 of Graft,

Decrease in peripheral plasma cells and plasmablasts of \>50%

Impairment of immune responseDay-198, at day-30 Graft, at day-15, at day0 of Graft,

Decrease in complement factors of \>25%

Incidence of treatment desensitization protocols, emergent adverse events (safety and Tolerability)Day-198, at day-30 Graft, at day-15

Emergent adverse events to the desensitization therapy will be carefully monitored during the treatment period and within the following three months.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Grenoble Alpes University Hospital

🇫🇷

La Tronche, France

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