The use of belatacept in kidney transplantation

Abstract

Background. Kidney transplantation efficacy is limited by immunosuppression nephrotoxicity, antibody-mediated and chronic rejection. Avoiding immunosuppression nephrotoxicity is a promising strategy to improve long term outcomes. Belatacept, a synthetic immunoglobulin which blocks CD28-B7 pathway of T-lymphocyte costimulation, is considered as an alternative to calcineurin inhibitors in maintenance immunosuppression since it has no nephrotoxicity. Purpose: to evaluate belatacept efficacy and safety for maintenance immunosuppression therapy after kidney transplantatin based on the clinical experience.Material and methods. From March 2017 to May 2018, we used belatacept in five kidney transplant recipients (one female and four males aged from 4 to 21 years) in the Kidney Transplantation Department of Petrovsky National Research Centre of Surgery Three kidneys were taken from related living donors, two kidney grafts were from deceased donors. Conversion from CNI to belatacept was performed between 6 and 112 month after transplantation. Patients were followed-up for average 12 months after conversion. We have described here these five cases, providing individual indications and the outcome of conversion.Results. The conversion failed in two children switched to belatacept with the purpose to improve compliance. Three patients switched to belatacept because of tacrolimus toxicity demonstrated good results in one year follow up.Conclusion. Belatacept demonstrated good results if was used instead of calcineurin inhibitors when the latter were poorly tolerated. The use of belatacept in multidrug immunosuppression in noncompliant patients was ineffective.