Introduction: Management of immunosuppression in a kidney transplant recipient with a failed allograft is complex; continuation carries infectious and metabolic risks, and discontinuation can lead to sensitization.
Methods: We evaluated risk factors for sensitization in 89 kidney or simultaneous kidney-pancreas recipients, whose kidney transplant failed after January, 2013 and who were subsequently re-evaluated for kidney transplantation.
Results: Among recipients with pre graft failure cPRA < 50%, calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) continuation (OR .11, P = .003) and steroid continuation (OR .17, P = .04) were associated with significantly lower odds of developing an absolute increase in cPRA of ≥50%. Each additional HLA mismatch was associated with OR of 2.16 (P = .02). CNI use was associated with OR of .09 (P = .001) for increase in cPRA to ≥80% if pre graft failure cPRA was <50%, and OR of .08 (P = .02) for increase in cPRA to ≥98% if pre graft cPRA was <80%. Anti-metabolites were continued more often among recipients who had a <50% increase (P = .006); however, the association was lost on multivariate analyses. Weaning off immunosuppression and higher number of HLA mismatches are associated with greater likelihood of sensitization.
Conclusion: While both CNI and steroid continuation conferred some protection against increase in cPRA, CNI continuation was the only factor protecting against becoming highly sensitized.
Keywords: PRA; calcineurin inhibitors; corticosteroids; immunosuppression; kidney transplant failure; sensitization.
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