Successful Desensitization in a Patient with Donor-Specific Antibodies Persisting after Pretransplant Immunosuppression Using Intravenous Immunoglobulin and Plasma Exchange

Abstract

The use of posttransplant cyclophosphamide has revolutionized the field of haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplant. The impact has been especially enhanced in low- and middle-income countries. Unrelated donor pool in developing nations is often limited due to the lack of large unrelated donor registries. Donor-specific antibodies (DSAs) are preformed immunoglobulin G anti-human leukocyte antigen (HLA) antibodies against HLA antigens that are not shared with the donor. We present successful desensitization in a 13-year-old patient with class III β-thalassemia with very high MFI DSAs with flow crossmatch positivity, persisting after pretransplant immunosuppression.

Keywords

• donor-specific antibodies
• intravenous immunoglobulin
• plasma exchange