Monocyte-mediated acute renal rejection after combined treatment with preoperative Campath-1H (alemtuzumab) and postoperative immunosuppression

Ann Clin Lab Sci. 2004 Spring;34(2):209-13.

Abstract

Campath-1H (alemtuzumab), a humanized monoclonal antibody against CD52, can cause more profound depletion of lymphocytes than monocytes. The resultant imbalance of lymphocytes and monocytes after Campath-1H treatment of a renal-transplant recipient may lead to an acute rejection dominated by monocytes. We report such a case of acute transplant rejection in a 49-yr-old man who received a living non-related kidney transplant and was treated with preoperative Campath-1H and postoperative immunosuppression. An initial post-transplant renal biopsy showed diffuse mild acute rejection with 95% CD68-positive monocytes, but only 5% CD3-positive T lymphocytes. Inflammatory cells in the renal biopsy were negative for CD34 and CD1a stains, suggesting non-involvement of CD34-derived dendritic cells in the acute rejection. After steroid treatment for 2 wk, the patient's serum creatinine concentration diminished to 1.5 mg/dl. The histopathological features of acute rejection were absent in a second biopsy of the transplanted kidney. In summary, this case is an instance of monocyte-mediated acute rejection of a transplanted kidney.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Alemtuzumab
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antibodies, Neoplasm / therapeutic use*
  • Antigens, CD / blood
  • Antigens, CD / immunology
  • Antigens, CD34 / blood
  • Antigens, CD34 / immunology
  • Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / blood
  • Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / immunology
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / blood
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / immunology
  • CD52 Antigen
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Glycoproteins / blood
  • Glycoproteins / immunology
  • Graft Rejection / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Kidney Transplantation*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Monocytes / immunology*
  • Monocytes / physiology
  • Mycophenolic Acid / analogs & derivatives*
  • Mycophenolic Acid / therapeutic use
  • Postoperative Care
  • Prednisone / therapeutic use
  • Preoperative Care

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antibodies, Neoplasm
  • Antigens, CD
  • Antigens, CD34
  • Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic
  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • CD52 Antigen
  • CD52 protein, human
  • CD68 antigen, human
  • Glycoproteins
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Alemtuzumab
  • Mycophenolic Acid
  • Prednisone