ObjectiveTo observe the clinical effect of Rituximab combined with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) in preventing blood group antibody mediated rejection (AMR) in pediatric ABO incompatible living donor liver transplantation (ABOi-LDLT).MethodsA total of 503 cases of pediatric living donor liver transplantation in Beijing Friendship Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University from June 2013 to December 2020 were retrospectively collected; the overall survival of recipient and graft were compared between ABOi-LDLT and ABO compatible living donor liver transplantation (ABOc-LDLT), and we summarized the data of AMR in 7 cases received Rituximab+IVIG protocol.ResultsThere were 53 cases of ABOi-LDLT and 450 cases of ABOc-LDLT in our study. The 5-year cumulative survival rate of recipients and grafts was 98.0% and 96.0% in the ABOi-LDLT group respectively, and in ABOc-LDLT group was 92.2% and 89.1% respectively, there was no significant difference between the two groups (P=0.232, P=0.381）. Seven children with blood group antibody titer >1∶64 were included in the study. On the basis of classical intensive immunosuppressive therapy, all patients were treated with Rituximab+IVIG. The blood group antibody titer of 6 patients remained stable, and no rejection occurred; one patient developed severe AMR and graft failure, and recovered after salvage treatment of ABOc-LDLT.ConclusionRituximab+IVIG can be used as an effective therapeutic option to prevent blood group AMR after ABOi-LDLT.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of perioperative intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) on the reduction of blood group antibody titer and prognosis in children with ABO incompatible (ABO-I) liver transplantation.MethodsA retrospective study was conducted in 20 children undergoing ABO-I liver transplantation in Beijing Friendship Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University from July 2017 to March 2020. The changes of blood group antibody titer, alanine aminotransferase, and total bilirubin before and after operation, as well as survival rate were analyzed after intravenous IVIG during perioperative period.ResultsAfter ABO-I liver transplantation, the 1-year survival rate of 20 patients was 100%, and 1 case (5%) developed immune rejection. Compared with before operation, on the day of operation, IgM blood group antibody titer did not change in 4 cases (20%), increased in 1 case (5%), and decreased in 15 cases (75%); in one week after operation: 12 cases (60%) decreased, 5 cases (25%) increased, and 3 cases (15%) remained unchanged; in one month after operation: 18 cases (90%) decreased , 2 cases (10%) remained unchanged. Compared with before operation, the titer of IgG blood group antibody increased in 2 cases (10%), remained unchanged in 6 cases (30%), and decreased in 12 cases (60%); in one week after operation: 4 cases (20%) increased, 4 cases (20%) remained unchanged, and 12 cases (60%) decreased; in one month after operation: 3 cases (15%) increased, 4 cases (20%) remained unchanged, and 13 cases (65%) decreased. The levels of alanine aminotransferase and total bilirubin in 1 month after operation were lower than those on the day of operation.ConclusionThe effect of IVIG on reducing blood group antibody titer in children after ABO-I liver transplantation is not obvious, and its actual clinical effect needs to befurther confirmed.