Author Interviews, Kidney Disease, NEJM, Transplantation / 04.08.2017
IgG Endopeptidase Has Potential To Reduce Kidney Transplant Rejection
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Stanley C. Jordan, M.D
Director, Division of Nephrology
Medical Director, Kidney Transplant Program
Medical Director, Human Leukocyte Antigen and Transplant Immunology Laboratory
Cedars-Sinai, Los Angeles, CA
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Response: The background for this study is as follows: Patients who are highly HLA sensitized have antibodies to transplant targets create an immunologic barrier to transplant. Currently, there are no approved therapies for elimination of these antibodies. Desensitization is available but is not always successful and most desensitized patients are still transplanted with a positive crossmatch. Thus, many patients are not able to receive life-saving kidney transplants unless newer therapies to remove antibodies are found.
The findings of our study published in the New England Journal of Medicine revealed that the use of the enzyme from streptococcal pyogenes called IdeS® (IgG endopeptidase) is very effective in eliminating donor specific antibodies and allowing transplantation to occur. Antibodies were eliminated from one week up to two months after one treatment with Ides® allowing a safe environment for the transplant to occur. Rejections episodes did occur in some of the patients but were generally mild and easily treatable. Only one patient of 25 lost his allograft during the study. Thus, the study shows promising results for a new approach for elimination of pathogenic antibodies that did not exist before.
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