Results of a nationwide survey in Japan on the status of antibody-mediated rejection treatment and the use of rituximab in that treatment

Abstract

We retrospectively surveyed the status of rituximab use in treatment for antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) in Japan between 2013 and 2016 for kidney transplantation and between 2001 and 2016 for transplantation of other organs, including the liver, pancreas, heart, lung, and intestine.

Two hundred twenty-seven institutions responded. AMR developed in 493 patients who underwent kidney transplantation; 288 of those patients were treated with rituximab. AMR developed in 81 patients for liver transplantation, 4 patients for pancreas transplantation, 16 patients for heart transplantation, 22 patients for lung transplantation, and 2 patients for small intestine transplantation; rituximab was used in 18, 4, 4, 14, and 1 of those patients, respectively.

We also report on treatment details and rituximab dosage.