PREPARATION OF HIGHLY HLA-SENSITIZED PATIENT FOR HEART TRANSPLANTATION: FIRST DOCUMENTED CASE IN CROATIA

Prisutnost antitijela na ljudske leukocitne antigene (Human Leukocyte Antigens – HLA) je značajan terapijski izazov u transplantaciji organa. Senzibiliziranost (Panel Reactive Antibody – PRA >10%) primatelja transplantiranog srca povezana je s nastankom niza kliničkih sindroma koji utječu na kratkotrajno, a moguće i na dugotrajno preživljenje bolesnika. Prikazujemo slučaj modulacije imunog sustava u pripremi za transplantaciju srca visoko senzibilizirane bolesnice. Prema našem saznanju, to je prvi slučaj provedene terapije desenzibilizacije u transplantaciji solidnih organa na području Republike Hrvatske. Bolesnici je zbog dekompenzirane primarne dilatativne kardiomiopatije ugrađen sustav za potporu lijeve klijetke kako bi preživjela do transplantacije srca. Obradom za listu za transplantaciju dijagnosticirana je gljivična pneumonija i visoki stupanj senzibilizacije na HLA (PRA 97%). Protokol desenzibilizacije uključivao je mikofenolatmofetil, takrolimus, terapijske plazmafereze i imunoglobuline uz ranije uključenu antifungalnu terapiju. Navedenim smo postupkom smanjili PRA na svega 6%. Nažalost, tijekom sljedećih nekoliko tjedana nije nađen odgovarajući davatelj, te je bolesnica umrla zbog multiorganskog zatajenja. Izbjegavanje nastanka alosenzibilizacije ranom transplantacijom, izbjegavanjem transfuzija, upotrebom koncentrata eritrocita sa smanjenim brojem leukocita izuzetno je važno kod potencijalnih primatelja transplantiranih organa kako bi se smanjilo vrijeme čekanja na adekvatan organ, mogućnost razvoja brojnih komplikacija i smanjilo smrtnost bolesnika.The presence of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) poses a significant therapeutic challenge in solid organ transplantation. Sensitized patients (panel reactive antibody, PRA >10%) receiving a heart transplant are at an increased risk of developing several clinical syndromes that influence short-term, and possibly also long-term patient survival. We present a case of immune system modulation in a highly sensitized patient awaiting heart transplantation. To our knowledge, this is the first case of desensitization therapy in solid organ transplantation done in Croatia. The patient with decompensated primary dilated cardiomyopathy received left ventricular assist device as a bridge to heart transplantation. Pre-transplantation evaluation revealed the presence of fungal pneumonia and high sensitization to HLA antibodies (PRA 97%). Desensitization protocol consisted of mycophenolate mofetil, tacrolimus, intravenous immune globulin and preoperative plasmapheresis along with previously initiated antifungal therapy. We withheld the application of rituximab until after resolution of pneumonia, but our protocol lowered PRA to 6% even without it. Unfortunately, during the next several weeks, a suitable donor was not found and our patient died form multiorgan failure. Avoidance of allosensitization by early referral to transplantation center, early transplantation, and avoidance of transfusions are very important when treating a potential transplant recipient. In this way, waiting time to ransplantation, development of posttransplantation complications and mortality are reduced