A New Treatment Option for Highly Sensitized Patients Awaiting Kidney Transplantation
Sensitization to HLA antigens occurs primarily through blood transfusion, pregnancy, and previous organ transplantation and limits patients’ access to kidney transplantation, as well as the success of the transplant. Sensitized patients with potential living donor candidates may be unable to receive a transplant because they are cross-match incompatible. The waiting time for deceased donor organs is typically very long for sensitized patients; many may never receive a transplant due to removal from or death while on the waiting list.