De novo donor specific antibody (dnDSA) development with tacrolimus versus Belatacept based regimens in kidney transplant recipients.

PURPOSE: Belatacept has been associated with less de novo specific antibody (dnDSA) development, but few publications have compared the incidence of dnDSA development between tacrolimus and belatacept-based immunosuppression regimens. The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in dnDSA development and clinical outcomes between these two maintenance regimens in kidney transplant. METHODS: This was a retrospective, single center, cohort study of patients transplanted between 2013 and 2019 who received a de novo belatacept or tacrolimus-based immunosuppression regimen. The primary outcome was the incidence of dnDSA development (MFI ≥ 1000) at 36 months. Secondary outcomes included renal function, biopsy proven rejection (BPAR), and patient/graft survival. RESULTS: Ninety patients met inclusion criteria. The primary outcome occurred in 4 (8.9 %) belatacept patients and 6 (13.3 %) tacrolimus patients, with an overall median time to dnDSA of 300 days (p = 0.51). Class II dnDSA development occurred in 3 (6.7 %) belatacept patients and 6 (13.3 %) tacrolimus patients. Belatacept patients had a lower, but not significantly different, rate of developing BPAR (4.4 % vs 13.3 %, p = 0.13) and had superior renal function at 36 months (median 66 ml/min vs 53 ml/min, p < 0.01). Overall, there was excellent patient/graft survival at 36 months post-transplant. CONCLUSION: De novo belatacept use did not result in a statistically significant difference in the development of dnDSAs but did show a numerically lower class II dnDSA and BPAR development. Overall, belatacept was associated with improved renal function as compared to tacrolimus-based regimens.

Duke Scholars

Author Scott L Sanoff Medicine, Nephrology

Author Goni Katz-Greenberg Medicine, Nephrology

Author Alaattin Erkanli Biostatistics & Bioinformatics, Division of Biostatistics