Chronic AntiBody-Mediated Rejection (cABMR) is the leading cause of late kidney transplant loss (after 1 year of kidney transplantation). Its therapeutic management is poorly codified and there is currently no treatment referring.
Extracorporeal phototherapy (ECP) is a therapeutic apheresis that involves purifying mononucleated cells in the blood, exposing them to UltraViolet A (UVA) and re-injecting them to the patient. This treatment is used as common care in the first line as part of the treatment of cutaneous T lymphoma and in the second line as part of the graft versus host reaction after bone marrow allograft.
The mechanisms underlying the action of the ECP are not well known. They are mediated by the reinjection of cells exposed to UVA which enter apoptosis and induce immunomodulation. Recent work during cABMR shows that TFH lymphocytes, the maturing population of B lymphocytes, are deregulated and activated.
The hypothesis is that ECP can modulate T Follicular Helper (TFH) lymphocytes during cABMR.
ECP treatment decision based on transplant team habits (care management)
Age ≥ 18 years
Affiliation to a French social security scheme
Kidney transplant at least 6 months prior to inclusion
Active infection or infection with hepatitis B, C or HIV virus
Pregnant, breastfeeding or parturient woman
Person deprived of liberty by judicial or administrative decision
Person receiving psychiatric care under duress
University Hospital, Angers
Lead sponsor
Therakos
Collaborator