Autoimmune Cytopenias Following Alemtuzumab-Induced Renal Transplant: Clinical Features And Treatment Outcomes

Background: The anti-CD52 monoclonal antibody alemtuzumab (Alem) induces a rapid-onset, profound and long-lasting depletion of lymphocytes: B cells recover within 12 months, while T cell recovery is still incomplete after 30 months. Alem is used as induction therapy for solid organ transplantations, including renal. Autoimmune complications following Alem include thyroid disorders (20-30%), immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) (2-3%), and autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) and autoimmune nephropathies (< 1%).