Nuove prospettive terapeutiche per il trapianto di rene: la fotochemioterapia extracorporea ECP nel trapianto di rene

Since 1960, in the post-transplant follow-up, we used different classes of immunosuppressive drugs. Each is assessed on its effectiveness in preventing rejection but also by the many side effects induced by prolonged treatment. In order to reduce these side effects is becoming increasingly clear the importance of continuous development of knowledge and medical technology to create cutting-edge therapies in the field, and in this perspective raises the extracorporeal photochemotherapy (ECP). The ECP is an immunomodulatory therapy approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration in 1988 for the treatment of advanced forms of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). The ECP is a useful therapeutic tool for the development of an immunomodulation supported by CD8+ clone-specific cytotoxic lymphocytes. The T-cells, targets of ECP, are modified by the event of photoactivation and seems to develop a marked immunogenicity with no suppression of the immune response. Recent studies suggest a possible utility of ECP in the treatment of glomerulonephritis and in countering the rejection in a number of organ transplants, including the kidney.