Preserved Renal-Allograft Function and the PD-1 Pathway Inhibitor Nivolumab

Abstract

To the Editor: Inhibition of immune checkpoints with the use of antibodies targeting programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) or monoclonal antibodies against cytotoxic T-lymphocyte–associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) has been used clinically in patients with various types of cancer. In the limited number of reported cases in which these antibodies have been used in patients who have undergone kidney transplantation,1 these agents have been associated with cell-mediated and antibody-mediated rejection (see Table S2 in the Supplementary Appendix, available with the full text of this letter at NEJM.org). We report on a patient who received a renal transplant from a living related donor. . . .