Clinical relevance of human leukocyte antigen antibodies in kidney transplantation from deceased donors: the North Italy Transplant program approach

Hum Immunol. 2009 Aug;70(8):631-5. doi: 10.1016/j.humimm.2009.06.006. Epub 2009 Jun 12.

Abstract

At the North Italy Transplant Program (NITp) Reference Center, which is responsible for pre- and posttransplant immunological evaluation and organ allocation, the sera of patients who enter the kidney waiting list are analyzed with complement dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) and a microbead array technique (Luminex). At present, the NITp waiting list includes 2543 patients. The rate of patients with a percentage panel-reactive antibody (PRA) > or =30 with CDC is about 8%; among them, 1% exhibits a %PRA > or =85. Furthermore, 14% of patients have antibodies detectable only with Luminex. The overall 5-year graft survival in the period 1997-2008 is 85%, whereas that of individuals with a CDC %PRA > or =30 is 80.1% (p = 0.0355). A retrospective analysis on the effect of Luminex-detected anti-human leukocyte antigen (HLA) antibodies has suggested that there is a posttransplant immunological response in Luminex-positive patients that can slowly produce kidney damage. Here we present the NITp current policy for the screening and identification of anti-HLA antibodies in relation to kidney allocation algorithm and the authors' view on some aspects of discussion.

MeSH terms

  • Cadaver
  • Complement System Proteins / immunology
  • Complement System Proteins / metabolism
  • Cytotoxicity, Immunologic
  • Desensitization, Immunologic
  • Graft Rejection / diagnosis*
  • Graft Rejection / immunology*
  • Graft Rejection / prevention & control
  • Graft Survival / immunology
  • HLA Antigens / immunology*
  • Histocompatibility Testing / methods*
  • Humans
  • Immunosorbent Techniques*
  • Isoantibodies / blood
  • Isoantibodies / immunology*
  • Italy
  • Kidney Transplantation*
  • Microspheres
  • Monitoring, Physiologic
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Program Evaluation
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Tissue Donors
  • Tissue and Organ Procurement
  • Transplantation Conditioning
  • Waiting Lists

Substances

  • HLA Antigens
  • Isoantibodies
  • Complement System Proteins