Clinical Relevance of Pre- and Post-Transplant HLA Antibodies, Donor-specific, and Nondonor-specific HLA Antibodies Detected by ELISA in Renal Transplantation.

Lee PC, Chen YL, Wang WM, Tu WC, Chen HY.

Clinical Transplants 2013, Chapter 46

Abstract

Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) antibodies reactive to donor antigens (DSA) and non-donor specific antigens (NDSA) were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to determine their impact on long-term graft survival. Among 162 patients who had no pre-transplant HLA antibodies, 5-year graft survival was 87%. There was a significant difference compared with 72% for 18 patients who had pre-transplant HLA antibodies (p=0.031). There was a significant difference in graft survival between patients with pre-transplant NDSA and those without HLA antibodies (p=0.0005), but there was not between patients with pre-transplant DSA and those without HLA antibodies (p=0.615). Among 148 patients who had no post-transplant HLA antibodies, 5-year graft survival was 86%. There was no significant difference compared with 85% for 32 patients who had post-transplant HLA antibodies (p=0.118). There was a significant difference in graft survival between patients with post-transplant DSA and those without HLA antibodies (p=0.006), but there was not between patients with post-transplant NDSA and those without HLA antibodies (p=0.599). In conclusion, pre-transplant NDSA and post-transplant DSA were associated with poor long-term graft survival. For patients who had persistent pre- and post-transplant HLA antibodies, the worst long-term survival could be found. We believe HLA antibody analysis by ELISA is still very useful for transplantation.