Peritubular capillary deposition of C4d complement fragment in ABO-incompatible renal transplantation with humoral rejection

In ABO-incompatible renal transplantation complement activation may be related to antibody-associated humoral rejection. However, immune deposits within the vasculature have been infrequently demonstrated in biopsy specimens. Whether deposition of complement fragment C4d is correlated with graft outcome and pathological findings (as measured by the severity of antibody-associated humoral rejection) is investigated in this study. Nineteen ABO-incompatible and 9 ABO-compatible renal graft biopsy specimens were selected. Four out of 19 ABO-incompatible patients lost their grafts within 1 yr. Ten out of 19 ABO-incompatible and just 1 out of 9 ABO-compatible patients, had prominent C4d deposition in peritubular capillaries. ABO-incompatible patients with predominant C4d deposition showed few tubulitis, accumulation of polymorphonuclear cells and thrombosis in peritubular and glomerular capillaries. The severity of the humoral rejection was correlated to C4d deposition in peritubular capillaries. Three out of four graft losses in ABO-incompatible renal transplantation showed severe humoral rejection and profuse deposition of C4d complement fragments in peritubular capillaries. Immunosuppression therapy was discontinued in the 4th patient, who lost his graft because of his lethal intestinal bleeding. C4d deposition in peritubular capillaries would be helpful for differential diagnosis between humoral rejection and drug-induced nephrotoxicity, and may serve as a sensitive marker of ABO-incompatible humoral rejection for patients with unsatisfactory (no glomeruli) biopsy specimens.