[Importance of anti-idiotype antibodies in candidates for a renal graft]

Anti-idiotypes antibodies neutralize, some T lymphocytes clones, others cytotoxic antibodies carrying corresponding idiotypes. Anti-idiotypes antibodies are found in about 45% of patients with chronic renal failure which have received blood transfusions. Some antibodies favourize the kidney graft tolerance, others at the contrary augment the rejection reaction. It is possible to detect antibodies which protect graft by relatively simple and rapid technics. This research merits to be added to the classic cross match. When donor and recipient study reveals a positive cross match with an ancient serum and a negative cross match with an actual serum, the absence of protective antibodies is a contra-indication for kidney graft, but their presence authorize the transplantation.