Effect of Angiotensin II Receptor Type 1 Antibodies on Kidney Allograft Function

Non-human leukocyte antigen antibodies are an independent risk factor for acute rejection in kidney transplant recipients. Among them, angiotensin II receptor type 1 (ART1) antibodies can induce various effects, but their clinical importance in kidney transplant recipients has not been properly explained. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of ART1 antibodies on allograft function and hypertension in stable kidney transplant recipients.

Eighty-one kidney recipients from non- human leukocyte antigen antibodies-matched donors with stable allograft function were examined for estimated glomerular filtration rate (Chronic Kidney Disease-Epidemiology Collaboration formula) and ART1 antibodies (measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method). The result was considered positive if the anti-ART1 level was greater than 17 U/mL.

The mean age of the participant was 51.1 ± 11.9 years with the mean time from transplantation was 83.5 ± 6.5 months. Fifteen recipients (18.5%) had a high ART1 antibodies level. Those with low titers of ART1 antibodies had better allograft function. The mean estimated glomerular filtration rate was 63.0 ± 13.7 mL/min in those with low ART1 antibodies and 42.3 ± 13.9 mL/min in those with high ART1 antibodies (P < .001). There were no significant correlation between high ART1 antibodies levels and hypertension, cause of end-stage renal disease, age, sex, transplant and dialysis duration, cytomegalovirus infection, antihypertensive medication, or immunosuppressive agents.

A high level of ART1 antibodies was a risk factor for allograft function; however this indicator was not correlated with hypertension in our study.