Risk Factors of Antibody-Mediated Rejection and Predictors of Outcome in Kidney Transplant Recipients

Kidney transplant is the treatment of choice for patients with end-stage renal disease. Antibody-mediated rejection is associated with higher rates of graft loss in kidney transplant recipients. Determining the risk factors of antibody-mediated rejection is vital for its prevention, early diagnosis, and appropriate treatment, as these factors may be important in maintaining long-term graft survival in transplant recipients. In our study, we analyzed the risk factors of antibody-mediated rejection in kidney transplant recipients and the negative impact of antibody-mediated rejection on graft function.

We analyzed demographic and clinical data of 124 kidney transplant recipients (37 female [30%] and 87 male [70%] patients) who were diagnosed with antibody-mediated rejection at transplant biopsy. We compared graft outcomes of this patient cohort versus 75 kidney transplant recipients (24 female [32%] and 51 male [68%] patients) who were not diagnosed with antibody-mediated rejection.

Mean ages of patients with and without antibody-mediated rejection were 38.2 ± 13.6 and 34.4 ± 13.0 years, respectively. Mean ages of donors for patients with antibody-mediated rejection was significantly higher (48.0 ± 13.2 y) than for donors of patients without antibody-mediated rejection (47.1 ± 11.4 y; P < .05). Rate of graft loss was 15.3% in patients with antibody-mediated rejection; patients without antibody-mediated rejection had no graft loss (P < .05). Positive panel reactive antibody levels and blood transfusion before transplant were found to be risk factors of antibody-mediated rejection in kidney transplant recipients. However, recipients who received tacrolimus had less antibody-mediated rejection episodes than recipients who received sirolimus or cyclophosphamide.

Antibody-mediated rejection is associated with high rates of graft loss in kidney transplant recipients. Avoiding blood transfusion, lowering panel reactive antibody levels, choosing younger donors, and using tacrolimus in high-risk kidney transplant recipients may reduce antibody-mediated rejection rates and provide better graft survival.