Prediction of renal allograft rejection by direct lymphocyte blastogenesis assay

In an effort to better predict renal allograft rejection, lymphocyte blastogenesis (DLBA) was determined in 65 patients after transplants. Of 47 clinically diagnosed rejection episodes 45 had an associated DLBA peak which preceded the clinical diagnosis by an average of 4 days; 11 recipients had DLBA peaks not associated with rejection episodes. Of 14 recipients with multiple DLBA peaks during postoperative periods of nonfunction, none did well. The blastogenesis assay was not a reliable enough predictor of graft rejection to be used as an indication for early elevation of corticosteroid dosage.