[Specific antibodies against lymphocytes and monocytes in multiple-transfused uremic patients]

Kidney patients waiting for transplant usually undergo deliberate transfusion without clinical need in order to improve the outcome of the transplantation. Besides the beneficial transfusion effect on graft survival antibodies against the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) can be detected after blood transfusions. Preliminary studies have shown antibodies against surface determinants of endothelial cells and monocytes too. Following that it is necessary to investigate how these different antibodies can affect the kidney allograft survival in politransfused uremic patients. We tested 171 sera from uremic patients to detect antibodies directed against T and B lymphocytes and monocytes by using long incubation standard NIH cytotoxicity technique. Antibodies against B cells have been tested at 20 degrees C and 4 degrees C. 54 patients (31,6%) showed anti-HLS antibodies: sera from 23 patients (13,5%) were positive against I and B cells (T+B+) and monocytes (M+) and that's probably due to anti-HLA-A,B,C and DR antibodies. 17 patients (9,9%) were T+B+ for the presence of anti HLA- A,B,C antibodies. 10 patients (5,8%) were T+. It is not yet clear why 18 patients (10,5%) showed anti B Lymphocytes antibodies tested at 20 degrees C. Probably the presence of anti HLA-DR antibodies caused the positivity of 4 B+M+ patients (2,33%). Sera from 5 patients (2,92%) showed anti B Lymphocytes antibodies tested at 4 degrees C. 21 patients (12,3%) were M+ only.