Kidney transplantation--presensitization and transplant survival: clinical aspects
Nubé, M.J.; Persijn, G.G.; Kalff, M.W.
Netherlands Journal of Medicine 20(6): 283-288
1977
ISSN/ISBN: 0300-2977 PMID: 345138 Document Number: 110501
The presence of cytotoxic antibodies may be related to an unfavorable kidney graft survival. Titers and specificities of these antibodies are correlated with the number of blood transfusions administered, i.e., the more transfusions, the more likely that cytotoxic antibodies are formed. Mainly in an attempt to reduce this kind of presensitization, the amount of blood administered to prospective kidney transplant recipients has steadily decreased since the early Seventies. Contrary to what was expected, transplant survival decreased. The results were even worse when blood transfusion were omitted entirely. Prospective recipients probably benefit most from a small number of transfusions during the pre-transplant period. Several factors which might contribute to this phenomenon are discussed.