The following is a summary of “FATE OF ANTI-HLA ANTIBODIES FOLLOWING LIVER TRANSPLANTATION,” published in the May 2024 issue of Nephrology by Norman et al.
Liver transplant recipients may develop antibodies against mismatched HLA from the donor (DSA) or other sources (non-DSA). Understanding these antibodies after transplant is crucial for improving outcomes.
Researchers conducted a retrospective study tracking the natural progression of DSA and non-DSA anti-HLA antibodies one year after liver transplantation.
They analyzed 216 patients with liver transplants between April 2015 and December 2018 and focused on 124 patients who had anti-HLA antibody measurements both at transplant and 12 months follow-up, with 31 of them having DSAs at transplant. This allowed for a paired analysis of DSA and non-DSA changes over time.
The results showed that class I DSAs and non-DSAs decreased from transplant to 12 months, but Class I DSAs nearly disappeared by 12 months, whereas Class I non-DSAs did not decrease as much. Class II DSAs decreased significantly but persisted at lower levels after 12 months.
Investigators concluded that DSA and non-DSA evolve distinctively after liver transplantation, particularly with Class I antibodies disappearing more rapidly. Understanding these antibody dynamics can inform transplant management strategies.
Source: frontiersin.org/journals/nephrology/articles/10.3389/fneph.2024.1403096/abstract
