7-P

Abstract

To evaluate the humoral immune response to HLA antigens in Brazilian renal transplant candidates. The humoral immune response to HLA antigens was studied in 269 renal transplant candidates from the north/northwest of Parana state, Brazil. HLA typing was performed by the polymerase chain reaction sequence-specific oligonucleotide method (PCR-SSO), combined with Luminex technology using the LABType SSO kit (One Lambda, Inc., Canoga Park, CA, USA). Panel reactive antibodies (PRA) and HLA-specific antibodies determination were performed using the LABScreen (Luminex technology) LS1PRA and LS2PRA kits (One Lambda, Inc.). The Fisher’s exact test and Student’s t-test were used to compare the demographic characteristics and potential risk factors for anti-HLA antibody production (pregnancies, blood transfusions and previous transplants) between PRA-positive and PRA-negative groups. One hundred and eighty two (67.7%) patients had positive PRA. Potential risk factors for anti-HLA antibody production showed no significant differences between PRA-positive and PRA-negative groups. Only gender was statistically different between these groups, showing that female group was the most sensitized (p < 0.05). Among patients with positive PRA, 62 (34.1%) were class I positive and class II negative; 39 (21.4%) were class I negative and class II positive and 81 (44.5%) were class I and II positive. The most frequent allele groups were: HLA-A∗02 (24.2%), HLA-B*44 (10.6%) and HLA-DRB1∗11 (13.6%). The most frequent HLA antibodies were: Anti-HLA-A34 (24.7%); B57 (20.9%); C15 (3.3%); C16 (3.3%); DR51 (29.1%); DQ8 (31.3%) and DP14 (1.6%). The data of this study allowed the knowledge of HLA antibodies profile in renal transplant candidates from the Parana State (Brazil), showing high sensitization to HLA antigens. Further studies are needed to evaluate the influence of alloreactivity and HLA polymorphisms in the end-stage renal disease and the evolution of transplantation.