CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF LATE ANTIBODY-MEDIATED REJECTION WITHOUT DONOR-SPECIFIC ANTI-HLA ANTIBODIES

Abstract

Background: Late onset antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) is a leading cause of kidney allograft failure. Its diagnosis has been based on a combination of morphologic, immunohistologic findings, and presence of donor-specific anti-HLA antibodies (DSA). Although the presence of DSA is no longer required for AMR diagnosis according to Banff 2017 classification, the clinical significance of late onset AMR without DSA remains unclear. Here we compared clinical outcomes of late onset AMR with and without DSA. Methods: We analyzed 126 cases of late AMR (> 6 months after transplant) that meet the Banff 2017 histologic criteria for AMR. All cases were diagnosed by for cause biopsy and grouped into DSA-positive (n=103) and DSA-negative (n=23) AMR groups. The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated using the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation. Results: The histological picture did not differ between DSA-negative and DSA-positive AMR, with the exception of increased level of peritubular capillaritis in DSA-positive AMR. Median time from transplant to AMR diagnosis was 80 months (IQR, 39-118). At the time of AMR diagnosis, both groups had similar graft function (36.3 ± 16.0 for DSA-negative and 39.7 ± 20.2mL/min/1.73 m2 for DSA-positive AMR, P=0.408). Mean eGFR after AMR were similar irrespective of the presence of DSA. There were 28 (26.2%) graft failures in the DSA-negative and 8 (27.6%) graft failures in the DSA-positive AMR groups, which was not statistically different (P=0.950). Conclusion: In late onset AMR, there was no significant difference between AMR with and without DSA in clinical outcomes.