Outcome of Liver Transplant Patients With Preformed Donor-Specific Anti-Human Leukocyte Antigen Antibodies.

Abstract

After liver transplantation (LT), the role of preformed donor-specific anti-human leukocyteantigen antibodies (pDSAs) remains incompletely understood. We conducted a retrospective, case-control analysis to determine the impact of pDSAs after LT in 3 French transplant centers (Bordeaux, Lyon, and Toulouse). Among the 1788 LTs performed during the study period, 142 (7.9%) had at least 1 pDSA. The patient survival rate was not different between patients who received an LT with pDSAs and the matched-control group. A liver biopsy was performed 1year after transplantation in 87 recipients. The metavir fibrosis score did not differ between both groups (1±0.8 versus 0±0.8; P=0.80). However, undergoing a retransplantation (hazard ratio [HR]=2.6, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02-6.77; P=0.05) and receiving induction therapy with polyclonal antibodies (HR=2.5; 95% CI, 1.33-4.74; P=0.01) were associated with a higher risk of mortality. Nonetheless, high mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) donor-specific antibodies (ie, >10,000 with One Lambda assay or >5000 with Immucor assay) were associated with an increased risk of acute rejection (HR=2.0; 95% CI, 1.12-3.49; P=0.02). Acute antibody-mediated rejection was diagnosed in 10 patients: 8 recipients were alive 34 (1-125) months after rejection. The use of polyclonal antibodies or rituximab as an induction therapy did not reduce the risk of acute rejection, but it increased the risk of infectious complications. In conclusion, high MFI pDSAs increase the risk of graft rejection after LT, but they do not reduce medium-term and longterm patient survival. The use of a T or B cell-depleting agent did not reduce the risk of acute rejection.