ABSTRACT
Objective To analyze the necessity of anti-human leukocyte antigen (HLA)antibody monitoring and graft biopsy on early diagnosis of antibody-mediated rejection (AMR). Methods Fifty-one recipients with de novo donor specific antibody (dnDSA)were screened and chosen. Donor specific antibody (DSA)and its ability to bind with C1 q were evaluated. Pathological biopsy of the kidney graft was performed. The recipients diagnosed with AMR were divided into the unstable and stable kidney function groups. Type of DSA,binding ability of the complement and Banff score were statistically compared between two groups. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis of the kidney graft in the recipients from non-rejection, unstable and stable kidney function groups was performed. Results Type of HLA antibody,mean fluorescent intensity (MFI)of DSA,C1 q binding ability and C4d deposition in peritubular capillary did not significantly differ between the unstable and stable groups (all P>0. 05 ). Histomorphologically,the Banff score of microvasculitis,endarteritis,renal tubule-interstitial nephritis,transplantation glomerulopathy and renal tubular atrophy-stroma fibrosis did not significantly differ between two groups (all P>0. 05 ). In the unstable group,the accumulated survival rate of the kidney graft was significantly lower compared with that in the stable group,which was significantly lower than that of their counterparts who were ineligible for pathological diagnosis (P=0. 002). Conclusions It is necessary to perform regular anti-HLA antibody monitoring and pathological puncture examination after renal transplantation,which contributes to early detection and diagnosis of AMR.