J. Almirall et al., USEFULNESS OF HLA-DR EXPRESSION IN TUBULA R CELLS FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF REJECTION IN KIDNEY-TRANSPLANTATION, Medicina Clinica, 107(13), 1996, pp. 481-485
BACKGROUND: Fine needle aspiration is a useful technique as a monitori
zation method after kidney transplantation for diagnosis of rejection.
In addition to the cells of the intrarenal inflammatory infiltrate, t
he material obtained contains an important quantity of parenchymatous
renal cells. The expression of class II HLA antigens in renal tubular
cells has been related with episodes of rejection. The aim of this stu
dy was to determine the clinical usefulness of fine needle aspiration
in diagnosis and control of kidney transplant rejection.PATIENTS AND M
ETHODS: HLA-DR expression of renal tubular cells obtained in 155 fine
needle aspirations carried out in 36 consecutive kidney transplantatio
ns were prospectively studied. The technique used was that of alkaline
phosphatase, The study period included the two months following the g
raft. RESULTS: Rejection was considered to occur on expression of HLA-
DR in more than 20% of tubular cells and as thus this method showed a
sensitivity and specificity of 78 and 89%, respectively. Likewise, a g
ood correlation was observed between the persistence of tubular HLA-DR
expression following rejection treatment and severity of the same. Th
e group of patients with stable renal function presented a slight, tra
nsitory expression within the first 10-12 days after transplantation.
CONCLUSIONS: HLA-DR expression of the tubular cells obtained by aspira
tion puncture is a useful method for the diagnosis and control of kidn
ey transplant rejection.