Flow cytometry crossmatch before kidney transplantation in contemporary practice: target cell utilization, results patterns, and associated long-term graft survival

Clin Transpl. 2008:253-66.

Abstract

The flow cytometry crossmatch (FXCM) is an increasingly common method for pre-transplant crossmatching. We examined FCXM use in a national sample of kidney transplants, characterizing target cell utilization, results patterns, and associated graft outcomes. We queried Organ Procurement and Transplant Network Registry to identify kidney transplants performed in 1995-2007 with prospective FCXM testing for IgG antibodies against T-cells, B-cells or undifferentiated lymphocytes. FCXM was categorized according to target utilization and target-specific results. We modeled associations of FCXM testing-results patterns with risk of five-year graft loss and with projected graft survival by multivariable survival analysis. Sixty-five percent of the deceased donor transplants were performed with negative T-cell and B-cell FCXM, 16% with negative T-cell/unmeasured B-cell FCXM, 9% with negative undifferentiated lymphocyte FCXM, and < 0.5% with negative B-cell/unmeasured T-cell FCXM. Test results for at least one target were positive in 7.6% of transplants, most commonly in the form of B-cell positive/T-cell negative. Allograft survival was most favorable when both T-cell and B-cell FCXM targets were included and yielded negative results. Notably, B-cell positive/T-cell negative FCXM predicted elevated graft loss risk, with approximately 16% and 32% relative risk increases for deceased and living donor grafts, respectively, compared to negative T-cell and B-cell FCXM. Negative FCXM results with undifferentiated targets alone also predicted inferior graft survival. These data support the importance of using differentiated B-cell and T-cell targets for FCXM. Transplants that proceeded with positive FCXM experienced decrements in long-term graft survival - the decision to accept such risk must be individualized.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Antibodies / blood*
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Databases as Topic
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry*
  • Graft Rejection / immunology
  • Graft Rejection / mortality
  • Graft Rejection / prevention & control*
  • Graft Survival / immunology*
  • Histocompatibility Testing / methods*
  • Histocompatibility*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Kidney Transplantation / immunology*
  • Kidney Transplantation / mortality
  • Living Donors
  • Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Time Factors
  • Tissue and Organ Procurement
  • Transplantation Tolerance
  • Transplantation, Homologous
  • Treatment Outcome
  • United States
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antibodies