Objective: To compare the microchimerismic and rejection rates in living donor kidney transplant recipients in mother and child relations and other relations.
Methods: This retrospective single-center study enrolled 130 recipients to receive allografts from living related donors from 2004 to 2008 at our hospital. They were followed up for 1 - 5 years. The demographic data of the study population were analyzed by basic statistical methods. A total of 43 recipient blood samples were collected for the detection of microchimerism by the assays of short tandem repeat (STR) and sex-determining region-y gene (SRY) polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
Results: The 1-year patient/graft survival rates were 93.8% and 92.3% respectively. And there was no significant differences between mother and child group and other relative group. Forty-six biopsy samples were collected from 46 recipients. Twenty-six (20.0%) cases had the occurrences of acute rejection episodes in different Banff degrees as proven by biopsy. 53.8% (14/26) cases were mother and child renal transplantation, higher than other relative (46.2%, 12/26). The mother donor kidney transplant recipients had about a twice higher rejection rate (30.4% vs 14.3%, P = 0.028) and a twice higher microchimerismic rate (25.0% vs 14.8%) than other relative.
Conclusion: Compared with other relations, the mother donor kidney recipients tend to have higher rates of microchimerism and acute rejection. And the special immune effect in mothers and children renal transplantation may influence its outcomes.