Zirkulierende Immunkomplexe vor und nach Nierenallotransplantation

Summary In a prospective study circulating immune complexes (CIC) were analyzed before and serially after renal transplantation in 141 consecutive patients. CIC were measured using the Raji cell assay as originally described by Theofilopoulos and Dixon. The amount of CIC was expressed as µg heat aggregated human immunoglobulin G (IgG) equivalent/ml serum. The upper limit of normal sera was 25 µg/ml. The values are expressed as geometric means (–1 SD/+1 SD). In 86 of 133 rejection episodes a renal biopsy was performed and the histopathologic changes were semiquantitatively assessed and classified in a cellular or vascular type of rejection. Before transplantation CIC were detected in 104 of 141 patients (73.8%) and the mean value was 65.6 (27.8–154.9) µg/ml. The level of CIC was positively correlated with the number of grafts (r:0.43;P<0.01) and the occurrence of chronic active hepatitis (r:0.31;P<0.01). No correlation was found between CIC and the underlying kidney disease, the number of blood transfusions prior to transplantation, and the pre-existing lymphocytotoxic antibodies. Graft survival and number of rejection episodes were not influenced by the level of CIC prior to transplantation. After transplantation CIC were elevated in 60 patients (41%), appeared transiently in 49 patients (35%) and were never detectable in 32 patients (23%). In patients with a graft survival 11 months the average and peak post-transplant CIC levels were significantly higher than patients with a graft survival of 12 months: 64.4 (21.8–191.0); 87.7 (26.0–295.8) versus 39.6 (18.4–85.3); 56.8 (21.0–150.1) µg/ml;P<0.01. There was a positive correlation between CIC and serum creatinine in the post-transplant period (P<0.001). The histopathologic severity and morphological type of rejection did not correlate with CIC. In patients without rejection episodes CIC were significantly lower: 41.2 (39.6–42.9) than patients with rejection episodes: 61.8 (56.2–68.0);P<0.05.