Participation of Antibodies in Acute Cardiac-Allograft Rejection in Man

Abstract

Three of four patients receiving cardiac allografts died of acute rejection at seven, seven and 18 days. Serologic studies were performed with the use of kidney cells cultured from the donor in an attempt to assess the role of presensitization and circulating antibody in this fulminating variety of rejection. Evidence of presensitization to antigens present on donor kidney cells was found in one patient, and antibody was eluted from the rejected hearts in each case. Presensitization and an early antibody response may have some role in virulent acute rejection.