Diagnostic value of peripheral blood T-cell activation and soluble IL-2 receptor for acute rejection in liver transplantation.

Background: T-cells play an important role in the pathogenesis of rejection. Monitoring T-cells activation markers in peripheral blood may contribute to diagnosis of acute rejection after liver transplantation (LTX).

Methods: Lymphocyte subset distribution, expression of T-cell activation markers (flow cytometry), concentration of soluble (s) interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) (solid phase chemiluminescence immunoassay), and liver enzymes as well as bilirubin were prospectively tested in peripheral blood samples of LTX patients with (n=69) and without acute rejection (n=50).