Immunoglobulin G subclasses and susceptibility to allosensitization in humans.

Understanding the cellular basis of allosensitization is important because persistence of cytotoxic alloreactive antibodies significantly decreases the chances for receiving a second kidney graft and has a detrimental effect on graft survival rates. In this study, serum levels of IgG subclasses were compared within three groups of uremic patients with different levels of allosensitization (panel reactive antibody level > or = 70%, 10-65% and < or = 10%). All the non-sensitized patients had already lost at least one graft indicating resistance to allosensitization by the previous graft.