The role of donor-specific antibodies in acute cardiac allograft dysfunction in the absence of cellular rejection.

Background: Acute allograft dysfunction (AAD) is an important cause of morbidity among heart transplant recipients. The role of donor-specific antibodies (DSAs) in AAD, with the increasing use of single antigen bead (SAB) assays that have improved the ability to detect DSA, remains unclear.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 329 heart transplant recipients followed up at our institution.

LVAD implant as a bridge to heart transplantation is associated with allosensitization as measured by single antigen bead assay.

Background: Left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) as a bridge (BTT) to heart transplantation (HTX) may be limited by the formation of anti-human leukocyte antigen antibodies. Whether sensitization occurs with continuous axial flow LVAD implant as assessed by single antigen bead (SAB) assay is unknown.

Methods: Cytotoxic panel-reactive antibody (PRA) and SAB assays were analyzed in HTX recipients undergoing LVAD implant as a BTT.