Accelerated Acute Rejection in Renal Allograft: Analysis of prognostic factors

ABSTRACT

Accelerated acute rejection(AAR) is a rare condition and has a poor prognosis in graft survival following renal transplantation. To elucidate its characteristics, we analysed 14 cases(5.0%) of AAR among 279 renal transplantation. AAR is defined as a condition in which immediate postoperative urine output is good followed by decreased urine output and increase of serum creatinine level within 7 days after transplantation. The incidence of AAR was more prevalent in cadaveric donors than living donors. One year graft survival was inferior in AAR, namely 8 out 14 cases(57%), than that of the patients without AAR(95.1%). Among the factors affecting graft survival in AAR, age and sex of both donor and recipient, donor condition such as living or cadaveric donor, and preoperative HLA matching had no relevance to a graft survival. Time of onset of AAR has no effect on graft survival either. Postoperative donor lymphocytotoxic test showed positive result in one out of 3 patient despite of all negative findings in the preoperative crossmatching test. Histologic finding such as vasculitis on renal biopsy was related to graft survival. Response of treatment was 55% in initial solumedrol pulse therapy and 20% in secondary OKT3 treatment, with an overall effect of 57%. Rerejection developed in 4 out of 8 cases of graft survival group while all cases showed a good function at post operative two years. Graft survival following AAR remains low and AAR is one of the main cause of graft loss following renal transplantation. To illustrate its characteristics, more clinical analysis are required.