ABSTRACT
Purpose: Although rare, infection and vaccination have been reported to result in human leukocyte antibodies (HLA). We analyzed the effect of SARS-CoV2 infection, or COVID-19 vaccination on HLA antibodies. Method(s): Multicenter study of waitlisted renal transplant patients (pts) either infected with SARS-CoV2, or fully vaccinated against it with single antigen testing within 3 months prior, and 3 months after. Demographics and infection/vaccination details were collected. If the calculated panel reactive antibody (cPRA) changed specificities were collected. Pts with cPRA change were adjudicated by each center's HLA laboratory director and coordinating center's lab director. Result(s): Data from 5 centers, 409 pts with single antigen testing before and after infection or vaccination was analyzed. 282 pts had an initial cPRA of 0%, and 72 had an initial cPRA>80%. 30 pts (7.0%) had a change in cPRA, 17 (3.9%) had an increase and 13 (3.0%) a decrease. After adjudication no pts with a clinically significant HLA antibody specificity increase were identified. The differences have been largely influenced by one or two specificities with subtle fluctuations around the borderline of the participating centers' mean fluorescence intensity cutoff for unacceptable antigen listing. Conclusion(s): To date, no clinically significant change in cPRA was seen in pts who were infected with SARS-CoV2 and recovered, nor pts fully vaccinated against COVID-19. This has implications for crossmatching at the time of organ offer after SARS-CoV2 infection or vaccination. Also, vaccination appears to be safe for waitlisted pts, even if they are sensitized. (Figure Presented).
ABSTRACT
Purpose: Solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients admitted for COVID-19 commonly experience immunosuppression reduction and acute allograft dysfunction. Given the number of SOT patients hospitalized for COVID-19, it is critical to understand the natural history of alloimmunity and allograft dysfunction in this population. Method(s): We prospectively enrolled SOT patients admitted with COVID-19 to our institution between January 1, 2020 and June 1, 2021 as well as a non-SOT control cohort. We collected anti-HLA antibody (HLA-Ab) and renal function data. We retrospectively reviewed donor-specific antibody (DSA) assignments in the context of each patient's transplant history and HLA typing. DSA that crossed the 1500 MFI threshold was classified as new DSA, and DSA that increased >1000 MFI was classified as increased DSA. For kidney transplant (KT) patients, we additionally evaluated renal function. The outcome of interest was change in serum creatinine (sCr) from pre-infection baseline to the most recent post-infection value. Baseline sCr was calculated as the median sCr in the year prior to COVID-19. For follow-up, the final sCr at least 60 days from COVID-19 was used. If the patient experienced allograft failure or the final sCr was >5.0 mg/dL, the final sCr was set equal to 5.0 mg/dL. Cumulative incidence of new or increased DSA was modeled with the Kaplan-Meier (KM) method. Group means were compared with one-way ANOVA using Tukey's multiple comparisons test. Result(s): We enrolled 129 hospitalized SOT patients: 82 (64%) with a KT, 27 with a liver transplant, and the remainder with a heart, lung, or pancreas transplant. Of the 86 patients who underwent HLA-Ab testing 10-180 days after COVID-19 diagnosis, 15 developed new or increased DSA (Fig. 1A). We then evaluated the 39 KT patients with HLA-Ab testing, a baseline sCr, and a late sCr measurement. At a median follow-up of 330 days, KT patients with new or increased DSA (in red, Fig. 1B) showed a significantly greater increase in late sCr than both non-SOT patients (in blue) and KT patients without new or increased DSA (in green). Conclusion(s): New or increased DSA following hospitalization for COVID-19 is common in SOT patients, with a KM-estimated incidence of 25% in the six months following COVID-19. In KT patients, this DSA is associated with poorer allograft function. These data suggest a role for more intensive surveillance in SOT patients convalescing from COVID-19. Further studies will be needed to elucidate the contribution of infection, immunosuppression, and other factors.