Early donor-specific antibodies in lung transplantation: risk factors and impact on survival

Background: The impact of early donor-specific anti-HLA antibodies (DSA) on patient and graft survival after lung transplantation remains controversial. In this study we analyzed risk factors for DSA that developed before initial hospital discharge after lung transplantation (early DSA) and compared mid-term outcomes in patients with or without DSA.

Methods: Between January 2009 and August 2013, 546 patients underwent lung transplantation at our institution. One hundred (18%) patients developed early DSA (Group A) and 446 (82%) patients (Group B) did not. Patient records were retrospectively reviewed.

Results: Retransplantation (odds ratio [OR] = 2.7, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1 to 6.5, p = 0.03), pre-operative HLA antibodies (OR = 2.1, 95% CI 1.2 to 3.4, p = 0.003) and primary graft dysfunction (PGD) score Grade 2 or 3 at 48 hours (OR = 2.6, 95% CI 1.5 to 4.6, p = 0.001) were associated with early DSA development. Overall, 1- and 3-year survival in Group A and B patients was 79 ± 4% vs 88 ± 2% and 57 ± 8% vs 74 ± 3%, respectively (p = 0.019). Eleven Group A (11%) and 32 Group B (7%) patients died before hospital discharge (p = 0.34). Among patients surviving beyond discharge, 1- and 3-year survival in Group A and B patients was 89 ± 4% vs 95 ± 1% and 65 ± 8% vs 80 ± 3% in Group A and B patients, respectively (p = 0.04). Multivariate analysis identified early anti-HLA Class II DSA (OR = 1.9, 95% CI 1.0 to 3.4, p = 0.04) as an independent risk factor for post-discharge mortality but not for in-hospital mortality.

Conclusions: Pre-operative HLA antibodies, retransplantation or post-operative PGD increase the risk of developing early DSA, which were independently associated with an increased risk for mortality.