DETECTION OF ANTI-HLA ANTIBODY BY FLOW CYTOMETRY IN PATIENTS WITH A LEFT VENTRICULAR ASSIST DEVICE IS ASSOCIATED WITH EARLY REJECTION FOLLOWING HEART TRANSPLANTATION

Abstract

Despite a negative PRA, LVAD patients with class I anti-HLA antibodies detected by flow cytometry have a greater incidence of moderate-severe rejection in the first 2 months after HT. Flow cytometry may be a useful clinical tool in screening PRA negative LVAD patients before transplantation. Patients with positive anti-HLA antibody screening by flow cytometry may require more intensive immunosuppression in the early post-HT period.