DEVELOPMENT OF ELISA-DETECTED ANTI-HLA ANTIBODIES PRECEDES THE DEVELOPMENT OF BRONCHIOLITIS OBLITERANS SYNDROME AND CORRELATES WITH PROGRESSIVE DECLINE IN PULMONARY FUNCTION AFTER LUNG TRANSPLANTATION1

Abstract

Our study indicates that anti-HLA class I antibodies play an important role in the pathogenesis of BOS and that monitoring of anti-HLA class I antibody development by a highly sensitive assay such as the PRA-STAT ELISA after LT can provide an early identification of an important subset of LT patients with an increased risk of developing BOS.