Role of Human Leukocyte Antigen Matching in Liver Transplantation and Its Relation to Outcomes

The study aimed to assess HLA compatibility, HLA antibodies and cross matching in liver transplantation recipients and their relation to acute rejection, CMV infection, and recurrence of HCV.

This was a cohort study conducted in patients who had undergone LDLT between January 2015 and January 2016 at in Ain Shams Center for Organ Transplantation (ASCOT) .

HLA Typing and Mismatch:

Preoperative blood samples from all recipients and donors were collected. The serological tissue typing for HLA was performed by a SSP-PCR (sequence-specific- primer). HLA-A, HLA- B, and HLA-DR loci were examined and used to calculate mismatch scores. The locus-specific type of HLA mismatch, as well as the degree of HLA mismatch, was then assessed. For each locus individually, the mismatch number was scored as 0, 1, or 2, on the basis of the number of donor alleles not shared with the respective recipient. Each patient was assigned an overall total score depending on the total number of mismatches at the 3 loci, ranging from 0 (no mismatches at any loci) to 6 (mismatches at all loci)

Cross matching (total and autocross):

Crossmatch involves placing recipient serum (potentially containing donor-specific anti-HLA antibodies) onto donor lymphocytes (containing HLA antigens).A cytotoxic reaction (deemed 'positive') suggests the presence of preformed DSAbs (donor specific antibodies).

Autoantibodies are generally IgM rather than IgG antibodies. To establish if autoantibodies are responsible for the result an auto-crossmatch should be performed. In this assay, recipient serum is crossmatched against recipient (rather than donor) lymphocytes. Second, the original crossmatch should be repeated with the addition of the agent Dithiothreitol (DTT). DTT reduces the disulfide bonds in IgM thereby preventing IgM antibodies from generating a positive result. IgM antibodies are generally regarded as having no pathological significance in transplantation.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Recipient selection:

  1. Adult recipients who are candidate for LDLT due to HCV related ESLD and meeting the transplantation criteria of the Ain Shams Center of Organ Transplantation (Child Pugh score ≥ 7and MELD score ≥15).

Donor selection:

1. Living donors are usually close family members or spouses, although unrelated living donors can be accepted according to the legal registration of MOH (ministry of health)
2. ABO blood type compatibility
3. Age is between 18-50
4. Absence of previous significant abdominal surgery and/or medical problems

Exclusion Criteria:

* Adult recipients who underwent LDLT due to other causes rather than HCV.
* Cardiopulmonary disease that cannot be corrected and is a prohibitive risk for surgery
* Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)
* Malignancy outside of the liver not meeting oncologic criteria for cure
* Hepatocellular carcinoma with metastatic spread
* Anatomic abnormalities that preclude liver transplantation
* Uncontrolled sepsis
* Acute liver failure with a sustained intracranial pressure \>50 mmHg or a cerebral perfusion pressure \<40 mmH
* Persistent non adherence with medical care and Lack of adequate social support
* Advanced age older than 65y.