Detection of presensitization in recipients of kidney transplants

Objective The preformed antibodies detection in potential kidney recipients is necessary in pretransplant evaluation. The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between the application of blood transfusions and sensitization level in potential kidney transplants. Methods The study included 268 potential kidney transplants from the region of Vojvodina. The presence of preformed antibodies was tested by microlymphocitotoxicity test. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was applied to determine the influence of three variables on sensitization level: number and volume of transfused blood units and time elapsed from last transfused unit. Results Of 268 eligible patients, 206 patients had a history of blood transfusion. Results of the study showed that the application of great number and volume of transfused units increased the sensitization level (correlation coefficients were r = +0,283 and r = +0,235, respectively) with statistical significance as well as the negative correlation between the time elapsed from the last transfusion and the degree of sensitization (r = −0,082) with no statistical significance. Conclusion Our study revealed that there is a stronger positive correlation between the number of received blood units than the volume of received blood products and the level of preformed antibodies.