Infectious Complications After Simultaneous Pancreas-Kidney Transplantation : A Role for the Lectin Pathway of Complement Activation

Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) is a recognition molecule of the lectin pathway of complement activation, and its serum levels are largely determined by frequently occurring polymorphisms of the MBL gene. We questioned whether MBL deficiency influences infectious complications in patients after simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation (SPKT). Infectious complications in the first year after transplantation were scored retrospectively in 152 consecutive SPKT patients who received their transplant at our center between 1990 and 2005. Pretransplant serum MBL levels were determined with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Every 500 ng/mL increase in baseline MBL was associated with an odds ratio of 0.83 (P=0.045) for urinary tract infections and an odds ratio of 0.68 (P=0.029) for urosepsis. Urosepsis was significantly more common in patients with low baseline MBL (