Humoral antibody in canine cardiac allograft rejection

Abstract only The antibodies formed in response to cardiac allografts were studied in four groups of dogs receiving one of the following: (1) no immunosuppressive treatment; (2) azathioprine and prednisone; (3) acetylsalicylic acid; (4) antilymphocyte serum. Only azathioprine-prednisone treatment was effective in reducing antibody formation, although the histological changes of rejection were modified in each of groups 2, 3, and 4. Hearts transplanted in the presence of "donor-specific" lymphocytotoxic antibodies were not hyperacutely rejected, despite the fixation of antibodies to the sarcolemma within minutes or a few hours of transplantation.