Viral Infection and Renal Transplant Rejection

The occurrence of an outbreak of influenza in a renal transplant unit is described. Five patients had a proved episode of infection, confirmed by a rise in the complement fixation titre to influenza virus A, and this coincided in three of the patients with episodes of acute rejection. It seems likely that the virus infection was responsible for the rejection, possibly through a stimulating effect of the virus on the host's immune response.