Objetive: The goal of this study was to determine the prevalence of anti-HLA antibodies and the clinical outcome in patients with functioning renal graft over ten years.

Patients and Methods: We measured the presence and the levels of class I and II anti-HLA antibodies by microbead technology (Luminex) in 120 patients with functioning renal graft over 10 years, hyperimmunized patients were excluded. The statistical analysis was performed with the SPSS 18.0 program.

Results: The average time of transplantation was 15, 4±3, 7 years. 25% of the patients studied, had anti-HLA antibodies, of wich 74% were de novo antibodies. Risk factors that showed statistical significance, to have HLA antibodies were pre transplant dialysis time and the occurrence of acute rejection. The presence of anti-HLA antibodies was associated with worse serum creatinine levels (p 0,03), lower glomerular filtration rate (p 0,02) and increased proteinuria (p 0,00). Antibodies were measured one year after the first determination in patients with positive anti- HLA antibodies. The elevation of these antibodies did not influence the evolution of renal function or degree of proteinuria. (Cr in patients with increased antibody titers compared with those who remained stable was 1, 53 mg/dl vs. 1, 9 mg/dl – p 0.33).

Conclusions: Our study show that in patients with functioning renal graft over ten years, the presence of anti-HLA antibodies was 25%, and this was associated with the development of chronic rejection, worse renal function and greater proteinuria levels, regardless of the evolution of antibody titers at one year. The determination of HLA antibodies could be useful in the management of transplant patients.

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