title: Does lymphocyte cross-matching predict acute rejection and graft survival in liver transplantation?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The role of lymphocyte cross-matches (LCM) remains controversial in the liver transplant field. The aim of this study was to correlate the risk for acute rejection episodes and graft survival in liver transplantation with pretransplant LCM results.
  
  
  METHODS
  We enrolled 184 adult liver transplantation patients, excluding pediatric and second grafts. The 129 living donor and 55 deceased donor liver transplantations were divided into 2 groups: LCM (+); (n=20) and LCM (-); (n=164).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no differences in the demographic features, such as gender and recipient age, original disease, Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score, donor type, number of human leukocyte antigen mismatches, and cold ischemia times. There were no hyperacute rejection episodes in the LCM (+) group. Also, posttransplant complications such as acute rejection episode, biliary complication, or hepatic artery thrombosis were not different. Acute rejection episodes occurred in 5.0% of the LCM (+) group and 15.2% of the LCM (-) group (P=.317). Bile duct complications after transplantation arose in 20.0% of the LCM (+) group and in 32.9% of the LCM (-) group (P=.312). The 2 groups showed no difference in graft survival rate analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method according to LCM results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pretransplant LCM results were not associated with overall graft survival or acute rejection episodes in this study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, The Research Institute for Transplantation, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Joo
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Ju
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Huh
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: G H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: K O
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.forename: S I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology*; D006085:Graft Survival; D006648:Histocompatibility; D006650:Histocompatibility Testing; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome