Acquired hypogammaglobulinemia and pathogen‐specific antibody depletion after solid organ transplantation in human immunodeficiency virus infection: A brief report

Abstract

Hypogammaglobulinemia (HGG) frequently occurs in recipients after types of (SOT). The incidence and significance of HGG in HIV+ recipients of SOT are just being explored. We reported that 12% of the recipients in the SOT in multi‐center HIV‐TR (HIV‐TR) Study developed moderate or severe HGG at 1 year. In LT recipients, this was associated with serious infections and death. We have now further characterized the decreased antibodies in HIV+ SOT recipients who developed HGG. We measured the levels of pathogen‐specific antibodies and poly‐specific self‐reactive antibodies (PSA) in relation to total IgG levels from serial serum samples for 20 HIV+ SOT recipients who developed moderate to severe HGG following SOT. Serum antibody levels to measles, tetanus toxoid, and HIV‐1 were determined by EIA. Levels of PSAs were determined by incubating control lymphocytes with patient serum, staining with anti‐human IgG Fab‐FITC, and analysis by flow cytometry. Levels of PSA were higher compared to healthy, HIV‐uninfected controls at pre‐transplant baseline and increased by weeks 12 and 26, but the changes were not significant. Likewise, anti‐HIV antibody levels remained unchanged over time. In contrast, antibody levels against measles and tetanus were significantly reduced from baseline by week 12, and did not return to baseline, even after 2 years. For HIV patients who develop moderate to severe HGG after transplant, the reduction in IgG levels is associated with a significant decrease in pathogen‐specific antibody titers, while PSA levels and anti‐HIV antibodies are unchanged. This may contribute to infectious complications and other clinical endpoints.