Murder in the Cathedral: Antibodies and the Limits of Transplantation

Abstract

Although transplantation is the optimal therapy for end-stage renal disease, long-term survival of kidney allografts remains elusive. Antibody-mediated rejection has been implicated as a major factor in late period graft loss. The refractory nature of late period antibody-mediated rejection is the evidence of an important immunological process with implications for other solid organ transplants and for other diseases. This review details advances in the understanding of late period antibody-mediated rejection in the context of local experience.