Lymphocytotoxic Antibody Response to Cardiac Allotransplantation in Man¹: I. Correlation with Post-Transplantation Clinical Course

Lymphocytotoxic antibodies were found in sera collected prior to transplantation from 3 (14%) of 22 cardiac allograft recipients. Of sera collected after transplantation, multiple samples from 15 of 28 patients (54%) contained lymphocytotoxins. These antibodies were found especially frequently in sera from patients who died of infection or who succumbed after repeated episodes of threatened allograft rejection. The findings of the present study suggest that development of lymphocytotoxic antibodies in cardiac allograft recipients is an ominous sign which, within 1 month after transplantation, may identify individuals who will experience an unfavorable clinical course.