<scp>SARS</scp> Cov‐2 vaccination induces de novo <scp>donor‐specific HLA</scp> antibodies in a renal transplant patient on waiting list: A case report
Ahmad Abu‐Khader, Wenjie Wang, Meriam Berka, Iwona Galaszkiewicz, Faisal Khan, Noureddine Berka
Abstract
The ability of COVID-19 vaccination to induce anti-HLA antibodies (Abs) formation in renal transplant candidates is not well studied. A 42-year-old man on a renal transplant waitlist, with no sensitization history, was tested for DSA before and after COVID-19 vaccination. Patient has consistently tested negative for COVID-19 virus. Eighteen days after receiving first dose of mRNA-based vaccine, flow cytometry crossmatch (FCXM) was strongly positive with de novo donor-specific Ab (dnDSA) against B57 and de novo non-DSA against B58. Before vaccination, preliminary FCXM was negative with no anti-HLA Abs. This event prompted the transplant team to cancel the surgery. COVID-19 vaccination could be associated with anti-HLA Abs formation in renal patients on waitlists that could affect future transplantability.