Antibody-Mediated Rejection

Abstract

Antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) of the cardiac allograft, formerly also termed vascular or humoral rejection, typically occurs in the absence of interstitial lymphocytic infiltrates that are characteristic of acute cellular rejection. Its pathological hallmarks include capillary endothelial activation and macrophage infiltration, as well as vascular immunofluorescent deposition of immunoglobulin and complement. Clinically, AMR occurs early post heart transplant and tends to recur, is harder to treat, and is associated with poor outcomes [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6].