Humoral antibody responses following transplantation in man.

Sequential titers of five different humoral antibodies (antirat erythrocyte, antisheep erythrocyte, isoantibodies, rheumatoid factors, and serum agglutinators) were simultaneously performed on 20 patients with renal transplants, 12 patients with skin transplants, and 2 patient populations (one hospitalized and one ambulatory). The results suggested that rises in titer of any of these antibodies could not be used as an indicator of acute rejection. Nevertheless, patients who lacked rejection episodes were unlikely to show humoral responses and always lacked antiglobulin responses. Heterophil responses always preceeded antiglobulin responses. These results suggest that heterophils are cross reacting antibodies and antiglobulins are auxillary immune responses.