Detecting Kidney Rejection Early: A New Approach

Scientists have found a promising way to detect kidney rejection early using cell-free DNA from donors. This method, called dd-cfDNA monitoring, can spot antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) in people who have received kidney transplants. The tricky part is that we need to see if this method actually helps patients in the long run. Early diagnosis of AMR is crucial because new treatments are becoming available. Researchers thought that tracking dd-cfDNA levels in patients with new donor-specific anti-HLA antibodies (dnDSA) and doing a biopsy when levels rise might speed up the diagnosis of AMR compared to waiting for clinical signs. The study looked at two groups of kidney transplant recipients (KTR). One group had their dd-cfDNA levels monitored and got a biopsy if levels were high. The other group only got a biopsy if they showed clinical signs of rejection. The goal was to see if monitoring dd-cfDNA could catch AMR earlier.