Blood transfusion and your PRA

[cambonesegirl]

Does anyone know how long it takes for your PRA to go down after a blood transfusion?

The reason I'm asking this is because I had a blood transfusion in January of 2005. I'm at the top of the transplant list but I don't seem to be compatible with most people cause my PRA is up there. I don't really understand the difference between the two classes, but my "class 1" is 34% and "class 2" is 94 % and I was told they take the higher number, I kind of understand why because they need to find the best match for me, but at the same time with my high PRA, there is such a low percentage of match for me.

[goofynina]

They told my friend she had to wait at least 6 months and then they will check it again,  Good luck to you 

[cambonesegirl]

They told my friend she had to wait at least 6 months and then they will check it again

I know it takes a while for it to go down, but it's been almost three years since my transfusion and my PRA is still in the 90th percentile. I was wondering how long it takes before it goes down below 50% or better.

Thanks for the reply. 

[KT0930]

My understanding is that it won't go back down. Your body gets antibodies because of blood transfusions, pregnancies and previous transplants. There is a discussion somewhere in here about the various types of antibodies, I'll try to find it and post the link.

Found it!

http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?topic=6002.0

[willieandwinnie]

My husband had dozens of transfusions in 2001 and PRA did go down in 2006 when he was finally put on transplant list. I'm looking for information that I had bookmarked. I'll post them.

[willieandwinnie]

I found information that I have saved. Hope this helps someone. You'll have to cut and paste the links.

Transplant 101 by the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS maintains the U.S. transplant waiting list) defines panel reactive antibody (PRA):
"The percentage of cells from a panel of donors with which a potential recipient's blood serum reacts. The more antibodies in the recipient's blood, the more likely the recipient will react against the potential donor. The higher the PRA, the less chance of receiving an organ that will not be rejected. A patient with a PRA of 80% means that they will reject 80% or donor kidneys. Patients with a high PRA have priority on the waiting list."

http://www.unos.org/resources/frm_CPRA_Calculator.asp?index=75

http://jasn.asnjournals.org/cgi/content/full/17/2/564?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=pra&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&resourcetype=HWCIT

http://www.stanford.edu/dept/HPS/transplant/html/hla.html

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/transplant/Programs/InKTP/crossmatch.html

[cambonesegirl]

Thanks for all the replies and informational links.