New Delhi: A recent study found that donor-derived cell-free DNA (dd-cfDNA), commonly referred to as liquid biopsy, can identify kidney transplant rejection at an early stage.
Participants in the global trial included adult and pediatric kidney transplant recipients from 14 transplant centres in the US and Europe.
In inflammation associated with transplant rejection, dying cells release donor-derived cell-free DNA (dd-cfDNA) into the bloodstream.
Researchers found that dd-cfDNA levels were strongly correlated with different types of transplant rejection, including antibody-mediated rejection, T cell-mediated rejection, and mixed rejection. The study found similar accuracy in both children and adults.
Currently, the ‘gold standard’ for diagnosing transplant rejection is through unnecessary and invasive graft biopsies. However, the study found that dd-cfDNA, a non-invasive and accurate biomarker, could potentially replace the need for such biopsies.
Two Indian-born Washington University School of Medicine researchers, Raja Dandamudi, MD, and Vikas Dharnidharka, MD, MPH, contributed to the study, which was led by researchers from the Universite Paris Cite and doctors from the Assistance Publique—Hopitaux de Paris.
“Many studies of newer biomarkers to detect acute rejection in kidney transplants are not very large and cannot study various sub-populations, limiting their generalizability,” Dharnidharka said. This work was a very large international collaboration. The analyses demonstrated that dd-cfDNA improves the acute rejection detection beyond our standard of care monitoring, including in subpopulations of transplant recipients of African ancestry or pediatric age.”
“This paper advances our understanding of the benefits of using cf-DNA as a biomarker for rejection and outcomes in kidney transplantation,” said Tarek Alhamad, professor of Medicine at WashU Medicine.
While biopsies will continue as the method of rejection diagnosis, the potential of dd-cfDNA to improve early rejection diagnosis is a reassuring development. This could significantly enhance the care of kidney transplant recipients, providing a more confident and proactive approach to their health.
(Representational photo)
–IANS
