Steroid sensitivity of chronic uraemic and renal transplant patients measured by the antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity reaction.

The steroid (methylprednisolone) sensitivity of chronic uraemic and renal transplant patients was examined on the basis of the extent of inhibition of the antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) reaction, and via the effect on the ADCC capacity test (ADCC-C). Individuals with an inhibition of 30% or more were classified as steroid-sensitive. Immunopharmacological tests and the clinical picture showed 67%, 12 of the 18 renal transplant patients to be steroid-sensitive. In 92% of the cases the transplanted kidney was functioning well one year or more postoperatively. In 5 of the 6 steroid-resistant patients rejection necessitated removal of the transplanted kidney. The method is simple to perform and gives reproducible results, and appears suitable for application in clinical practice.