SARS-CoV-2 mRNA Vaccination Is Not Associated With the Risk of Allosensitization in Patients Awaiting Kidney Transplantation

otential proinflammatory events such as vaccination may be associated with an increased risk of allosensitization,1 which for waitlisted candidates becomes an obstacle for successful kidney transplantation. Potential vaccine-induced antibody-mediated alloresponse resulting in sensitization should be detectable by an increasing trend in values of panel-reactive antibody (PRA) measurements and by increases in antiHLA antibodies. To assess the potential link between severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 mRNA vaccination and an increased humoral allosensitization in kidney transplant candidates, we conducted this retrospective observational study. The final analysis included the results of 146 waitlisted candidates who received 2 doses of mRNA vaccine and 121 unvaccinated candidates, all from the period between January 2020 and October 2021. PRAs were measured every 3 mo using the standard technique.2,3 PRA categories were defined as low (PRA 51%) according to the mean PRA. Anti-HLA antibodies were analyzed in the subgroup of 21 highly sensitized candidates (peak PRA > 50%) using the single antigen bead technology. Screening was performed using the LabScreeThis work was supported by the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic grant NU22-C-126 and by the National Institute for Research of Metabolic and Cardiovascular Diseases (Program EXCELES, Project No. LX22NPO5104)— Funded by the European Union—Next Generation EU