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©2014 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Transplant. Mar 24, 2014; 4(1): 30-39
Published online Mar 24, 2014. doi: 10.5500/wjt.v4.i1.30
Published online Mar 24, 2014. doi: 10.5500/wjt.v4.i1.30
Immune monitoring post liver transplant
Siddharth Sood, Adam G Testro, Liver Transplant Unit Victoria, Level 8 HSB, Austin Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3084, Australia
Author contributions: Sood S and Testro AG were involved in the writing of this manuscript.
Correspondence to: Adam G Testro, Head of Liver Immunology Research, Liver Transplant Unit Victoria, Level 8 HSB, Austin Health, University of Melbourne, Studley Road, Heidelberg, Melbourne, Victoria 3084, Australia. adam.testro@austin.org.au
Telephone: +61-3-94965353 Fax: +61-3-94963487
Received: November 27, 2013
Revised: January 14, 2014
Accepted: January 17, 2014
Published online: March 24, 2014
Revised: January 14, 2014
Accepted: January 17, 2014
Published online: March 24, 2014
Core Tip
Core tip: Although many research assays have attempted to identify potential biomarkers that may be used to monitor immune function after liver transplantation, most require significant laboratory processing and are not clinically feasible. The rejection cascade is complex and not completely understood, with many likely interactions between innate and adaptive immune processes. Therefore, no single test is likely to provide a fool-proof window to the immune response and a combination of assays may be necessary. However, nothing can replace the clinical judgement of an expert transplant clinician for pooling together data to individualize immunosuppression therapy.