Short Tandem Repeat Analysis in a Living Related Donor Adult Renal Transplant Recipient with Rare Natural Chimerism.

After renal transplant, immunosuppression therapy is used to reduce the risk of rejection. Here, we describe the case of an adult living related donor renal transplant recipient with rare natural chimerism, as discovered by short tandem repeat sequence analysis. In our process of matching transplant patients, we perform human leukocyte antigen testing and short tandem repeat chimerism testing to decide postoperative immunosuppression strategy for transplant patients. We analyzed the short tandem repeat chimerism status before renal transplant and determined that this patient represented a rare case of natural chimerism. Assessment of organ recipient chimerism can inform physicians regarding a dosage reduction of immunosuppressive agents. Short tandem repeat sequence analysis provides substantial information regarding existing polymorphisms and can identify chimerism, if present, and thereby guide immunosuppression strategies after renal transplant, which may improve the long-term immunosuppression-free survival of renal transplant recipients.