Assessment of the Cylex ImmuKnow Cell Function Assay in Pediatric Heart Transplant Patients

An immune function assay predicts post-transplant recurrence in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

“…As reported, the Cylex ImmuKnow assay has a high predictive value and provides a target immunological response level for minimizing the risk of post-transplant infection and rejection in solid organ transplantation (Kowalski et al 2006;Husain et al 2009;Bhorade et al 2008). However, a few studies have indicated that the immune function assay has a very limited role in assessing the risk of infection or rejection in cardiac transplant recipients (Gupta et al 2008;Rossano et al 2009) and the risk of rejection in renal transplantation after Thymoglobulin induction therapy (Serban et al 2009). In our ROC analysis, we found that the immune function assay was helpful in the diagnosis of infection and rejection with acceptable levels of sensitivity and specificity.…”

Era Effect on Post-transplant Survival Adjusted for Baseline Risk Factors in Pediatric Heart Transplant Recipients

“…Because clinical measures are often accepted into clinical practice before their benefits have been demonstrated in children, it will be important to study novel interventions when equipoise exists regarding their benefit. Newer, non-invasive methods to monitor the state of immunosuppression (such as the Cylex ImmuKnow test) 29,30 and quantitative viral assays 31 may hold promise in reducing morbidities associated with over-immunosuppression.…”

Temporal Response of the Human Virome to Immunosuppression and Antiviral Therapy

“…Patient-to-patient variability in the sensitivity to suppression of immune function is known to occur (Wieland et al, 2010) and the lack of predictability in immunosuppression is an important risk factor in transplantation. A commercial assay for the measurement of immunocompetence is available but was found not to be predictive of acute rejection or significant infections (Rossano et al, 2009). The development of methods for the direct measurement of immunocompetence that can replace or complement existing assays will therefore be important (Wieland et al, 2010).…”