Panel-reactive antibody
Panel-reactive antibody (PRA)
Panel-reactive antibody (PRA) is a measure of the level of pre-formed antibodies in a patient's blood that are reactive against a panel of donor human leukocyte antigen (HLA) molecules. It is used in the field of organ transplantation to assess the risk of organ rejection.
Pronunciation: /ˈpænəl riˈæktɪv ˈæntɪˌbɒdi/
Etymology: The term "panel-reactive antibody" is derived from the method of testing for these antibodies, which involves a panel of cells or purified HLA molecules.
Related Terms
- Human leukocyte antigen (HLA): A group of proteins present on the surface of all cells in a combination unique to each individual, except for identical twins. HLA is responsible for the regulation of the immune system in humans.
- Antibody: A protein produced by the body's immune system when it detects harmful substances, called antigens.
- Organ transplantation: A medical procedure in which an organ is removed from one body and placed in the body of a recipient, to replace a damaged or missing organ.
- Organ rejection: A process in which a transplant recipient's immune system attacks the transplanted organ or tissue.
Usage
The PRA test is used to determine the likelihood of a patient's body rejecting a transplanted organ. A high PRA percentage indicates that the patient has a high level of antibodies that are reactive against a wide range of HLA types, which increases the risk of organ rejection.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Panel-reactive antibody
- Wikipedia's article - Panel-reactive antibody
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