Background Despite growing interest about the impact of donor specific anti-HLA antibodies (DSA) in liver transplantation (LT) little is known about their role in T cell-mediated rejection (TCMR) or in pediatric recipients. Aim To analyze whether the presence of DSA was associated with the development of TCMR in pediatric LT recipients and to identify factors potentially associated with the development of de novo DSA post LT. Methods Retrospective single-center study involving children (0-16 years) having undergone LT between 01.01.2005 - 31.12.2015. Serum obtained before LT and at LB was analyzed for presence of recipient anti-HLA-antibody. Results The overall prevalence of de novo DSA was 70.2%, most of them class II. Preformed DSA were present in 18/57 (31.6%) of patients. Twenty-eight (28/57) patients (49.1%) presented at least one TCMR episode, mostly (12/28, 42.9%) mild (Banff 4-5). Neither preformed- nor de novo DSA were associated with the incidence or severity of TCMR.