IMPORTANCE OF HLA-DR MATCHING IN POLYTRANSFUSED CADAVERIC KIDNEY TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS

Abstract

Since Aug. 1978 prospective HLA-DR typing has been performed in 157 donor-recipient pairs. All recipients received pretransplant blood transfusions. HLA-DR matching can significantly improve the survival of cadaveric kidney allografts, even in polytransfused recipients. Patients receiving kidneys with no HLA-DR incompatibilities have a 1-yr graft survival of 97%, vs. 86% for recipients with 1 HLA-DR incompatibility and 73% for recipients with 2 HLA-DR incompatibilities. The cumulative dose of corticosteroids during the 1st yr after transplantation is significantly lower in patients with no DR-incompatibilities. HLA-A and B matching have no additional effect on graft survival.