TRANSPLANTATION RATE OF THE BLOOD GROUP B WAITING LIST IS INCREASED BY USING A2 AND A2B KIDNEYS1

Abstract

We have increased the transplantation rate for blood group B cadaveric waiting list candidates by transplanting them with A2 and A2B kidneys. Since 1991, five of the seven renal transplant programs in our organ procurement organization service area have preferentially transplanted blood group A2 and A2B cadaveric kidneys to B blood group waiting list candidates with histories of low anti-A isoagglutinin titers. Between 1991 and 1997, these five centers performed transplantations on 71 patients from the B cadaveric waiting list. Of those 71 patients, 29% (21 of 71) underwent transplantation with either A2 (n=18) or A2 B (n=3) cadaveric kidneys. In 1997 alone, 48% (11 of 23) of the B patient transplant recipients received A2 or A2B kidneys. Transplantation of A2 and A2B kidneys into B waiting list patients has successfully increased access of B patients to kidneys. Such an allocation algorithm implemented nationally may similarly increase the transplantation rate of B waiting list candidates.