STUDIES ON THE STRENGTH OF HLA ANTIGENS IN RELATED DONOR KIDNEY TRANSPLANTS

Abstract

From a study of 3171 related donor kidney transplants the following results were obtained. HL-A-identical sibling transplants survive at a rate of .apprx. 85% at 1 yr, regardless of whether 2, 3 or 4 HL-A antigens are identified. Offspring donor transplants survive at similar rates, regardless of whether the recipient is a mother or father. Transplants from uncles or aunts survive at similar rates as parental donor transplants. Non-HL-A antigens contribute .apprx. 15% to the 1 yr kidney transplant failure rate. The strength of an HL-A haplotype is reflected in a difference of .apprx. 15% in the 1 yr graft survival rate. The strength of a single HL-A antigen contributes .apprx. 4% to the 1 yr graft survival. The HL-A-A or -B loci and antigens of different HL-A specificities are roughly of equal immunogenicity. The relative strength of HL-A antigens in human kidney transplants is best shown in the well controlled situation of related donor grafts.