Minor Histocompatibility Antigens and Marrow Transplantation

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Abstract
Acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and graft rejection are the principal obstacles to successful allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. Even among recipients of transplants from HLA-identical siblings, the incidence of severe acute GVHD ranges from 20 to 50 percent, depending on the type of immunosuppressive prophylaxis given after transplantation.1 Among recipients of apparently HLA-identical marrow from unrelated donors, the incidence of acute GVHD can reach 64 percent.2 The frequent occurrence of GVHD and graft rejection after the transplantation of marrow from HLA-identical siblings underscores the importance of factors other than HLA antigens. Two articles in this issue of the Journal address possible . . .