LEUCOCYTE ANTIGENS IN RENAL TRANSPLANTATION: 9. MATCHING FOR THE HL‐A SYSTEM AND THE EARLY COURSE OF CADAVERIC RENAL GRAFTS 1

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The donors and recipients of 62 cadaveric renal transplants performed in five units have been typed both prospectively and retrospectively for nine antigens of the HL‐A leucocyte antigen system. The early course of the graft, as judged by the number and severity of rejection episodes, has been compared with the degree of compatibility between donor and recipient for these antigens. The majority of recipients receiving a badly matched kidney do poorly. Such transplants should be avoided if possible. However, some apparently well‐matched patients also do poorly, reflecting, to a great extent, the incomplete identification of all the relevant antigens of the HL‐A system. Nevertheless, matching by means of leukocyte typing already has a definite place in cadaveric renal transplantation, and this should become increasingly important with further definition of the HL‐A system.