Correlation between mixed lymphocyte culture in compatibility and cadaver kidney graft rejection

One-way mixed lymphocyte culture reactivity of recipient lymphocytes against the donor lymphocytes was measured in 11 recipients of cadaver kidneys. Peripheral blood was drawn from donors and recipients before the transplantation and lymphocytes isolated and frozen down for later typing. In one experiment, the lymphocytes from 11 recipient-donor pairs were thawed and the reactivity of the lymphocytes of the recipient towards the irradiated lymphocytes of the donor was estimated. Two unrelated controls were included, and the results were expressed as stabilized relative response taking into account both variations in responder- and stimulator capability of the lymphocytes. Four patients with a high relative response (above 50) had rejection episodes during the first month of transplantation in contrast to seven patients with a low relative response, who had no rejection episodes during the first month (p = 0.003). At six months, three of the four high responders had lost their graft compared to two of the seven low responders.