Renal transplantation in highly sensitized patients: five years of the SOS Scheme

1. One-year graft survival of 218 patients transplanted through the SOS Scheme for highly sensitized recipients was 65%. There was significant improvement in the graft survival of 135 patients transplanted from 1986 to 1988, compared to the 83 patients transplanted from 1984 to 1985 (70% vs 56% at 1 year). 2. Of the 513 patients entered into the SOS Scheme, 218 (42%) received a graft, and of those 218, 179 were transplanted within 1 year. 3. Sex and previous graft history influenced the patient's sensitization status. Males with previously failed grafts and females waiting for their first transplant appeared at greater risk of becoming highly sensitized. 4. HLA matching improved graft survival in highly sensitized patients. The effect of matching was most evident for DR and for HLA-B and DR combined. The effect of matching for HLA-A was minimal. 5. HLA-DR1-positive individuals appeared to be at lower risk of becoming highly sensitized. In addition, DR1-positive highly sensitized patients had superior graft survival compared to DR1 negative recipients.