Original disease of the recipient

1. The use of CsA in cadaver donor transplants has apparently overcome the effect of original disease one-year graft survival rates. Only SLE patients had lower than average graft survival rates in CsA-treated, first transplants. 2. Since 1970, the proportion of diabetics transplanted has increased tenfold. The proportions of transplants for glomerulonephritis and pyelonephritis have decreased over the years. 3. A beneficial effect of pretransplant blood transfusions, was observed in almost all of the disease groups. 4. HLA matching, particularly for HLA-B, DR antigens, has resulted in increased graft survival rates in the major disease categories. Small numbers of zero mismatched grafts prevented a more detailed analysis. 5. Whereas CsA consistently enhanced graft survival rates for first cadaver transplants, this drug had a much smaller effect in living donor transplants. A 14% increase was seen in cadaver donor transplants due to CsA, compared to 2% (siblings), 1% (parent), and 4% (child) for the living donor grafts.