Role of class I and class II HLA antigens in cadaveric renal transplantation

HLA matching at MT and DQ appears to be an important predictor of allograft survival. Allografts with no MM at MT and DQ have a good outcome while a known MM at MT and DQ appears to be associated with poor allograft outcome. Thus, our priority should be to avoid an MM for these broad-reacting specificities and then to minimize incompatibilities at DR and HLA-B. Furthermore, our data indicate that allografts with MM at DQ and two MMs at HLA-B appear to be at a higher risk. Perhaps these latter transplants should not be performed with conventional immunosuppressive therapy.