Analysis of HLA matching in relation to kidney preservation time

The effect of HLA matching on cadaver kidney graft survival was analyzed in relation to the length of cold ischemic kidney preservation prior to implantation. The best correlation was seen when ischemia was greater than 36 hr, however, even with less than 24 hr ischemia there was a good correlation of matching with graft outcome. Importantly, HLA matched kidneys with greater than 36 hr ischemia performed very well, better than poorly matched kidneys with short ischemia.