INFLUENCE OF HL-A INCOMPATIBILITY ON CADAVERIC RENAL TRANSPLANTATION

The effect of graft incompatibility with respect to antigens of the HL-A system was analysed in 52 cases of cadaveric renal transplantation followed for a period of between 3 months and 2 years after transplantation. The total number of graft incompatibilities was significantly correlated with the subsequent clinical status of the patients. When incompatibility was limited to one antigen or less, 75% of the patients have had good or moderately good transplant function to the present time. As the number of incompatibilities increased, the proportion of patients whose transplants functioned satisfactorily diminished. Death of the patient or graft failure occurred in all 8 cases in which there were five or more detectable incompatibilities. It is concluded that prospective HL-A-antigen typing of donors and recipients should be carried out whenever possible, so that multiple incompatibilities can be avoided.