The Effect of Individual HLA Antigens on Graft Survival Rates in Kidney Transplant Patients

We have used information available in the UCLA International Transplant Registry to study the effect of HLA antigens on graft survival outcome. All results showed that of all antigens tested, the presence of DR1 in the recipient was associated with the highest graft survival rate. There was a positive matching effect for most DR antigens that were either presumed homozygous or heterozygous in the recipient. A regression analysis not only confirmed the association of DR1 and low immune response, but also suggested a greater importance of the DR rather than A or B locus to graft survival rates. Recipients with DR1,5 had the highest survival rates when DR1 was compared with other DR antigens and the heterozygous combinations of the two groups. This suggests that presence of heterozygous DR antigens may have combined effects on graft survival.