HLA-matching and pretransplant blood transfusions in cadaveric renal transplantation--a changing picture with cyclosporin.

613 patients were included in a study to assess the extent to which HLA-matching and pretransplant blood transfusions affect the outcome of cadaveric renal transplantation in patients treated with cyclosporin and low doses of prednisolone. Matching for the HLA-DR-antigens significantly reduced the frequency of rejection episodes, but neither HLA-matching nor pretransplant blood transfusions influenced the patient and graft survival rates.