The importance of HLA matching in primary cadaveric kidney transplantation in Gothenburg.

The importance of HLA matching was studied for 319 primary cadaveric kidney transplantations during the period 1969-1976. During 1969-1972 the HLA match was the basis for recipient selection and most cases belonged to match grade 0 or 1. Graft survival was significantly better for match grade 0. Within match grade 1 cases with one foreign HLA B antigen had lower graft survival than cases with one foreign HLA A antigen, indicating the importance of the HLA B series. During 1973-1976 the HLA match was hardly considered in recipient selection. HLA matching during this period seemed to be of less importance, except for match grade 0 and the totally mismatched cases. When matching was performed for the HLA B series, it was found that graft survival was significantly improved when no or only one foreign HLA B antigen was present. The prognosis for cases with foreign HLA B antigen was significantly better during the later period.