Excellent outcome after transplantation of renal allografts from HLA-DRw6-positive donors even in HLA-DR mismatches.

The effect of the presence or absence in the donor of HLA-DRw6 on the survival of renal allografts was studied in 759 HLA-DRw6-negative recipients. The definition of HLA-DRw6 was consistent throughout the study period. 578 patients received an allograft with one HLA-DR mismatch and 181 an allograft with two HLA-DR mismatches. Allograft survival at 1 year was significantly better when the donors were HLA-DRw6-positive than when they were HLA-DRw6-negative, for both one-DR-mismatched (86% vs 65%) and two-DR-mismatched (85% vs 59%) allografts.