Kidney transplantation by use of splenectomy and transfusions, cadaver haplotype matching, suppressor cell assays, and T-cell monitoring.

We attempted to modulate several determinants of the host immunologic profile to improve kidney transplant survival: (1) genotype matching of the cadaver donor with the recipient, (2) assessment in recipients of living related donors (LRD) for predisposition to generate suppressor cells in mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC), (3) pretransplant splenectomy and transfusions, and (4) posttransplant immunologic monitoring. Between January, 1979, and July, 1980, 48 primary renal transplants were performed and followed up between 6 and 24 months. Pretransplant splenectomy was performed, and transfusions were administered in 38 of 48 and 48 of 48 patients, respectively. Donors and recipients of 10 of 11 cadaveric transplants were genotyped and selected for one HLA haplotype identity. All 10 proved to also be one DR antigen matches. There were no cadaveric kidney losses, but one surgical antibody to T cell subtest were used to modulate rejection therapy. The LRD group (n = 37) included 13 HLA-identical, seven haploidentical low MLC reactors, and 17 haploidentical high MLC reactors. Three deaths occurred (diabetes and myocardial infarction, stroke, and pancreatitis). A three-component coculture assay was used in the LRD group before transplantation to determine the capacity to generate specific and nonspecific MLC suppressor cells. Suppressor cells were seen in 17 patients given standard immunosuppression postoperatively without rejection episodes. However, in 20 patients incapable of generating suppressor cells, seven biopsy-proved rejection episodes occurred. There were no kidney losses, with 44 of 48 surviving recipients demonstrating normal renal function.