Matching for HLA antigens of A, B, and DR loci in renal transplantation by Eurotransplant.

79 patients and their respective cadaveric kidney donors were typed for HLA-A, HLA-B, and HLA-DR antigens using frozen stored spleen lymphocytes and fresh peripheral-blood lymphocytes. The kidney-graft survival-rate at 3 to 18 months was highest when donor and recipient shared one or two DR antigens and three or four A and B antigens. The graft-survival rate was significantly higher (87 +/- 6%) at 18 months in these patients than in less well matched patients (48 +/- 9%).