AN ADVERSE MATCHING EFFECT FOR THE HLA-B LOCUS IN CORNEAL TRANSPLANTATION

The results of tissue typing on 115 recipient/donor pairs prior to cor neal grafting were analyzed with the proportional hazard regression mo del for the incidence of the first rejection episode and for graft fai lure from rejection. Like other investigators, we found that a previou sly failed corneal graft and the degree of recipient corneal vasculari zation were significant risk factors for graft rejection. ABO blood gr oup matching had no effect. The absence of mismatches in both the HLA- A and HLA-DR loci decreased the incidence of rejection. However, no di fference was observed for the presence of one versus two mismatches. R egression results for the HLA-A and DR loci were not significant. Surp risingly, matching for one or both HLA-B alleles resulted in a signifi cantly higher incidence of graft rejection episodes (P < 0.005) and of graft failure (P < 0.052). This adverse matching effect for the B loc us was proportional to the number of mismatches.