IMMUNOLOGICAL RESPONSES IN HUMAN RECIPIENTS OF OSSEOUS AND OSTEOCHONDRAL ALLOGRAFTS

A multiinstitutional study was carried out to evaluate immunologic res ponses for human recipients of massive frozen (-80 degrees C) osseous and osteochondral allografts, Allografts were used to reconstruct skel etal defects associated with a variety of traumatic degenerative and n eoplastic disorders, Serum samples were obtained before surgery and fr om 1 month to 4 years after surgery. Sera were tested by microcytotoxi city against T cells from 60 donors for human leukocyte antigen Class I antibodies and against beta(2)-microglobulin treated B cells from 40 donors for human leukocyte antigen Class II antibodies, Panels were s elected to represent the majority of known human leukocyte antigen spe cificities. Of the 84 cases evaluated, 62 (74%) received blood transfu sions and 28 of 44 (64%) female recipients had been previously pregnan t. Sensitization before transplant was shown in 33 of 84 (39%) patient s. After grafting, 49 of 84 (58%) recipients showed evidence of sensit ization to Class I antigens and 46 of 84 (55%) recipients showed evide nce to sensitization to Class II antigens. Overall sensitization was 6 7%.