CYTOMEGALOVIRUS AND HLA-A, HLA-B, AND DR LOCUS INTERACTIONS - IMPACT ON RENAL-TRANSPLANT GRAFT-SURVIVAL

Graft failure rates for renal transplantations performed between 1989 and 1994 and recorded in the US Renal Data System database were retros pectively evaluated for interactions between cytomegalovirus and HLA-A , B, and DR loci. Twelve significant interactions were observed. There were significantly greater risks of graft failure for the total effec t of cytomegalovirus and donor or matched HLA-DRS, recipient or matche d HLA-B-51, and matched HLA-B13. We conclude that further study of ren al transplants with these combinations of cytomegalovirus and HLA loci is needed to determine whether the observed interactions should be ta ken into consideration when matching donors with recipients. (C) 1997 by the National Kidney Foundation, Inc.