HUMAN-LEUKOCYTE ANTIGEN COMPATIBILITY IN HEART-TRANSPLANTATION - EVIDENCE FOR A DIFFERENTIAL ROLE OF HLA MATCHING ON SHORT-TERM AND MEDIUM-TERM PATIENT SURVIVAL

Background. Studies of the influence of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) matching on cardiac transplant outcome have proved inconclusive, mainl y due to the lack of well-matched grafts. However, a growing number of studies report improved clinical course and patient survival in cases with increased HLA compatibility. Opelz et al. believe these benefits justify the introduction of prospective HLA-matching strategies. Meth ods. We performed univariate and multivariate analyses to examine the short- and medium-term influence of HLA matching on 556 consecutive pr imary heart transplants performed at a single center between 1983 and 1994. Overall graft survival at 1, 3, and 5 years was 80%, 74%, and 67 % respectively. Sixteen (2.9%) grafts failed within 5 days and were no t considered in the analysis of the HLA matching and graft survival da ta. Results. Complete HLA-A, -B, and -DR typing data were available on 477 transplant pairs. The results demonstrate a 12% 1-year survival a dvantage for 31 patients with zero to two HLA antigen mismatches compa red with three to six mismatches. The influence of each individual loc us was 6.1%, 8.4%, and 5.4% for zero HLA-A, -B, and -DR mismatches, re spectively, compared with two mismatches. However, when outcome from 1 to 5 years was considered, analysis of the role of each locus reveale d marked differences. HLA-A-matched grafts (n=45) had a 24% lower surv ival rate compared with two-antigen-mismatched grafts (n=148; 88% [SE 3.1] vs. 64% [SE 8.2], respectively; P=0.009). Furthermore, 34% of HLA -A-matched grafts failed between 1 and 5 years, compared with only 5% of HLA-B-matched grafts (P=0.013). Conclusions. These data suggest tha t although HLA matching is effective at reducing acute graft loss, in the longer term, HLA-A matching may impair survival. HLA-A may serve a s a restriction element for indirect presentation of allopeptides or t issue-specific minor histocompatibility antigens, facilitating chronic graft loss. Therefore, we advocate a differential role for HLA matchi ng over two epochs. A blanket approach to prospective matching for hea rt transplants may be premature for optimal long-term survival.