The HLA dictionary 1999: a summary of HLA-A, -B, -C,-DRB1/3/4/5,-DQB1 alleles and their association with serologically defined HLA-A, -B, -C, -DR and-DQ antigens

This report presents serologic equivalents of 90 HLA-A, 190 HLA-B and 145 H LA-DRB1 alleles. The equivalents cover over 70% of the presently identified HLA-A, -B and -DRB1 alleles. The dictionary is an update of the one publis hed in 1997 and now also includes equivalents for HLA-C, DRB3, DRB4, DRB5 a nd DQB1 alleles. The data summarize information obtained by the WHO HLA Nom enclature Committee, the International Cell Exchange (UCLA), the National M arrow Donor Program (NMDP) and by individual laboratories. In addition, a l isting is provided of alleles which are expressed as antigens with serologi c reaction patterns that differ from the well-established HLA specificities and that often lack official WHO nomenclature. The provided equivalents wi ll be useful in guiding searches for unrelated donors in which patients and /or potential donors are typed by either serology or DNA-based methods. The se equivalents will also serve typing and matching procedures for organ tra nsplant programs where HLA typings from donors and from recipients on waiti ng lists represent mixtures of serologic and molecular typings. Some guidel ines are provided for the use of appropriate WHO HLA nomenclature for serol ogical typings and for generic and allele specific typings obtained with mo lecular methods. The tables with HLA equivalents and the questionnaire for submission of serology on poorly identified alleles will also be available at the WMDA web page: www.bmdw.org/wmda.