Transplantation Tolerance and Noninherited Maternal HLA Antigens

Matching of donor and recipient with regard to their HLA antigens is one of the well-established factors influencing kidney graft survival. In the first 5-6 months after transplantation a dominant role for HLA-DR matching has been described, while the effect of matching for HLA class I antigens, mainly the B locus antigens, continues to be important for at least 3 years (Thorogood et al. 1990; Gilks et al. 1990).