title: The Lewis system and kidney transplantation.
abstract: A significant effect of Lewis antigens on cadaver kidney graft survival was found in 1,300 North American transplants. Lewis-negative recipients had a graft survival rate that was 8% lower than that of Lewis-positive recipients (P = 0.05). This effect of Lewis antigens was enhanced in patients at a high failure risk as determined by age, race, or transplant center. In patients older than 30 years, the effect of Lewis was 14% (P = 0.07), in non-Caucasians 12% (P = 0.07), in all grafts performed at centers with less than 50% overall 1-year graft survival 12% (P = 0.03), and in non-Caucasians that received transplants in centers with less than 50% overall graft survival it was 18% (p = 0.01). These data confirm previous results on the role of Lewis as a histocompatibility system in renal transplantation; furthermore, they demonstrate that the influence of Lewis is larger in patients at high risk.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D007983:Lewis Blood Group Antigens / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D044469:Racial Groups; D012306:Risk
chemical_list: D007983:Lewis Blood Group Antigens