title: Effect of blood transfusions on first cadaveric graft and uremic patient survival.
abstract: The 404 cadaveric first transplant candidates registered in Norway at the end of 1977, have been analyzed for blood transfusions; 346 of these patients have been transplanted, 45 died prior to transplantation, while 4 patients have not yet received a transplant and 9 were excluded from the analysis. Slightly less than half of the transplanted patients had been transfused, and these demonstrated significantly better graft survival, most pronounced in those receiving 5 or more transfusions. The majority of the patients dying while waiting for a transplant had been transfused, and in these also a significantly higher frequency of cytotoxic HLA antibodies was observed. All 4 still waiting patients are transfused and have multispecific antibodies. The increase in graft survival after blood transfusions was most pronounced in 1-2  HLA incompatible transplants, less in 3 and 4 antigen incompatible transplants, and no increase was seen in compatible transplants. When analyzing for rejection episodes, however, significant decrease was seen in all transfused groups compared to non-transfused.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D005260:Female; D006085:Graft Survival; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006650:Histocompatibility Testing; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D006680:HLA Antigens