title: Recipients who receive a human leukocyte antigen-B compatible cadaveric liver allograft are at high risk of developing acute graft-versus-host disease.
abstract: Acute graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) is an uncommon but often fatal complication after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). To determine whether there is an association between human leukocyte antigen (HLA) matching and the development of GvHD after cadaveric OLT, we undertook a retrospective, single-center analysis of 412 consecutive adult recipients where HLA typing data was available. Seven (1.7%) recipients developed acute GvHD, and six died from their disease. Donor compatibility at HLA-B but not at HLA-A or -DR was identified as a significant risk factor for the development of GvHD. Of 14 recipients with no HLA-B mismatches, 3 (21%) developed GvHD (odds ratio 27, P<0.001). Conversely, of 262 recipients mismatched at both HLA-B loci, only 1 (0.4%) developed GvHD (odds ratio 0.09, P<0.01). Our findings suggest that patients receiving a liver allograft with no HLA-B mismatched antigens are at increased risk of developing GvHD.
authors.affiliation: Tissue Typing Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Key
authors.forename: Craig J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: J Andrew
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Bradley
authors.forename: Anna L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D015235:HLA-B Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006648:Histocompatibility; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
chemical_list: D015235:HLA-B Antigens