title: Options for immunologic support of renal transplantation through the HLA and immunology laboratories.
abstract: HLA and immunology laboratories are an integral part of clinical kidney transplant programs. They assist transplant clinicians with evaluating the immunological suitability of potential recipients for transplantation and selecting donor-recipient combinations with a low risk of immunological failure. With sophisticated new techniques becoming available for posttransplant immunological monitoring, laboratories play an increasing supporting role during posttransplant follow up. The level of precision at which immunological testing predicts clinical outcome, however, leaves room for improvement. In this article, we summarize the current state of diagnostics, discuss problems, and point out promising developments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Transplantation Immunology, Institute of Immunology, University of Heidelberg, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Süsal
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Opelz
mesh_terms: D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000517:prevention & control; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006650:Histocompatibility Testing; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D006680:HLA Antigens; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents