title: Current role of human leukocyte antigen matching in kidney transplantation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  With graft survival rates steadily improving during the recent years, there is debate whether donor kidneys should still be allocated according to compatibility for human leukocyte antigens (HLA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Recent studies argue for continued kidney exchange efforts for achieving better HLA compatibility. In this modern era of immunosuppression, better HLA matching is associated not only with better graft survival, but also with the administration of lower dosages of immunosuppressive agents, a lower incidence of side-effects of immunosuppression such as non-Hodgkin lymphoma, hip fractures, and death from infection, and a lower grade of sensitization if a patient has lost a kidney graft and is relisted for a retransplant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite the overall improved graft survival rates in the recent years, the data continue to support organ sharing based on HLA matching in kidney transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Transplantation Immunology, Institute of Immunology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany. caner.suesal@med.uni-heidelberg.de
authors.forename: Caner
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Süsal
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Opelz
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D006085:Graft Survival; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006650:Histocompatibility Testing; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D008913:Minority Groups; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D014019:Tissue Donors; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
chemical_list: D006680:HLA Antigens; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents