Objectives:

This study aims to compare the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) phenotype frequencies between patients with high levels of panel reactive antibodies (PRA) and controls, and analyze the HLA profiles in the study population.

Patients and methods:

The study included 144 highly sensitized patients (46 males, 98 females) with positive PRA and end-stage renal failure, and 533 control cadaveric donors. HLA tissue typing and PRA level tests were performed in Akdeniz University Medical Faculty Pediatric Immunology Department, Tissue Typing Laboratory. HLA class I and class II alleles were detected with polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific oligonucleotide-Luminex, and PRA levels with Luminex.

Results:

In the group with positive PRA; HLA-A24, HLA-B50, and HLA-DRB1*01 frequencies were statistically significantly different. No significant difference was present between the other HLA A, B, and DR antigens.

Conclusion:

While carrying commonly observed HLA antigens seems to be associated with lower PRA rates, patients carrying rarely observed HLA antigens should be given priority in organ transplant waiting lists.

Keywords: