Biostatistical Analysis of Relation between HLA-A/B and HLA-DR Eplet Mismatches and Renal Graft Outcome

Abstract

Abstract: Despite all the clinical interventions that happened during the last 2 decades, the unavailability of a potent donor for renal transplantation remains a concern in the field of transplantation immunology. Recent studies promise the establishment of an effective clinical method to find a potent renal transplant donor, in the near future. Combining the use of molecular techniques with biostatistical methods can be a great tool for clinicians in choosing a potent donor. The present study was conducted from a cohort of 1144 (n=572 pair) renal transplant recipients and their donors to analyse eplet matches and mismatches. Initial observation of increased serum creatinine level which ranged from 2.0 to 21.0 mg/dL in patients treated for end-stage renal disease implied a single event of graft rejection. The statistical correlation between eplet mismatches and graft survival was observed to be significant with P value 0.003. A value of -0.215 at 0.01 significance showed the positive linear correlation between the increased numbers of HLA DR eplet mismatches towards chronic renal graft rejection. The correlation coefficient of -0.888 observed between the number of HLA DR eplet mismatches and days of graft survival clearly implies the effect of increased HLA DR eplet mismatch delayed graft rejection. The study gives an idea on the minimization of class II HLA DR eplet mismatches to decreased frequency of graft rejection as indicated by increased survival rate.