Match compatibility markers (HLA, antigens, etc)

Posted by hello1234 @hello1234, Jun 13, 2022

Hi Everyone,
I am a kidney transplant patient. At my latest appointment with my local nephrologist, he asked me if I had any details regarding the quality of match (with my donor) that I received. I am going to be celebrating my 2 year transplant anniversary in July. I have not had any conversations like that with my transplant team. Have you?
My local nephrologist said that my transplant hospital definitely has that information. It sounds like antibodies, antigens, etc that are cross matched after matching blood type is confirmed.
Have you had any "match compatibility" conversations with your transplant team or have you received any post-transplant testing that gave you additional information regarding the quality of your match?
Thanks everyone!

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Hello1234,
Here is my experience in the first 2 encounters :

At our first group meeting (donors & recipients) I was super curious about my match as I was on the border line of going in for Dialysis or Transplant (gfr 10 or below at times),

Apart from the blood group match when I found out our PRA value was 0, (Panel Reactive Antibodies), That was the night I slept like a log ( which I had not in last 10 years - due to deteriorating kidney condition/anxiety/BP)

My understanding is PRA value of 0 for transplant is highly desirable for the initial match. Any value above 0 presents risk, at that point lot of other attributes come into play (which are determined as per Performing Transplant Center Policies).

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@l0lag0lag0b3 Thank you so much for your response. I never heard of the PRA value before, so you educated me! Sounds like you had a wonderful result with zero. I can understand why you slept so well after hearing the number! Did you receive your kidney transplant? I checked my portal and I see a lab test called "Type and Screen" that includes my Blood type A+ and an Antibody Screen that says Negative and ELXM that is listed as Eligible. I wonder if the Antibody Screen is the same thing as PRA? Also, I am curious if there is more detailed compatibility matching information regarding antigens, but I just don't know where to find it on the portal. I am looking in the Lab tests on the date of my transplant. If you had your transplant, did they give you any additional "match compatibility" information regarding you and your donor?
Thank you again for educating me about PRA (Panel Reactive Antibodies) test! 😊

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Yes I have had the transplant & my wife was the donor... which till today to me is a miracle....
I cannot comment on the Type & Screen test as I am not educated in field of medicine ( have an Engineering Background) , but as long as there are no antibodies are developed against the donor, That is a positive development. (PRA is also known as % Reactive Antibodies).

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@l0lag0lag0b3

Yes I have had the transplant & my wife was the donor... which till today to me is a miracle....
I cannot comment on the Type & Screen test as I am not educated in field of medicine ( have an Engineering Background) , but as long as there are no antibodies are developed against the donor, That is a positive development. (PRA is also known as % Reactive Antibodies).

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@l0lag0lag0b3 Congratulations on your transplant! It's absolutely wonderful that your wife was your donor. Thank you so much for letting me know about PRA and Congrats on your zero PRA score. 😊

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