Matches

[wonderingjen]

Hello all - I recently posted in this forum wanting help accepting my friend's kidney, as he was recently approved. I got so many helpful responses I've decided to post another question: Based on HLA Typing, this friend actually doesn't appear to be a great match. Out of something like ten categories, we only match on one. And I don't create any antibodies to him either, which is good.

My nephrologist is telling me that matching is more involved than just looking at those ten categories and if the donor team is saying we're a match, then we're a match. I still, though, can't help but wonder if we would be a better match if we had more of those HLA categories in common (perhaps allowing me to keep the kidney longer and/or use less immunosuppression).

What do you know about matching? Is it better to have more of those HLA categories in common?

Thank you!

[Transplant2018]

Congratulations! That's wonderful news that he was approved. HLA matching used to be far more important, but is less so with current immunosuppressants. Accept with gratitude this extraordinary gift.

[wonderingjen in reply to Transplant2018]

Thanks for your response, Transplant2018 - I appreciate it!

[Darlenia in reply to Transplant2018]

I agree. My husband's match wasn't very close; I think only two matched. He's had his transplant for 3+ years and everything is stable.

[wonderingjen in reply to Darlenia]

Darlenia -- Thank you; and so glad to hear your husband still has his transplanted kidney and hope he stays in good health for years to come.

[DexterLab]

For my transplant, a different test was done. As I understand it, they isolated the white blood cells from my sample then dumped them in his blood sample and looked for how strong the reaction was. So this is a direct measure of how well my immune system tolerated his kidney and whether the immunosuppressants could handle it. I'm over 5 years post-transplant so it seems to work! Part of being on the list was giving a blood sample every few months so they could do this test. Congratulations on finding a donor and hope the transplant goes well.

[wonderingjen in reply to DexterLab]

Do you happen to know what that test they did for you is called, DexterLab?

[DexterLab in reply to wonderingjen]

I had to look it up. Flow cytometry and cytotoxicity are the tests

[wonderingjen in reply to DexterLab]

Thank you, DexterLab! I'll look into it.

[LZBTH]

My husband had a similar issue. He went through the National Kidney Registry and used their Exchange Voucher program. His son donated to someone else and the Registry found an excellent match for him. Look into them.

[wonderingjen]

Thank you, LZBTH. Is this Exchange Voucher program the same thing as the Kidney Paired Donation program?

[LZBTH in reply to wonderingjen]

Not sure of the exact name of the voucher. I think of it as the “mix & match” voucher.

[wonderingjen in reply to LZBTH]

Thanks.

[ShyeLoverDoctor]

I matched 2 of 7 antigens. No antibodies. Pristine biopsy. Transplant centers live and die by their one year success statistics. It’s in their own best interests to have successful transplants.

Yes, there is the heady power of internet searches and being able to see test results. And then there is leaving this up to doctors with years and years of training and experience. Stop trying to outthink them. You’re not doing yourself any favors.

Huge congratulations on finding a living donor it’s really amazing.

[wonderingjen in reply to ShyeLoverDoctor]

ShyeLoverDoctor - You've got my number when you talk about internet searches, etc. I can barely buy anything without looking on Consumer Reports. Your words really resonate. THANK YOU.

[ShyeLoverDoctor in reply to wonderingjen]

You’re welcome . It’s good to be informed, but some people take it too far and it’s just driving their anxiety higher. Stick to a few highly reliable sites like Mayo or Cleveland Clinic or kidney.org. Transplant is highly highly specialized medicine. Even my nephrologist said he doesn’t know everything about it and leaves it to transplant nephrologists.

[wonderingjen]

👍 thanks again.