Amani M. Ismail, Farha A. El-Chenawy, Mohamed A. Ghoneim
Urology and Nephrology
Center, Mansoura University, Egypt.
Different studies have confirmed the influence of the HLA class II matching on graft survival. Over the last few years, new HLA typing methods have been developed based on molecular techniques. The aim of this study was to compare between the serological and molecular techniques for HLA-typing DR. Forty patients with chronic renal failure waiting for renal transplantation were studied. Serological typing was performed using complement dependent lymphocytotoxicity technique while line probe assay was used for molecular typing. Comparison of the results of the two techniques showed no discrepancies in DR typing in 14(35%) patients, while in 8(20%) patients the PCR lipa technique showed additional DR antigen or splits of antigens. On the other hand, 15(37.5%) patients showed one-allele discrepancy and 3(7.5%) two-allele discrepancy between serology and PCR techniques. In conclusion, serological typing is still considered a reliable method for DR detection. Molecular techniques are useful for cases with blank (serologically unidentified) alleles and/or with cross reactivity.