ABO Blood Type Antigens in Kidney Transplantation

Introduction to ABO Compatibility

The American Society of Transplantation recommends ABO blood group compatibility for kidney transplantation to prevent hyperacute rejection and graft failure 1, 2
ABO blood typing should be performed twice before donation to reduce the risk of unintended blood type incompatible transplantation, as suggested by the American Journal of Kidney Diseases 3
Donor blood group A subtype testing should be performed when donation is planned for recipients with anti-A antibodies, according to the American Journal of Kidney Diseases 3

ABO blood group compatibility is the primary consideration for donor eligibility, as stated by the American Society of Transplantation 1, 2
HLA matching improves long-term outcomes in kidney transplantation, as reported by the American Society of Transplantation 2, 4
Donor-specific crossmatching excludes donor organs from recipients with preexisting anti-donor immunity, as recommended by the American Society of Transplantation 1

ABO-incompatible transplantation carries increased risks and should still be considered experimental, according to the American Society of Transplantation 2, 4
Kidney paired donation programs can be considered for ABO-incompatible donors and recipients, as suggested by the American Journal of Kidney Diseases 3, 5
A2 to O transplantation may be successful in certain circumstances, as reported by the American Society of Transplantation 1, 4

Determining ABO blood type compatibility between donor and recipient is the first step in transplant evaluation, as recommended by the American Society of Transplantation 1, 2
Recipients should be informed about the risks and benefits of different transplant options based on blood type compatibility, as suggested by the American Journal of Kidney Diseases 3
ABO compatibility testing is the first step in donor evaluation before proceeding to more complex histocompatibility testing, as stated by the American Society of Transplantation 1, 4

Relying solely on ABO compatibility without proper crossmatching can lead to transplant failure, as warned by the American Society of Transplantation 1, 6
ABO-incompatible transplantation should only be performed at centers with experience in effective incompatibility management strategies, as recommended by the American Journal of Kidney Diseases 3, 5