HLA Matching in US Kidney Transplantation Over Three Decades: Trends, Disparities, and Clinical Implications

This study investigates how HLA matching in kidney transplantation in the US has changed over the past three decades, particularly in relation to evolving allocation policies and donor demographics. The authors found a significant decline in the proportion of well-matched transplants, especially among children and racial minorities, and while HLA matching is still associated with better graft survival, the benefits have diminished in recent years.