ABO match, 0/6 antigens, but crossmatch is good (negative)

[Sax-O-Trix]

Okay, I am confused...  My sister was tested to be a donor for me and the results came back today.  We have the same blood type, we 0/6 antigens that matched, but they said she could be a donor because our crossmatch was good.  What?!?  I was under the impression that you wanted 5 or 6 matching antigens for a transplant.  I understand the crossmatch being neg. means my tissue/blood did not attack hers, so that is good.  BUT, I am still hung up on the antigens. 

Does this mean I will have to take higher doses of the toxic immuno drugs?  My brother is being tested next week, I am hoping for a better match...

[Rerun]

Yeah, that sounds odd to me. 

[monrein]

You shouldn't really be concerned about this.  The latest generation of anti-rejection drugs is more effective than previous ones and the only advantage in  the antigen matching would be for a 6/6 match.  This is particularly true for a living donor.

My transplant from my sister-in-law was a 0/6 match, I am B and she is O.  The transplant was done in Feb. 2009 and so far, all is very well indeed.

We have other threads on IHD abut this issue and if I find them I'll post.

[natnnnat]

Here are some (there are more, just throw "0/6 match" into the search box):

http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?topic=18196.msg315035#msg315035
http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?topic=18384.msg316955#msg316955
http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?topic=18243.msg315280#msg315280
http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?topic=16942.msg294781#msg294781     

[Sax-O-Trix]

Thanks for the info.  I have been researching this frantically for the past 24 hrs., and it seems that the antigen component is becoming less important because of the drugs.  I just hate to take my sister's kidney if the risk is high that I will reject...  That would be tragic.

Is there a "magic" number for GFR when the Dr's. say "NOW!".  I am at 18% and am hoping to make it through the summer before surgery.  Oh, the team has NOT recommended fistula or PD surgery yet even though I have made it clear I want PD if needed.  Should I be pushing the PD surgery?  I do not do well with anesthesia, so I'd rather not be put through uneccessary surgeries.  Do they ever do PD placements with a spinal/epidural?

[coravh]

My cousin and I were a 1/6 antigen match. Don't forget that they do a last minute cross match and you can still fail that - but that's another story. Anyway, I got the kidney from her in 2002 (8th anniversary in October) and I have never had an episode of rejection (knock on wood). I am also minimally immunosuppressed. I take 4 mg of rapamune in the mornings and 540 mg of myfortic twice per day (that's the equivalent of 750mg of cellcept). So with a poor antigen match you aren't necessarily more immunosuppressed.

I think they try to get the antigen matches as well matched as possible when you are on the list because they want to maximize the closeness of the match and this is a way to prioritize.

Hope you get your transplant soon.

Cora