PATHOLOGY OF RENAL ALLOGRAFTS IN PATIENTS RECEIVING LONG-TERM ANTILYMPHOCYTE GLOBULIN THERAPY

The pathology of functioning renal allografts was studied in 24 patients followed for more than 3 months after surgery and continuously treated with antilymphocyte globulin (ALG). The type of renal lesions were similar in nature to those found in patients not given ALG, but the incidence of vascular and glomerular alterations is less. There is a relationship between histological changes in the kidneys and the degree of histocompatibility, suggesting that ALG treatment does not reduce the pathological feature when important histocompatibility differences exist between host and donor. The clinical status, improved by ALG, does not correlate with the pathological status, but good renal function is insensitive as an index of renal damage.