What is HLA matching?
Human Leukocyte Antigens or HLA are six proteins that appear on the surface of white blood cells and other tissues in the body. These six HLA points determine tissue compatibility between a patient and a donor. The higher is the tissue compatibility, the higher are the chances of a transplant to be successful. However in the case that the baby’s had his/her stem cell cryo preserved at the time of birth, this will perfectly match.
Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) matching is done when doctors are trying to find bone marrow or cord blood matches for a patient that needs one or both of these things. HLA matching is not as simple as knowing a person needs cord blood or bone marrow and finding someone who is willing to donate, it’s a very delicate process to ensure that there will not be any ill effects from the transplantation of either material into the patient in need. HLA antigens are found on most cells in your body and your system uses these proteins or markers to recognize which cells belong in your body and which do not. If your donors HLA antigens are different from yours, your body will respond accordingly and attack those cells. A close HLA match needs to be found to decrease the chance that your immune cells will attack your donor’s cells or that your donor’s immune cells will attack your body after the transplant. How is a match found?
HLA is the laboratory abbreviation for Human Leukocyte Antigens. What is commonly referred to as HLA matching is actually a test for the six proteins (i.e. antigens) that appear on the surface of white blood cells and most other tissues in the body. HLA testing is used to match the tissue compatibility between patients and donors for stem cell transplants in an effort to mitigate transplant rejection. Your immune system uses these proteins, or markers, to recognize which cells belong in your body and which do not. A close match between your HLA antigens and your donor’s can reduce the risk that your immune cells will attack your donor’s cells or that your donor’s immune cells will attack your body after the transplant. This issue is eliminated if using your own preserved autologous or self donated for self-use cord blood stem cells.
HLA is the laboratory abbreviation for human leukocyte antigens. What is commonly referred to as HLA matching is actually a test for the six proteins (i.e. antigens) that appear on the surface of white blood cells and most other tissues in the body. HLA testing is used to match the tissue compatibility between patients and donors for stem cell transplants in an effort to mitigate transplant rejection. Your immune system uses these proteins, or markers, to recognize which cells belong in your body and which do not. A close match between your HLA antigens and your donor’s can reduce the risk that your immune cells will attack your donor’s cells or that your donor’s immune cells will attack your body after the transplant. This issue is eliminated if using your own preserved autologous or self donated for self use adult blood stem cells. If you have not stored your own cord or adult peripheral blood stem cells and you need an allogeneic transplant (which uses cells from a family member, un
