Is the susceptibility to recurrent CMV infection linked to certain HLA antigens in renal transplant patients?

A group of 151 cytomegalovirus (CMV)‐seropositive renal transplant recipients was retrospectively evaluated. CMV disease was verified in 16% of the patients 2 to 24 weeks posttransplant. The 1 year survival rates of the patients and the grafts were not impaired by CMV. Antigens in locus HLA‐B5 in the recipient and HLA‐A3 in the donor were demonstrated to be associated with an increased incidence of posttransplant CMV disease.