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Availability of HLA-allele-matched unrelated donors: estimation from haplotype frequency in the Japanese population

Bone Marrow Transplantation volume 54, pages 300–303 (2019)Cite this article

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Abstract

A human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-matched unrelated donor is the primary alternative donor for allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation in Japan. In considering an optimal donor registry size, the availability of HLA-matched donors is important. In this study, the probability of finding an HLA-A, -B, -C, and -DRB1 allele-matched donor was estimated using two different methods based on the haplotype frequencies in the Japanese population: an actual measurement method (AMM) and a formula method (FM). According to AMM, the probabilities of finding an HLA-matched donor were 40.5% in 100,000 donors, 54.4% in 300,000, 60.0% in 500,000, and 63.4% in 700,000. On the other hand, according to FM, the probabilities were 47.8% in 100,000 donors, 59.9% in 300,000, 65.3% in 500,000, and 68.8% in 700,000. The probabilities increased by 8.6 or 7.7%, 3.2 or 3.1%, 2.1 or 1.9%, and 1.6 or 1.3% in AMM or FM, respectively, as the registry size increased by 100,000. The rate of increase in the probability of finding an HLA-matched donor will become smaller as the registry size increases due to the diversity of haplotypes. Therefore, it is important to set a target donor registry size for efficient donor recruitment by considering the haplotype frequencies in the population.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported in part by JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number JP17K16186 and the Practical Research Project for Allergic Diseases and Immunology from Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development, AMED (18ek0510014h0003).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Advanced Medicine and Clinical Research, Nagoya University Hospital, Nagoya, Japan

    Satoshi Nishiwaki

  2. HLA Foundation Laboratory, Kyoto, Japan

    Hidenori Tanaka & Hiroto Kojima

  3. Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan

    Shinichiro Okamoto

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  1. Satoshi Nishiwaki
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  2. Hidenori Tanaka
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Correspondence to Satoshi Nishiwaki.

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Nishiwaki, S., Tanaka, H., Kojima, H. et al. Availability of HLA-allele-matched unrelated donors: estimation from haplotype frequency in the Japanese population. Bone Marrow Transplant 54, 300–303 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41409-018-0263-9

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