Positive remote crossmatch: impact on short-term and long-term outcome in cadaver renal transplantation.

Background: A positive crossmatch with a "current" recipient serum (drawn shortly before the proposed transplant) is a contraindication to renal transplantation because of the risk of hyperacute rejection. Conflicting data have been reported concerning the significance of a positive crossmatch with "remote" sera (obtained months or years earlier) when the current crossmatch is negative.

Methods: Recipients of a first or second cadaver transplant between June 1988 and April 1994 were studied.