PEDIATRIC CADAVER KIDNEY-TRANSPLANTS INTO ADULTS

During a 5-year period 77 adults received single kidney cadaver transplants from donors 16 months to 16 years old. Cyclosporin immunosuppression was not used. Three recipients had ischemic ureteral complications, 1 of which resulted in allograft loss. Of the kidney grafts 34 were from donors 8 years old or younger, and comparison of renal function was made with the 43 adult recipients of cadaver kidneys from older children. The mean 1-month serum creatinine nadir was significantly higher in the recipients of kidneys from the younger chidlren (2.6 plus or minus 1.6 versus 1.9 plus or minus 0.8 mg/per dl.). There were no statistically significant differences in 1-week dialysis requirement, 1-month kidney graft function or actuarial kidney graft survivals and serum creatinine levels at 3, 6, 12 and 24 months after grafting. Cadaver kidneys from young donors can be transplanted successfully into adults.