Beneficial effect of hemodialysis on renal allograft survival

The effect of the length of hemodialysis on the outcome of renal transplant was evaluated in 43 recipients of renal allograft. 22 out of 23 patients (95.7%) dialyzed for longer than one year had an excellent renal function at one year, while only 10 out of 20 patients (50%) dialyzed for less than one year had good renal function at one year. Only one kidney (4.3%) was lost due to rejection in the first group, while 10 kidneys (50%) failed to function because of severe rejection in the second group. The length of hemodialysis appears to have a beneficial effect on graft survival, but the mechanism by which it exerts this effect is not clear.