[Kidney retransplantation: results and prognostic factors]

48 non primary renal transplants were performed in 40 recipients during the 1973-1990 period in our institution (40 second grafts, 6 third grafts and 1 four and fifth grafts). Despite poor HLA matching our second graft survival rates compare favorably with others (80% and 70%, 1 and 5 year graft survival rates). The type of immunosuppression (including ciclosporine A or not) and the duration of the first graft had an influence on the outcome of second grafts. Our experience with repeated retransplantation is limited, but graft survival appears to be poor: most of the grafts were rejected within 2 years (or less). However patient survival was not affected by overimmunosuppression following multiple grafts.