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[Perspectives of pediatric liver and kidney transplantation in Japan]

Yukihiro Inomata1

  • 1Department of Pediatric Surgery and Transplantation, Kumamoto University Hospital.

Nihon Rinsho. Japanese Journal of Clinical Medicine
|December 24, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric living donor transplants in Japan show high success rates for both liver (84.4% 5-year survival) and kidney (79.4% 10-year graft survival), enabling transplantation in very young children.

Area of Science:

  • Organ transplantation
  • Pediatric surgery
  • Medical innovation

Context:

  • Japan performs approximately 130 pediatric living donor liver transplants (LDLT) annually, with cadaveric transplants being rare (11 in 10 years).
  • Pediatric kidney transplantations in Japan involved 70 cases in 2008, with a majority from living donors (59 vs. 11 cadaveric).
  • Transplantations are now feasible for newborns weighing as little as 2.5 kg (liver) and children weighing 7-8 kg (kidney).

Purpose:

  • To review the current status and outcomes of pediatric living donor organ transplantation in Japan.
  • To highlight the advancements in surgical techniques and patient selection criteria.
  • To discuss the potential for increased preemptive renal transplantation in pediatric cases.

Summary:

  • Pediatric LDLT in Japan demonstrates an 84.4% five-year patient survival rate.
  • Pediatric kidney transplantations show improving graft survival, with 79.4% for cases performed after 1992.
  • Living donor kidney transplantation is technically possible for children as small as 7-8 kg.

Impact:

  • Successful pediatric living donor transplantation is expanding indications to include very small infants and children.
  • The high success rates are driving discussions to increase preemptive kidney transplantation in Japan.
  • These advancements offer improved long-term outcomes for pediatric patients requiring organ replacement.

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