Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 3, 2026
A Modified Surgical Technique for Kidney Transplantation in Mice
Published on: July 22, 2022
[Kidney transplantation at the Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine]
Ondrej Viklický1, Janka Slatinská, Marcela Bürgelová
1Institut klinické a experimentální medicíny Praha, Transplantacní centrum, Klinika nefrologie. ondrej.viklicky@ikem.cz
Background:
Kidney transplantation represents the method of choice of end stage renal disease.
Methods And Results:
The program of kidney transplantation was established in 1966 in our centre. In recent years, roughly 200 patients have undergone kidney transplantation annually, and 20-30 of them have received a graft from the living donor. Triple immunosuppressive regimen based on tacrolimus, MMF and steroids is given to majority of patients, in a case of high rejection risk; patients have received the induction protocols with polyclonal or monoclonal antilymphocyte globulins. Acute rejection is not a frequent finding in recent years and has occurred in 15% of cases in the first 3 months, the use of induction immunosuppression has decreased the rejection risk. Valgancyclovir has been used as prophylactic agent to prevent and treat cytomegalovirus infection. The usage of this strategy reduced the incidence of CMV infection below 10%. Kidney transplant recipients suffer from similar comorbidities as other renal patients in the long term, as cardiovascular complications, infections and malignancies. Anemia is a frequent complication in patients with graft dysfunction and erythropoesis stimulating agents have been used in its therapy. The median kidney graft survival is 8 years.
Conclusions:
Kidney transplantation is associated with better long-term results when compared with dialysis therapy and thus this method should be offered to all of suitable end stage renal disease patients.
Insights
Kidney transplantation offers superior long-term outcomes compared to dialysis for end-stage renal disease. This life-saving procedure should be widely offered to suitable patients, improving graft survival rates.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Transplantation Medicine
- Immunosuppression Therapy
Context:
- End-stage renal disease (ESRD) necessitates renal replacement therapy.
- Kidney transplantation is the preferred treatment modality for ESRD.
- Established in 1966, the kidney transplant program performs ~200 transplants annually, with 20-30 from living donors.
Purpose:
- To evaluate the outcomes of kidney transplantation at a major center.
- To assess the efficacy of current immunosuppressive protocols and infection prophylaxis.
- To analyze long-term graft survival and associated comorbidities.
Summary:
- A triple immunosuppressive regimen (tacrolimus, MMF, steroids) is standard, with induction protocols for high-risk patients.
- Acute rejection rates are low (<15% in 3 months) due to induction immunosuppression.
- Prophylaxis with valganciclovir significantly reduced cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection incidence (<10%).
- Long-term complications include cardiovascular disease, infections, and malignancies; anemia is managed with erythropoiesis-stimulating agents.
- Median kidney graft survival is 8 years.
Impact:
- Kidney transplantation demonstrates better long-term results than dialysis.
- This approach should be considered for all eligible ESRD patients.
- Optimized immunosuppression and infection control enhance transplant success and patient outcomes.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Kidney Transplant I: Introduction
01:26Kidney Transplant II: Surgical Procedure
01:16Kidney Transplant III: Nursing Management
01:26Extracorporeal Removal of Drugs: Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy