[Experiences and clinical results following 99 kidney transplantations with kidneys from relatives]

99 living related kidney transplantations were performed between January 1967 and December 1988. At the time of observation 4 of 94 organ donors had died; there was no correlation between unilateral nephrectomy and the patient's death. Intraoperative (2.9%) and postoperative (25%) complications did not result in severe physical consequences for the organ donors. Hypertension was found in 2 donors. There was no decrease in function of the remaining kidneys. The 3-year organ survival of the transplanted kidney was 60% with "conventional immunosuppression" and 93% with cyclosporin. No association was found between HLA DR-matching and graft survival. Rejection episodes occurred significantly more often in the HLA DR-mismatched grafts.