Twenty-five years of renal transplantation at Mayo Clinic

1. Between 1963 and 1988, 935 patients received 1,082 renal transplants at Mayo Clinic. 2. Absolute and relative numbers of LRD grafts are declining. 3. Since accepting diabetic patients as suitable recipients in 1970, they account for over 20% of transplant activity. 4. Presence or absence of diabetes mellitus is the most important factor determining long-term (5 years) patient survival. However, in Period IV, (1983-1988), diabetes has not been an additional risk factor for graft survival. 5. Patient and graft survival of LRDs was better than CAD donors in all time periods. 6. With current immunosuppression since 1984, recipients of LRD primary grafts had a 97% patient survival at 4 years and those of CAD primary grafts, a probability of 84%. Primary allograft survival for LRD and CAD recipients was 90% and 68%, respectively, 4 years after transplantation.