The successful outcome of second kidney transplantation and its contributing factors

Fourteen out of 301 patients who underwent allogeneic kidney transplantations, between April, 1970 and December, 1987, received second kidney allografts, including 4 living and 10 cadaveric grafts. The survival of the second grafts transplanted in those 14 recipients was superior to that of the first grafts transplanted in the other 287 recipients. Furthermore, the survival of the second grafts from 4 years onwards was significantly higher than that of the first grafts, in spite of a higher population of cadaveric grafts used in the second transplantation than in the first. Although it was impossible to determine the main factor which induced the improved survival of the second grafts when compared with that of the first, a combination of beneficial factors, such as a high rate of living related transplantation resulting in long-term graft survival of the first transplantation, the administration of immunosuppressive drugs during the period of re-hemodialysis and blood transfusion prior to the second transplantation, was considered to be the reason why successful second graft survival was achieved.