[Non-traumatic rupture of the Achilles tendon after renal transplantation]

Two renal transplant recipients who had been grafted for 6 and 17 years respectively and whose transplants were perfectly well tolerated presented with non traumatic rupture of Achilles tendon. A few days to a few weeks previously, they had experienced pain in the Achilles tendons of both legs. No sign of so-called systemic disease or hyperparathyroidism was present. The suspected pathogenic factors were chronic corticosteroid therapy and arteritis of the lower limbs. The case of a third renal transplant recipient showed that total rupture can be avoided if the tendon is allowed to rest during the phase of premonitory pain.