[Current status of kidney transplantation. Results in Austria]

Kidney transplantation is the therapy of choice in patients with chronic renal failure. In the present report some factors which improve the results in kidney transplantation were analyzed. Histocompatibility, short warm and cold ischaemia times and an adequate immunosuppressive therapy are of special importance. The use of cyclosporine as an immunosuppressive agent improved the rate of functioning kidney grafts. The diagnosis of the acute rejection is effectively using new biochemical and histological methods. Bacterial and viral infections are still the most important complications after the kidney transplantation in Austria are one of the best in Europe and in the world.