Prolonged survival after renal transplantation in primary hyperoxaluria of childhood

Cadaver renal transplantation was performed in a 14-year-old girl with primary hyperoxaluria. Acute tubular necrosis was present initially, and a moderate rejection crisis occurred at 6 weeks. Renal biopsy performed at 4 months showed considerable deposition of calcium oxalate. Urinary excretion of oxalate varied between 315-371 mg/24 hr per 1.73 m2 (normal less than 50 mg). Despite these unfavourable factors, renal function has remained stable for the last 2 1/2 years; the serum creatinine is 1.5 mg/100 ml at 3 years. This is the longest surviving graft reported so far in documented primary hyperoxaluria. Graft failures in previous reports could in part be explained by additional complicating factors. It is concluded that renal transplantation is not necessarily contraindicated in primary hyperoxaluria.