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Kidney transplant patients at Ullevål Hospital 1963-83
Summary
This study presents early kidney transplant outcomes in Norway. Patient and graft survival rates were acceptable, demonstrating the viability of pioneering transplantation efforts.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Transplantation immunology
- Medical history
Background:
- The study focuses on the initial cohort of kidney transplant recipients in Norway, treated at Ullevål Hospital between 1963 and 1983.
- This cohort represents the foundational group for kidney transplantation in the country before services transitioned to Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet.
Purpose of the Study:
- To document demographic data of the first Norwegian kidney transplant recipients.
- To analyze patient and graft survival rates from this pioneering cohort.
Main Methods:
- Patient data was compiled from surgical protocols and the Norwegian Renal Registry.
- Key data points included patient demographics, cause of renal failure, donor characteristics, survival rates, retransplant information, and causes of death.
- Follow-up extended to December 2016.
Main Results:
- 118 patients (38 women, 80 men) received transplants, with chronic glomerulonephritis being the most common indication.
- One-year survival was 80%, five-year survival was 56%, and twenty-year survival was 29%.
- Median graft survival was 3.8 years, and cardiovascular disease was the leading cause of mortality.
Conclusions:
- Despite being an early era, the patient survival rates and graft longevity were deemed acceptable.
- This study provides valuable historical data on early kidney transplantation outcomes in Norway.