Experience with renal transplantation in children undergoing peritoneal dialysis (CAPD/CCPD)

For children with end-stage renal disease, renal transplantation is the ultimate goal because it offers the potential of maximum rehabilitation. In order to evaluate the infectious risk of renal transplantation in patients previously maintained on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and/or continuous cycling peritoneal dialysis (CCPD), we retrospectively evalauted the clinical course of 44 pediatric patients (mean age 12.0 +/- 5.7 [SD] years) who received 32 cadaver and 16 live-related donor renal grafts after being maintained on peritoneal dialysis for 756 patient-months (mean 17.1 +/- 11.5 months). In the posttransplant period, 25 patients (57%) required dialysis because of acute tubular necrosis or acute rejection. Peritonitis developed in five patients (11%) following transplantation; two were being dialyzed at the time. Exit-site and tunnel infections occurred in nine patients (20%). In all instances, antibiotic treatment and/or catheter removal was curative. Posttransplant ascites developed in 12 patients (27%) and was alleviated by catheter drainage. The catheters were left in situ at the time of transplantation and electively removed when stable graft function was present. The 1- and 2-year actuarial graft survival rate was 65% and 55%, respectively. One patient died in the immediate posttransplant period, which was unrelated to peritoneal dialysis. In conclusion, pediatric patients maintained on CAPD and/or CCPD can be safely transplanted. The potential infectious risks related to peritoneal dialysis can be managed with appropriate management of the catheter and prompt antibiotic therapy. The patient and graft survival rates are comparable to those with patients receiving hemodialysis prior to transplantation. There is no need to limit access to transplantation in children undergoing CAPD and/or CCPD.