[Treatment of chronic renal failure in Tunisia]

Treatment of end-stage renal disease started in Tunisia in 1968 and has been used for 543 patients; 364 of them are still living. There are now 10 centers, 4 in public hospitals and 6 in private centers. Transplantation is still performed abroad. Among living patients, 312 (86%) are on hemodialysis, 11 (3%) are on CAPD and 41 (11.2%) are living with a transplanted kidney. The mean survival rate of patients is similar to the European mean and professional rehabilitation is good in most cases. New dialysis centers are planned to open and renal transplantation with related living donors will probably be performed soon.