Children and adolescents with severe motor and intellectual disabilities who underwent kidney transplantation

Kidney transplantation (KT) in children and adolescents with severe motor and intellectual disabilities (SMID) has been a topic of controversy. A multicenter study in Japan showed that KT was not contraindicated for children with multiple handicaps, but no consensus has been reached on KT for patients with SMID. This study aimed to determine whether KT is a viable treatment option for children and adolescents with SMID.

A single-center, retrospective study was conducted on children and adolescents with SMID who underwent KT. SMID was defined based on Oshima's classification. Clinical information was collected through a review of medical records.

Of 453 children and adolescents who underwent KT between 1983 and 2023 in our institution, six (1.3%) patients with SMID were identified. One patient received KT twice. All patients underwent living KT. Five patients used medical devices, including gastrostomy and a ventriculoperitoneal shunt, prior to KT. Perioperative complications, including hemothorax related to central venous catheter insertion, ventilator-associated pneumonia, and common iliac artery thrombosis requiring graftectomy, occurred in three patients. One patient required vesicostomy owing to refractory urinary tract infection. There was no significant difference in the graft survival rate between patients with SMID and those without SMID. One patient developed graft failure and died after selecting conservative kidney management.

Our study showed a favorable graft survival in children and adolescents with SMID who underwent KT. Although careful perioperative management and continued medical care are required, KT may be a viable option for these patients.