Kidney transplantation: analysis of 200 cases

The first 200 renal allograft operations performed at Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, have been analysed. At the time of writing the fractional graft survivals at one, two, and three years were 53%, 49%, and 39% respectively, and these showed no observable change through the seven years of the programme. On the other hand, the survival of patients undergoing renal transplantation steadily improved, the most recent survival rates at one, two, and three years being 83%, 78%, and 67%, whereas the overall rates were 74%, 66%, and 54% respectively. The survival of second allografts was similar to that of first allografts. Ninety per cent. of the patients whose allografts functioned for a year or more returned to active and gainful employment. The return of children to school and of housewives to running a household was similarly gratifying. We conclude on both social and economic grounds that renal transplantation is fully justified as a therapeutic procedure.