Results of kidney retransplantation

Sixty-two patients had a second renal transplant at the University of Florida, Gainesville , between Nov 30, 1966 and June 26, 1982. Two-year graft function for all 62 patients was 53.2%, and patient survival was 83.9%. The 51 recipients of cadaveric grafts had a two-year graft survival of 47%. Eleven patients who received second grafts from related donors had a two-year graft survival of 81.8%. Source of first grafts and length of survival of first grafts did not seem to be important in determining the outcome of second grafts. Recipients of cadaveric second kidneys had a significantly better two-year graft survival if they waited longer than six months between loss of the first kidney and retransplantation (52.9%) than if they waited less than six months (35.3%). We believe the results of kidney retransplantation justify second transplants in patients who lost their first grafts.