[Renal transplantation in children: preliminary report (author's transl)]

The preliminary results of a pediatric renal transplantation program started two years ago are presented. Fourteen children aged four to 13 years received a renal transplantation from April 1979 through March 1981. In eight patients renal graft was obtained from a living related donor (father-mother) and six from corpse donor. Recipients body weight ranged from 11 to 40 kg. (mean, 25 kg.). The previous time on hemodialysis was between three and 13 months (mean, seven months). In all cases a transfusion protocol prior to renal transplantation was followed (five transfusions minimum). Donor-recipient compatibility ranged zero-three HLA compatibilities. The patients were coordinately managed by pediatric specialists. The follow-up of the transplanted children ranges from one to 24 months (mean, 10 months). All of the patients are alive and the graft is functioning in all but one. A chronic rejection episode begun five months after renal-transplantation caused in one patients a graft loss. Plasma creatinine is lesser than 1.50 mg/100 ml. in 11 cases and inferior to 2 mg./100 ml. in the other two patients. The non-immunological complications presented have been unremarkable and no repercussions on the patients evolution have been detected. Even though the follow-up period is short, the results are highly encouraging, supporting that renal transplantation is the election treatment in children with terminal renal failure.