Non-immunological risk factors in paediatric renal transplantation

In paediatric renal transplantation, non-immunological risk factors account for about one-third of graft losses. Recurrence of original disease is observed mainly in primary hyperoxaluria and glomerulopathies such as steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis. In both glomerulopathies, 20% of grafts are lost from recurrence. Vascular thrombosis is, in most series, the second cause of graft loss in children, particularly in young recipients or with young donors (under 5 years of age). Non-compliance with treatment is a common non-immunological factor in adolescent recipients, which may trigger a severe rejection process resulting in graft loss. The role of factors related to graft preservation and intra- and post-operative management (ischaemia time, delayed graft function) or to cytomegalovirus infection is less obvious in our series. Prevention of vascular thrombosis and of non-compliance is most important in order to improve the results of paediatric renal transplantation.