[Renal transplantation at the Free University of Brussels]

From the data collected in 1,041 renal transplantations performed at the Université Libre de Bruxelles between 1965 and 1992, the time-evolution of the results is described. At 5 year, patient's survival rate increased from 37% during the 1965-69 period to 95% since 1985 whereas total graft survival rate, which was only 13% during the 1965-69 period, reaches 65% at the present time. Among the factors responsible for the progress in the results since 1980, immunosuppressive therapy is the strongest: the best results are currently obtained by the use of triple therapy associating corticosteroids, azathioprine and cyclosporine, combined or not with the prophylactic administration of OKT3 monoclonal antibody. Future development of new immunosuppressive protocols, more specific and more potent, is emphasised, as well as the need to promote transplantation from a living related donor to meet the current shortage of organs.