Kidney transplantation to patients with congenital malformations of the distal urinary tract.

Fourteen of 1000 consecutive kidney transplant patients had congenital malformations affecting the bladder or urethra: six had congenital valvulus of the urethra, two congenital sclerosis of the bladder outlet, and six a neurogenic bladder. Pretransplant surgery had been performed in all patients: reimplantation of ureter (n = 11), resection of congenital valvulus (n = 7), and nephrectomy (n = 6). Four patients had an intestinal bladder. Age was 0-17 (median 1) years at diagnosis. Follow-up time was 3-10 (median 5) years. Special transplant surgery techniques were required in five patients. Patient survival after 2 years was 100% and graft survival 93%. No graft was lost due to outflow obstruction, infection or other causes related to the underlying disorder. Late technical problems were seen in two patients. Urinary tract infections were reported in 13 patients before transplantation and in eight after. Results of transplantation were excellent. Infections and surgical problems had a minor impact on outcome.