[Preemptive kidney transplantation in children--experience in UHC Zagreb].

AIM: To discuss preemptive kidney transplantation outcomes in children with end stage kidney disease.

METHODS

We present the data of patients younger than 18 years who were transplanted without previous dialysis in our Clinic. We retrospectively analyzed data available in medical health records.

RESULTS

Preemptive living donor kidney transplantation was performed in 6 patients younger than 18 years. Creatinine clearance before transplantation was 9 +/- 4.15 ml/min (range = 2.7-12.3 ml/min, median = 8.5 ml/min). Currently, serum creatinine in patients with functioning graft is 139.4 +/- 60.9 micromol/l (range = 72-237 micromol/l, median = 130 micromol/l). One, three and five year graft survival was 100%. Overall graft and patient survival in the follow-up period was 83.3% and 100%, respectively. After 10 years one patient started with dialysis due to chronic graft rejection.

CONCLUSION

From medical and socioeconomic point of view preemptive transplantation is optimal method for treatment of children with end-stage kidney disease. Membership in Eurotransplant should increase the number of preemptive transplantations in Croatia.