Transition to the adult nephrologist does not induce acute renal transplant rejection.

BACKGROUND

In spite of the overall increased renal graft survival, long-term allograft survival has remained least successful in adolescent recipients. A major change in their care is the transition from the paediatric to the adult nephrology unit.

METHODS

To analyse the effect of transition on the acute rejection frequency and graft survival, we performed a historical cohort study in all patients transplanted at the paediatric unit between 1980 and 2004. Data were obtained by reviewing medical charts in two of the four Dutch pediatric renal transplantation centers from time of transplantation until 3 years after transition. For analysis, we used a Cox proportional hazards model.

RESULTS

The cohort consisted of 162 patients: 133 native Dutch and 29 immigrant patients. Transition occurred at a mean age of 18 years (range 14-22). At transition, 72% had a functioning allograft. Acute rejections occurred in 92/162 patients before (median follow-up 4.8 years, range 0.2-12.8) and in 15/116 patients after transition (median follow-up 3.0 years, range 1.6-3.0). Most rejections (62%) occurred within the first year after transplantation. The relative risk of acute rejections after transition in comparison to before transition was 0.10 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.04-0.28] in Dutch patients and 0.69 (95% CI 0.33-1.40) in immigrant patients. In the 3 years before transition, 28/154 patients (18%) experienced graft failure compared to 19/116 patients (16%) in the 3 years after transition.

CONCLUSIONS

The risk for acute rejection decreases after transition to the adult unit. There is less risk reduction in immigrant patients. Nephrologists should pay special attention to these patients.