Predictors of graft survival in pediatric living-related kidney transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND

A successful kidney transplant from a living-related donor (LRD) remains the most effective renal replacement therapy for children with end-stage renal failure. The use of LRD kidneys results in decreased time on dialysis, increased graft survival, and better function compared with kidneys transplanted from cadaver donors. We retrospectively analyzed data from the United Network of Organ Sharing (UNOS) Scientific Renal Transplant Registry to determine risk factors for graft loss in children who received an LRD kidney.

METHODS

Data was obtained from the UNOS Scientific Renal Transplant Registry on 2418 children ranging in age from 0 to 18 years who underwent an LRD kidney transplantation between January 1988 and December 1994. Multivariate analysis of graft survival was performed using Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression models.

RESULTS

The effects of age, pretransplantation dialysis, early rejection, and race were found to significantly affect graft survival. Gender, peak panel-reactive antibody, and ABO blood type were not found to be significant risk factors. Infants <2 years of age initially had the worst graft survival; however, over time their results stabilized, and at 7 years estimated graft survival was good (71%). Adolescents ranging in age from 13-18 years had the best initial graft survival, but as time went on graft survival worsened (55%). Patients who underwent pretransplantation dialysis had a relative risk for graft loss of 1.77 (P<0.001), whereas those who had an early rejection had a relative risk for graft loss of 1.41 (P<0.002). African-Americans had a significantly higher relative risk for graft loss than either Caucasians (1.57, P<0.0005) or Hispanics (2.01, P<0.0003).

CONCLUSIONS

Predictors of graft survival for children who receive LRD kidney transplants include age at transplantation, pretransplantation dialysis, early rejection, and race. Over time, adolescents and African-Americans seem to have the lowest graft survival.