A preliminary analysis of late renal allograft failure.

1. New initiatives are required to investigate late allograft failure and its causes. 2. In the UK from 1978 to 1988 major reductions in graft loss rates occurred during the posttransplant epoch from 16-365 days but beyond 1-year failure rates show no overall changes. 3. Cyclosporine has its greatest impact during the interval from 16-365 days posttransplant and there is no evidence from these data of its impact in reducing graft losses beyond 1 year, but switching to other drugs was not taken into account. 4. The relative risk of graft loss associated with beneficial HLA matching apparently dwindles and is negligible beyond 1 year. 5. Major risk factors affecting late kidney allograft failure have yet to be modeled and evaluated.