[Does the number of treated rejection episodes in the first transplantation influence the survival of the patient with kidney re-transplantation?].

The records of 77 patients who received a second kidney transplant at the Surgery Department of Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, have been re-examined to assess the influence of the number of rejection episodes treated during the first transplant on the survival of the second. 61 of the 77 retransplanted patients lost their first kidney for immunological reasons. 6 did not present any treated episode of rejection, 45 one episode only and in 10 greater than 1 episode was treated during the first transplant. P less than 0.05 from 1 to 5 years as regards survival of the second transplants in patients whose first kidney did not present treated rejection episodes by comparison with those presenting 1 or greater than 1. No significant difference was noted in patient survival in the various groups under examination. On the basis of the results obtained, it is concluded that, in addition to the cause of failure and duration of the first transplant, the number of treated rejection episodes during the first transplant should be considered as a critical parameter for better selection of the most suitable candidates for receiving a second transplant.