[Renal transplantation in the child].

The informations available for Europe show that, on December 31, 1986, 50% of the 1,616 registered children under 15 years of age had a functional renal graft. Only 5% of these children had been transplanted without prior dialysis, which is usually possible only with a graft taken from a living donor. With brain-dead donors, generally adults, numerous patients may remain on the waiting list after several years of dialysis. The preparation of recipients, the juridical aspects of such transplantations in children, the principles of selection of recipients for corpse kidney grafts are reported. The technical aspects of graft surgery and the per- and postoperative supervision are then reported. The results of renal transplantation have improved since the advent of cyclosporine: patients' survival remains almost 100% on the whole of the renal transplantations performed in children since 1985. The results obtained with a second transplantation after failure of the first are comparable and sometimes better in some series. Finally, the quality of everyday life of the grafted child, its rehabilitation after transplantation, its social and professional insertion are emphasized. Furthermore, the possibilities of statural growth under cyclosporine therapy are better than those when one could use only traditional immunosuppressors.