Natural history of cadaveric kidney transplants in the absence of early acute rejection

Nephron. 1983;35(1):6-10. doi: 10.1159/000183036.

Abstract

The foremost goal in organ transplantation is to achieve normal graft function without rejection. 31 (8.7%) of 357 cadaveric kidney transplant had no evidence of rejection for the first 3 months. Among these, 2 patients died with a functioning graft and four grafts failed during the 1- to 7-year follow-up period. Actuarial graft survival rates of these patients were 96.8 and 79.0% at 2 and 5 years, respectively, as compared with 64.6 and 51.2%, respectively, for the controls (p less than 0.01). Multiple preoperative blood transfusions and the adjunctive immunosuppressive therapy with retroplacental gamma globulin appeared to be playing a role for the induction of the 'no-rejection' state. However, continuous immunosuppressive therapy is necessary to maintain graft function.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Antibodies / analysis
  • Blood Transfusion
  • Cadaver
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Graft Rejection*
  • Graft Survival*
  • Histocompatibility Testing
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / pharmacology
  • Kidney Transplantation*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prognosis
  • Retrospective Studies
  • gamma-Globulins / pharmacology

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • gamma-Globulins