The outcome after live-donor kidney transplantation is influenced by many parameters. The aim of our study was to establish a multivariate prognostic model for calculating the recipient's creatinine clearance after transplantation. Basic immunological, donor-, recipient- and process-related variables were assessed in a series of 18 live-donor kidney transplant patients with an uncomplicated postoperative course. Multivariate analysis was carried out with automated forward and backward selection. The following four parameters were included in the predictive model: recipient age, recipient BMI, graft clearance and degree of relationship. The coefficient of determination (R(2)) was 0.67. It could be shown that a significant prediction of creatinine clearance after living related kidney transplantation can be made, based on simple variables. Therefore, this formula could help to detect early complications in the post-transplantation course if the recipient's creatinine clearance drops below the predicted result.