II TRAPIANTO RENALE IN ETA PEDIATRICA

Renal transplant in children presents more psychological problems and theoretical difficulties than in adults. However, children needing renal transplants are well considered as candidates due to the good results obtained by this technique at such an age. The authors report their 10-year experience, during which 230 transplants have been performed; 25 of them (10.8 percent) in children. Six children received a kidney from a parent and 19 from cadaver donors. Surgical techniques and modalities of immunosuppressive treatment are briefly reported. Results in children are comparable with those obtained in adults. 79 percent of recipients are alive 1-5 years after the transplant; 50 percent of children have a functioning transplanted kidney 1 year after grafting, and 45 percent 5 years after. Surgical and medical complications were important only in the first few months after transplant. Growth of children undergoing renal grafting is usually below the third percentile curve.