Renal transplantation in the infant and young child
A. Kalia, B. H. Brouhard, L. B. Travis, R. R. Gifford and O. E. Winsett
Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77550.
Fourteen renal transplantations were performed in 13 children, aged 5 years
or younger, including three infants. The mean duration of follow-up was 68
months, with a range of 14 to 203 months. Eleven children are alive; of
these, nine had prolonged graft function. Graft survival rate was 92% at
one year and 73% at two and five years following surgery. Sustained
catch-up growth occurred in all growth-retarded children who underwent
successful transplantation. At this writing, the oldest patient is 20 years
of age and a junior in college; all school-age children are functioning at
the appropriate grade level, except one, who is one year behind. The
youngest child is 3 years old and is developing normally. Infants and young
children appear to be good candidates for renal transplantation.