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After transplantation of solid organs or hematopoietic stem cells, a significant acute decrease in renal function occurs in the majority of patients. Depending on the degree of kidney injury, a large number of patients develop chronic kidney disease (CKD) and some develop end‐stage renal disease requiring renal replacement therapy. The incidence varies depending on the transplanted organ, but important risk factors for the development of CKD are preexisting renal disease, hepatitis C, diabetes, hypertension, age, sex, posttransplant acute kidney injury and thrombotic microangiopathy. This review article focuses on the risk factors of posttransplant chronic kidney disease after organ transplantation, considering the current literature and integrates the incidence and the associated mortality rates of acute and chronic kidney disease. Furthermore, we introduce the RECAST (REnal Comorbidity After Solid organ and hematopoietic stem cell Transplantation) registry.

After transplantation of solid organs or hematopoietic stem cells, a significant acute decrease in renal function occurs in the majority of patients. Depending on the degree of kidney injury, a large number of patients develop chronic kidney disease (CKD) and some develop end-stage renal disease requiring renal replacement therapy. The incidence varies depending on the transplanted organ, but important risk factors for the development of CKD are preexisting renal disease, hepatitis C, diabetes, hypertension, age, sex, posttransplant acute kidney injury and thrombotic microangiopathy. This review article focuses on the risk factors of posttransplant chronic kidney disease after organ transplantation, considering the current literature and integrates the incidence and the associated mortality rates of acute and chronic kidney disease. Furthermore, we introduce the RECAST (REnal Comorbidity After Solid organ and hematopoietic stem cell Transplantation) registry.

The number of acute rejections and infections after pediatric kidney transplantation (KTX) could not be reduced in the last years. To reduce these events, we investigated a new immunosuppressive protocol in a prospective trial. After KTX, 20 children (median age 12 years, range 1–17) were initially treated with Basiliximab, ciclosporine A (CsA) (trough‐level = C0 200–250 ng/mL) and prednisolone. After 2 weeks, CsA dose was reduced to 50% (C0 75–100 ng/mL, after 6 months: 50–75 ng/mL) and everolimus (1.6 mg/m2/day) was started (C0 3–6 ng/mL). Six months after KTX prednisolone was set to alternate dose and stopped 3 months later. All 20 protocol biopsies 6 months after KTX showed no acute rejection or borderline findings. Indication biopsies resulted in no acute rejections and two borderline findings. Mean glomerular filtration rate (GFR) 1 year after KTX was 71 ± 25 mL/min/1.73 m2. Without cytomegalovirus (CMV)‐prophylaxis, only two primary CMV infections were seen despite a donor/recipient‐CMV‐constellation pos./neg. in 10/20 children. In pediatric KTX, de novoimmunosuppression with low‐dose CsA, everolimus and steroid withdrawal after 9 months led to promising results according to numbers of acute rejections and infections. Further follow up is needed. Future larger trials will have to confirm our findings.

The number of acute rejections and infections after pediatric kidney transplantation (KTX) could not be reduced in the last years. To reduce these events, we investigated a new immunosuppressive protocol in a prospective trial. After KTX, 20 children (median age 12 years, range 1–17) were initially treated with Basiliximab, ciclosporine A (CsA) (trough‐level = C0 200–250 ng/mL) and prednisolone. After 2 weeks, CsA dose was reduced to 50% (C0 75–100 ng/mL, after 6 months: 50–75 ng/mL) and everolimus (1.6 mg/m2/day) was started (C0 3–6 ng/mL). Six months after KTX prednisolone was set to alternate dose and stopped 3 months later. All 20 protocol biopsies 6 months after KTX showed no acute rejection or borderline findings. Indication biopsies resulted in no acute rejections and two borderline findings. Mean glomerular filtration rate (GFR) 1 year after KTX was 71 ± 25 mL/min/1.73 m2. Without cytomegalovirus (CMV)‐prophylaxis, only two primary CMV infections were seen despite a donor/recipient‐CMV‐constellation pos./neg. in 10/20 children. In pediatric KTX, de novoimmunosuppression with low‐dose CsA, everolimus and steroid withdrawal after 9 months led to promising results according to numbers of acute rejections and infections. Further follow up is needed. Future larger trials will have to confirm our findings.