Renal transplantation in Nordic children during two decades. A retrospective study†

175 children younger than 16 years received 112 living donor and 91 cadaver donor kidney transplants during a 20‐yr period. 80% of the patients were treated with an immunosuppressive protocol based on Azathioprine and 18% were based on Cyclosporin A. Overall actuarial patient survival at 10 yr was 83%. Actuarial graft survival rate was 46% at 10 yr for recipients of living donors and 23% for recipients of cadaver donor kidneys. There was no difference in graft or patient survival between groups treated with Azathioprine and Cyclosporin A, but the complication rate with regard to bacterial and viral infections and acute rejections was significantly lower in the Cyclosporin A group. Children with functioning grafts showed a catch‐up growth or followed their predicted growth curve.