Cadaver renal transplantation in children: incidence, immunosuppression, outcome, and risk factors

The success rate of kidney transplantation in young children is higher when the source is a living-related donor (LRD) than when the source is a cadaver. Because the availability of LRD kidneys is not likely to increase, it is important to improve the graft survival of kidneys from cadaveric donors (CD). CD transplants are more likely to fail if the child is under two years, if the organ is stored for longer than 24 hours prior to transplantation and if the child does not have immunosuppression therapy before the operation. Children who are black and those who have previously had a transplant also have an increased risk of graft failure. Using dialysis in children under age two, improving tissue matching and delaying treatment with cyclosporine A may improve CD graft survival.