Renal transplantation in the very young child.

Thirteen children, aged between one and five years, received transplants and 11, all related-donor recipients, are alive (mean follow-up 2.2 yr). Five had congenital nephrotic syndrome, 5 had hypoplastic-dysplastic kidneys and one each had polycystic kidneys, nephroblastoma and glomerulonephritis. One child died of peritonitis and one died following irrevocable rejection. Two children required retransplantation. The present serum creatinine of the survivors is 0.67 +/- 0.23 (x +/- SD)mg/100ml. Eight of the 11 survivors have shown catch-up growth. Thus we conclude that related-donor transplantation is warranted in children having reached the age of one year and six kilograms in body weight.