Renal transplantation in patients with diabetic nephropathy.

Renal transplantations were performed over a period of three years to twenty patients with end-stage diabetic nephropathy. Two of the patients were transplanted with kidneys from living donors, others with cadaver kidneys. One year after the transplantation 6 patients out of 12 were alive, after two years one out of four. Graft survival after one year was 4 out of 12, and after two years one out of four patients. Eight patients had died, the primary causes of death having been infection or infarction. Late complications in the form of gangrene occurred in four patients with a functioning transplant. The issue of priority, criteria for selection, and the use of living donors are discussed.