Transplantation for polycystic kidney disease.

Twenty-four patients with end stage renal failure due to polycystic renal disease have been treated with hemodialysis and transplantation. While on dialysis, the incidence of complications did not differ from a similar group of patients with other causes of renal failure. Bilateral pretransplant nephrectomy is not mandatory except in cases of persistent infection or hemorrhage. A much higher incidence of HLA A3 and HLA B7 was noted in patients with polycystic disease when compared with the general population. Following cadaver renal transplantation, kidney function was significantly better in patients with polycystic disease when compared with those with other forms of renal failure. Patient survival was the same in both groups. We conclude that hemodialysis and transplantation are acceptable forms of treatment for a patient with end stage polycystic renal disease.