Renal transplantation at the University of Colorado.

From March 1962 to April 1966, 118 patients were treated with renal transplantation, 3 with kidneys from identical twins, 9 with cadaveric homografts, and 106 with homografts from volunteer donors. Sixty-two of the patients are still alive after nine months to almost five years. The only completely satisfactory group was that of the identical twin recipients. The results after homotransplantation have not materially improved during this time despite the acquisition of increased experience, adjustments of timing and dosage of azathioprine and prednisone, and attempts to identify biologically suitable donors in advance of operation by tissue typing. It is suggested that an has been reached, beyond which further reduction in mortality and morbidity will depend primarily upon the effective application of new immunosuppressive techniques.