Long term survival and graft function after cadaver kidney transplantation.

During the period 1968-75 310 cadaver kidney transplantations were carried out; 261 first-time, 45 second-time and 4 third-time transplantations. Graft survival after 5 years was about 30% for both the first and the second transplant. Patient survival after 5 years was about 50%. No relationship could be found between match grade and graft survival whereas the patient survival was definitely better in the younger age groups. The major cause of graft loss was rejection, vascular and ureteral complications being less frequent. The main cause of lethal outcome was complications to the immunosuppressive therapy and to a lesser degree cardiovascular events and malignant disorders. Cadaver kidney transplantation is an acceptable treatment of chronical renal failure particularly in younger persons and in cases where dialysis treatment is difficult.