HPPŠ RENAL TRANSPLANTATION IN CHILDREN
Z. Puretiæ, M. Puretiæ- Frljuk, D. Milavec, H. Puretiæ
Renal transplantation (Tx) is medical procedure involving transplantation of one kidney from the donor to the recipient with terminal renal failure. This is the most valuable method of treatment where nonfunctional organ is replaced by an adequate organ from living related or cadaveric donor. Better understanding of acute and chronic rejection, improved organ preservation from cadaveric donor, adequate and rational immunosuppressive treatment and specific protocols for prevention and treatment of infections provided better outcome in transplanted patients. Other factors that influence graft survival are: donors age, HLA matching, sensitization-antibodies against HLA antigens, recurrence of primary renal disease in graft, involvement of other organ systems, previous transfusions and transplantations. Official Pediatric renal transplantation program started in Croatia in 1985. Till 2001, this program included 37 children, 60% were cadaveric grafts and 40% from living related donors. Probability of one-year graft survival is 100%, two-year 97%, five-year 91% and ten-year 78%. All of them were first grafts. Nowadays, Tx in children is medically and technically signifficantly improved and socially, financially and religiously justified.