Risk Factors Affecting Long-Term Outcome in Kidney Re-Transplantation Recipients

Ahn, Hyung Joon; Kim, Yu Seun; Kim, Soon Il; Lee, Jong Hoon; Ju, Man Ki; Kim, Myoung Soo; Jeon, Kyung Ock; Kim, Hyun Jung

Abstract

PURPOSE: The aims of this study were to review the result of kidney re-transplantation in comparison with first kidney transplantation, and to identify the prognostic factors affecting long-term outcome at a single center.
METHODS
Between April 1979 and January 2006, the total number of renal allografts was 2,495. Among these, 159 cases received second (155 cases) or third (4 cases) transplantation. Demographic characteristics and clinical outcomes of both groups were compared. And we examined the risk factors affecting long-term outcome in re-transplantation recipients.
RESULTS
The mean duration of previous graft survival in re-transplantation group was 86.1+/-51.4 (0~215) months. Major cause of the previous graft failure was chronic rejection (n=88, 55.3%). One-, 5-, and 10-year graft survivals of the re-transplantation group and the first transplantation group were 94.1%, 88.9%, 76.0% and 96.0%, 84.8%, 69.1%, respectively without significant difference (P=0.2203). In uni-variate survival analysis, acute rejection experienced group, elderly recipient more than 50 years old, and female gender group showed significant inferior graft survival rate compared to control group. Previous graft survival duration didn't cause significant graft survival difference. Multivariate survival analysis also confirmed that the episodes of acute rejection within 12 months after transplantation (P=0.035, Odd ratio= 2.514), elderly recipient more than 50 years old (P=0.002, odd ratio=3.734), and female gender (P=0.005, Odd ratio= 3.692) were statistically significant independent risk factors affecting graft survival in kidney re-transplantation.
CONCLUSION
Long-term outcomes after kidney re-transplantation were not different from that of first kidney transplantation. Therefore, renal re-transplantation could be the treatment of choice even in recipients with previous failed renal allograft.