Faculty Collaboration Database

Influence of age on the prognosis of renal transplant recipients. Am J Nephrol 2001;21(4):259-63

Date

08/18/2001

Pubmed ID

11509796

DOI

10.1159/000046259

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-0034885122 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   24 Citations

Abstract

With aging, morphologic organ changes due to arteriosclerosis, hypertension, or diabetes increase, and renal transplantation tends to become less successful. We analyzed the outcome of transplantation in 123 recipients who underwent renal transplantation between January 1988 and December 1989. We assessed patient and graft survival after 1, 5, and 6 years as well as mortality and transplant failure and the incidence of rejections. We compared the results of patients aged under 60 years (group 1, n = 60) with the findings of patients aged over 60 years (group 2, n = 63). Immunosuppression was with cyclosporin A and prednisolone without exception. In patients under the age of 60, the overall patient survival at 1, 5, and 6 years was 97, 95, and 90% and was significantly compromised in recipients over the age of 60 (92, 80, and 75%). The 1-, 5- and 6-year graft survival rates were 92, 90, and 90% in recipients aged over 60 years and 88, 82, and 79% in recipients under the age of 60 years. The incidence of rejection was significantly higher in recipients under the age of 60. Patient mortality was mainly due to cardiovascular complications and transplant failure mainly related to transplant thrombosis. In older patients, renal transplantation is thought to be an option of survival rate improvement in comparison with hemodialysis. The incidence of transplant rejection is significantly lower, and this indicates a promising result regarding the long-term prognosis. As cardiovascular complications present as the main mortality factors of both transplant and patient, the prognosis is considered to be highly dependent on screening and treatment of these risk factors.

Author List

Kappes U, Schanz G, Gerhardt U, Matzkies F, Suwelack B, Hohage H

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Age Factors
Aged
Aging
Cardiovascular Diseases
Case-Control Studies
Female
Graft Rejection
Graft Survival
Humans
Incidence
Kidney Transplantation
Male
Middle Aged
Prognosis
Risk Factors
Survival Rate