Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is the treatment of choice for a wide range of diseases, but is associated with a significant risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD), affecting up to 25% of survivors with a significant morbidity. The causes of CKD after HSCT vary between different studies. The present study evaluated CKD in patients undergoing allogeneic HSCT. We analyzed the clinical course of 148 patients who received allogeneic HSCT at the University Hospital of St. Louis in Paris between 1999 and 2002 and were alive after 2 years without relapse. CKD was defined as a glomerular filtration rate (GFR) <60 mL/min/1.73 m(2), using the abbreviated modification of diet in renal disease (MDRD) equation for adults and the Schwartz formula for children. Of the 148 relapse-free 2-year survivors, 11 (7%) patients had renal dysfunction. No chronic renal failure was noted in the younger age group (<15 years at transplantation). CKD was associated with total body irradiation (TBI) (odds ratio [OR] = 4.53; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.15 to 17.9; P = .026) and chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) (OR = 4.58; 95% CI 1.16-18.1; P = .026). Only 1 additional patient developed CKD between 2 and 5 years of follow-up (cumulative incidence of 0.7% over the 3-year period). In the CKD group, renal function tended to stabilize over the 3-year period (estimated GFR 45 +/- 14 mL/min/1.73 m(2) at 2 years and 46 +/- 14 mL/min/1.73 m(2) at 5 years). A 7% prevalence of CKD was noted in the relapse-free 2-year survivor patients. Renal impairement was correlated with TBI and cGVHD. Minor incidence of CKD and a relative stability of renal function were noted between 2 and 5 years after HSCT.