Renal transplantation is the treatment of choice for ESRD in children. It is associated with better quality of life, growth of children, and improved long-term survival. The aim of the study was to evaluate the outcomes of pediatric renal transplantation at a tertiary care center in UAE. A retrospective chart review was undertaken for all the pediatric renal transplants performed at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Abu Dhabi, UAE, over the past 9 years. The study evaluated the demographic data, outcomes, and complications of pediatric renal transplantation. The post-transplantation outcomes including surgical complications, documented infections, graft rejection, graft and patient survival, effect on growth, and eGFR were reviewed. Between 2010 and 2018, 30 pediatric patients underwent renal transplantation. The follow-up period ranged from 1 to 9 years with a mean of 3.3 years. The mean age of the patients at the time of transplant was 9.8 years, and 56.7% were males. Prior to the transplantation, the majority of the recipients were on peritoneal dialysis (70.0%). Main source of renal donation at our center was from LRD, chiefly from parents. Patient survival at 1 and 5 years was 100% and 96.7%, respectively. Graft survival at 1 and 5 years was 96.7% and 83.3%, respectively. During the 9-year follow-up period, 5 (16.7%) recipients experienced rejection episode. This study demonstrates that during 5-year period, pediatric kidney transplantation program has achieved optimal patient (96.7%) and graft (83.3%) survival rates and is comparable to well-established centers.
Keywords: graft survival; living donors; outcomes; paediatrics; rejection episodes; renal transplantation.
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