Children Are Not Small Adults: Similarities and Differences in Renal Transplantation Between Adults and Pediatrics

Abstract

Kidney transplantation is the treatment of choice for all patients with end-stage kidney disease, including pediatric patients. Graft survival in pediatrics was lagging behind adults, but now is comparable with the adult cohort. Although many of the protocols have been adopted from adults, there are issues unique to pediatrics that one should be aware of to take care of this population. These issues include recipient size consideration, increased incidence of viral infections, problems related to growth, common occurrence of underlying urological issues, and psychosocial issues. This article addresses the similarities and differences in renal transplantation, from preparing a patient for transplant, the transplant process, to post-transplant complications.

Keywords: Immunosuppression; graft survival; induction immunosuppression; kidney donor; maintenance immunosuppression; psychosocial; surgical complications; urological complications.