RENAL TRANSPLANTATION IN CHILDREN WITH POSTERIOR URETHRAL VALVES REVISITED: A 10-YEAR FOLLOWUP

Abstract

Purpose Renal transplantation is safe and effective for end stage renal disease in children with posterior urethral valves. We previously reported our 5-year post-transplantation results in boys with posterior urethral valves and matched controls. Graft survival was similar. However, we were concerned about elevated serum creatinine and the potential detrimental effects of hostile bladder dynamics in these children. We performed this study to determine whether our concern would be substantiated. Materials and Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical records and computerized transplantation database in 268 boys younger than 19 years who underwent renal transplantation from May 1968 through November 1988. The 18 children with posterior urethral valves were compared to a nonobstructed cohort of 18 boys in regard to age, number of transplants, donor type and immunosuppression. All children had at least 10 years of followup (range 10 to 19). Results The 10-year post-transplant patient survival in the posterior urethral valves and control groups was 94 and 100%, while 10-year graft survival was 54 and 41%, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in graft survival when comparing immunosuppression type, donor source and pre-transplant proximal urinary diversion. The 10-year mean serum creatinine was 2.3 and 2.0 mg./dl. in the posterior urethral valve and control groups, respectively (not statistically significant). Conclusions Our renal transplantation results in children with posterior urethral valves are comparable to those in children with nonobstructive end stage renal disease. The 10-year graft survival was better but not statistically significant in the posterior urethral valve group, while serum creatinine was similar. Our concern regarding renal transplantation in children with posterior urethral valves was not substantiated.