Factors that impact on immediate graft function in patients after renal transplantation

Kidney transplantation has become therapy of choice for patients with end-stage renal failure. However, many factors may cause graft rejection or delayed graft function, both of which decrease the prognosis for graft survival. For transplantologists the most important endeavor is to eliminate factors responsible for shortening graft function and to find those predictive of immediate graft function. The aim of the study was to investigate which factors influence early graft function. We retrospectively reviewed 442 renal transplant patients performed between 1990 and 1995 in two Szezecin units. All patients received an identical immunosuppressive drug schedule. Three hundred twelve patients who displayed immediate graft function were included in the study group to analyze donor and recipient age and sex, etiology of ESRD, HLA compatibility AB0 and Rh compatibility cold ischemia time, warm ischemia time, antileukocytes antibodies (PRA), and period of dialysis therapy before transplantation. We observed statistical significance for HLA and AB0 compatibility, younger donor age, and shorter cold ischemia time as the most important factors predictive of early graft function and an improved prognosis for graft survival.