Background: Kidney transplantation (KTx) in the pediatric age group requires a multidisciplinary highly skilled and dedicated team, with an appropriate setting. As of 2014 we have launched our Rambam-pediatric KTx program for the north of Israel.
Methods: Demographic and clinical data on all pediatric KTx performed at Rambam between January 2014 and October 2017 was recorded.
Results: A total of 32 pediatric KTx was performed in 12 females and 20 males residing in the north of Israel and in the Palestinian authority, averagely aged 11.6 years (range 2-23). 18 KTx were from living donors, and 14 from cadaveric donors. The main etiologies: renal dysplasia (10), cystic kidney diseases (5) and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) (4). Two patients (6.7%) displayed delayed graft function, four (13.3%) exhibited reversible acute rejection, and one FSGS patient developed early disease recurrence. One patient with additional co-morbidities died after graft loss due to rejection, and an additional patient developed chronic allograft nephropathy. There was no incidence of graft primary non-function. Currently, all other 28 recipients (93.3%) have normal renal function.
Discussion: our short and medium-term results are excellent, and comparable to published data from well-established pediatric KTx programs.
Summary: The volume of pediatric KTx in Israel justifies two pediatric kidney transplantation centers, for the benefit of the northern Israeli population.
