Pediatric kidney transplantation

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Improving short and medium term patient and graft survival rates for pediatric kidney transplant recipients over the past two decades has led to an increased focus on the study of late posttransplant complications. We review important papers over the past decade and highlight recent publications from 2004 to 2007 that address challenges to long-term outcomes in this patient group. RECENT FINDINGS: Studies of the avoidance of steroids and calcineurin inhibitors in children have shown encouraging early results. Posttransplant complications in children include poor growth, infection, calcineurin inhibitor toxicity, and nonadherence. SUMMARY: Continued research is needed on long-term outcomes of kidney transplantation, with special emphasis on safe and effective immunosuppressive regimens and improved quality of life for pediatric patients.