By Lloyd Mudiwa.

Results of one of the first studies to highlight the factors associated with improved ultra long-term kidney transplantation confirmed renal allograft survival can be achieved in a significant number of patients, particularly through the use of living related renal transplant (LRRT) grafts.

Researchers from the RCSI School of Medicine, Beaumont Hospital and Merlin Park University Hospital examined 20-year survivors of kidney transplantation, with the aim being to identify clinical factors associated with this ultra long-term survival and the co-morbidities in this patient group.

LRRT grafts were found to have a significantly better outcome than deceased donor (DDRT) grafts, with a 20-year graft survival of 51.5 per cent and 18.02 per cent, respectively. Common co-morbidities identified after 20 years of immunosuppression included skin cancer (31.4 per cent), ischaemic heart disease (16.94 per cent) and other malignancies (12 per cent).

The researchers said transplantation was the best option for long-term health in end-stage kidney disease, although they found little literature chronicling ultra long-term outcome (greater than 20 years) of kidney transplant recipients.

They retrospectively analysed the Irish National Renal Transplant Database, identifying 255 patients with a functioning graft of more than 20 years, or transplanted between January 1, 1970, and August 1, 1991.

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