Kidney Transplantation in Small Children: Association Between Body Weight and Outcome - A Report From the ESPN/ERA-EDTA Registry
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Many centers accept a minimum body weight of 10 kg as threshold for kidney transplantation (Tx) in children. As solid evidence for clinical outcomes in multinational studies is lacking, we evaluated practices and outcomes in European children weighing below 10 kg at Tx.
METHODS: Data were obtained from the ESPN/ERA-EDTA Registry on all children who started kidney replacement therapy (KRT) at =10 kg) and Cox regression analysis was used to evaluate its association with graft survival. RESULTS: One hundred of the 601 children received a Tx below a weight of 10 kg during the study period.
Primary renal disease groups were equal, but Tx =10 kg patients. Our results suggest that early transplantation should be offered to a carefully selected group of patients weighing <10 kg.