Comparison between two dialytic populations undergoing renal transplantation.

The outcome of renal transplantation in CAPD patients is still controversial since age and clinical differences often make comparison with hemodialysis patients difficult. The aim of this study was to analyse two homogeneous groups of patients, on CAPD and on hemodialysis. 18 CAPD (Group A) and 18 hemodialysis patients (Group B) were selected for a case-control analysis, matched for age, presence of acute tubular necrosis and Cyclosporine A regimen. Group A and B were not different for male/female ratio, donor age, HLA-Dr mismatches, arterial pressure, cold ischemia, or follow-up. Patient, graft survival and number of rejection episodes did not differ significantly at 1 year; serum creatinine at 6 and 12 months and CyA doses at 1 and 6 months were not different; hospitalization rates for first and subsequent admissions did not differ. Infection-free patients were 9/18 in Group A and 15/18 in Group B, with 12 episodes in Group A and 3 in Group B. Post transplant cholesterol levels showed a trend to increase in both groups and triglycerides levels to a decrease; differences in pre and post transplant in body weight were not significant at 12 months. In conclusion, the outcome of transplantation in CAPD patients is not significantly different from that in hemodialysis patients with similar clinical characteristics.