Pediatric kidney transplantation is different from adult kidney transplantation

TLDR

Kidney transplantation is the gold standard for pediatric end‑stage renal disease, and recent advances have made outcomes comparable to adults, yet pediatric cases still face unique complications such as size mismatch, growth issues, and nonadherence. This review aimed to elucidate the clinical characteristics of pediatric kidney transplantation that differ from those observed in adults. The authors performed a systematic review of pediatric kidney transplantation literature to compare clinical characteristics with adult transplantation.

Abstract

Kidney transplantation (KT) is the gold standard for renal replacement therapy in pediatric patients with end-stage renal disease. Recently, it has been observed that the outcome of pediatric KT is nearly identical to that in adults owing to the development and application of a variety of immunosuppressants and newer surgical techniques. However, owing to several differences in characteristics between children and adults, pediatric KT requires that additional information be learned and is associated with added concerns. These differences include post-KT complications, donor-recipient size mismatch, problems related to growth, and nonadherence to therapy, among others. This review was aimed at elucidating the clinical characteristics of pediatric KT that differ from those observed in adults.