27 years experience in kidney transplantation in a Peruvian center

Abstract

Background: Kidney transplantation is the best treatment option in patients with chronic kidney disease who undergo dialysis, to improve their quality of life.

Purpose: To describe the 27-year experience in kidney transplantation in a Peruvian hospital.

Methodology: An observational, longitudinal and retrospective study was carried out. All patients who received a kidney transplant at the Carlos Alberto Seguin Escobedo National Hospital in Arequipa, Peru, between 1993 and 2020, were included. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were collected, according to the period of time and donor type, and kidney transplant survival was analyzed.

Results: Of 351 patients evaluated, 56.7% were male and the mean age was 40.23±12.39 years (range 13-66). 35.6% of transplants were performed between 2000 and 2010. 92% were from deceased donors and the most frequent early complication was delayed graft function. Between 1993 and 1999, 23% of the grafts were from living donors and had higher mortality than the cadaveric donor group, although it was not significant. There was higher mortality in those transplanted from 2011 to 2020. A survival of 95%, 87.9%, 84.2% and 64.2%, was found at one year, five years, 10 years and 15 years, respectively, for the deceased donor recipient; while for the living donor recipient it was 84.6%, 80.8%, 80.8% and 73.1%, for the same period of time. The most predominant causes of death were sepsis and COVID-19. 11.7% died from COVID-19 and most of these patients had a functional graft.

Conclusions: The present study showed that deceased kidney transplantation predominates in Peru, with acceptable patient and allograft survival during the period 1993-2020.