ABSTRACT
This article addresses some of the major epidemiological; clinical; financial and social issues related to the practice of renal transplantation in Egypt. It highlights the limited availability facing the tremendous need for this line of treatment. It provides an overview of the transplant activity in the country; with a brief description of the medical and surgical protocols generally adopted by most groups. As a representative sample; the results of treatment of the Cairo Kidney Centre are given; emphasising the importance of local ecological factors in modifying the outcome; expressed as short and long term patient and graft survival. The effects of the high prevalence of 6 infective agents are described; including cytomegalovirus (CMV); Hepatitis B and C viruses; salmonellosis; tuberculosis and schistosomiasis. [abstract terminated]