Multicentre prospective randomised trial of tacrolimus, azathioprine and prednisolone with or without basiliximab: two-year follow-up data.

A total of 192 children and adolescents undergoing renal transplantation were randomly chosen to receive tacrolimus, azathioprine and corticosteroids (TAS, n = 93) or tacrolimus, azathioprine, corticosteroids and two doses of basiliximab (TAS + B, n = 99). Six-month outcome data have previously been reported; this manuscript reports the 2-year data. Complete 2-year data were available on 164 (85.4%) of the original 192 patients. There was a single death in the TAS arm. Kaplan-Meier estimates of survival free of graft loss at 2 years were 94.9% in the TAS + B arm and 89.6% in the TAS arm [hazard ratio (HR) 0.52; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.17 to 1.54, P = 0.23]. Estimates of survival free from rejection at 2 years were 75.2% in the TAS + B arm and 68.7% in the TAS arm (HR 0.81; 95% CI 0.46 to 1.40, P = 0.44). The mean estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) at 2 years, was 65.8 ml/min per 1.73 m(2) body surface area in the TAS arm and 66.7 ml/min per 1.73 m(2) in the TAS + B arm (P = 0.78). Blood pressure and cholesterol levels were similar in the two arms, and there was no evidence of a difference in the incidence of infection or malignancy. These data provide further evidence of a lack of benefit associated with the addition of basiliximab to a TAS regimen for European paediatric renal transplant recipients at low immunological risk.

Vascular access survival in children and young adults receiving long-term hemodialysis.

BACKGROUND: The delivery of long-term hemodialysis therapy in children is complicated by smaller vascular caliber and the potential lifelong requirement for hemodialysis access. Various factors have resulted in the increased use of cuffed central venous catheters (CVLs) in preference to autologous arteriovenous fistulae (AVFs) and arteriovenous synthetic grafts (AVGs). The aim of this study is to compare CVL, AVF, and AVG survival and determine factors affecting their survival. METHODS: A 20-year retrospective study was undertaken of pediatric patients receiving long-term hemodialysis therapy. Age, height, weight, body mass index, and sex were noted at each procedure, in addition to the presence of hypoalbuminemia, underlying diagnosis, type and site of vascular access, and effect of previous access surgery. The grade of operator also was noted. RESULTS: Three hundred four vascular access procedures were performed on 114 patients, with a median age at initial access formation of 12.0 years (range, 4 weeks to 21.9 years). The most common procedure was CVL insertion (182 procedures) and then AVF formation (107 procedures), with only 15 AVGs created. Median censored survival was 3.14 years (95% confidence interval, 1.22 to 5.06) for AVFs and 0.6 years (95% confidence interval, 0.20 to 1.00) for CVLs. Factors adversely affecting vascular access survival were younger age, trainee operator, presence of hypoalbuminemia, and type of access undertaken, with AVF better than CVL. CONCLUSION: This study shows increased survival of AVFs over CVLs and AVGs. Vascular access in children and adolescents may impact on future dialysis accessibility and should be undertaken by those most experienced in each technique.