TRANSPLANTATION FOR RENAL AMYLOIDOSIS

Renal transplantation therapy performed for amyloid nephropathy is con troversial because of the fatal effects of the disease. Amyloidosis is a relatively frequent disease and is generally associated with famili al Mediterranean fever (FMF) in Turkey. Renal transplantation in the t reatment of amyloid nephropathy started in January 1985. Till now, 18 (3.2%) renal transplantations have been performed on patients who had amyloid nephropathy. The mean follow-up period was 34.6 months. Fourte en renal grafts still function well (creatinine: 1-3.2 mg/dL). The ove rall 1-year patient and graft survival rates were 88.9% and 83.0%, res pectively. These rates are not statistically different from renal tran splantations done for other cases of renal failure. Therefore, patient s with end-stage renal failure due to amyloidosis can be considered as appropriate candidates for renal transplantation.