Seizures following renal transplantation in childhood

Few studies have investigated the incidence of seizures following renal tra nsplantation in childhood. The aim of this study was to determine this inci dence and to identify risk factors. Retrospective casenote analysis was car ried out on 119 transplants performed in 109 children over 10 years. Twenty -one transplants (in 20 children) were complicated by seizures, the majorit y of which occurred in the first 55 days after transplantation. Seizures we re more common in the 5- to 10-year-old age group (P=0.03), but were no mor e common in those with a prior history of seizure (P=0.69). Their aetiology was predominantly multifactorial; hypertension (n=15), fever/infection (n= 4) and acute allograft rejection (n=6) were commonly identified risk factor s; 2 were secondary to intracerebral pathology. Most seizures were short li ved, required minimal therapy and had a good long-term neurological outcome . In conclusion, seizures are relatively common following paediatric renal transplantation. Parents are now routinely counselled of this risk.