Cause of death in renal transplant patients: A comparison between azathioprine and ciclosporin

The results of renal transplantation have improved due to advances in immun osuppression techniques of preservation, and pre- and postoperative treatme nts; however, both morbidity and mortality remain serious problems. To decr ease the morbidity and mortality rates we analyzed the causes of death afte r renal transplantation in our hospital. Between 1972 and 1999, we performe d 364 renal transplantations, 257 of which were living-related and 107, cad averic. There were 178 patients given azathioprine and 186 given ciclospori n. The survival rate of the patients on ciclosporin therapy was much better than that of those on azathioprine therapy. Of the total 364 renal transpl ant patients, 59 (16.2%) died, and 28 (47.5%) of these 59 deaths occurred w ithin 1 year after renal transplantation. The causes of death were infectio n in 19 (32.2%) patients, gastrointestinal diseases in 16 (27.1%), cardiova scular diseases in 11 (18.6%), cerebrovascular diseases in 6 (10.2%), suici de in 3 (5.1%), and other causes in 4 (6.8%). These findings reinforce that early diagnosis and treatment are essential to decrease the morbidity and mortality rates assoiated with renal transplantation.