[Kidney transplantation from a nephrological-urological viewpoint--results and problems. 2. Diagnosis and therapy after transplantation, complications, long-term results]

Indications, selection of donor and recipient, medical and surgical management and complications, problems of organ procurement. Renal transplantation has become routine therapy. Organs are predominantly obtained from cadavers, transplantations from living donors are rarely indicated. Advances in preservation methods have improved organ quality and prolonged storage time. Selection of the most suitable recipient is based on histocompatibility matching. Blood transfusions before transplantation seem to improve the results. Recognition of a rejection crisis is primarily based on clinical symptoms. Persistent rejection calls for prompt explantation and the patient has to return to dialysis. Infections, serum-hepatitis and gastro-intestinal bleeding are the most common complications. Late complicatons are diabetes mellitus, cirrhosis of the liver, osteopathy, recurring glomerulonephritis, and, rarely, malignomas. Transplantation frequency in the Federal Republic of Germany could be increased by more awareness of physicians and a better knowledge of the general public about the need for cadaver donors.