Risk Factors for Recurrence of Immunoglobulin A Nephropathy After Renal Transplantation: Single Center Study

We investigated the risk factors for recurrence of IgA nephropathy after kidney transplantation. Of the 184 recipients of allografts for end-stage renal disease caused by primary IgA nephropathy at our institution and affiliated hospitals between 1990 and 2005, 70 developed recurrent IgA nephropathy (group 1), while the remaining 114 did not develop recurrent IgA nephropathy (group 2). The diagnosis of recurrent IgA nephropathy was based on case and/or protocol renal biopsies. We examined the risk factors for recurrence of IgA nephropathy by comparing the two groups. In addition, we also investigated the risk factors for graft loss in the patients with recurrent IgA nephropathy. The recipient's age at transplantation was significantly younger in group 1 than in group 2 (33.4 ± 10.4 vs. 36.7 ± 10.7, P = 0.037). No significant influence of the immunosuppressive regimens used was observed on the likelihood of recurrence of IgA nephropathy. In the analysis of the risk factors for graft loss, the mean age of the donor was significantly higher in the patient group with graft loss (59.1 ± 9.5 vs. 53.9 ± 9.0, P = 0.033), and the serum creatinine level at one year after surgery was also significantly higher in the patient group with graft loss (1.62 ± 0.52 vs. 1.34 ± 0.34, P = 0.022). Recipients with recurrent IgA nephropathy after transplantation, especially younger patients, need to be followed up carefully.