| [ Summary ] |
In cases involving kidney transplantation for treatment of pediatric kidney failure, patient survival rates and graft survival rates have dramatically improved thanks to advanced immunosuppressive drugs. Children with kidney failure have major growth and development problems. However, kidney transplantation has also made it possible to address growth issues. However, the rates of the children reaching normal heights are 42 % to 75 %, which are not yet completely fulfilled. Withdrawal of steroids and administration of growth hormone are currently being performed to increase the final height of children with renal failure. Although the above strategy seems to be useful for improving height, only short-term results have been reported. There have been no reports of evaluations which exhibit the fi nal height of these children. Methods to maintain posttransplantation renal grafts are important. Whether these treatments can improve the fi nal height of these children without reducing graft survival rates has not yet been concluded. Therefore, careful follow-up is necessary for treatment of these patients. |