Effect of a Blood Transfusion Protocol and Low Dose Steroid Regime on Renal Transplant Survival

Abstract

The effects of introduction of a low dose steroid regime and pre-transplant blood transfusion were evaluated. The kidney and patient survival rates for the period before such a policy was adopted were compared with the period after this policy. There has been a highly significant rise in patient survival rates to the present level of 95 per cent at three years. There was a similar rise in three year graft survival rates from less than 40 per cent to 66 per cent.