Recurrence of Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis in the Transplanted Kidney

Abstract

The clinical and renal biopsy findings in 3 patients with recurrent focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSG) are reported, as well as the results of a survey among 17 European centers totaling 27 kidney-transplanted children with FSG. From these 27 patients, 10 had recurrent FSG. The duration of the original disease was less than 3 years in 9 of them. In contrast, this rapid progression of the disease was observed in only 7 of 17 patients in the group without recurrences. Heavy proteinuria was noted within the 1st day, or week, in all but 2 patients where it was detected at 3 and 7 weeks. All developed the nephrotic syndrome. From the 10 kidneys (mostly from cadaver donors) which functioned for more than 1 month, 5 were lost 2–24 months after transplantation because of recurrence (3 patients) or infection (2 patients). It appears that the risk of recurrence can best be predicted by the duration of the original disease: 50% or more if the duration was short ( < 3 years), and only 10–20% when the duration was longer.