End-stage renal disease after pediatric heart transplantation: A 25-year national cohort study

Background: End-stage renal disease (ESRD), defined as the need for chronic dialysis and/or kidney transplantation (KTx), is a known complication after heart transplant (HTx). However, factors associated with ESRD are not well elucidated. The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence, risk factors, and outcomes associated with ESRD after pediatric HTx. Methods: Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients data were linked, using direct identifiers, to the United States Renal Data System to identify patients (aged ≤ 18 years) who underwent primary HTx between 1989 and 2013. Risk factors for ESRD and death were analyzed using Cox regression analysis. Results: Combining the above 2 databases identified ~25% additional HTx patients who developed ESRD that were not captured by either database alone. During a median follow-up of 11.8 years, ESRD developed in 276 of 6,901 patients (4%). The actuarial risk of developing ESRD after HTx was 3% at 10 years and 16% at 20 years. Age at HTx > 1 year, African-American race, year of HTx before 2000, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, re-HTx, acute dialysis, graft failure, and hospitalized infection were significant risk factors for ESRD development. Those who remained on chronic dialysis had higher risk of death than those who received KTx (hazard ratio, 31.4; 95% confidence interval, 20.8–48.4; p < 0.0001). Conclusions: ESRD after pediatric HTx is more prevalent in HTx survivors than documented by a transplant database alone. A number of factors develop at or after HTx that increase the risk for developing ESRD. Use of KTx in post-HTx ESRD is associated with improved survival.