[After care following kidney transplantation].

The progress of surgical techniques and the development of more potent immunosuppressive drugs have increased the success rate of renal transplantation such that the quality of life for kidney transplant patients is at the present time superior to that for dialysed patients. However, both renal and extrarenal complications may develop. Acute rejection episodes are the main factor governing long-time renal survival and its treatment with reinforced immunosuppressive therapy may lead to severe infections. Surveillance of kidney transplant patients should include the thorough search for side effects of immunosuppressive therapy and potential drug interactions. Progressive loss of graft function is observed in the majority of patients. Cardiovascular complications, related to the increased incidence of hypertension and hyperlipidemia, remains the main cause of death in kidney transplant patients. Long-term immunosuppression also increases the incidence of cancer, in particular of skin cancer and lymphoma. Despite these potential complications, major efforts must be made to improve organ donation, as both on medical and economical grounds, renal transplantation appears to be the best method available for kidney function replacement.