Recurrent glomerulonephritis in living kidney transplantation.

Glomerulonephritis (GN) is one of the most frequent causes of end-stage renal disease. Recurrent GN can occur very early after transplantation in up to 20% of renal-allograft recipients and should be considered with late graft dysfunction in 2-5%. Importantly, diagnosis of a clinically silent recurrence of the disease will pass undetected unless transplant centers have a policy of protocol biopsies. In addition, the classification of the type of recurrent GN should be done with data on electron microscopy and immunofluorescence, in order to promote prompt treatment and a strategy for long-term graft survival. The aim of our paper was to present a few typical cases of recurrent GN, showing the actuality of the problem in living related kidney transplant recipients and to ascertain the importance of precise and timely diagnosis by protocol biopsy. Recurrent focal segmental glomerular sclerosis (FSGS) in childhood is associated with the highest number of graft loss. The treatment of recurrent FSGN is difficult, so prophylactic plasmapheresis prior to transplantation appeared to be more effective in preventing recurrence than plasmapheresis after transplantation, especially in population of children. Mesangio proliferative GN type II is the second most frequent recurrent GN, followed by type I. Here, it is of paramount importance to classify the type of the disease. The family of the patient at risk for recurrent GN, a candidate for living related kidney transplantation, should be informed for the expected outcome and their voluntary decision whether to proceed with transplantation should be awaited.