Effect of Immigration Status on Outcomes in Pediatric Kidney Transplant Recipients. Issue 6 (9th March 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: McEnhill, M. E.; Brennan, J. L.; Winnicki, E.; Lee, M. M.; Tavakol, M.; Posselt, A. M.; Stock, P. G.; Portale, A. A.
• Is Part Of: American journal of transplantation. Volume 16:Issue 6(2016:Jun.)
• Page Start: 1827
• Page End: 1833
• Publication Date: 2016-03-09
• Subjects: Transplantation of organs, tissues, etc -- Periodicals; 617.95
• DOI: 10.1111/ajt.13683
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1600-6135

Abstract

Abstract : Kidney transplantation is the optimal treatment for children with end‐stage renal disease. For children with undocumented immigration status, access to kidney transplantation is limited, and data on transplant outcomes in this population are scarce. The goal of the present retrospective single‐center study was to compare outcomes after kidney transplantation in undocumented children with those of US citizen children. Undocumented residency status was identified in 48 (17%) of 289 children who received a kidney transplant between 1998 and 2010. In undocumented recipients, graft survival at 1 and 5 years posttransplantation was similar, and mean estimated glomerular filtration rate at 1 year was higher than that in recipients who were citizens. The risk of allograft failure was lower in undocumented recipients relative to that in citizens at 5 years posttransplantation, after adjustment for patient age, donor age, donor type, and HLA mismatch (p < 0.04). In contrast, nearly one in five undocumented recipients who reached 21 years of age lost their graft, primarily because they were unable to pay for immunosuppressive medications once their state‐funded insurance had ended. These findings support the ongoing need for immigration policies for the undocumented that facilitate access to work‐permits and employment‐related insurance for this disadvantaged group. Abstract : A single‐center study demonstrates that graft survival times of undocumented children are equivalent to those of citizen children and that immigration status is not a risk factor for poor outcome. See the editorial from Gordon and Gill onpage 1645, and related viewpoint from Hartsock et al onpage 1681 .