ABSTRACT
We review the trends in graft and patient survival that have been observed in kidney transplantation over the recent era and integrate this with what is known of the pathophysiology of allograft failure. We will also review the relevant long-term outcomes with the commonly used immunosuppressive regimens in kidney transplantation given their differing impact on graft survival. The relevance of past experiences with immunosuppression and graft survival in the context of the emerging epidemic of polyoma virus nephropathy and the increasing recognition of humoral rejection will also be discussed.
