We investigated the risk factors for recurrence of
IgA nephropathy after
kidney transplantation. Of the 184 recipients of allografts for
end-stage renal disease caused by primary
IgA nephropathy at our institution and affiliated hospitals between 1990 and 2005, 70 developed recurrent
IgA nephropathy (group 1), while the remaining 114 did not develop recurrent
IgA nephropathy (group 2). The diagnosis of recurrent
IgA nephropathy was based on case and/or protocol renal biopsies. We examined the risk factors for recurrence of
IgA nephropathy by comparing the two groups. In addition, we also investigated the risk factors for graft loss in the patients with recurrent
IgA nephropathy. The recipient's age at
transplantation was significantly younger in group 1 than in group 2 (33.4 ± 10.4 vs. 36.7 ± 10.7, P = 0.037). No significant influence of the immunosuppressive regimens used was observed on the likelihood of recurrence of
IgA nephropathy. In the analysis of the risk factors for graft loss, the mean age of the donor was significantly higher in the patient group with graft loss (59.1 ± 9.5 vs. 53.9 ± 9.0, P = 0.033), and the serum
creatinine level at one year after surgery was also significantly higher in the patient group with graft loss (1.62 ± 0.52 vs. 1.34 ± 0.34, P = 0.022). Recipients with recurrent
IgA nephropathy after
transplantation, especially younger patients, need to be followed up carefully.