Despite being associated with poor initial graft function, the long-term allograft survival of NHBD kidneys does not differ significantly from the results of HBD and LD transplants.

All three needle sizes are safe for use in renal allograft biopsy using a semiautomated biopsy gun. The larger needles provide more tissue and glomeruli and, thus, are more diagnostically useful. Use of a 14G needle may be associated with more pain, and the 16G needle appears to offer the best compromise between diagnostic usefulness and patient acceptability.

In high-risk patients the autologous transposed brachiobasilic fistula has equivalent patency and lower complication rates than those reported for polytetrafluoroethylene interposition grafts.

BBAVF represents an important option for vascular access with acceptable patency rates, although complication rates remain significant.

This procedure should be considered before resorting to a prosthetic graft for vascular access.

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TGF-beta1 is a profibrotic influence in human renal transplants. The methods described should prove of benefit in investigating the mechanisms of chronic renal allograft damage.