Complications of therapeutic apheresis in pediatric kidney transplantation

In the setting of kidney transplantation, therapeutic apheresis (TA) is employed both for pre-intervention procedures and during the post-transplant period. In pediatric nephrology units, TA is usually performed as a therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) with dialysis equipment, and using non-plasma replacement fluids. In children undergoing kidney transplantation, complications of TPE are mainly related to its depletive properties combined with the iatrogenic immunodeficiency status of the patient. Moreover, the use of small central venous catheters and the equipment standardized for adults can increase the risk of adverse events. Focusing on these preconditions, TA in kidney-transplanted children should be performed in specialized centers with specific protocols and a trained staff.