Gas nephrogram: an unusual complication of renal transplantation.

The major complications following renal transplantation often call for selective angiography, venography and ultrasonic examination (especially of a palpable mass at the site of transplant). Functional status can be assessed by an intravenous excretion urogram or isotope renogram. We present an unusual plain film diagnosis. A woman aged 53 years had a well-matched cadaver kidney transplanted into the left iliac fossa in July 1975, following two months of maintenance dialysis for renal failure caused by rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis. Two early rejection episodes were treated with methylprednisolone, and maintenance was with prednisone and azathioprine. She developed insulin dependent diabetes, and for five days after discharge had a mild leucopenia. She was discharged after four weeks with a serum creatinine level of 336 μmol/1.