OBJECTIVE: To investigate the characteristics and complications of renal transplantation in patients with polycystic kidney and their effects on the transplantation outcome. METHODS: The clinical data of 42 patients with polycystic kidney and 80 non-polycystic kidney patients with renal transplantation were retrospectively analyzed. The postoperative complications and the human and renal survival rates at 1 and 5 years were compared between the two groups. Patients with and without preoperative resection of the primary kidney in the polycystic kidney group were also compared. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the incidence of delayed recovery of transplanted kidney function, acute rejection, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular complications, and pulmonary infections between the two groups. The incidence of postoperative urinary tract infections was higher in the polycystic kidney group than in the control group.