A retrospective study was performed on our series of 240 primary cadaveric renal transplant recipients to dissect the influence of vascular anastomosis time, warm ischemia time and cold ischemia time on ultimate graft survival. 177 patients received conventional immunosuppression with Azatioprine and steroids, and 63 patients received Cyclosporine A therapy. The data was analyzed for sub-groups of ischemia time and comparisons were performed using the method of Tarone-Ware. The present study fails to demonstrate a detrimental effect of ischemic insults on graft survival. The use of Cyclosporine A in the pre and post-transplant, monitoring periodically serum cyclosporine levels and the use of renal allograft biopsy, allows the use of this agent without a high incidence of nefrotoxicity.