aim of this study was to compare the graft survival after kidney transplantation in recipients treated with azathiopurine (AZA) or mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and analyze the significance of different risk factors for patient’s survival. A total of 232 patients (132 males and 100 females), with the mean age of 34.5 years transplanted between October 2000 and June 2005, were divided into two groups: patients who received AZA together with cyclosporine A and prednisolone (AZA group, n = 129) and patients who received MMF (MMF group, n = 103) with cyclosporine A and prednisolone. The 3rd and 5th years post transplantation serum creatinine (1.04 & 1.50 for AZA and 0.49 & 0.95 for MMF respectively) were significantly higher in AZA group in comparison to MMF group (sig = 0.031 and 0.26). The increase of serum creatinine between 1st and 5th years post transplantation (0.61 versus 0.23 respectively) also was significantly higher in AZA group (sig = 0.029). The 3rd and 5th year serum cholesterol, triglyceride and uric acid were higher in AZA group too, but the differences were not statistically significant. In conclusion continuous use of MMF versus AZA was associated with a protective effect against declining renal function beyond 3 and 5 year after transplantation. Further study is needed to confirm that continued MMF therapy is protective against long-term deterioration in renal function.