Recent development of hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) has greatly improved the quality of life in critical patients with hematological malignancies. On the other hand, it is a fact that some HCT survivors suffer from chronic renal failure (CRF). We attempted to examine the clinical characteristics of CRF in patients who were successfully treated with HCT in Japan. A retrospective analysis of 158 long-term survivors receiving HCT at Komagome Hospital was undertaken. CRF was designated as less than 30 mL/min of estimated GFR (eGFR) calculated by the MDRD formula. We statistically analyzed the influences of total body irradiation (TBI), graft versus host diseases (GVHD), renal impairment during HCT, new incidence of hypertension after transplantation, age, and gender on CRF, using the multivariate logistic regression analysis. Twenty-seven patients (17.1%) had CRF. Their mean ages were 33.1 +/- 8.87 years and mean eGFR levels were 20.5 +/- 9.50 mL/min/1.73 m2. Fifteen patients were recipients of TBI (55.6 %). CRF became obvious within one year after BMT in 5 patients (18.5%) and later in 22 patients (81.5%). Seven patients(25.9%) finally reached end-stage renal disease (ESRD) at the time of over 10 years after HCT. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that TBI, renal impairment during HCT, and new incidence of hypertension after HCT were significantly associated with CRF. Considering that 12 patients without TBI (44.4%) developed CRF, "renal impairment during HCT", the odds ratio of which was the highest, might be the factor most closely associated with CRF. The clinical course of a representative patient who developed ESRD was described. An increase in ESRD patients receiving HCT should be anticipated and would constitute a new important issue in nephrology.