Renal transplant survival from older donors: a single center experience.
OBJECTIVE
Despite the observation that kidney transplantations from older donors have an increased risk of failure, the percentage of kidney donors 55 years and older has increased. We explored the risk of allograft failure in a single transplantation center with older (55-79 years) vs younger (18-54 years) donors.


METHODS
Retrospective cohort review with a mean follow-up of 32 months.


METHODS
Academic transplant center.


METHODS
Consecutive recipients (n = 324) of renal transplants from adult donors.


METHODS
Patients were divided into 4 groups based on donor status (living or deceased) and donor age (< or =54 or > or =55 years).


METHODS
Allograft survival and function, incidence of acute rejection.


RESULTS
Recipients of older donor kidneys were significantly older (53.6 vs 43.6 years, P<.001). Seven allografts (12.7%) failed from 55 transplants from donors 55 years and older, compared with 41 allografts (15.2%) from 269 younger donors (P =.63). Renal function was superior following renal transplantation using younger donors (P =.004). However, renal function was acceptable in all groups, with a mean +/- SD serum creatinine level of 1.7 +/- 0.4 mg/dL (150 +/- 35 micro mol/L) among recipients of older donor kidneys. Allograft survival at 1, 2, and 3 years, censored for death with allograft function, did not differ when comparing older vs younger donors.


CONCLUSIONS
Most patients receiving allografts from older donors do well. Older donor kidneys provide suitable renal function for many patients on dialysis awaiting transplantation.
Morrissey
Paul E
PE
Division of Organ Transplantation, Rhode Island Hospital, Brown Medical School, Providence, RI 02903, USA. Pmorrissey@lifespan.org
Gohh
Reginald
R
Yango
Angelito
A
Gautam
Amitabh
A
Monaco
Anthony P
AP
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000503:physiopathology; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014019:Tissue Donors; D016896:Treatment Outcome