title: Improving the prediction of donor kidney quality: deceased donor score and resistive indices.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The deceased donor score (DDS), expanded criteria donor (ECD) definition, and resistive index (RI) were developed for pretransplant evaluation of donors. DDS and ECD are determined by a calculation of risk from donor variables, while RI is determined from flow characteristics of kidneys during machine preservation (MP). This study was designed to compare DDS, ECD status, and RI as predictors of outcome after deceased donor transplantation. We were also interested to see if DDS or ECD could identify kidneys most likely to benefit from MP.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed 48,952 deceased donor renal transplants reported to UNOS from 1997-2002. DDS (0-39 pts.), ECD status (+ or -), and preservation technique (MP vs. cold storage [CS]) were determined in all cases. RI during MP was studied in a single-center cohort of 425 transplants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  DDS was superior to ECD status and RI in its correlation with early and late renal function after transplantation. DDS identified a subgroup of ECD- kidneys, those with DDS > or = 20 pts, that functioned significantly below expectation and similar to ECD+ kidneys. Benefits of MP, which include improved early graft function and a trend towards longer graft survival, were greatest in the group of kidneys with DDS > or = 20 pts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DDS was the best predictor of outcome after deceased donor renal transplantation and may be useful in identifying kidneys most likely to benefit from MP.
authors.affiliation: Division of Transplantation Surgery, Wilhelm Von Liebig Transplant Center, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. nyberg.scott@mayo.edu
authors.forename: Scott L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Nyberg
authors.forename: Edwina S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Baskin-Bey
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kremers
authors.forename: Mikel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Prieto
authors.forename: Mitchell L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Henry
authors.forename: Mark D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Stegall
mesh_terms: D002102:Cadaver; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D009926:Organ Preservation / Q000592:standards*; D010477:Perfusion; D011379:Prognosis; D011786:Quality Control; D012034:Refrigeration; D014019:Tissue Donors