title: [Favourable results of the first 2 years of the Dutch paired, living donor, kidney exchange programme].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the results of the paired, living donor, kidney exchange protocol in the Netherlands.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive.
  
  
  METHODS
  In January 2004, all 7 Dutch kidney transplantation centres implemented a paired, living donor, kidney exchange protocol for donor-recipient combinations in which direct kidney transplantation is not possible. The Dutch Transplantation Foundation is responsible for the allocation, in which new donor-recipient combinations are created in accordance with four allocation criteria: blood group, match probability, time on the waiting list, and age difference between the donors. The results of the first 2 years of this programme have now been assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From January 2004 until December 2005, the national programme registered a total of 116 donor-recipient combinations, including 62 blood type incompatible pairs and 54 positive cross-match pairs. In 8 matching procedures, 58 newly created donor-recipient combinations had negative cross matches. 49 patients (42%) were transplanted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Dutch living donor exchange programme for kidney transplantation appears to be very successful, with 42% effective transplantations in the first 2 years.
authors.affiliation: Erasmus MC, afd. Inwendige Geneeskunde, sectie Transplantatie, Kamer D 408, Postbus 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam. marry.deklerk@erasmusmc.nl
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Klerk
authors.forename: B J J M
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Haase-Kromwijk
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Witvliet
authors.forename: F H J
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Claas
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Weimar
mesh_terms: D006648:Histocompatibility; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D019520:Living Donors; D009426:Netherlands; D040841:Resource Allocation / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014019:Tissue Donors; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement / Q000379:methods*