title: Long-term outcomes of kidney allografts obtained by transplant tourism: observations from a single center in Korea.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Organ shortages lead end stage renal disease patients to seek overseas kidney transplantations (OTs), but the long-term outcomes of OTs have not been evaluated extensively.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients who received OT and were followed at Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH) from 2000 to 2009 (n = 87) were compared with patients who received kidneys from local donors (LTs) and were followed at SNUH (n = 577). Furthermore, we matched OT patients and LT patients via a propensity score using operation date, age, renal replacement therapy duration, and donor sources (n = 87 vs 87).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The recipient age was older in the OT group (48 vs 41 years), and donor age was younger in the OT group (29 vs 39 years). The estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFR) of functioning grafts between the groups were not different throughout the follow-up period. Biopsy-proven acute rejection, infectious disease, and hospitalization were more frequent in the OT group (27/87 vs 141/577, log-rank P < 0.001; 39/87 vs 28/577, log-rank P < 0.001; 66/87 vs 99/577, log-rank P < 0.001). The graft survival rate was lower in the OT group (82/87 vs 542/577, log-rank P = 0.003). Patient survival rate, however, was similar between the groups. After propensity score matching, the donor age was still younger in the OT group (29 vs 38 years). The risks of biopsy-proven acute rejection, infectious disease, and hospitalization were still higher in the OT group (27/87 vs 36/87, log-rank P = 0.04; 39/87 vs 3/87, log-rank P < 0.001; 66/87 vs 19/87, log-rank P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overseas kidney transplantation connotes risk factors that may negatively affect the long-term graft outcome.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, National Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Ran-Hui
authors: RH
authors: Cha
authors: Yong Chul
authors: YC
authors: Kim
authors: Yoon Jung
authors: YJ
authors: Oh
authors: Jeong Hwan
authors: JH
authors: Lee
authors: Eun Young
authors: EY
authors: Seong
authors: Dong Ki
authors: DK
authors: Kim
authors: Suhnggwon
authors: S
authors: Kim
authors: Yon Su
authors: YS
authors: Kim