A REVIEW OF THE KIDNEYS THAT NOBODY WANTED

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Abstract
We previously reported excellent outcome at 6 months after transplantation in recipients of expanded criteria donor kidneys that other local centers had declined, kidneys that nobody wanted (KNW), versus controls. We now report follow-up after 23 months. We retrospectively reviewed 27 donor and 24 recipient characteristics in 126 adult recipients of transplants from January 1, 1995, to November 25, 1996. Donors of control kidneys versus KNW were younger and had significantly higher minimum 4-hr urine output. Recipients of control kidneys versus KNW had significantly more HLA matches and lower 3-month posttransplant serum creatinine levels. Patient and graft survival rates were similar between the control kidneys versus the KNW. We also compared the control kidneys and KNW with regard to prompt function or delayed graft function and satisfactory versus unsatisfactory function (unsatisfactory: serum creatinine > or =2.5 ml/dl or graft loss at 6 months) to identify donor and recipient characteristics associated with delayed graft function and unsatisfactory outcome. The incidence of rejection was significantly lower in control kidneys and KNW with satisfactory function versus control kidneys and KNW with unsatisfactory function. These data demonstrate: (1) similar graft survival at 12 months, (2) lower donor age, (3) higher minimum 4-hr urine output, and (4) more HLA matches in recipients of control kidneys versus KNW. Optimal outcome was achieved in recipients of control kidneys and KNW with prompt function and satisfactory function based upon serum creatinine in the first 6 months and in recipients with lower rates of rejection. Although outcome is dependent upon many donor and recipient variables, we believe that with careful donor and recipient selection, excellent outcome can be achieved using expanded criteria donor kidneys.