Recipient age was previously shown to affect post-transplant survival and function after transplantation of cadaveric kidneys. The survival of recipients of older (> 45 yr) and younger (< 45 yr) kidneys were compared. There was no significant difference between survival of recipients of kidneys from donors less than or greater than 45 yr of age. The older living related donor kidney is not inferior and does not affect cumulative survival in the 1st 4 post-transplant years.