Outcomes of kidney grafts refused by one or more centers and subsequently transplanted at a single United Kingdom center.

INTRODUCTION

The rate-limiting factor in kidney transplantation is the shortage of donor organs with resulting steady increase in patients on the transplant waiting list. In our center we have seen an increase in the use of kidneys refused as unsuitable by one or more centers in the United Kingdom (UK). This study was performed to analyze the outcomes of transplantation from kidneys refused by one or more centers and subsequently transplanted by our institution.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective analysis using the UK Transplant database of donor grafts refused by one or more centers and subsequently transplanted by us from January 2000 to December 2005. We documented the reason for refusal, donor and recipient factors, incidence of graft rejection, and primary and delayed graft function. Graft function and patient survival at 3 years were compared with standard donor grafts.

RESULTS

From January 2000 to December 2005, we performed 623 renal transplantations, including 60 (9.6% from donors who were refused by one or more centers and 402 "standard" donor grafts. The main reasons for initial refusal included: elderly donor 25% (median age, 61 years), better HLA match required 33.3%, anatomical 5%, medical history of donor 6.6%, virology 4.8%, prolonged cold ischemia time 3.3% (median, 33.5 hours), and organ damage 1.6%. The 3-year median creatinine levels of donor grafts refused by multiple centers was 126 mumol/L compared with 135 mumol/L for standard grafts (P = .97). Three-year graft and patient survival rates were 86.6% and 96%, for grafts refused by multiple centers and 87% and 95%, for standard grafts, respectively. Upon multivariate analysis none of the above variables were significant predictors of 3-year failure of grafts refused by multiple centers.

CONCLUSIONS

Nearly 10% of kidney transplants in our center were performed with grafts refused by one or more centers as "unsuitable." The graft and patient survivals were similar to those of standard grafts. None of the factors for refusal of kidneys by other centers predicted graft failure at 3 years. There may be an element of subjective assessment and subsequently a "cascade effect" involved in refusal of some of these kidneys.