Age is not a barrier in kidney transplant

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

A study shows that older recipients of kidneys have as good a chance as those who are younger, even if they get an organ from an older donor.
It is more common these days to use kidneys from older donors, even if they are in less than optimum health. This is to make up a shortfall between those requiring a new kidney and the actual supply of new organs.

There is reassuring news from Wake Forest University where researchers have studied a group of 144 patients having a new kidney. Age of the donor and recipient were not a factor in survival of the patient or the graft. The older patients tended to receive organs from older donors. At least one year after transplant, survival rates for transplanted kidneys were 86 per cent in the older group, who were over 60, and 87 per cent in those under 60. Patient survival was 92 per cent in the older group and 98 per cent in the younger group. These positive results probably arise because there are now new, more advanced ways of matching donor organs to their recipients.

Source
Central Surgical Association meeting 11th March 2005

Please take a moment to give us your comments. For questions about Health matters you may check our "Questions & Answers" Portal and Service.