Similar Outcomes of Kidney Transplantations Using Organs From Donors After Cardiac Death and Donors After Brain Death

Background

To increase the number of cadaveric kidney transplants in Japan, it is necessary to proactively use organs from all donors. Since the revision of the Organ Transplant Law, the number of organ donors after cardiac death (DCD) has decreased but the number of organ donors after brain death (DBD) has increased; however, the number of donor organs and awareness of cadaveric transplantation have increased.

Methods

At our institution, 28 patients underwent cadaveric kidney transplantation from January 2001 to December 2016. These patients were classified into 2 groups according to DBD or DCD. Furthermore, 10 patients received transplants from expanded criteria donors (ECD) and 18 received them from standard criteria donors (SCD).

Results

Kidney graft survival and engraftment were observed for all patients. There were no significant differences in renal function at 6 months for DBD and DCD transplant recipients. Renal function at 1, 3, and 5 years and serum creatinine levels were better for the ECD group. Renal function at 5 years after transplantation was significantly better for the SCD group than for the ECD group; however, there was no difference in delayed graft function between the SCD and ECD groups. Comparisons of the 3 groups showed good renal function for transplants from DBDs, but there was no significant difference in survival rates.

Conclusions

Results were good for all patients. There were no significant differences in outcomes of our patients who received transplants from ECD or SCD.