Living-donor kidney transplantation: risks of the donor – benefits of the recipient

Abstract:  For patients with end-stage renal disease, kidney transplantation is the optimal therapy. Due to organ shortage, however, most patients have to wait on dialysis for a considerable period of time prior to transplantation. Living-donor kidney transplantation is a valid option to expand the organ pool and to reduce waiting time. The risk–benefit ratio of living-donor kidney transplantation needs to be evaluated critically, as healthy persons voluntarily donate an organ for transplantation. The available data from the literature seem to prove that the donor operation can be performed with a minimal perioperative risk. Regarding the long-term course after kidney donation, the published data suggest that the risk is minimal for well-selected healthy donors who are closely followed postoperatively. The potential donor, however, needs to be completely informed regarding the potential short- and long-term risks of kidney donation prior to the planned procedure. From the recipient point of view, transplantation of a kidney from a living donor is a very good if not the optimal option, as the short- and long-term outcomes seem to be favorable compared with cadaveric kidney transplantation. With donor safety being constantly monitored, it seems to be justified to further pursue living-donor kidney transplantation programs.