Outcome of the Using Older Donors for Kidney Transplantation; Gazi University, Ankara Experience

The extreme organ shortage in Turkey has led to expansion of living and diseased donors. We retrospectively analyzed patient data to determine the outcomes of elderly donors. Among 2:10 donors, 28 (13.3%) were atleast >= 55 years old. In this group, 17 were from living and 11 from diseased donors. Mean cold ischemia time was 68 +/- 21 minutes. The immunosuppressive protocol consisted of induction therapy (simulect 20 mg on days 0 and 4) and immunosuppression with calcineurin inhibitors, mycophenolic acid, and steroids. Nine patients (32.6%) with delayed graft function (DGF) required transient hemodialysis. None of the recipients or their grafts were lost due to surgical complications. We noted 5 acute rejection episodes which were all reversed by pulse steroids. Mean creatinine levels at 1, 3, and 5 years were 1.7, 2.1 and 2.3 mg/dL respectively. Patient and graft survivals at 1, 3, and 5 years were 100%, 96%, and 92% and 100%, 92%, and 92%, respectively. Although 3.6% of recipients displayed DGF, it did not affect graft outcomes. In conclusion, kidney transplantation from older donors should be considered to be an option for kidney transplantation.