Evolution of renal transplantation in India over the last four decades

In India, there are only 3.25 renal transplantations done per million population from live and deceased donors, which is grossly inadequate. Efforts to improve deceased donation are also discussed in the context of the Transplantation of Human Organs Act. Data were collected from the oldest private non-profit medical college facility which showed significant improvement in allograft, and patient survival over the last four decades with a decrease in infection rate. In 2000-07, the 5-year survival is 85%; in the 1990s, the 10-year survival was 70%; in the 1980s, the 20-year survival was 55%; and in the 1970s, the 30-year survival was 20%. Graft survival rates of 801 patients at the free-of-cost Government General Hospital are 92% at 1 year, 82% at 3 years and 75% at 5 years. Long-term clinical and laboratory parameters of donor follow-up of 170 renal donors who had donated from 5 to >15 years ago are shown. Donor follow-up showed serum creatinine of 0.8985 +/- 0.1588 mg/dl at 0-5 years, 0.9458 +/- 0.3007 mg/dl at 5-10 years and 0.9133 +/- 0.1642 mg/dl at 10-15 years with no significant increase over time (P = 0.511). A survey was conducted by questionnaire from 140 renal professionals to assess attitudes towards organ donation. Results from the questionnaire showed positive attitude towards organ donation.