Long-term Results of Renal Transplant From Living Donors Aged Over 60 Years

Abstract

Objectives: This study sought to determine whether recipients of grafts from donors aged 60 years or older achieve the same benefit as those from younger donors in the long term.

Materials and Methods: Between January 2004 and July 2008, one hundred seventeen living renal transplants were performed. The patients were divided into an older donor group (aged ≥ 60 y, n=23) and a younger donor group (aged < 60 y, n=94). Characteristics and evolution of the donors and recipients were compared between the groups.

Results: There was no statistically significant difference between the groups respecting sex, body mass index, duration on dialysis, ischemia time, human leukocyte antigen matches and incidence of primary nonfunction, delayed graft function, acute rejection, and infection (P > .05). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year graft survival for the older group versus the younger group was 95.7% versus 97.9% (P > .05), 91.3% versus 93.6% (P > .05), and 81.8% versus 83.3% (P > .05). Patient survival at 1, 3, and 5 years was 100% versus 100% (P > .05), 95.7% versus 96.8% (P > .05), and 90.9% versus 88.9% (P > .05) with no significant difference in the log-rank test for Kaplan-Meier.

Conclusions: Our studies suggest that in the long term, renal transplant from live donors older than 60 years it is an acceptable alternative.