Outcome of assessment of potential donors for live donor kidney transplants

The critical shortage of cadaver donor organs for renal transplantation has resulted in the increased use of living donors. We reviewed the outcomes of the assessments of potential living kidney donors. One hundred seventeen potential donors evaluated over a 39-month period were included in the study. The work-up of the potential donors consisted of a step-wise progression of clinical, blood, and radiological tests. Of the 117 potential donors, only 20 were ultimately used. Five percent of the donors were found to be unsuitable because of medical problems at the initial visit. A further 25% were blood group incompatible, 13% were excluded following the investigations, 9% had psychosocial problems, and in 4% there were recipient problems. Twenty-two percent of suitable donors were not used either because another live donor was used or because a cadaver donor kidney was available. In conclusion, although the assessment of potential donors requires much time and effort, only a small minority of donors assessed are ultimately used.