Results of kidney transplantation between spouses: a single-center experience

The shortage of cadaveric kidneys is growing in Turkey despite intensive efforts to find a solution. Living related donors are the primary source of kidneys in developing countries. When a first-degree relative of the patient is not available, a second-degree relative or a genetically unrelated but emotionally related donor, such as a spouse, becomes an alternative. From November 1985 to June 2006, 81 living unrelated kidney transplantations were performed between spouses at our hospital. Seventy-one of the donors were women, and 10 were men. The mean donor age was 33.9 +/- 8.5 years and the mean patient age was 38.5 +/- 8.8 years. The posttransplantation patient and graft survival rates were. 1 year: 93% patient survival, 83% graft survival; 3 years: 90% patient survival, 78% graft survival; and 5 years: 83% patient survival, 76% graft survival. During the posttransplantation period (mean, 82.5 +/- 61.4 months range, 6-216 months), seven patients died: three from sepsis, one from gastrointestinal hemorrhage, two from myocardial infarction, and one from pancreatitis. Three of those seven patients died with a functioning graft, and the seven other grafts were lost because of chronic rejection. To obstruct the underground trade in organs sold for transplantation, our center does not accept living unrelated organ donor candidates other than a spouse. Interspousal kidney transplantation is an important option with good clinical results. It provides the couple with a better quality of life, offers the opportunity to share the joy of giving, and enables a husband and wife to receive the "gift of life" from each other.