Renal Transplantation From Pediatric Donors in the United Kingdom

Significant disparity exists in the United Kingdom between the need for organ transplant and supply of deceased donor organs. In the recent years, efforts to increase donation has improved the rate of mainly deceased donors after circulatory death and from older donors. The rate of donation from pediatric population has remained low and those younger than 2 years including neonatal donation has remained largely unexplored.

A retrospective review of the outcome of renal transplantation from pediatric donor (<18 years) kidneys in the United Kingdom.

Our results show a poor referral and conversion rate, and high discard rate (43%) of kidneys procured from donors younger than 2 years. During the 15-year study period (1997-2011), 47 donors younger than 2 years were referred (3 per year). Of these, 26 proceeded to donation resulting in 17 transplants (65% utilization). The referral rate for donors 2 years or older to younger than 5 years also remains low (76 in 15 years), but the conversion (88%) and utilization rates (73%) are better in this group. There was better utilization in donors aged 5 years or older to younger than 18 years. Overall graft and patient survival remains excellent in all 3 groups; with comparable survival of 82%, 85%, and 77% (P = 0.29) with mean follow-up periods of 9, 12.5, and 11.8 years, respectively.

Despite excellent outcome, the referral, donation, and utilization of kidneys from donors younger than 5 years and particularly those younger than 2 years remain low. We suggest implementing improved strategies to increase donation from this group of population.