Preemptive renal transplant: too early is not always better-a national cohort study

Preemptive renal transplants (PRT) confer better outcomes than renal transplants performed after initiation of hemodialysis. PRTs are occurring at progressively higher residual recipient renal function.

We evaluated donor, recipient, and transplant characteristics of 26,384 preemptive transplants between 2010 and 2019 using the United Network of Organ Sharing (UNOS) database. Recipients of PRTs were divided into four distinct groups depending upon the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) (GFR [Formula: see text] 10, 10 < GFR [Formula: see text] 15, 15 < GFR [Formula: see text] 19 and > 19, ml/min/1.73 m²) at the time of transplant. We followed graft and patient survival for five years and assessed donor, recipient, and transplant characteristics such as race, gender, and type of insurance.

PRTs occurring at GFR > 19 ml/min (early preemptive renal transplants, ePRT) from live and deceased donors were not associated with improved graft nor patient survival compared to the other preemptive transplants. PRTs occurring at GFR range of 10-15 ml/min conferred the best graft survival. Black donor-recipient pairs were 54% less likely to be involved in ePRT, while non-Hispanic White donor-recipient pairs were 20% more likely to receive ePRT.

ePRT represents misallocation of valuable organ resources and a waste of native renal function. There is no evidence that ePRT is associated with superior graft or patient survival compared to the other preemptive transplants. Conversely, ePRT produces poorer graft and patient survival outcomes compared to the other PRTs. GFR range of 10-15 ml/min is optimal and associated with superior outcomes.