Reasons for not accepting living kidney donors

Organs were donated by a small number of relatives (54/146=37%), genetically related or familial, who volunteered to give a kidney to a relative or spouse at our institution in 1991-1994. The most common reason for not accepting them was an immunological incompatibility (30 cases), followed by a diagnosis of hypertension and/or renal disease (24 cases). Other medical contraindications-including heart/lung disease, obesity, latent diabetes, and hepatic disease-were found in 14 potential donors. One woman (22 years of age) was judged too young for donation. Five ESRD patients died before the investigation of the donor had been completed. Eighteen potential donors changed their minds and decided not to donate a kidney. Interestingly, there was a high percentage of denial of spouses due to positive crossmatches.