Kidneys at higher risk of discard: expanding the role of dual kidney transplantation

Am J Transplant. 2014 Feb;14(2):404-15. doi: 10.1111/ajt.12553.

Abstract

Half of the recovered expanded criteria donor (ECD) kidneys are discarded in the United States. A new kidney allocation system offers kidneys at higher risk of discard, Kidney Donor Profile Index (KDPI)>85%, to a wider geographic area to promote broader sharing and expedite utilization. Dual kidney transplantation (DKT) based on the KDPI is a potential option to streamline allocation of kidneys which otherwise would have been discarded. To assess the clinical utility of the KDPI in kidneys at higher risk of discard, we analyzed the OPTN/UNOS Registry that included the deceased donor kidneys recovered between 2002 and 2012. The primary outcomes were allograft survival, patient survival and discard rate based on different KDPI categories (<80%, 80-90% and >90%). Kidneys with KDPI>90% were associated with increased odds of discard (OR=1.99, 95% CI 1.74-2.29) compared to ones with KDPI<80%. DKTs of KDPI>90% were associated with lower overall allograft failure (HR=0.74, 95% CI 0.62-0.89) and better patient survival (HR=0.79, 95% CI 0.64-0.98) compared to single ECD kidneys with KDPI>90%. Kidneys at higher risk of discard may be offered in the up-front allocation system as a DKT. Further modeling and simulation studies are required to determine a reasonable KDPI cutoff percentile.

Keywords: Deceased donor; KDPI; KDRI; UNOS; discard; dual kidney transplant; outcomes; utilization.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Donor Selection*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Graft Rejection / diagnosis
  • Graft Rejection / etiology*
  • Graft Rejection / mortality
  • Graft Survival
  • Humans
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / mortality
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / surgery*
  • Kidney Transplantation / adverse effects
  • Kidney Transplantation / statistics & numerical data*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prognosis
  • Registries
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Tissue Donors
  • Tissue and Organ Procurement / statistics & numerical data*