Effect of donor age on the outcome of living-related kidney transplantation.

The study compared the results of kidney transplantation from living-related donors older and younger than 60 years. The 273 kidney graft recipients were divided into group 1 (115 recipients of older grafts) and group 2 (158 recipients of younger grafts). The frequency of acute rejection (AR) episodes was similar in both groups but slow graft function occurred more frequently in group 1. The frequency of chronic renal allograft dysfunction in the first post-transplant year was significantly higher in group 1 than in group 2. Patient and graft survival was significantly worse in group 1. Risk factors for graft loss were the difference between donor and recipient age and AR. Donor age and graft function were risk factors for patient death. Although kidneys from older donors provide a statistically poorer transplant outcome, they are clinically acceptable, especially when waiting time is prolonged and access to dialysis limited.