Matching graft to recipient by predicted survival: can this be an acceptable strategy to improve utilization of deceased donor kidneys?

Transplant Rev (Orlando). 2008 Jul;22(3):167-70. doi: 10.1016/j.trre.2008.02.005. Epub 2008 Mar 28.

Abstract

A new kidney allocation scheme is needed to address the current shortage of deceased donor kidneys for transplantation in the United States. With this goal in mind, we have derived a novel utility-based system to balance supply and demand. Our system uses a North American-based recipient risk score and the deceased donor score to maximize the total number of years of renal allograft function as a means to improve allocation of kidneys from deceased donors. Essentially, donor renal allografts are matched to a wait-listed candidate with similar predicted survival, which poses an ethical issue. However, this novel utility-based system is practical and could improve deceased donor renal allocation by minimizing both waste and need for retransplantation.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Cadaver
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Graft Survival*
  • Health Care Rationing / ethics
  • Health Care Rationing / methods*
  • Humans
  • Kidney Transplantation*
  • Prognosis
  • Risk Assessment
  • Tissue Donors
  • Transplantation, Homologous
  • Waiting Lists