Outcomes of Deceased Donor Kidney Transplantation in the Eurotransplant Senior Program with A Focus on Recipients ≥75 Years

To evaluate the outcomes of kidney transplantations (KTs) in the Eurotransplant Senior Program (ESP) with a focus on the very old, defined as recipients ≥75 years. This retrospective clinical study included 85 patients, who under the ESP protocol underwent deceased donor kidney transplantation from January 2010 to July 2018 at the Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin in Germany. Recipients were divided in three age groups, i.e., Group 65–69, Group 70–74, Group ≥75, and compared. Prognostic risk factors for short and long-term outcomes of kidney transplantations were investigated. Graft survival at 1 and 5 years were respectively 90.7% and 68.0% for group 65–69, 88.9% and 76.2% for Group 70–74, and 100% and 71.4% for Group ≥75. Patient survival at 1 and 5 years were respectively 92.9% and 68.0% for Group 65–69, 85.7% and 61.5% for Group 70–74 and 100% and 62.5% for Group ≥75. Serum creatinine did not significantly differ between the three groups, with the exception of serum creatinine at 1 year. Increased recipient age and prolonged time on dialysis correlated with increased occurrence of postoperative complication. An increase in BMI, pretransplant diabetes mellitus and prolonged time on dialysis correlated with the occurrence of delayed graft function (DGF). History of smoking was identified as an independent risk factor for events of rejection. Increased human leukocyte antigen mismatches (HLA-MM) and prolonged cold ischemia time (CIT) correlated with higher rates of intensive care unit (ICU) treatment. This study supports kidney transplantations for the very old. End-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients ≥75 years of age who underwent kidney transplantation experienced comparable results to their younger counterparts. A comprehensive evaluation of ESRD patients with consideration of prognostic risk factor is the most suitable mean of identifying adequate kidney transplant candidates.

Safety and feasibility of 2 h of normothermic machine perfusion of donor kidneys in the Eurotransplant Senior Program

Background The 5-year graft survival rate of donor kidneys transplanted in the Eurotransplant Senior Program (ESP) is only 47 per cent. Normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) may be a new preservation technique that improves graft outcome. This pilot study aimed to assess safety and feasibility of this technique within the ESP. Methods Recipients were eligible for inclusion if they received a donor kidney within the ESP. Donor kidneys underwent 2 h of oxygenated NMP with a red cell-based solution at 37°C, additional to standard-of-care preservation (non-oxygenated hypothermic machine perfusion). The primary outcome was the safety and feasibility of NMP. As a secondary outcome, graft outcome was investigated and compared with that in a historical group of patients in the ESP and the contralateral kidneys. Results Eleven patients were included in the NMP group; the function of eight kidneys could be compared with that of the contralateral kidney. Fifty-three patients in the ESP, transplanted consecutively between 2016 and 2018, were included as controls. No adverse events were noted, especially no arterial thrombosis or primary non-function of the transplants. After 120 min of oxygenated NMP, median flow increased from 117 (i.q.r. 80–126) to 215 (170–276) ml/min (P = 0.001). The incidence of immediate function was 64 per cent in the NMP group and 40 per cent in historical controls (P = 0.144). A significant difference in graft outcome was not observed. Discussion This pilot study showed NMP to be safe and feasible in kidneys transplanted in the ESP. A well powered study is warranted to confirm these results and investigate the potential advantages of NMP on graft outcome.

Two decades of the Eurotransplant Senior Program: the gender gap in mortality impacts patient survival after kidney transplantation

Background Long-term outcomes of the Eurotransplant Senior Program (ESP) are urgently needed to improve selection criteria and allocation policies in the elderly. Methods We analysed patient and allograft outcomes of 244 ESP-kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) between 1999 and 2019 and assessed quality of living compared with 82 ESP-waitlisted dialysis patients using standardized short form-8. Results We observed 1-, 5- and 10-year patient survival of 91.7, 66.3 and 38.0%, respectively. Mortality risk factors included male gender (P = 0.006) and T-cell-mediated rejection (P < 0.001). Median patient survival of male ESP-KTRs was 80 versus 131 months for female ESP-KTRs (P = 0.006). 1-, 5- and 10-year death-censored allograft survival was 93.3, 82.6 and 70.4%. Risk factors included high body mass index (P < 0.001) and T-cell-mediated rejection (P < 0.001). After re-initiation of dialysis median patient survival was 58 months. Change of estimated glomerular filtration rate showed a mean decline of 2.3 and 6.8 mL/min at 5 and 10 years. Median physical and mental component scores of ESP-KTRs were 40.2 and 48.3, significantly higher compared with dialysis patients (P < 0.05). Of ESP-KTRs, 97.5% who underwent transplantation would again do so. Conclusions Long-term outcomes of ESP-KTRs ultimately support the effectiveness of an age-matched allocation system. Our data suggest that the survival advantage of women is maintained after kidney transplantation and calls for gender-specific care.