Follow-Up Care after Living Kidney Donation

Living donor kidney transplantation provides patients with kidney failure the best chance of dialysis-free survival. Although the risk of living donation in selected candidates has been accepted to be low, evidence to support these findings has been complicated by study limitations such as short observation periods or insufficiently powered studies. Follow-up information on donors’ health is essential for understanding risks and consequences of living donation, and for supporting donor selection, informed consent and long-term care. Furthermore, patient-centered engagement in living donor (LD) follow-up, risk assessment, and disclosure are crucial for maintaining and supporting trust in the process of LD and living donor kidney transplantation. Despite mandates and recommendations put forward by governing transplant bodies, both in the United States and internationally, LD follow-up procedures as well as completeness and accuracy of data collected on LDs vary due to logistical and financial challenges faced by the donor and transplant centers. Numerous ongoing collaborative efforts and strategies amongst donors, transplant centers, healthcare providers, as well as policy makers aim to improve LD follow-up. Such efforts include piloting lifelong LD registries, exploring novel technological strategies, and implementing transplant center-based initiatives.