Kidney transplantation: A comparison of results using cadaver and related living donors☆

Abstract One hundred renal homotransplantations were performed between April 15, 1964 and December 15, 1967. Fifty live donor kidneys and fifty cadaver donor kidneys were transplanted to ninety-five patients during this period. The data are summarized as of June 15, 1968, at which time 80 per cent of the living donor recipients were still alive and 70 per cent had functioning kidneys, whereas 60 per cent of the cadaver donor recipients were still alive and 48 per cent had functioning kidneys. An actuarial projection indicated kidney function in 66 per cent living donor and 40 per cent cadaver donor recipients at three years. The largest number of failures in both groups occurred within the first three months, a smaller number during the second three months, with relatively small subsequent attrition. The difference between the two groups was characterized by a greater rate of failure during the first period in the cadaver donor recipients, but similar survival subsequently. Donor and recipient age appeared to be important factors in cadaver donor success but were less important with the living donors. The types of complications were comparable in both groups. The drug regimens were similar. Hypertension was significantly more frequent and the level of serum creatinine higher in the cadaver donor recipients than in the living donor recipients. However, response to antihypertensive therapy was usually satisfactory and, although higher, the serum creatinine level in the cadaver donor recipients appeared to be stable in most instances.