Impact of a “Direct Approach” to Live Kidney Donation in the British Indo-Asian Community

• Published in: Transplantation proceedings 2005-03, Vol.37 (2), p.551-552
• Main Authors: Windmill, D.C., Jain, N., Inston, N.G., Ready, A.R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Asia - epidemiology; Asia - ethnology; Attitude to Health; Biological and medical sciences; England; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fundamental immunology; Humans; India - epidemiology; India - ethnology; Kidney; Kidney Failure, Chronic - epidemiology; Kidney Failure, Chronic - surgery; Kidney Transplantation - statistics & numerical data; Living Donors - supply & distribution; Medical sciences; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Tissue and Organ Procurement - methods; Tissue, organ and graft immunology; Waiting Lists
• ISSN: 0041-1345; 1873-2623
• DOI: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2004.12.101

Although a general imbalance exists between the demand for renal transplants and the supply of suitable organs, the shortfall is particularly severe for patients from the Indo-Asian (I-A) community. It seems unlikely that this will be remedied by any increase in cadaveric donation. Our aim was to increase the rate of live donor transplantation (LDT) in the I-A population through a direct approach to patients and their families, in a culturally acceptable environment by an Asian transplant coordinator. Whereas an increase in LDT was seen in the I-A population over the period of review, 1997 to 2003, 15 compared with none prior to 1997, significant attrition was seen within the program, with only 10% of the original cohort coming to donation. There are multiple reasons for this including medical, social and psychological.