Results of kidney transplantation in recipients over 70 years of age: experience at a single center

• Published in: Transplantation proceedings 2003-08, Vol.35 (5), p.1675-1676
• Main Authors: Herrero, J.C, Gutiérrez, E, Martínez, A, González, E, Morales, E, Muñoz, M.A, Valentín, M, Bueno, B, Praga, M, Hernández, E, Morales, J.M, Rodicio, J.L, Andrés, A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Cadaver; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents - therapeutic use; Kidney Transplantation - mortality; Kidney Transplantation - physiology; Medical sciences; Retrospective Studies; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surgery of the urinary system; Survival Rate; Tissue Donors; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0041-1345; 1873-2623
• DOI: 10.1016/S0041-1345(03)00618-3

We performed 41 kidney transplants in patients >70 years (35 single and 6 dual), with a mean recipient age of 72 ± 2 years, from January 1990 to December 2001. Mean age of the donors was 69 ± 12 years. Immunosuppression used triple therapy with steroids, mycophenolate mofetil, and cyclosporine or tacrolimus. Cold ischemia time was 23 ± 3 hours. The incidence of primary nonfunction was 4.8%, and delayed graft function 58.5%. Acute rejection incidence was 12%. The actuarial patient survival rates at 12, 24, and 36 months were 82.5%, 82.5%, and 75%, respectively. Actuarial survival rates of the grafts censuring for death of the recipient with a functioning graft were 89.5%, 86%, and 68%, respectively. Nine of the 18 graft losses were due to recipient death. Overall, renal transplant recipients >70 years showed good results. The principal cause of graft loss was recipient death.