Transplantation tourism: high risk for the recipients

• Published in: Clinical transplantation 2010-11, Vol.24 (6), p.835-838
• Main Authors: Yakupoglu, Yarkın K., Ozden, Ender, Dilek, Melda, Demirbas, Alper, Adibelli, Zelal, Sarikaya, Saban, Akpolat, Tekin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; commercial renal transplantation; complications; Egypt; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fundamental immunology; Graft Rejection; Humans; Kidney Failure, Chronic - surgery; Kidney Transplantation; Living Donors; Male; Medical sciences; Medical Tourism; Middle Aged; organ trafficking; Postoperative Complications; Risk Factors; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surgery of the urinary system; Survival Rate; Tissue, organ and graft immunology; transplant tourism; Transplantation, Homologous
• ISSN: 0902-0063; 1399-0012
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1399-0012.2009.01175.x

Yakupoglu YK, Ozden E, Dilek M, Demirbas A, Adibelli Z, Sarikaya S, Akpolat T. Transplantation tourism: high risk for the recipients. 
Clin Transplant 2010: 24: 835–838. © 2009 John Wiley & Sons A/S. :  Background:  The shortage of donor organ supply is forcing patients with end‐stage renal disease to alternative searches. The aim of this study is to present the clinical and laboratory data of five patients who were transplanted in Egypt from paid living‐unrelated donors and followed at our institution. Methods:  Five patients (four male, one female, mean age 51 yr) were included in this retrospective study. Results:  All allografts still have good function with a mean serum creatinine level of 0.9 mg/dL. Surgical and medical problems were common such as wound infection (n = 3), evisceration (n = 2), deep vein thrombosis (n = 2), unexplained abdominal incision requiring removal of an abdominal surgical compress left in situ during previous surgery, placement of allograft on the side of an unrepaired indirect inguinal hernia and transplant pyelonephritis. Conclusion:  Although recent developments increased success in renal transplantation, receiving a kidney from a paid living donor at a commercial transplant center still carries great risks for the recipient.