Post-Transplant Graft Function and Survival Outcomes in Recipients of Standard Versus Marginal Cadaveric Donor Kidneys: A Single Center Experience Over a 10-Year Period

Kidney transplantation is considered the best therapeutic option for end-stage renal disease. This study aimed to evaluate post-transplant graft function and survival outcomes in recipients of standard versus marginal cadaveric donor kidneys. A total of 30 cadaveric kidney transplantations performed with standard donor kidneys were retrospectively evaluated. Data on donor and recipient characteristics, kidney donor risk index (KDRI) and kidney donor profile index (KDPI) values, serum creatinine levels (up to 5th post-transplant year), delayed graft function, acute rejection status, graft and recipient survival rates were recorded. SCD and ECD groups were similar in terms of acute rejection (5.3% vs. 0.0%, p=1.000) and delayed graft function (42.1 vs. 54.5%, p=0.510) rates. Graft survival was significantly higher in the SCD group vs. ECD group (100.0% vs. 72.7%, p=0.041), while two the groups were similar in terms of recipient survival rates (94.7% vs. 90.9%, p=1.000). Graft loss occurred within the first three years in the ECD group. Higher serum creatinine levels were noted in the ECD vs. SCD group for the 1st month, 6th month and 1st year (p=0.042, p=0.015 and p=0.022, respectively) but not in the 3rd and 5th post-transplant years. Donor age (r=0.606 and r=0.602, respectively), KDRI (r=0.737 and r=0.759, respectively) and KDPI (r=0.590 and r=0.593, respectively) were significantly correlated with death-censored and total graft loss (p