The number of kidney transplants from living donors has swelled over the last decade, with 62% of countries reporting an increase of at least 50%, reports a study published online this week in Kidney International.
The increase in living donations reflects its importance in treating kidney failure. It is the preferred, and at times only, treatment option for these patients. The increase also signifies the insufficient supply of organs from deceased donors to meet the demand for kidney transplants.
Lucy Horvat and colleagues estimate that 27,000 related and unrelated living kidney donor transplants occur worldwide each year, contributing to 39% of all kidney transplants. The greatest numbers of living donor kidney transplants each year were performed in the United States (6435), Brazil (1768), Iran (1615), Mexico (1459), and Japan (939). Authors note that the varying rates and practices provide insight into ways of meeting the rising demand for organs.
Released from Kidney International
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