Disparities in kidney transplantation accessibility among immigrant populations in Europe: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Disparities in access to healthcare for patients with an immigration background are well-known. The aim of this study was to determine whether disparities among immigrant populations translate into a relative difference in the number of kidney transplants (KT) performed in documented immigrant patients (first and second generation) relative to native-born patients in Europe. METHODS: A literature search was performed in PubMed from inception to 11-10-2022. Studies were eligible if: (1) written in English, (2) included immigrant and native-born KT patients, (3) performed in countries registered as Council of Europe members, (4) focused on documented first- and second-generation immigrant populations [1]. Systematic reviews, literature reviews, and case reports or articles about emigration, non-KT, and undocumented immigrants were excluded. The outcome measurement was a relative percentage of KTs to the total population per 100.000 residents. By dividing the immigrant percentages by the native-born resident percentages, the odds ratio (OR) was calculated in a meta-analysis. The risk of bias was assessed; articles with high risk of bias were excluded in a second meta-analysis. RESULTS: Out of 109 articles, 5 were included (n = 24,614). One Italian study (n = 24,174) had a ratio below 1, being 0.910 (95%CI 0.877-0.945). The other four articles (n = 196, n = 283, n = 77, n = 119) had ratios above 1: 1.36 (95%CI 0.980-1.87), 2.04 (95%CI 1.56-2.68), 2.23 (95%CI 1.53-3.25) and 2.64 (95%CI 1.68-4.15). After performing a meta-analysis, the OR did not show a significant difference: 1.68 (95%CI 1.03-2.75). After bias correction, this remained unchanged: 1.78 (95%CI 0.961-3.31). CONCLUSIONS: In our meta-analysis we did not find a significant difference in the relative number of KTs performed in immigrant versus native-born populations in Europe. However, a lesser likelihood for immigrants to receive a pre-emptive kidney transplantation was found. Large heterogeneity between studies (e.g. different sample size, patient origins, study duration, adult vs children patients) was a shortcoming to our analysis. Nevertheless, our article is the first review in this understudied topic. As important questions (e.g. on ethnicity, living donor rate) remain, future studies are needed to address them.

Taking a "Care Pathway/Whole Systems" Approach to Equality Diversity Inclusion (EDI) in Organ Donation and Transplantation in Relation to the Needs of "Ethnic/Racial/Migrant" Minority Communities: A Statement and a Call for Action.

International evidence shows variation in organ donation and transplantation (ODT) based upon a range of patient characteristics. What is less well understood is the impact of patient "ethnicity/race/immigration background," as these terms are defined and intended differently across countries. We also know that these characteristics do not operate in isolation but intersect with a range of factors. In this paper, we propose a framework that seeks to clarify the definition of the key terms "ethnicity/race/migrant" and to review how these communities are operationalized across European studies about inequities in ODT. Further, patients and the public wish to see Equality Diversity Inclusion (EDI) approaches in their everyday lives, not just in relation to ODT. We propose a 'care pathway/whole-systems' approach to ODT encompassing culturally competent public health interventions for a) the prevention and management of chronic diseases, b) improvements in public engagement for the promotion of the culture of ODT and enhancements in end-of-life care, through to c) enhanced likelihood of successful transplant among migrant/ethnic minority communities. Our framework recognizes that if we truly wish to take an EDI approach to ODT, we need to adopt a more social, human and holistic approach to examining questions around patient ethnicity.

Mobile Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Teams for Organ Donation After Circulatory Death.

The shortage of available organ donors is a significant problem worldwide, and various efforts have been carried out to avoid the loss of potential organ donors. Among them, organ donation from cardiocirculatory deceased donors (DCD), in which withdrawal of life-sustaining therapies is ongoing (Maastricht type III donors), is one emerging strategy. Thanks to the latest advances in transplantation and organ preservation, such as normothermic regional perfusion (NRP), ex vivo perfusion techniques, and good organization and communication among prehospital care providers, emergency departments, intensive care units, and transplantation units, DCD is rapidly increasing; it's estimated that it will increase the number of donations of lungs and splanchnic organs by more than 40%. Although Maastricht type II DCD requires a 24/7 available experienced extra corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) team in the institution, Maastricht DCD type III could be organized in secondary care and spoke hospitals without in loco ECMO facilities for NRP. This article analyses a potential mobile team organization based on the hub-and-spoke model, which already exists and functions in Italy, by estimating the dimension of the controlled DCD phenomenon in Italy, coordination requirements, costs, personnel training, and education, and reporting a single center experience in Milan, Italy.

Effect of Active and Early Possible Organ and Tissue Donor Detection in the Emergency Room in a University Hospital.

PURPOSE: The emergency room of the hospital is the gateway for patients with severe brain damage due to neurologic or cardiac conditions such as stroke or cardiac arrest. The main purpose is to design an active registry of patients, in the emergency room, to facilitate the detection and follow-up of potential donors according to their clinical evolution. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a 1-year prospective study from May 2017 to May 2018 with a register for detection of patients admitted to the emergency room with severe brain damage (Glasgow Coma Scale score ≤ 8), with active follow-up until hospital discharge, who might have died or otherwise become possible organ and tissue donors. RESULTS: One hundred sixty-six (107 men and 59 women) patients met the inclusion criteria: (1) 30.7% recovered from cardiac arrest; (2) 31.3% from stroke; (3) 16.9% from traumatic brain injury and multiple trauma; (4) 10.2% had decreased level of consciousness; (5) 4.8% had other cardiac conditions; and (6) 6.0% had other diagnoses. Seventy-seven out of 166 patients (46.4%) were evaluated as possible organ and tissue donors, with 37 out of 77 (48.0%) of the possible donors becoming real donors. This means that 37 out of 166 (22.3%) of the possible donors admitted to the emergency room became real donors. Twenty-two out of 77 of the patients (28.6%) evaluated had clinical contraindications for donation and in 18 out of 77 (23.4%), there was family refusal for any kind of organ or tissue donation. This record allowed the generation of the following organs and tissues: 4 hearts, 19 livers, 14 lungs, 52 kidneys, 2 pancreata, 29 corneas, 19 donations of bone allografts, 15 donations of skin tissue, 14 donations of valvular allografts, and 11 vascular allografts. CONCLUSIONS: The early and active possible donors registry at the emergency room has facilitated early detection and allow adequate follow-up and evaluation of possible organ and tissue donors.

Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction in Stool Detects Transmission of Strongyloides stercoralis from an Infected Donor to Solid Organ Transplant Recipients.

Solid organ transplant recipients can acquire Strongyloides stercoralis from an infected donor. The diagnosis of S. stercoralis in immunocompromised individuals may be challenging due to a lower sensitivity of available parasitological and serological methods, compared with immunocompetent individuals. Recently, a real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in stool has been developed for S. stercoralis diagnosis. We report two cases of S. stercoralis infection transmitted by a donor to two solid organ transplant recipients, who were diagnosed with RT-PCR in stool. This test could play an important role inS. stercoralis diagnosis in immunosuppressed patients, facilitating rapid treatment initiation and reducing the risk of severe strongyloidiasis. Adherence to current recommendations of screening among donors and recipients from endemic areas is also urgently needed.